Sandy Township (part 1 of 4)

Sandy Township

Sandy Township was organized on the same dny by tho Commissioners as waa Canton, Plain, Nimishilleu, and Osnoburg. The original division of tho County into those townships was made on March 10, 1809. The first election was hold at tho house of Isaac Bauniefas. The lirst tax, amounting to eighteen dollars and Boventy-fivo cents, was coltcoted by William Withrow.

The First Settlers

THE FIRST SETTLERS came to Sandy in 1805, from Virginia. They wore Isaac Van Meter, wife, and child, and bis fathcr-iu-law, James Downing, who, serving as a soout under Brady, had boon over tho territory previously. Their clearing was made on land now owned by Richard Elson. Downing returned to Virginia for his family, and camo back in 1800, accompanied by his children, James, Hugh, Adam, and a daughter, Saroh, attll living. In tho sumo year James Reevos and fiiuiily settled on lands owned by John Bowraa;i. Next oomo William Knutta and family, John Venemnn, half-brother, and their mother, in 1808, and located in the southwest oornor of tho township. Along in tho same yeiir William Tliompsun and family, John Crcighton, and James Hewitt oame in. Hewitt was married on his way west, - a runaway match, Along in 1810, settlors arrived in stroug force and scattered Ihomsolves over tho township. They erected rudo cabin homes in the woods; there were no openings, no roada.

William Hewitt claims to be the first white child born in the township, on January 31, 1809, but the point is disputed by John Van Meter, son of tho first original settler, whoso birth dates in ISOII,

This farm claims the silo of tho first Bohool-houae, put up in 1808, Tho second Bohool-houso was hnilt on the Cameron farm, in 1815, The first aohool-teachcr was William Loe; tho second, John Laughlin. The first teacher in tho Cameron school was Alphous Brown, who later held offices in the County.

Joshua Beer was tho early preacher, - a Presbyterian, - and used to preach at Downing's house. Among the church-members were Peter Moltice, David Silver, James Hewitt, and Mary A. Bcatty. Tho Presbyterians united with tho Lutherans, whoao first preaohor was Rev. Mr. Wngcnholt?,. lo build their first ohurch. Tho first Methodist meetings were held at tho house of Morgan Van Mooter.

Tho first marriage was that of Hugh D.iwning to Mary Hibbitt, on May 13, 1813. Julin Laughlin, in 1813, built tho first cabin on ground upon which Joseph Handlin laid out the village of Waynesburg, and had tho plat recorded in 1814, The same year Daniel Shaeffor bought the lands and unsold lots of Handlin,

James A. MoCluro established the first tannery in tho township. Job Allen oanio lo Waynesburg in 1810, and began blaeksmithing. In 1817, Henry Pickard began sbuomaking at Iho same plaec. Frederick A. Boogol, in 1819, did tho first tailoring ; generally tho people wove their own cloth and made up their own clothing, and ho for whom the tailor made up clothing was upper quality. Tho following gives pioneers in other occupations : grist-mill by John Brown, saw-mill by Joseph Handlin, in ltil7, which was at a later date converted into a woolenmill by John Cbaddook ; hotel. keeper, Daniel Shaoffor; store, Handlin and Barnard Mahon. First Waynesburg school-tcachor was John Alexander; second, Alpheus Drown. The first burial in graveyard at Waynesburg was in 1818, tho body of Philip Shncffer.

SOLDIERS OF 1812 from Sandy wore James Downing, Jr., Captain; and James Reeves, Benjamin Miller, Benjamin Grcathouse, James Carothers, John Crcighton, Jr., Henry and George Shulln, Robert Thompson and brother.

First Election

FIRST ELECTION. Sandy, Rose, Brown, and Harrison wore united for township affairs, and tho first eleotion has been notiood. Hewitt was tho first justice of tho peace. To Thomas McCall, a settler in 1818, wo are indebted for much of Sandy's history. Wayneaburg, in the southeoat part on tho Tuscarawas Railroad, a branch of tho Cleveland and Pittsburg Railroad, is quite a flourishing town. There are four churches, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Disciple. Tho Union school enrolls one hundred and seventy-eight pupils. Magnolia is a village near tho County lino. This township contains but twenty sections, tho balance having been taken to form Carroll in 1»32 and 1833. Tho name waa suggested from tho aandy loam, a fertile and highly productive soil. There is in the township good limber, fine atone and coal quarries, and all the elements of comfort and progress.

