Northfield Village (part 3 of 4)

Wooster road ; and. last and least, Norton Centled a little southwest of Van Hyning's place, | near the present Wooster road, on Lot 83. | About the same time, a family by the name of Clark settled at New Portage, and built a log cabin, partly in this and partly in Coventry . Township. A son of this family, named Miles, afterward became the first physician of the | township. In 1815, quite a number of families settled in the township, among them Henry Van Hyning, who, with his sons, played a most important part in the early history of Norton. Having purchased Lot 19, of James Robinson, he removed his family from North- | ampton, where he had settled ten years before, to Norton, where he had intended to pass the remainder of his days. Van Hyning came originally from Saratoga, N. Y., and was of Dutch origin, his forefathers having emigrated from Holland to New York, when that was called New Amsterdam. His second wife was tioned in history. Van Hyning, with his family, left Saratoga for the West in 1805, with two yoke of oxen attached to wagons, and his wife | riding horseback through the forest, driving | three cows which followed the wagons and re- . quiring little effort on her part. Their course lay through Buffalo. N. Y., to Erie, Penn., near | which place Mr. Van Hyning built canoes, lashed them together and launched them on French Creek. He passed down this creek to the Allegheny, and thence to Pittsburgh, whith- | er his teams were coming as fast as they could | travel. From Pittsburgh they went across _ the country to what is now Canfield, Mahoning ' County. Ohio, where they stopped about two _ months. The family was here increased by one _ who was named Sylvester, and who is now liy- _ ing on the old homestead. During the stop at Canfield. Mr. Van Hyning went on to North- _ ampton to locate his home, whither he removed ' ag soon as circumstances would permit. From Canfield they went to Ravenna, thence back to | Warren where they laid in a stock of provisions, consisting of a barrel of pork, a barrel of flour and a barrel of whisky, with numerous other articles of necessity to a backwoodsman. | From Warren they made their way to west- . ward to the Cuyahoga River, which they crossed "at a point called « Brady's Leap." The bridge _ across the stream at this place, consisted of _ two "stringers," or logs, placed across the stream puncheon floor. Over this they crossed and to Northampton they were obliged to cut a road most of their way. The journey, including the stop at Canfield, occupied about four months. These early settlers were subjected to many privations ; their provisions did not hold out until more could be produced and after a crop of thirty miles. When they went to mill they had to take a big load or the teams would eat it all up before they got back home. A few years, however, removed the difficulty. The mill and other comforts were added from time to time. This is a sample of the journey across the unbroken wilderness by the early settlers, and one will suffice as all were nuch alike. About the same time that Van Hyning came to Norton, Benjamin Hoadley moved in and settled in Lot 15, near Loyal Oak. He was from Connecticut and had bought eighty acres of land, which he afterward cleared and where his widow still lives to tell of the hardships of their early life. In 1816, Joseph Holmes settled on Lot 67, having bought 197 acres in Lots 67 and 68. Holmes came from Massachusetts originally, but like a great many more had stopped several years in New York State, and from there moved to Ohio. Previous to this, the settlers had erected a log house near the line between Norton and Coventry for school and church purposes. Here Holmes landed and stayed a few days. He moved on to his land on a Wednesday, and camped beside a big tree which had blown over on a spot near where William George now lives. Next day, Thursday, he cut the logs for a cabin, on Friday the neighbors helped him " log it up," and on Saturday his family moved into it. This shows how expeditious these old pioneers were. Of course the house was not "chinked up," or | plastered with clay, yet it was a dwelling, and sheltered the inmates from the chilling April | storms. Our informant was one of the party | who camped beside that big log. He says the | wolves howled around them all night long, but | they knew no fear, and suffered no harm from | them. The same day that Holmes raised his house, Charles Miller, father of Cyrus Miller, | now living near Norton Center, landed in the | township. He settled a little west of Jobnson's Corners on the south side of the Wooster road. Numerous other settlers came this same year, | and small clearings began to spring up all over | the township. The years 1817-18 brought still more emigrants, and the foundation for some of the numerous villages were laid. Nearly or quite all of those mentioned heretofore were either from New York State or from the New England States, and they early showed their special traits of character in regard to social customs and domestic life. Much of their time was spent in cutting roads, clearing up the land and helping each other build their houses. When a road was to be opened, all turned out and helped to cut the trees and get them out of the way. If a man had a lot cleared, that is, cut, he invited his neighbors to help him roll the logs together and burn them. None were selfish in those days, for each one knew that he was dependent on the others to some extent for his own and his family's safety and comfort. Tallmadge, or as it is now called | Middlebury, was the nearest trading-post. and goods were shipped there in boats up the Cuy- | ahoga to that spot, or up the Muskingum to | Upper Portage on the Tuscarawas, and thence | to Middlebury by teams. These boats were ' long, narrow vessels, frequently "dug outs" as | they were called, from twenty to forty feet

| pelled by means of poles. Their capacity was ten to twelve barrels of pork, salt. flour or | whisky. This last being a very important | article of consumption in those early days. Stock of all kinds was scarce. Sheep could | not be kept on account of the wolves, and many a family's supply of pork was prematurely ex- | hausted by the hungry bears which prowled | around the cabins of the settlers. For the ben- | efit of butter-makers, we will relate the follow- | ing of Van Hyning's trip to this township. As already mentioned, Mrs. Van Hyning rode ' on horseback and drove three cows. Their ' milk which remained unused on breaking | camp in the morning was placed in a large, jug | and deposited in one of the wagons. By night a nice chunk of butter would have been formed | in the jug churned by the jolting of the wagon over the beech roots. Farming was poor business in those days. . Corn was the main staple, as this could be fed to the cattle and pigs as well as the human beings; wheat was raised | only for bread and seed. as prior to the open- | ing of the Ohio Canal it cost more to get the | wheat to market than it was worth after it was there. Beans were also a very important article of production, since they could be used without being ground. Indeed many would cook shelled corn with the beans to make them hold - out longer. But this was only the case prior to the building of mills within reach of the settlement.

The first birth within the present boundaries © of Norton was a child of Lyman Bates, which, however. did not live long. Bates then lived south of Johnson's Corners. A few years later Soon after this. Bates house was burned and he removed to couple married in the township. They were , married at the residlence of tbe bride's parents ' south of Johnson's Corners, by William Prior. a

Justice of the Peace. of Northampton. This Probably the second wedding was that of James Cahow and Miranda Holmes. daughter of Joseph Holmes. which took place at her father's residence about a mile

No Indians remained in the township after 1812. consequently the settlers were at peace, with the exception of a personal squabble once in awhile. A few incidents and personal adventures will illustrate the times of which we

Norton, he and Henry Van Hyning. Jr.. went into the woods on a hunting excursion. as was customary when provisions ran low. In the course of their hunt they found a bee-tree. and. as it was in the fall of the year, concluded to leave it until the weather was colder. and then cut it down and convey the hidden sweets to their homes. Some time during the winter following they went forth to cut the tree. But lo! the tree had fallen down. and the bears. who like honey as well as the human family. had got away with the whole of it. .\ few years after. the same parties again found a_ bee-tree over in the southeast part of what is now Sharon Township. This time they thought they would make sure of their prize. and accordingly the next day, armed with axes and a pail apiece. they made for the spot. The tree was soon felled, and the honey literally flowed. The pails were soon filled with fine white comb. There being so much left and the to take more of it, and not be at the necessity | sound told them which direction the bear and of making another trip, nor at the risk of losing | dog was taking. Snatching a rifle from Bates, the honey by the cunning bears, who would no , Van Hyning started across the ravine to head doubt find it before they could make another trip for it. Van Hyning wore a long, loose sort of a blouse, and of this they contrived to make honey. So they tied the blouse together at one end, filled it with the choicest honey, and secured the other end in a like manner. with their pails on a pole which they had cut, without their host ;" the blouse was not very | closely woven, and the jar caused by walking : through the woods, over logs, and up hill and , down, caused the honey to run out of the comb | and drip out through the blouse. Hoadley was soon almost covered with honey, and never forgot this, the sweetest adventure he ever experienced.

been a bear seen in the woods not far away the evening before, and suggested that they go and find him. Two of Bates' brothers were also with him at the sametime. Van Hyning, although acknowledged a skillful hunter, had left | his rifle at home that morning, and had only brought one dog with him. They therefore concluded to send one of the brothers down to Van Hyning's place for the rifle, and for now owned by Jacob Wertman. Van Hyning and the two Bates went to this spot with "Gunner' andtworifles. Near the' Hog Back" wasa spring, and just below the spring was a bed of sweet sicily.