Source changes here: from History of Stark County, with an Outline Sketch of Ohio, by Perrin, William Henry, D. 1892? Ed, published 1881; 61,017 words in this source stream.

Sandy Township

(^ANDY TOWNSHIP, the most easterly of lO the southern tier of the townships of Stark County, is situated in loni;itute 4(P 15' west from Washington, and hitiltide 40- 12' north. It is watered by a system of small stieanis (liiding their source in Osnaliurg and Canton Townships and flowing south into Uig Sandy Creek, a tributar}- of the Tuscarawas River. The names of these minor streams are as follows, viz.; Little Sandy Creek, which is the most considerable in size, takes its name from the general character of the land through which it flows. It occupies the eastern portion of the township, and its waters were made to do good service in early times, to drive several saw and grist mills, and at Waynesburgh a woolen factoiy was operated by it until within the last decade. Indian Kun. which derives its name from the fact that its banks were a favorite campingplace for the untamed sons of the forest, who made this neighborhood either home or hunting-ground, flows through the center of the township. Its waters were utilized as power for a small saw-mill, on the land now ov>'ncd by Jefferson J. Welker. A few decaying timbers is all that remains of this pioneer enterprise.

Hypocrite Hun is saitl to have taken is name by genend consent from the personal characteristics of a man whose name it formerly bore. There was once a saw-mill on its banks, but all these smaller mills have given place to more improved establishments at Magnolia and Waynesburgh, where the Big Sandy, having gathered to herself the waters of the two former .streams, forces them, with her own current, through the wheels of a more modern structure, accomplishing with improved saws, buhrs and processes, a much greater and better work than before the uuiver.sal Yankee, with his tarnel imi)roveraents," came this way. The land of Sandy Township is remarkably fertile, the hills being generally a rich clay loam, and the plains and valleys alluvial loam, producing abundantly all the crops common to this latitude, of quality generally much above the average of perfection.

The earl3- settlers in -Sandy" found noble forests of oaks, ash, elm. walnut, chestnut, hickory, sycamore, linn and other valuable woods occupying the higher lands of the towhship, while '- tlie plains " were covered with .young oaks, growing up amongst rank prairie grass. These hitter lauds, now our best and most valuable farms, were not sought after bj' many of the earliest settlers, being deemed the repositories of agues and fevers unlimited, besides the hills were found abounding in springs of pure water, near and toward which all things seemed to attract.

The official organization of Sandy Township took place at Canton on the ICth of March, 18oy, and, as then constructed, it contained five sections north and south, and six sections east and west - in all thirty sections - and it remained of this size until January 1, 1833, when the Legislature having passed an act erecting the county of Carroll, two rows of sections were taken from the east side of the township, with Rose. Brown and Harrison Townships (then a part of Stark), to help form the new county. This circumstance does not seem to have been a matter of such importance as to gain a record in the books of the Township Trustees of that date, to which the writer has access. An interesting item in this old book is a record of the financial situation on March 5, 1832, the last settlement l)efore Sandy gave her ten sections to Carroll County. It is as follows :

Of the early officers of Sanrly Township, the writer has not ijeen alile to find complete records. The first election was lield at the house of Isaac Van Meter, near where Joseph Fiickinger's residence now stands, but what officers were elected does not appear in the old records of the township now extant. The oldest book in existence, so far as known, being a Township Clerk's book, bearina; date June 16, 1818, James Hewitt was the first Justice of the Peace, antl elections were often held at his house, which strjod in what is now Brown Township, Carroll Co,, on land owned by William Denny Robertson, south of the Cleveland & Pittsburgh Railway, For the following story of the first coming of permanent settlers, we are indebted to the graphic pen of Hon, John (t, Croxton. of Canal Dover, Ohio, who was for many years a resident of this township, and was well acquainted with many of its sturdy pioneers, Mr, Croxton's wonderful memory of names and dates is so well known in tills community as to make him an acknowledged authority. Like all good story-tellers, he begins at the beginning, and his story shall not be spoiled by abridgement. He says :