when Gunner began to show signs of ~ bar." His bristles stood erect. He sniffed the air and whined as though impatient for the fray. Well." said his master, " go for them, Gunner," and Gunner went. He had no sooner entered the marsh than he raised the roar, which told had a rifle to which he was unused, which placed him in a serious position. The bear, when about ten or twelve feet from the hunter, threw his head down for a moment, and this moment was sufficient for Van Hyning, who fired. The bear turned a complete somersault and landed in a little hollow, but was not dead, although his neck had been broken by the ball. The Bates brothers now came up, and one of them placed the other rifle to the bear's ear with the intention of blowing his brains out, but the rifle held the two pans together, and flashed the one, which ignited the other. This finished the bear. On dressing him and weighing his quarters, it was found that they weighed 500 pounds. It was the largest bear killed in all the country around, if not the largest in the State. Van Hyning, who still lives to tell the story, says he would not run the same risk again, and take | the chances, for the whole of Summit County. As we have stated, money was scarce and | hard to get in those early days. Prior to the | opening of the Ohio Canal, wheat was of no . value except for food, and many had wheat » stored up. some to the amount of several hundred bushels. But when tax-paying time came. - some would take their rifles and shoot deer, take ~ the hides on their backs to Cleveland, and thus . get money to pay their taxes. The canal. however. worked a great change in all this. Wheat | went up first to 50 cents, then on to 31 per | bushel. Some settlers had scoffed at their . neighbors " who were spending their time sowing and harvesting more wheat than they needed for family use," ind storing it up in their gar- In at least one instance, the joist had to | be propped up to keep them from breaking |; down. When wheat went up, however, to $1» per bushel, Joseph D. Humphrey, one of the | scoffers, said to one of his provident neighbors: - "Squire, I am just $1,000 out of pocket." |

"Why so?" said the "Squire." "Why," anid Humphrey, "because I have not eo 1,000 bushels of wheat to sell. I might as well have raised that much and stored it up as not."

New Portage was the scene of an epidemic from the years 1825 to 1828, which was called typhus or malarial fever. This nearly wiped the town out of existence. It seemed fatal,

During the early history of this township, a , great deal of counterfeit money was in circula- | tion, and a great deal of suspicion was attached | to persons then living in Johnson's Corners. |

_ a sharp, shrewd man - one who seemed to know | _ all that was going on in the whole neighborhood - for no sooner did the Justice issue a warrant for his arrest than he took to the woods, | where he would remain until the storm had | blown over, when be would again make his ap- | pearance. At one time, when the Constable | came with a posse to arrest him, De Coursey pulled off his coat, tossed it to George Beach, who was with him at the time, saying, " Be | quick, George. Put on that coat and streak for | the woods." Beach did not wait to be told a | second time, but "streaked." The Constable music with the remark : | want ? what's the matter?" "Sucked, by G - !" said the Constable. De Coursey in the meanwhile had time toescape. About 1825, a young man named Henry Flickinger came to Johnson's Corners with about $300 in money, which was good, but not the kind that would pass at the Jand of buying land. De Coursey then had a man with him named Downs. who, they said, could | exchange money with Flickinger. This Flickincame to the land office with his money, it was out a warrant for the arrest of Downs, before Esquire Van Hyning. It was served by Henry Sparhawk, Constable, who found his man at Yellow Creek Basin, then a favorite resort for counterfeiters and horse-thieves. Downs had a tine horse which he rode. They proceeded on their way to Norton. but had not gone far when Downs took to the woods, leaving the horse in possession of the Constable, who brought it to Norton, gave it up to the Squire, : who in turn delivered it to Mr. Flickinger, who ~ ' thus had a horse in exchange for his 3300. Suspicion also pointed to one James Hender- | shott, who once lived in a house on the high knoll just south of where Jacob Wertman now ~ lives. When the house was torn down, soon after he left it, some counterfeit half-dollars were found in the cellar, supposed to have been left there by him. as he was the last and the only suspicious character who ever lived there.

At the organization of the township, only three Democratic voters were present. They were Abel Irish. Joseph D. Humphrey and Levi Way, who lived in the southeast part of the town. Now, the Democrats have a majority of about sixty in the township.

Norton Township is abundantly supplied with coal of a good quality, no less than four coal mines being in operation within the limits of the township at the present time. The first coal was found cropping out of the bank of a creek, near where the Bartges or Williams Brothers bank now is, as early perhaps as 1825. each one dug his own coal at first. 1830-31, the bank on the northeast side of this creek was opened by Jason Jones and a man named Funk. seph Burgess opened the bank on the other side of the creek, and, years after, the one now in abandoned and allowed to fill up with water. This mine supplies the railroad with coal for their engines, at the chutes, near the mine. thus saving transportation on a great amount of coal.

John Cahow, who settled here as early as 1810, and kept travelers at his cabin during the war of 1812, and after, Joseph Holmes who has already been mentioned as settling on Lot 57, built a saw-mill on Hudson Run, up near the Wadsworth line, about 1825. These were what was called sash-frame saws and worked very slow. About 1837, Nathan Seiberling, who had settled on his present farm in 1831, built a saw-mill introducing what was called a geared muley saw, which cut much faster than theold style. Some years after, another mill was built still farther down the creek than Seiberlings, and which is still in use, although steam has been substituted for water-power. saw-mills just mentioned were all on Hudson Run ; one was built on Van Hyning Creek, at an early date, by Henry Van Hyning, Jr. The first grist-mill built in Norton was at Jounson's Corners, and is still in operation. It was built by mill and its water-power. Thé mill was finally burned to the ground in 1879; how the fire originated was never ascertained. The mill had been repaired but a short time before, and work. There has been but one distillery in the township, and it was a short-lived affair. It was at New Portage, and was carried on by Uriah M. Chapel, probably as early as 1825. The proprietor was a powerful man, noted for

At the : raising of this mill, Dennis Bates fell from it i and was killed, having struck his head on ai Clark's Mill ' Ad great deal of litigation has been had about this | eventually found his match in the person of Henry Van Hyning, Jr., who threw him twice in succession, at one of the numerous " bees " so common in those early days. The first tannery in the township was at Western Star. It was built prior to 1830, and was at that date operated by Lebbens Hoskinson, late of Johnson's Corners. In 1835, another was started at Bates' Corners, but by whom we are not able to say; both of these are still in operation. A third was started at Johnson's Corners, considerably later, but has long since ceased to exist. Samuel Baker was the first blacksmith in the township, and, prior to his moving to Norton, he plied his trade in Stow, where some Norton people went to get their blacksmithing done. Baker's brother-in-law, Abe Van Hyning, of Johnson's Corners, was in need of some blacksmithing, and concluded to go to Stow to get his friend Sam to do his work. He had a natural dislike for bear's meat, which formed a very important part of Baker's provisions, and, indeed, was the only kind of meat they had at the time. Baker's wife knew of this aversion, but thought she would fix him up a steak that he would relish. Accordingly, as Van Hyning had to stay all night, she brought him a piece of meat nicely served, calling it beef for his supper, saying that she knew he did not like bear meat, so she had cooked him some beef they had got of a neighbor. Van Hyning ate heartily of the bee/, and at last said, "Just cut me a small slice of the bear meat to taste." He was helped to a small piece from the other dish, but pronounced it " strong, couldn't eat it no how." The Bakers managed to keep from smiling until the meal was over, but after this, whenever Van Hyning said he didn't like bear meat, some one was ready to remind him of the | time he ate it and liked it, but supposed it to be beef. When Baker came to Norton, he put up his shop at Clark's Mills, near where George | Turner now lives.

the northeast corner of Lot 20, crossed Wolf Creek where Van Hyning's Bridge now is, passed down the west side of Wolf Creek Bot- | toms, where Stauffer and Irish now live, taking nearly the same course of the present road, till near where A. D. Betz lives. It then made a with the Wooster road. This was the only important Indian trail in the township, and was the course the first settlers traveled to find their homes. It was marked by a well-beaten path, in some places almost a foot deep, but was only passable for foot passengers. Trees had to be cut and underbrush cleared away, before a team could get through. The first road was cut out upon this trail prior to 1816 as far as Johnson's Corners. Philemon Kirkham had settled on Lot 11, and Seth Lucas on Lot 12. They petitioned fora road from Bigelow Chapel to Wolf Creek. This was called the 'Black Snake Road, on account of its crookedness. Next a road was cut through from the east line of Lots 57 and 67, and passed through the center of the township, and on through to Harrisville, Medina County. where a_ settlement had been formed by Judge Harris. some time between 1818 and 1822. Peter Waltz. having bought Lot 81. came in to clear up his place. He got as far as Johnson's Corners without anything more serious happening than getting stuck in the mud at Hudson Run; but west from Johnson's Corners, however, the fun came in, The neighbors turned in and out, a day's vertised, crowds gathered along the track, thinking the train would stop at any place Hundreds were left standing and gaping at the iron horse on this. his first trip through this section. Some tried to catch the train. but it outran them. In 1863. the Atlantic & Great Western Railway was built. Considerable money was raised by subscription on this road. and but little was ever realized from the investment. Many citizens worked on the grading with teams and by hand. and. as wages were high at that time. money was plenty all who were obliged to use it. A stage«route. from Cleveland to Massillon, passed through Norton. This was the only public conveyance known before the canal was opened. A mail route was est~'lished from Johnson's Corners to Cleveland. . The first post office of the township was probably at New Portage, but whether it was in Norton Township or Coventry, is a matter of some dispute. The Ohio Canal was opened for traffic in 1827, and caused quite a revolution in the business of the township. Farm productions advanced in price, and prosfour logs flattened on their upper sides were laid across for "stringers." These were covered with split puncheons laid as tight as pos- | substituted for split puncheons. Now we have several substantial iron structures ; one across Wolf Creek, near Wolf Creek Lock, and two more on the road leading from Johnson's Corners to New Portage. An immense wooden arched culvert was afterward thrown over the | run and the gully filled up with earth, leaving the timbers in their places. Just west of this fill the railroad enters a rock cut about three | hundred feet long and from ten to twenty-five | feet deep. Between this cut and the fill a new branch was built in 1880, running south about | two miles to Williams Bros'. coal mine. New Portage was probably the first village laid out either wholly or in part in the township. It was laid out in 1818 by Ambrose Palmer, or at least the part was which belonged to Norton. Buildings both log and frame sprang up, and soon a thriving town stood where, a few years before, there were nothing but woods to be seen. A glass factory was started by Palmer, soon after, in a large barn-like structure. with the stack or furnace in the center. His pots and molds were brought from Zanesville, Ohio. Sand was procured by pounding sandstone ina huge trough. the pounding or crushing being done by means of a spring pole and pestle. Black salt was used as a flux. This was abundant, as black salt was made at many places through this new country where ashes were plenty from the log heaps that were burned by thousands in all directions. Wood wis used for fuel for smelting the sand, and the smoky and could not be used for window glass. when it was made into hollow ware, such as tumblers, goblets. drinking glasses. bottles, and many other articles useful and ornamental. At first six blowers were employed. but, afterward, the shop was enlarged and eight blowers were , employed. Sand of good quality was found in ° the marshes of Coventry about the time of the - glass factory was situated on the hill north of where the church and burying-ground are at . present located. The glass business failed in : 1823, and soon after New Portage fell a prey to typhus fever. as already noted. which nearly Thomas Johnson kept a tavern at New Portage in 1817 for some time, when he moved on to a farm just across the south line of Norton Township. A family | named Nesmith came in 1821. One of the. descendants of this family, Thomas Nesmith. A great part of the.

haps twenty-five years, was carried on in Coventry Township. About 1850, however, the Norton part of the town again began to revive, but this time farther down the canal, as at present. During the decade following 1850. a pottery was built by Jacob Welsh just west of the present store. This was operated for about the mail, it was thought, was robbed several times while he kept the office. He. it seems. suspected that some one was in the habit of breaking open the store during the night, robbing the mail of valuable letters. Upon a certain occasion in November, 1869, his son Corwin and himself concluded to watch the office upon it. Corwin and his father stayed in the store until midnight. when Corwin went home. leaving the father alone on watch. Welsh heard a noise at the basement window, was heard coming up the steps from the hasement, who entered the storeroom just before the west end of the counter. Welsh was standing back of this counter with a loaded shot-gun in his hand. and as the burglar arrived at the over six feet from the muzzle of the gun. the man fell he exclaimed, + My God, Welsh, you've killed me." and expired. The neighbors were aroused by the noise of the gun, and goon came to see what was the matter. supposed burglar was found to be a citizen of the place.

L. B. Schneider, now of Akron, had a store at New Portage in 1863, and was in business several years. After him came first Weary & Bro., then Weary & Witner, and still later Weary & Downer, each continuing about a year. Next, Joe Ellis & Co., then Corwin Welsh, during whose stay the shooting above related took .

place. Next, Harry Diesern took the store, and, last, Mr. John McNamara, who is still doing business in the old original room. His stock in trade is probably worth $1,200. New

Vernon & Columbus Railroad, and New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad. The former road does a cash business of about $100 per month at this office in freight and passenger traffic - the latter about $75 or $80. Mr. David L. Cartmill has had charge of the office of the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad for fifteen years or more. The coal shipped from Norton

New Portage has one of the finest springs of fresh water that can be found in the county. It runs a stream just so strong, and is never more or less so, whether in wet or dry weather. The post office at this place was established at an early day, but the exact date is not known, but is probably the earliest in the township. At present, Mr. W. C. Jaquith is the Postmaster. The office pays a salary of about $140 per year. Two canal boats are owned at this place -

Next in the order of villages, we find Bates' Corners (Loyal Oak P. O.) This place was settled by and named after two brothers - Nathan and Lyman Bates - who settled here about 1817 or 1818, one building on the northeast corner, the other on the southwest corner, as it now stands. The first tavern was kept by James house. Moore was also the first blacksmith in the place. Thomas Brown was the first merchant of the place, and had a small store on the southeast corner, as it now stands, but did not remain long, others taking his place in the same business. Bates Corners has seen so many changes in its early days, that the half bought it in 1864, remodeled it, and introduced 'steam power. His son, Byron B. Bauer, is at present connected with him in the business. Bates' Corners owes a great deal of its prosperity to Mr. Peter Lerch, who alone has had nearly as many buildings erected as all the rest of its inhabitants together. He at present occupies the new hotel at that place. Mr. Edward Laubach built a steam saw-mill in 1867, ata cost of $3,200. Business was good, and he introduced a pair of chopping buhrs for grinding feed, with which he did a large amount of work. In 1874, the mill burned to the ground, but he immediately rebuilt it. at a cost of about $1,000. It is at present owned by J. J. Knecht & Brother, who are doing considerable work. Mr. Jacob Flickinger is the blacksmith at present. He builds some wagons. and occupies a substantial frame building just east of the Loyal Oaks House. Bates' Corners has one church edifice. It is built of stone. as a union church, by the Lutheran and German Reformed societies. in 1851. Mr. A. Schneider is the present merchant and Postmaster.

a family named Richards, consisting of the father and five or more sons. of whom the father and three sons, named Mills. Cullen and Ezekiel. lived in Norton, the others in Wadsworth. They came here as early as 1819, perhaps earlier; the father lived where the old Himmelwright homestead now is. Nathan Starr. of Connecticut, was the original owner of a large tract of land lying adjacent to and , east of Western Star. About 1825, Hezekiah . Ward built a saw-mill about a mile north of this

. wold brothers came and settled here. ' this, however. several other families had settled _in and around the place, so that quite a settlement was formed. Dr. Austin, the first physician of the place, lived in a house on what is now known as the Reimer lot. The place was and two asheries, or black salt factories, in operation soon after their advent in the town - one at this place and one near where Dennison now is, on the farm lately owned by Alpheus Myers. The second year the Griswolds were here, they cleared up 300 acres of land and sowed it in wheat. A post office was established about this time, but who the first Postmaster was we were unable to ascertain. The Sutton House is the first tavern of which we have any trace, although there probably was one earlier. Julius Richards had a wagon-shop in operation at a very early day. In 1831, Nathan Seiberling bought out one of the Richards brothers and settled where he still lives. The first store building was erected on the northeast corner. The first schoolhouse was a little farther north, opposite Shaffer's lharness-shop. The first church was organized 'about 1835-36. The present school building was erected as a seminary in 1844. The site, containing one acre of land, was deeded by Nathan and Grace T. Starr, of Middletown. Conn., to certain persons named therein as trustees, with the proviso that "they shall erect a suitable building for a seminary building, and shall keep in good repair at all times, otherwise the land to revert to the original owners." This eed is dated November 7, 1844. The seminary was started the following spring, with Revs. Lorenzo D. Williams and Merritt Matteson as teachers. At present, Western Star contains two school buildings, one church (United Brethren), two stores (Dague Brothers & Co. and Levi Shaffer). a carriage shop, by Warren Hanshue, who is at present refitting an old building asa repository and varnish room. one tannery, and, on the Wadsworth side, a hotel, by William Stevens, shoe-shop and harness-shop. It was incorporated in 1842, with Mayor, Marshal and Council. Has a graded school, and is generally prosperous. G. C. Dague is present Postmaster, Aaron Eicheberger Mayor. and Warren Hanshue, Marshal.

Dennison (Sherman Post Office), on the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad, has sprung into existence since the railroad was built. At one time, it contained a store, kept by the Koplin Brothers ; but at present is with- The post office was established ness of the place is that caused by the Norton Coal Company's mines, which are located here, with coal chutes and a telegraph office. Hametown, one and a half miles south of Dennison, has also been brought into existence by the coal business. It contains a store, kept by J. W. James, and two saloons and a shoemaker''s shop - F. Schneider, proprietor.