Jefferson County was the tiftli county in the then "Northwest Territory," It was created liy (4(iv. St, Clair, July 29, 1779, its ori.dnal limits including the country west of Pennsylvania and the Ohio River, and east and north of a line from thi' nnmth of the Cuyahoga River, siuitliwiinlly to tlie MuskiiiL'- um River, The town of Steul)en\ ille was laiil out in 1798, as the county seat, l)y Bezaleel Wells and the Hon. James Ross, of Pittsburgh, and here the first land office, for the sale of Government lands in the Northwest Territory, was established. Canton was laid out in 18t)6, by this same Bezaleel Wells, who had previously entered the land on whicli the town was located and the fractions of land aroimd the lake, west of the town, now known as Myer's Lake, Wells opened the first road or trail from the Ohio River to Canton, which trail or roa.l, as it soon became, passed through the whole lengtli of S.Hiily Township, and this was the first "wliil. liiaii'^ trail" from the Ohio River that crossed I h(.- nil 1 Indian or Tuscarawas trail, which, at this point, ran in a westerly com-se along the valley of the Sandy, As the means were not at hand for making roads along the sides of hills, they went straight over them, and as the hill at the" place where Wayncsburgh uow stands was too steep for safe descent, the party returned to what is known as the old Fox farm, now the property of Mr, Gustavus Deringer, and turned west, through the old Beatty, Boory and Elsass farms, and pas.sed through the plains, on the east line of Capt. James Downing's farm, and then pa.ssed on to the old Jlottice farm, now owned by Creighton Rodgers, Esq,, on the present road from Waynesburgli to Canton, Capt, Downing then lived across the Ohio River, in Virginia, opposite the mouth of Yellow Creek, Having had some difficulty as to the title of his property, he concluded to l<-;ive it and settle in the lieautifiil valley of Big Sandy, whose fertile plains and grand forests liad pleased him mightily when he was serving tlic Government as a 'ranger,' in 1793. He acc(iriliu;;l\ i aine and entered a quarter section of land on llie lieton'-iiamed road, and built him a fine log eabiii house, and moved into it. He set about the improvement of his land, entertained travelers and traded with the Indians, who were, at that time, quite numerous. This was in 1805, The following year, Mr. James Laughlin, a brother-in-law to Downing, and his two sons-in-law, Isaac Miller and Benja.inin ('ni>|)y eaiiie also from Vir.ginia. Laughlin enlend land on lie' same road, the farm lieing now known as I In- Bihuv farm. Miller chose the west side of the creek, close to where the village of Magnolia now stands, and opened a house of entertainment, and kept a ferry boat to take emigrants across Sandy Creek. He built a tollbridge, also, which was the first bridge ever built across the Sandy, This bridge was built in 1814. A man named Jo.seph Handlon, who entered the land now owned by James Boyd, laid out a town in the plains, near where Mr. James Boyd's house now stands. He called the town Hamburg, but he seems to have been mistaken as to the needs of the times, for the town is no more. In 1814, Handlon had the "Bethlehem road," as this first road was called, straightened, from the old Fox farm through to Peter Mottice's land.

The jurisdiction of the Justice of the Peace of th(^ township of Sandy then extended over what is now Rose and Harrison Townships, of Carroll Counlv. Earlv after ('apt. Downinirand his friends eame Peter Mottiee. Beattv. Ilililiiis, Reeves. William Knotts. Van Meters. Handlon. Brown, f'reightons, etc. In August. 1812. when Gen. Hull had surrendered all our armies in the West and North to the British, jmd there was no organized force to keep the Indians in check, there came to the "Sandy" settler.* a report that the (Jarver settlement, southwest of Canton, was all killed, anil that 400 Indians were in the North Bend of Sandy Creek. The consternation amonj; the pioneers was terrible: war in its most civilized form was terrible to think of, but war and possible capture, by so relentless and barbarous an enemy, stnu k terror to the souls of even the sturdy woodsmen of the valley. All looked to Capt. Dowtiing as a leader, and he was not found wanting. He gave orders for a gatlieriug of the elans, with all the arms and munitions of war available, and directed the women to hide with the children in the corn-fields. Downing, with his three sons and two sons-in-law and si.\ty stalwart pioneers, armed in all .sorts of ways, marched in single tile to meet the enemy, passing <ui their way through win re Sparta is uhk situated, to the summit between that place and the Betlileliein .settleniciil. now called Nevarre. Here they heard shooting, and Capt. Downing called his men together and ordered, -- Now boys, double (|uick, and strike them with a dash!" and they charged v.aliantly across the ridge, oidy to tiiid another ]iaity of whites who, like themselves, were hunting for I lie 4110 warlike red-skins, and not finding them, were shooting at a mark. One of Downin'j's party, William Kiiotts. used to tell that he ha<l had ma-ny a fight, -'tisty-cuff," as he called it. aiul thought it nothing but fun, but this Indian fighting with guns was a different matter; that when the old Captain ^avethe orders to "'strike 'em with a dash," and all felt sure the Indians were just ov<t the hilltop, he thought of Hannah and the children, and moved forward with the rest, but "had never felt such a ' wolloping' of his heart in all his life." During that same fall. James Downing, Jr., organized a conii>any of troops, and was elected its Captain, and marched to the front. The regiment to which the company was assigned encamped at Wooster on Christmas Day. and named the bivouac "Camp Christmas," thence they marched to Fort Meigs, at which place and Fort Stevens, they wintered. Returning home with his men at the end of the war. he entered the land adjoining his father, now owned by Jacob Painter, Ksq. He man"ie(l Miss Nancy Hewitt, of Virginia, aiui cleared up a fine farm, on which he inclosed the family burying ground in a fine stone wall, where the remains of himself and wife, his father and mother and other relatives are interred.