Johnson's Corners was the second settlement in the township. The first person to settle here was Abraham Van Hyning, in1814. John O'Brien came soon after, Jacob Miller and others followed soon. Charles Miller came in 1816, with others ; but all settled around where Johnson's Corners now stands. About 1822-23, Thomas Johnson moved from his place just across the line, south of Norton, to this place, and began to build up the town. His saw-mill he erected the hotel which is still occupied as such. This was, however, not finished for several years. In 1830, Johnson commenced the first grist-mill ever erected in Norton Township, which is still in use for the same purpose. The

At the raising of this ! mill, Dennis Bates, who had volunteered to help to put on the rafters, fell from the plate, struck ; on a rock, and shattered his skull, causing © almost instant death. Johnson had. in the ° meantime, started a store, and held the office of | Postmaster. He was probably the first Post- - In the year 1835-36, a - Methodist Church society was organized, with » Johnson as the first class leader. Bigelow was probably the first minister. He | was soon afterward ordained as Presiding Elder, » and Rev. Messrs. Jaynes and Hazzard took the | circuit. A church building was erected about | 1841, which served as a place of worship thirty | years, when a new and. imposing building was | erected by the Methodist society. It is one of : the best church buildings in the county, outside | of the incorporated towns, surmounted by a tower and belfry, and is lighted by elegant | stained glass windows. The walls and ceiling | are frescoed in fine style. The first school taught in the township was | kept at Johnson's Corners, in a log schoolhouse, about 1818-19. It was taught by Sarah Wyatt.

This village has Heart pleated a 'perhaps n more different schoolhouses than any other in the township. At present, it has a commodious , school building, well filled with scholars when _ school is in session. One or more stores have been in existence ever since Jolnson's time, Mr. Amos Miller being present merchant and Postmaster. Besides this, the village contains a hotel, by John T. Price ; two blacksmiths, one wheelwright. one harness-shop, two shoe-shops and a steam saw-mill. built in 1867, by Peter Hunsicker, at a cost of $3.600. It was burned to the ground in 1875; but was again rebuilt. and is doing considerable business. The cost of rebuilding was about 3800.

Wolf Creek Lock, a small hainlet on the Ohio ~ Canal, near the mouth of Wolf Creek, contains ' a small grocery, kept many years ago by Willium Pierce, and, in later times, by James Owry,

The first settlement made at Norton Center _ was by Joseph D. Humphrey. He was a graduate of Yale College. and had studied law. _ He settled at Norton Center about 1816-17, - and began clearing up Lot 66. He was after- _ ward elected as first Township Clerk of Norton

Mr. Thomas Brown came from Bates' Corners ; and built. or started to build, the house still | standing on the southwest corner of the public

In 1869, Mr. Lewis Seigfried built a hotel on the northeast corner of the square, into which he moved on the last day of March, 1870. For years previous to this, he had kept a hotel about a mile east of the Center. In 1871, Mr. Aaron Hartzell and M. M. Dickson opened a store in partnership. A storehouse was built. a stock of bought and placed in it. and on May 1. 1871, the store was opened to the public for business. In the fall of 1872. the stock was moved to Jobnson's Corners, as the room had grown too small for the business carried on. In the spring of 1877. Mr. A. (1. Seas moved his stock of goods trom Jolnson's Corners to Norton Center, into this same building. M. L. Shook was taken in as a partner, and together they did a small busiuess until the spring of 1879, when the stock was closed out and the partnership dissolved. The post office was established at a very early day. but the date and the first Postmaster's name have not been for many years. until the year 1872 - probably the winter of 1872-73 - when it was transferred to George Lahr, who had it until the fall of 1873. when J. J. Stauffer was appointed He moved away from the Ceuter discontinued. During the fall of 1877. an etfort was made by the citizens of the Center and vicinity to have the office again established. which was finally successful, and, the spring of 1878, Mr. A. G. Seas received number of years. one on the northeast corner. Three acres of land were deeded to the township by Birdsey Norton's heirs and Deacon David Hudson for a public square, as early as | 1818. A schoolhouse was also an early acqui- | sition. The first was a log structure, which ; was superseded by a frame building, this again _ by brick, and last a substantial frame schoolhouse, the largest and best in the township, ' with a belfry and spire. During the last

During the spring of 1876, an effort was made by several prominent farmers of Norton Township to organize a grange. Their efforts were finally successful. and. on the Ist of

Center, with E. H. Vi iers, Master ; A. D. Betz, Overseer, and Reuben Stauffer, Secretary. It was called Summit Grange, P. of Hs. and numbered 1,283. Meetings were first held in the A. Hartzell. The organization, strong in numbers from the start, of the building. The lower story is finished for a kitchen and dining-room. The upper floor has two comfortable ante-rooms and lodge-room proper, with arched ceiling and rostrum. The acoustic qualities are exceptionally fine, and, all in all, it is one of the best halls for the purpose outside of the cities. The grange is

Prior to the year 1830, the population of Norton Township consisted principally of New England people or their descendants, with a few Irish and a few English interspersed. But selves, and, attracted by the fertility of the soil, soon we find them buying out the Yankees and superseding them in all manner of business.

we find Nathan Seiberling, 1831; Abraham Koplin. 1831; Lautzenhiser, 1831 ; the next year brought still others, until among the farming community we find at present more than 75 per cent of Pennsylvania people and their descendants. According to the census of 1880, the population of Norton is 2,067. Among them we find 81 persons over sixty-five years of age; 54 over seventy years of age. and 9 over eighty years of age. Twelve pairs of twins were enumerated, of whom two pairs three pairs of one male and one female. Two hundred and eight farms were enumerated, averaging seventy-two acres per farm, and in the crop report for 1880, we find seventy-two farmers reporting 57,276 bushels of corn in the ear, averaging ninety bushels per acre. Seventy farmers reported 23,126 bushels of oats, or thirty-eight bushels per acre. Seventy-eight farmers report 28,551 bushels of wheat on 1,035 acres. or 27.5 bushels per acre. Sixtynine farmers reported 18,285 bushels of apples (estimated).

The first orgenized church in Norton was a Methodist society formed as early as 1816, in the northeast part of the township. The earlier Class-leaders were natives of Coventry

| preachers at that time. John C. Brooks came ' on in 1817, and was instrumental in bringing about a great revival of religion in that year. We next find Dennis Goddard and a Mr. Booth _ on the circuit, with James B. Findlay as Pre- _ siding Elder. About this time the log-church ' building in the woods north of New Portage was erected, where powerful work was done for the cause of religion. Under the direction . of Brooks, a Methodist society was formed at . Bates' Corners, soon after the great revival of - 1817. This was at one time a very strong society. A church was built and the society / was prosperous for a considerable number of years. Next after the Methodists, the Buptists | got a footing at Bates' Corners, and organized a society, but by whom is not known. in their turn, were succeeded by the Disciples and Congregutionalists, and in 1847 a Union, or rnore strictly speaking, a Lutheran society was . formed with about forty members.

was laid about the 10th day of May. by Revs. | D. Rothacker and J. W. Hamm; the latter had | been serving the society some time before. The | church is built of stone and finished with a gallery on three sides, at an expense of about | $2,300; was dedicated in November, some time |

German Reformed society from 1849 till 1862. Rev. C. H. Reiter. 1862 till 1868, since which © Rev. S. C. Leiter has had charge of the flock. , ' Present number of communicants: Lutheran, |

Bevin, in charge of the society at this place. No regular church building was erected, although a lot was deeded to a religious assoviation by Nathan Starr and wife, of Middletown, |

Conn., which was to revert back to the grantors | if not used for the purposes and in the manner | specified. In 1878, the United Brethren formed | a society at this place, with a membership of | fifty-two, and, the following year, a church | building was erected, at a cost of $2,200. It: was <ledicated by Bishop Weaver. Revs. ' Sprang and Whitney served the congregation the first year, and at present Revs. Sprang and Moody have thecharge. Present membership. about fifty. In 1838, a union society of German Reformed and Evangelical Lutheran communicants was formed in the southwest part of | Norton Township, with some members in Chippewa Township. A site was secured. and a | building erected by Pete: Burkert (now living | in Akron). The building was quite large. with - gallery on three sides. It was used as a on the opposite side of the road in Wayne | County, at a cost of $3,200. Father J. W. Hamm served this charge for thirty-three - years in succession, having been the first Reformed minister installed as Pastor of this church. The present Pastors are Rey. S. C. Leiter and Rev. Mr. Sponseller. At Johnson's already mentioned, in 1835-36. A church building was erected in or about 1841, and | used as such until 1871, when a new church was built for the same society at a cost of $5,000. It was dedicated by Rev. Mr. Osborn, © of Akron. Present Pastor, William S. Fitch ; The old church was at first seated with rough boards © laid across poles, with legs put in by boring | holes in the poles and inserting a short stick. | These served as seats for some time, when | Thomas Reese finally put in better seats.

The Reformed Church at Johnson's Corners | was organized in 1852 by Rev. P. J. Spangler, © with David Waltz and Henry Yaukey, Elders, | and John Hoffman and Michael Wise, Esq., as _ Deacons, and about twenty-five lay members. Their meetings were held in the old Methodist Church until 1868. Prior to the organization of this society. Rev. George Schlosser, a German Reformed minister, had preached at and around this place in schoolhouses. He was a powerful speaker, talented and able in debate. Span- | gler was also a good speaker and served the society seven or eight years ; he was followed by Rev. Jesse Schlosser, who remained about two years; next came Rev. David H. Reiter, who also served the charge about two years, then Rev. Jesse Hines about four years, Rev. J. J. Excell not quite two years, when S. C. Goss took the charge, and has retained it ever since. He was educated at Heidelberg College, In 1868, the society erected a house of worship of their own, which was dedicated about the 1st of November. The church cost about $2,200, is a medium-sized, comfortable building ; present membership about seventy-five. In 1868, a church was built at New Portage for the Methodist society of that place, which cost $2,500. It is well finished throughout, and stands on a hill overlooking the surrounding country. The present number of members is about seventy-five. under the charge of William S. Fitch. The history of the churches of Norton would be incomplete at which Joseph Smith himself was present. | Rigdon suffered considerable persecution for | his faith, having at one time been treated toa - coat of tar and feathers at Kirtland. along with © Smith. Rigdon was the originator of the "spir- | itual wife" polygamy. Upward of twenty-five souls left Norton and followed the Mormons on their Westward journey in search of Zion, and many more remained behind whose faith in Mormonism remained apparently unshaken.

most of which are in session nine months in the year. During the year 1880. $2,707.60 was expended as tuition for an average daily attendance of 400 scholars. Average price per month paid to teachers was to males, $28 ; females, $20. Total enumeration between the of Stark County; on the south by Jackson Township, of Stark County. and on the west by Green is Township 12 of Range 9. in what is known as + Congress land." It is six miles in extent from east to west, and about five and one-half miles from north to square miles of land. The general character of the land might be considered rolling. but toward the southwestern portion the undulations are much higher and these elevations are called " hills" by the inhabitants. The township is naturally well drained by several small streams and creeks. which wind around the hills and through the vales. but this natural drainage has been improved by numerous The water-shed between the Mississippi Valley and the St. Lawrence basin ex- which descend from the heavens. This can plainly be seen on several different farms. A short distance west of the Gongwer Schoolhouse, near the center of the township, are two sea. The soil of the township is very fertile and well adapted to farming, and Grecn ranks with Springfield and Franklin Townships among the richest agricultural townships in Obio. Several of the farms are underlaid with veds of rich coal, and the owners of other tracts susdect that the vein is also hidden beneath their lanp, but their fears of disappointment prevent them from prospecting for the desired treasure. A mine has been worked on Wise's farm, in Section 24, for some twelve years, and another on Whitacre's land, about one halfmile south of Greentown Station, for nearly, if not quite, three decades. Some thirty rods east of the township line they discovered a vein of iron ore, many years ago, which they mined for a short time, but failed to find a sufficient amount to make the mine a profitable investment. Several veins of coal have been struck while miners were prospecting on various farms | in Green Township, but the results obtained did not please the operators, and the mining was discontinued. Among these abandoned shafts is one on John Kepler's farm, southeast of the village of East Liberty.

On Sections 7 and 18 of this township, is a portion of Turkey Foot Lake, the greater part | being situated in Franklin Township, on Sec- | tions 12 and 13. This body of water is about one | mile in length from east to west. and varying | in its width. At the narrowest point, directly on | the township line, it is but little overa quarter | of a mile in width, but, at both ends, it is from | one-half to three-quarters of a mile in width. It is called Turkey Foot Lake because the shape of the sheet of water resembles the foot of a turkey. Just north of this lake is the " Reservoir," a portion of which extends into Green Township, on Section 6. Another small lake or pond is situated in this township, upon Section 33. This sheet of water, which would possibly be more correctly termed a marsh, lies be- | tween the hills, and is about one mile in extent from north to south and very irregular in width. The southern portion seems to terminate in a sink-hole, which is said by some to be bottomless, but, by more reliable authority, from sixty to eighty feet in depth ; the sinkhole covers an area of about three acres. There are also three very deep little lakes or sink-holes on and near the southwest corner of Section 20, which have destroyed many head of cattle in times past that approached too near them and were swallowed in the miry muck which surrounds the ponds. Tritt's pond, on Section 31, and Heckman's mill-race on Section 13, are artificial reservoirs, which serve as water-power for mills. Gen. Bierce says : ' One of the greatest curiosities of the township in the early settlement was - Rattlesnake' Spring, on Section 25, first owned by John Yarrick. It is on the road from Greentown to Greensburg. When Yarrick first purchased this land, the spring was a great The water issues from

Cornelius Johnston of the United States in 1813, appears to have been a favorite huntingground of the Indians, as arrow-heads, hatchets. skinning knives and other implements have been found there in great abundance. From the numerous flint chips found on that quarter of the section. it would seem to have been a place for manufacturing their stone hatchets and arrow-heads. Where they found the stone is unknown. This spot seems to have been selected on account of its being light-timbered. clear from underbrush, and elevated a little above the surrounding lands. Scattered over this elevated plateau were found piles of stones, varying in size from a man's fist to his head, and arranged in heaps of from four to six feet to a little larger or smaller. Tradition assigns to them the honor of holding the ashes of some warrior or chief, but as no bones or human remains have ever been found in them, I am inclined to think them altars, on which they sacrificed to their gods, and the spirits of their departed braves. Among all the tribes sacrifices were common. Tradition says that one of the early settlers in Green attempted to desecrate one of the altars, but after throwing down three or four feet of it, and when he was, as he supposed, about to accomplish his object, he was seized with a supernatural fear, and abandoned the enterprise." Previous to the war of 1812, Indians were quite plenty in the township, but as they sided with the British they were compelled by the white settlers to leave, and since then an Indian has rarely been seen within the limits of Green. Many families who

The remains of their old forts and wigwams were seen as late as 1855. according to Gen. Bierce, at the head-waters of the Nimishilla, on Sections 36 and 25. They also occupied several camps near Turkey Foot Lake, and what. is now the reservoir. in 1809. when the Kepler fainily tirst located in the township. * Among the celebrated Indians who used this township for x Lunting-ground was a chief called by the whites - Beaver Hat. He had a settlement at what is how the south part of the village of Wooster. where the Baptist burying-ground now is. His Indian name was Paupellnan. and his settlement he called - Apple Chanquecake, or apple orchard. He was a bitter enemy of the whites, and. when drunk. he would take out a string with thirteen white mens tongues on it, dried, and exhibit them with much pride. One day he got out his string of tongues, and began to shake them. when George Harter took his rifle and started after him, saying he would go and killa buck. The report of a rifle was soon after heard, but he brought back no game, nor was Beaver Hat ever heard of more. - Bierce. Harter lived immediately south of Section 16 land for a few years at an early day. Most of the original permanent white settlers of Green Township were Pennsylvania Dutch and their descendants, and the cast and tone of morals and society still retain a decidedly German character. The citizens are honest. tre~al, industrious and wealthy. Although the dialect of the Pennsylvania Dutch is to a great extent the medium of communication between the resilents of the township, it is seldom an inhabitant is found who cannot understand when asked a question in English. and these excep- to their old notions of the past, but occasionally one still living and blessed with wealth will ' declare how little he cares for those glories of the nation as shown by mighty works of architectural grandeur: and this poor mortal will

(treen Township was for many years the lunting ground of several families. mere ~ syuatters" on the land, who were as nomadic in habit as they were transient in location. They lived chiefly by hunting and fishing. and many of them paid very little attention to furming. Among these were Johnny Holmes. an was possibly a half-breed. He taarried an Indian squaw. and they lived with Williams, an Indian. who camped on Williams Run. the war of 1812 broke out. Williams was anx- - did not wish tu go. and this created bad feeling between the two. Williams left with his wife » and after two days sent back for Holmes, re- | porting that he had reached a place where much | toward him, for at supper time he refused to | let Holmes have anything to eat, but supplied - Mrs. Holmes and his own wife. This to Holmes , was a very bad sign, and he left that night for | his old home by a different route from the one he had previously traveled. By special agreement his wife returned another way ; they met | at a secret place in the vast wilderness which | was known to both; they were then tired and | | hungry. so famished that they were willing to |