The first white ainiy that ever passed through Sandy Township traveled by the way of the Tuscarawas trail and whs the command of Gen. Bouquet, who marched frcm old Fort Dn(|uesne, now Pittsburgh. Penn., and came bj- way of the Little Beaver Biver, and carried his boats across the simimit at Ilanoverton, brought them down the Sandy Creek into the Tuscarawas, up which they tiaveled to the Akron summit, and thence across into the Cuyahoga and thence by the lake to Sandusky. This was as early as 176"-\ In 1778. Gen. Mclnto.sh came bv the same route, without boats, to Port Laurens, wliere Bolivar now stands, left a small force and returned to Fort Mcintosh, at Beaver. The force at Fort Laurens was left under command of Maj. Gibson.

William Hewitt aiul .John Hewitt, now liviiii; in Waynesburgli, ai"e sons olMaines Hewitt, who came into the terriloi"y, afterward Sandy Township, but now part of Bi"owii Township, ('an"oll County, and cntei"ed land in 1807. Hewitt's first cabin w"as built near the line of the ('. & P. R. K., as befoi"e stated, and in this rough, but as we shall see, iiospitable liome, on the olst of January, 18()i), William Hewitt was born, and still lives to claim the iionoi" of being the first white child born in the township. Here also Joiin Hewitt was born. An incident of pioneer life, which occiii"red at Hewitt's, is so fully illtisti"ative of the social life of the advance guard of our pi"esent civilization, that wc recoi"d it as we gathered it fi"oni Jlr. William Hewitt, whose well-told tales of those elder daj"s ai"e the delight of all who are so fortunate as to hear him.

In March. 1821, the neighliors w"ere invited to attend what w"as then called a '- grubbing frolic," and. of course, lliey attended en )»«.ssc. The mode of invitation to all frolics, and thej" were many, was .simply to give out the fad that such a gathering was to take place, and it was uudci"stood that all who were not on absolutely unfriendly terms with the family were invited, and all were expected to attend, and failure to do so required explanation and a good excuse. Among those who weie present were Capt. James Downing, Robert Thompson. John Reed, J, Harvey Ross, John Ross. James Bi"Othei"S, TiOvy Brothers, Isaac Brothers. Simon Shook, Solomon Shook, Jonas Baum, Conrad Stull, .\dain Kcefer, John MeCall. The work in the grub patch being completed and supper about ready, and everybody merry and mellow with good humor and good whisky, an event took place wliich was destined to have a strong infiuence on the future of the neighborhood. It was no less an afl'air than the arrival of Denny Robertson, James Robertson. John Robertson and families, whose numerous descendants are to-day among our most respected citizens. Denny Robertson and family, and perhaps James also, accepted an invitation to stay all night at Hewitt's, while John Robertson passed on to his cabin in Rose Township.