There is considerable ignorance among many old pioneers of Green in regard to the first Gen. Bierce in his history stated that "it was John Kepler, who came in the fall of 1809." This is a slight error; Kepler was the first person to purchase Government land and make a permanent settlement, but when he arrived in 1809, there were several families temporarily located on Section 16 land. These were John Cruzen, David Hartman, Bazil Viers, the Dixons, the Triplets, and their families. This statement is made on the authority of Jacob Kepler, son of John, Mrs. Mary Paulner and Mrs. Sarah Warner, daughters of Andrew Kepler, and John Buchtel. The former three are over seventyfive years of age, and came with their parents in 1809 and 1810. Mr. Buchtel was twelve years old when he settled in Green, shortly atter the Keplers did. Both John and Andrew, sons of Andrew, deny this statement and declare that no other families were living in Green Township when the Keplers came, but Andrew was not born till 1815, and consequently obtains his knowledge through other parties, and John says he was only three years old when his father moved to Ohio. Very little is known of some who located temporarily on these school lands at an early day. They were generally very poor, and the Trustees of the township permitted them to live on Section 16 lands if they would each year put a certain amount of improvements upon the farms they occupied. There is some doubt in regard to which family first located on these lands. Mrs. John Hunsberger, of Greensburg, a daughter of William Triplet, relates that her father always claimed that either he or John Cruzen was the first settler of the township. The wives of these two men were cousins. Cruzen had a large family of children. He once killed an elk near a small stream which was afterward named Elk Run. This spot was one mile and a half southwest of Greensburg Village on the farm now owned by Widow Beltz. It is claimed that this was the only elk ever killed in this section of the State, but a pair of elk-horns were afterward found on old Philip Hartong's farm. Cruzen remained in Green Township

William Triplet, who was the second settler of the township if Cruzen was the first, appeared about 1807. By the statements of John Buchtel and Mrs. Sarah Warner, he came several years previous to 1809 (the year John Kepler located in the township). of Joseph Triplet, who also settled in Green with his family a short time after his son did. Joseph was born in England, and for many years followed the sea as a captain's cook. By his first wife he had three children - Hetty, John and Charles ; they did not remove to Green with the father. The two sons left for the West before their father did, and were never heard of afterward. Joseph's second wife was a Miss Drake, of Maryland. He followed butchering in Baltimore, then moved to South Branch, Va.. where his daughter Hetty married a man named Wolf. Joseph removed to Pennsylvania, then located for a short time in Ohio. near Steubenville, and afterward in Green Township. This old gentleman must have spent much of his time moving ; he finally died about the year 1825, aged seventy-one. at the residence of his son William, in Coventry Township. He dressed in buckskin, with coat. pantaloons and vest of that material ; wore moccasins on his feet and a fur cap, made from wild-cat, otter or raccoon skin, on his head. By his second wife, Joseph had eight children, all of these were early settlers of Green Township. They were William, the first or second settler of Green; James died in Coventry ; Polly, married Simeon Payne and removed to Licking County ; Abraham, settled in De Kalb County, Ind.: Betsy, married Jonathan Potts, and they moved West ; Sallie, married Samuel Hanes, they settled in Brimfield Township ; Solomon, who traveled with a circus at an early day, and afterward located in Licking County ; Jacob moved to Indiana. These eight children of Joseph Triplet are 'all dead. Many incidents are related in regard to this family. When they first located in Green Township, they had to secure all supplies at but a few years, and then removed to near San- lay down near the animal with his rifle, remaining all night near the faithful beast, in order to make the settlers uneasy in regard to the safety of their winter supply. An Indian squaw paid a visit to the Triplet family on one occasion, and greatly admired the dress worn by little John Triplet ; the effect of her covetousness was that she stripped the white child, and adorned her own papoose with the stolen clothing. William once shot at a deer and missed it: he followed the animal for a short distance, and was suddenly confronted by an Indian, who exclaimed. *' Whoa! see me buck ? " This unexpected appearance of the native who cooled the ardor of the white deer-hunter, and he relinquished all claim to the animal he desired to capture. The Indians claimed all the game in the forests. and when the whites commenced to settle the county, the red men appeared more frequently on this portion of their hunting-ground, in order to secure as much of their ** own property " as they could. William Triplet was drafted during the war of 1812; that is, every able-bodied man was expected to turn out and protect the settlement from the British and Indians. Triplet visited Canton, but was so sick that the doctor exclaimed, " We and William was sent home. The Triplets lived on Section 16 land for six or seven years, then moved to Coventry Township, where Joseph and his son William died. The latter married Mary Dixon, daughter of Thomas Dixon, an early settler of Green Township. William Triplet was the father of nine children - was built at Middlebury. It is said that William Triplet would plow all day with his horse, and turn it out to pasture at night, but the wolves being very troublesome, it was necessary to guard the animal, and Triplet would the Dixons were the first settlers of Green Township. They appeared about the same time ' the Triplets did, and the two families were con- Thomas was a weaver by trade, and his daughter Ann assisted him at this occupation. The Dixons had previously | lived near Steubenville, Ohio. Thomas had | five daughters and four sons - Mary Dixon mar- | ried William Triplet; Ann married Bazil , Viers ; Betsy married Jacob Smith ; Margaret ' married David Hartman; the fifth daughter, | Jane, died, being unmarried. Triplet, Viers, ' Hartman and Smith were early settlers in | Green; the first three lived on Section 16 | land, near their father-in-law. Very little is | known in regard to Hartman and Viers, but it | is related of old "Granny " Viers, possibly the | mother of Bazil, that she was a good hand to | call on in case of sickness, and once, when a | cow in the neighborhood was bitten by a snake, old granny collected some herbs and cured the , valuable beast. It is to be hoped that many , other good deeds were recorded for this old | lady in the " good book above," for she passed | over the river fifty years ago. Thomas Dixon | afterward removed to Coventry Township, with | his two sons-in-law, Triplet and Viers, and died | about the year 1822. Dixon's four sons were | Liberton, Michael. James and John ; the latter | died at New Portage ; James and Michael re- | moved to Richland County.

About the name of Liberton Dixon is clustered much that is romantic, for he of all the early settlers of Green Township has been | handed down to posterity as the daring advent- , ' urer of the early day. There is considerable » added to the credit of this mighty hunter of | the past which would not bear the closest seru- | tiny of an unbiased historian ; but, if we should fail to give Green Township due credit for being the home of this illustrious Nimrod, and record on these pages some of the stories told about him, then every true son of Green , would brand the Summit County history as a "fraud." It is said that Liberton lived with | the Indians for seven years, until one evening | an old Indian got mad at Liberton while they | were around the camp-fire, and took after him | with a huge knife. The famous hunter being | convinced that " discretion is the better part of valor," fled from the camp and was followed by | the warrior. Liberton accidentally tumbled over a brush heap, and the brave shared the | same misfortune. It was a lucky accident for | Liberton. but an unlucky one for the Indian, | | who dropped the knife when he fell; Liberton , decided to return again unto the haunts of civilization. When on the way to the white settlements he was chased by the Indians who had Liberton sought shelter from their bullets behind a tree, but the trunk was so small that it did not satisfactorily answer the desired purpose, and

' some seven shots were put through his clothing, | but nevertheless, he escaped, and afterward settled in Green Township ; but, in his after years, he became a bitter enemy of the red man in

According to his own accounts many Indians suffered death by his hands. It is said that, in relating his exploits, he would always leave his hearers to infer that the savage antagonists with whom he had frequent encounters had all been sent to the "happy hunting grounds" in consequence of his skill as an " Indian hunter." But the event of his life, which relates more particularly to Gteen Township, was the tragic death of Wam-pe-tek. This savage was the they had their headquarters near Turkey Foot Lake. These inoffensive red men never harmed the whites, but spent most of their time hunttion they were very successful. But one day Liberton and the chief quarreled about a bee- The result was. shortly afterward, the Indian was missing. Some | one hearing the report of a rifle, asked Liberton | what he had shot. ~I shot ata deer," was the | reply. "Where is your prize?" was the next | question, and his answer was, "I missed the animal." Dixon was a crack shot with the | rifle, and never missed the object he fired at; | consequently, his statements on this occasion mark ; the chief' never appeared to clear the | mystery, and the supposition is that, while » the savage was standing on a log near Indian | Pond the fatal bullet struck him. Dixon then | threw the body in the pond, which is situated about one mile west of East Liberty, and just northwest of the schoolhouse at that point. | Other persons add other statements in regard | to the matter. It is stated that a few days | atter the chief disappeared the ashes of a fire | were discovered in the woods, and in them only | half consumed were several articles formerly owned by the savage. Also that the band of | }

Indians suspected Liberton, and would have | killed him, but Dixon's brother John interfered. ' the land afterward occupied by his brother -\n-

This brother John was also a hunter of some note ; but, fortunately, did not consider it was necessary to slaughter every inoffensive Indian who crossed -his path. It is related of John that he killed a very large wild-cat at the swamp which is just west of Greensburg, and this locality was afterward called " Wild-Cat Swamp." He also shot a large bear which was on a chestnut tree, standing upon land now owned by Widow Spitler, of Greensburg. Liberton married Mrs. Hannah Culver, formerly Miss Pelton, and removed to Coventry Township, where he died abont 1830. There are some old settlers who declare that toward the end of his life he was afraid to go out after night through fear that the spirits of some of the savages he had killed would capture him. Liberton was the father of four children; they all moved West. It is related 6f Liberton and his brothers that they were brought up in the backwoods and were inured to all kinds of hardships: they could sleep on the ground, and were not particular about a shelter to protect them from snow and rain if they desired repose : they could eat anything and live, march. and work without eating for 2 much longer time than the men who were the permanent settlers of the township. The Dixons were not afraid of danger, and. therefore, more valuable in turbulent times during the war of 1812 than a score of the farmers who inhabited the townat that time.

John Kepler. who made the first permanent settlement in Green Township. came out to the new country with his family in the fall of 1819. He was a blacksmith by trade, and worked at this occupation some in his new home. His brother Andrew brought him out to Ohio with his four-horse team ; he then returned to Pennsylvania for his own family, and they reached Green Township in the spring of 1810. The Keplers were born in Bucks County, Penn., and married twin sisters. John's wife was Magdalena Cramer, and Andrew married Mary. The Keplers purchased from the Govern __nt 320 acres, comprising the east half of Section 17. John occupied the western' part of this tract and Andrew the eastern half. In after years they purchased other extensive tracts. which are now the property of their descendants. When John first arrived with his family. they drew, which they owned during the first winter, and for a short time after Andrew's family came, in 1810; for a brief period both families occupied the same cabin. John Kepler was not able to go to the war of 1812. and so he assisted in sending yonng John Dixon as his substitute. furnishing him with blankets and other articles of clothing. John was a resident of Green Township for about twenty-five years and was then killed while working a cider-press. His wife survived him many years. John was buried in the graveyard on his brother Andrew's farm. He was the father of nine children. as tollows: Catharine. married Henry Warner. of Coventry : John. formerly of (treen ; Jacob. now a resident of Coventry : Andrew. shoei on August 16. 1871. by his son-in-law: Daniel, moved to De Kalb County. Ind. : George formerly of Coventry. now deceased: Henry. died at eighteen ; Samuel. died in Illinois, and Lena. died after marrying Henry Cook. Daniel was the voungest child when the family removed to Ohio. After Andrew Kepler move:| his tamily to Ohio. he sold two of bis horses to his brother John. and. shortly afterward. the other two animals died. He then purchaseri oxen to aid in farming. The family sutfere:| many hardships tor several years. The Indians would frequently appear with their ponies. dog~ and papooses; they brought baskets whici: they desired to trade for flour. meal. potatoes and other articles. When Andrew was with: the American army. during the war of 1812 the Indians kept his wife supplied with venison, which they exchanged for meal and potatoes. Mrs. Kepler never feared the savages. for they were always friendly and kept their promises. It was only necessary to supply one with a loaf of brend and tell him that venison was desired at a certain time. and he never failed to respond. But the wolves were verv troublesome. and would occasionally approach within five or six rods of the fire where Mrs. Kepler was cooking the meals. Mrs. Rebece: Herring, formerly Miss Kepler, says: «We children did not hate the Indians so much as we did the wolves; these animals howled around the house at night until we thought the clap-boards on the roof were shaking." Finally. the State offered a bounty for each commenced to decrease in numbers, and in a score of years farmers were able to raise sheep with profit. At one time, during the absence of her husband, Mrs. Andrew Kepler caught a wild turkey with her hands ; she made a feast, to which she invited her relatives and friends. About the same time, old Joseph Triplet's wife having obtained a rumor, from some source. that the British and Indians were coming, alarmed the neighborhood. The two Kepler famihes, the Smiths and the Buchtels hastily prepared to leave, and got half-way to Canton before they found the alarm was false. (This was possibly at the time Capt. Drake, in order to try his men, gave a false alarm, and his men became panic-stricken.) Andrew Kepler. after living in the township nearly fifty years, died January 16, 1855. at the advanced age of seventy-eight years and eleven months. He was buried in the graveyard at East Liberty. He was the father of eleven children. Nine large familes. and the Kepler descendants are very numerous in (Green Township and else- These nine children are located as follows: Elizabeth married Samuel Stover and re- and is now the widow of Jacob Paulner. at treensburg : Catharine married Peter Wilhelm. Mrs. David Warner, of (Green : John. of (rreen ; Rebecca.

(ten. Bierce says in 1854: "Jacob Smith. Jacob Coleman and Col. Dillman next came into the township. They were all from Center County. Penn. Coleman and Smith died about fifteen years ago (1839) and Dillman twenty (183+). Of these three men. Coleman settled on land now owned by Alex Stine. and wis buried at Cniontown; Jacob Smith was the son of Conrad

Section 17 in the spring. and died six months after settling upon it; previous to his death, he endeavored to make a bedstead to sleep upon but failed. His son Jacob put a large bowlder upon his grave. and in rough letters carved the name of his father on the stone. Tt is reported that. after the farm was sold to the Baughmans. this rude monument was taken for the corner-stone of a new barn. "Col. Dillman," it should be Conrad Dillman, settled upon 160 acres now owned by John Gougler ; he was avery moral and religious man. and inent citizen of Green Township. Dillman was buried on the southwest corner of his farm. The Buchtel family also settled in (rreen Township at an early day. Peter came in May. 1811. with a large family of children. and entered at the Government office at |

Steubenville the land now owned by John Kepler. Peter was in the American army during the war of 1812. and died of disease at Sandusky City. John. his oldest son, who resides north of Akron. is the father of Hon. J. R. Buehtel. of that city. following: "The first house we lived in was built of stakes taken from a large chestnut tree which we cut down, and formed a rude hut by leaning the stakes against the log: there were eleven children in our family. but we never had a doctor in our house. We lived inostly on deer's meat and wild honey; father killed twenty-five deer one fall. and found one Dee-tree which contained eighteen gallons of honey : after father died. I had to assist in supporting the family ; IT had to work four days for a bushel of wheat. and two days for a bushel of rye." Peter Buchtel's wife was Margaret Cramer; she was 2 sister of Mrs. their brother Daniel. Jacob and Abraham Cramer were also early settlers of Green Township, locating upov Covernment land about 1812. Among those who settled in the township previous to 1820. were John Yarrick. who entered the east side of Section 25 about 1809: his daughter was the mother of Lewis Miller, Esq.. of Akron: William Ball, southwest quarter of 25. about 1809; Thomas Macbee. northwest of 36.

24, about 1810; Ludwig Spotts, southeast of 34, in 1812; Daniel Raber. southeast of 24. about 1813: William Beltz. southwest of 26. about 1813; Henry Everhart, northeast of 36, about 1813; Jacob Sichley, northeast of 26, in 1813 (this gentleman always the roar of the cannon during Perry's victory on Lake Erie, from his farm in Green Township); - Swales, southeast of 26, about 1813 ; Cornelius Johnston, northwest of 25, in May, 1814; Simon Yarrick, father of Adam, in 1814; Daniel Wise, about 1813 ; John Kreighbaum, in 1814; Michael Myers and sons with | their families, in 1814; Philip Hartong, about | | years, there was no market for anything raised , on the farm. Consequently, money was very

_ was hid in the churn while traveling to Ohio; | Hunsberger built upon his land the finest house : and barn which, up to that time, had been |

| Abram, the eldest son, taught school for twenty- | one successive winter terms; served as Jus- . tice of the Peace for twenty-four years, and ° was also Township Clerk twenty-one years. ' Among the prominent families who have set- .

the larder. After planting their early potatoes and growing hungry, they dug up the " seedlings," devoured the outside, and then planted the eyes. But the soil was very fertile, and, in a few years, all had an abundance. Then each man desired 'to sell his surplus grain; but, for cash, but desired something to eat. The result produce to see these new settlers before their neighbors did. and secure a portion of this money to pay necessary bills, such as taxes. - John Spotts relates that when his father settled in the township in 1812. wheat was so scarce that Ludwig had to pay $3 fora bushel. Ina few years, the old gentleman had wheat to sell. and then he could not get 25 cents for the same amount of grain. In those days, farmers received so little for their produce that frequently men hauled a load of wheat to Cleveland, and exchanged it for a barrel of salt. Money being scarce, people considered themselves poor. al- . though they had plenty to eat and clothes to wear. Their apparel, however, was generally home-made. Before the canal was completed. all store goods were high, and. consequently. | settlers without funds could not always secure these high-priced luxuries ; but they clothed themselves, tor there were many spinning-wheels

| tled in the township since 1820, are the follow- | ing: John Foust, in 1822; Henry Warner, | | 1823; Jacob Hartong, 1824; Jacob Dicker- | hoff, 1826; Henry Beard, 1827; Michael Heck- , man, 1828; Peter Thornton, 1829; George | Chisnell, previous to 1830; Jacob Vandersoll, | John Mottinger and George Bidleman, in 1830; David Grotz, 1832; Jacob Humbert | ler, about 1837 ; Jacob Grable, 1838; Joseph | Stauffer, 1840; Isacc Franks, about 1841; | George Foster and George Kline, in 1842. Most of the early settlers of Green Township suffered many hardships. At first, there were ' no mills nearer than Steubenville, Ohio,* and other supplies had to be obtained about the same distance from their new homes; | quently, some families would run entirely out | of provisions, or, by ":ving on short rations for weeks, secured an appetite which would devour anything that could be "chawed." Alex Johnston relates an incident in regard to one brought from Pennsylvania. and the women knew how to use them. The men frequently wore buckskin, and garments made from this , material were not an uncommon sight many The forests. for a few years, were full of game ; but the white population of scarcely any wolves or deer could be found. | The last deer shot in the township was possibly killed by Simon Yarrick, about the year 1830. , Bears and panthers were hunted down and ex- | terminated many years previous. Gen. Bierce says: ~"Superstitious notions about ' spooks" | were formerly somewhat common among many | of the early Dutch settlers, who dreaded the spirit of a dead Indian far more than they did for the appearance of the ignis fatuus, or ' Willo-the-wisp." By the superstitious pioneers, these dancing and deceiving lights were supposed to be the spirits of the Indians or ' spooks,' who had come back to visit their huntinggrounds, and upbraid the pale faces for their fraud and double tongues. These harmless lights caused many a strong man to tremble, as he paced his solitary way through the dense and dark forest.