ing at a mark was abandoued. Levy Brothers, ruounted on Hewitt's old mare " Tibb," was dispatched up the creek after Tom Tidball, the fiddler. The boys struck out in every direction after the fair daughters of Sandy, and the frolic and the new arrival were jointly celebrated by a rousing dance, until the l)reaking day gave warning that the more serious concerns of life demanded attention. Then breakfast dispatched, the new-comers were escorted to their new iiome on the farm now owned by David Robertson ; nor did these stalwart volunteers quit the place until by aid of ax and arm a cabin grew up in the wilderness, and the emigrant of yesterday was as much a settler as any of his sturdy newfound friends. Among the girls found to lionor this occasion v/ere the Misses Sallie and Ollie Kellogg, Rachel Keefer, Susan, Kate and Bar bary Shook, Katie, Eva, Betsey and Julie Schultzo. Tlie dance, among these lusty revelers, could hardly be described as the " poetry of motion," althougii it was by far too energetic and boisterous to be called prosey. Dressed in suits of home-spun tow linen, shod in cow-hide boots, the honest but unpolished swain led Ibrth a partner blooming in stout brogans and frock of linsey-woolsej\ all innocent of frills and plaits, but whose radiant, ruddy smile, born of good humor and good health, made ample amends for the lack of what, too often in these later days, is little less than sickening affectation, both as to dress and manners. The music (?) of -' Monnaie Musk," " Chase the Squirrel," " Peel the Willow ' and other lively tunes, inspired an energy of action and a business-like execution tliat would command attention, if not admiration, in a fashionable ball-room of 1881.

Along with James Hewitt came John Reed, Sr., and his son, James Reed, and John Creigliton, a nephew of Hewitt. John Reed's post(^rity are yet residents of Malvern. The nearest neighbor was Isaac Van Meter whose cabin stood just at the top of the hill where Market street, of Waj'nesburg, descends toward the C. & P. Railroad. Moses Porter lived at what is now Malvern Hewitt and his company cleared out a field, planted and harvested corn, seeded the ground in wheat, and returned to MeKe3'Sport, Penn., to winter, and while there Hewitt married fjlizabetli Thompson, and. in March, 1808, with his brother, John Hewitt, and William Tliompson, returned to staj'.

beside a small stream just west of where James A. Hewitt's brick house now stands in Brown Township, left in the fall of 1811, warnmg the people to leave before tliey returned, for they would then l)e on tlie war-path. Mr. William Hewitt remembers the coming of two squaws to his father's house just before ,they left, to sell baskets made of split ash-wood, and that each alternate strip of wood was colored red. The price asked for the baskets was that the basket chosen be filled with corn meal. Upon another occasion, two Indians came into the front yard at Hewitt's house and gave tlie people a l)ad scare ; they were named Capt. Beaver Hat and Capt. Pipe, the former drew his tomahawk and flourished it over young William's head, then laughing at his fright, took the boy up in his arms and said, " Beaver Hat. good Injun ; me no hurt white man's jjapoose. ' Beaver Hat claimed to have been at Braddock's defeat, and that he had fired six times at Washington, who rode a white horse, and, though he was a good shot, could not hit him ; then said, -' Man on white horse, mighty big medicine-man."

In 1812, Fredrick Baum and his son, Jonas Baum, the father of William Baum. a wellknown citizen of Sandy Township, came and entered land ; Solomon and Simon Shook and Adam Keifer, also Phillip Schultze, Conrad Boyer, Conrad Stull, Samuel Kimraell and Henr\' Bon.brak. The father of tlie present numerous Sicafoose family was also a very early settler on the land now owned by Benjamin Sicafoose. Henry Elson, Sr.. f\Uher of the good-natured shoemaki:r of the same name, whom two generations of children of the village of Waynesburg have known as a universal friend, came to Stark County in 1812, and settled first at Bethlehem, and a little later moved to what is now known as the Kintig farm. Henry Elscm tells the writer tliat he remembers coming to Pool's store, in the then village of Hamburg, after tobacco for his father as early as 1815. His father paid $1.25 per bushel for corn in 1812 ; the corn had been brought in a keel-boat from Marrietta 1)3' Edward Nelson, of Kendal, near what is now Massillon. Mr. Robert Nelson, so well known as a contractor and generally successful business man, was a son of Edward Nelson, and son-in-law of Henr3' Elson.

Sand3' Township was, in the earl3' days of its histoiy, infested with snakes to an extent that made it very dangerous to go about at certain seasons of the year ; there were numerous dens of rattlesnakes, and instances are related of hundreds of these reptiles having been killed from a single den in a season ; one of the most notable of these was situated near Capt. Downing's Spring.