But the early settlers of Green Township were not all farmers, and this was fortunate, considering the large amount of produce raised each year, which could not be sold, for want of a market. When these tillers of the soil exchanged, at Canton, forty-four bushels of rye for a barrel of salt, they could not so readily complain because some men thought it was not expedient for all mankind to be farmers, and so followed other occupations. Some of the early settlers who purchased farms, occasionally | worked at trades they had learned in Pennsyl- ' yania. John Kepler and Michael Myers were i blacksmiths as early as 1814, and erected forges near their dwellings. Myers transferred | his forge to his son Henry, and he to his son | Michael, who to-day uses the vise brought from | Pennsylvania by his grandfather. Ludwig Spotts, who came in 1812, also followed blacksmithing. A man named Kauffman started a rude tan-yard at an early day, on the farm now those days, tanners were "lucky" men, for their goods were in greater demand than the fruit of the soil. Nearly everybody had wheat, but few had leather, which they all needed ; consequently, leather was valuable, and it was obtained. Tanners would not exchange their work for wheat at all times, for in those days leather was as good as cash, and it was frequently the medium of exchange between the settlers, notwithstanding it did not have the stamp of the Government upon it. Kauffman's tannery was afterward removed to Greensburg.

shoemaker, and worked at this occupation during the winter, when his services were more in demand. In those early days, the Knights of St. Crispin would wander through the country. and deliver the settlers from the evils of going barefooted. These cobblers would remain with a family until all the members were "shod" to order, and then seek employment elsewhere. The first weaver who appeared was Thomas Dixon, and he was assisted by his daughter Ann. George Dull, who came in 1814, was a weaver for two years, then returned to Pennsylvania. Jost Snyder appeared in 1819, bringing his loom from Pennsylvania, and followed weaving for many years. In 1824, Jacob Hartong, father of Cyrus, settled on land now owned by the Widow Thursby, and, while his sons farmed, Jacob provided the clothing for his own families and many other settlers of the neighborhood. Philip Hartong, brother of Jacob, came in 1813. For several years, he kept an inn on the old Portage road, near where Jacob King's brick residence is at the present time. The hotel business being unprofitable, he built a saw-mill on land now owned by Henry Krumroy. This mill was erected about 1819, and reported to be the first in the township, but this is very doubtful, as there were many families by that time, and, in all new settlements, a saw-mill is generally provided by some enterprising man at a much earlier period in the history of the community. However, mills of this description were soon numerous. The Hartong Mill was run by Philip and his son Samuel for some twenty-five years. About the same time Hartong erected his saw-mill, John Richards built one on the site now occtpied by the Peter Heckman mill. Richards ran this about five years, until he died, in Oc- | tober, 1823. Another was also erected previous to 1827, in the extreme southeastern part of Green Township, on land now owned by Simon Young. Henry Beard started another mill by 1828, and he thinks there was also one on Turkey Foot Lake, in Green, run by a Mr. Rex. Beard continued the business nearly forty years. He also had a fulling-mill and carding machine in connection with his sawmill, which establishments were conducted for some fifteen years. David Eby also ran acard- | ing and fulling-mill for several years. There | were also one or two flouring-mills operated at an early day. Gen. Biercesays: " George A. |

Rex erected the first mill in the township - (1816-17), at the outlet of Turkey Foot Lake (this was possibly in Franklin Township), but when the State took possession of the water for their reservoir, and raised the level, the mill-site was ruined." However, the State paid dumages. Christian Swartz milled at what is now the Stauffer flouring-mill, for three years after he came, in 1835. and, in 1827, Tritt operated a mill, which stood near the present site of the Tritt Mill. When Peter Wilhelm settled in Green Township, May, 1814, he put up a distillery, at which was manufactured much that did not improve the citizens. The establishment was located just south of the present site of Greensburg. John Yarrick also started a still-house about 1820. just southwest of what is now Greentown Station. After some twelve years, this "gin-mill' was discontinued. as was also Wilhelm's.

The eary settlers of Green Township found it a very difficult task to travel from one section to another for the lack of roads. The first thoroughfare laid out through what is now Summit County, was the old Portage " Path." which extended from Canton to Cleveland, by This was in the early days a route extensively traveled by many desiring to journey from Stark County and that section of Ohio, to the lake. The road was located at a very early period, but not com- This Portage road entered the township at the southeast corner of Section 35. and crossed it ina northwesterly direction, passing nearly one A considerable portion of this old " Portage Path" is still used as a highway, but in some places has been vacated. Many years since, Rev. E. Staver had the section across his farm. in Green Township, abandoned and a new road any place with their wagons, it was necessary to go out with an ax and cut the underbrush away. The second road through the township was laid out by John Richards, from his farm. on the northwest quarter of Section 13, to Canton. It is doubtful if Richards ever had the route of his highway recorded, but deemed that by general consent the settlers would always permit the road to remain, and so they did, for the "Richards" road remains to this day, cutting across Sections 24, 25 and 36 of

Green Township in a southerly direction, and bearing to the east. Other roads were planned and finished to suit various neighborhoods, but for years some of these were very unsatisfactory highways, at first only paths cut out through the trackless forests, but they were improved year after year, until at the present time the roads of Green Township will compare favorably with the highways of any other farming township in the State not traversed by stone pikes.

Until 1840, Green Township formed a portion of Stark County, which was organized in 1809. In 1811, what is now four townships in the northern part of the county, was organized, with one set of officers. Gen. Bierce says in regard to this: ~The township then embraced Green. Lake. all of Franklin lying east of the Tuscarawas, and Jackson. The first election was held at the house of Nathan De-

William Triplet were Clerks. Peter Dickerhof. of what is now Lake Township: Christian Bolmer. of what is now Jackson; and John Yarrick. of what is now Green. were elected first Trustees. Samuel Spitler. a resident of what is now Lake, was elected Clerk ; (veorge Knoddle. Treasurer ; William Ball. Assessor ; only sixteen votes polled in the territory comprised by these townships. and. at the Presidential election, October 20, 1812, during the war, only nine votes. Peter Dickerhoff was the first Justice of the Peace: his commission bore date August 21, 1811. John Wise. who was the next Justice, bore date June 16,1814. He resided in what is now Lake Township. and died in Greentown, in January, 1853." Green Township as it now is was organized April 7, 1815, and the following officers were chosen: Trustees, George Mc- Cormic, William Ball and Joshua Richards ; Clerk, Robert Lawson ; Treasurer. Daniel Wise ; Constables, David Hartman and Thomas Parker. At the election held only seventeen votes were polled. Green Township continued a portion of Stark County until 1840, when Summit was formed from fourteen townships of the Western Reserve, and Franklin and Green, from Stark County. Bierce says in regard to this: "That it was the first instance in which the southern line of the Reserve had been broken in the erection of a county, and when the bill was being considered in the Legislature, Senator Hostetter, of Stark, declared: 'You might as well attempt to make a Dutch horse and a Yankee broad-horn work together, as the © inhabitants on the opposite sides of that line has ; shown that such fears were groundless, and | the citizens of Green Township were not gen- | erally satisfied with the new arrangement, and, | consequently, when the question of a county : seat was submitted to the voters, certain men |

Green re-attached to Stark if the dissatisfied citizens of Green would cast their votes in favor of Cuyahoga Falls as the county seat in preference to Akron. If any votes were secured by these fickle promises, they failed to change the result of the election, for it was decided in favor of Akron.

Most of the early settlers of Green Township were Pennsylvania Dutch, and many of these were very ignorant and superstitious. consequently at un early day the cause of education did not flourish. Possibly the first school held in the township was taught by Wllliam Triplet, who endeavored to instill into a few youthful minds the first rudiments of kuowledge. The children assembled at an old shanty on Section 16 land. and Triplet undoubtedly did his duty, hut was not appreciated by the parents of his pupils. John Buchtel, who resides north of Akron. states: *T never learned to write. as there were no schools in Green Township at an early day.' Mrs. Herring, of East Liberty. says: "In those days, they had to pay 50 cents 2» month for each scholar, and if a . teacher failed to secure enovigh scholars, no