One of the most thrilling incidents in the earl}- historj- of Stark ("o,. which occurred near tlie present village of Minerva, deserves a record here ; because at least three of the participants, several }'cars later, became residents of Sand}' Township, and two lie buried beneath its green sward. We have the story from Hon. John 0. Croxton, who gleaned its particulars from Lsaac .Miller, one of the chief actors in the afl'air.

It was in the latter part of March or early in April, 1793. that Gen. Anthony Wayne's army broke camp at Legion Fields (now Economy), I'cnn.. and proceeded down the Ohio River.

As a precautionar}' measure, spies or scouts were employed to range at will tlirough the territory north and west of the river, whose duly it was to traverse the conntrj- and report promptl}- anj- unfavorable condition of affairs at certain stated rendezvous.

The smoke of their camp-fire had betrayed their whereabouts to a party f)f about twenty Wyandot Indians, who proceeded, after careful recognizance, to attack their unsuspecting foes. To make sure work, the Indians divided their force into two parties - one scjuad going south of Clear Fork to a conceale<l position on what is now the farm of Dr. J. C. flostetter, while the other party went further south into the timber toward Still I'ork.

Downing liad just made a remark expressing surprise that during the last day thej- had discovered no -signs" of Indians, when Cuppy sprang to his feet, declaring, with an oath, that there were Indians. He had discovered them dodging about in the Hostetter plains. Miller and Foulke picked up their guns and made for the enemy, Miller in tiie advance, when the Indians fell back toward the timber. Foulke understood their tactics, and called to MiHer to retreat at once, for as soon as the Indians would reach timber they would eacii take to a tree and shoot down their foes at leisure.

Returning to the camp they found it deserted, the second parly of redskins having attacked the other tin-ee scouts in their absence. When attacked. Downing favored sticking together, but Diliow sang out every man for himself, and ran off down the blufl' toward the of Yellow Creek, on Tumblesou's Run, at the farm of Jacob Neesly. They were men peculiarly adapted to the task in hand, by reason of known skill in woodcraft, and the fact that the two last named had been captured in boyhood by the Wyandot Indians, and grew to manhood among tliem. They escaped to their white friends but a short while before the time we write of, and had taken service under old " Mad .Vnlhony. "

I'pon a certain morning, these scouts were preparing a breakfast of wild turkey which had been shot the day b(!fore, as had been also a deer, the skin of which Capt. Downing proceeded to dress while the fowl was cooking, improvising a '-graining knife" by driving the point of his hunting-knife into a stick, and thus securing a double-handled affair which, in tlu^ aliseucc of a iK^tter tool, did good service. Miller and Foulke were acting as cooks, Diliow was gathering dry wood, and Cuppy was. as he afterward told it, "sittin root of a tree standing guard."

Downing soon discovered that whenever they stopped the leader of the Indians would jump and howl and throw his arms about and make a great display of himself to attiaet attention, while the others would drop into the tall grass and run forward on their hands and knees to gain on them. Finally Downing, by a lucky shot, scut (his leader or chief to howl and dance in Merrin parts." as the old Captain was wont to express it years afterward. Cuppy kept near Downing until they came up with Diliow, who had gotten into an awkward scrape by pulling the knot of a handkercliicl', which he had about his neck, in the wrong direction, and, being unable to loose it, was almost suffocated. Downing tore away the handkerchief, and the three ran on to a large thorn-tree, where Downing, who, being a very large man and almost exhausted by the race, at the i stopped, and declared that he would go no further, but staj- there and kill as many as he could before they got his scalp. At this Junetiive, Miller and Foiilke got back to the deserted camp as related above, and heard the firing of their friends down the bliitf. Miller had the most unbounded confidence in his own ability to outrun the whole party of red men, and determined to save the party by his fleetness if he could ; .so he gave a series of bantering yells which met quick answer, and his powers were at once put to the test, for the whole gang, as if by preconcerted signal, turned and followed him. Coming to the creek, he gave a desperate leap, clearing the stream, he said he believed, at one liound. . He gave a glance back, and, seeing an Indian coming down the one bank as lie went up the other, he exclaimed ; Now legsferit. ' and bounded off. He ran perhaps two miles without venturing to look back, when he discovered that he was alone, and no pursuer in sight. He at once struck out for the river rendezvous.

Tlie Indians, in relating the story of tliis chase afterward, said : ''White man run like hell. " On his way to the river, Miller slept all night in the woods under a fallen chestnut tree, the site of which was known for many years, but is now too much in dispute to \h' located.

Foulke hid himself in the woods near whore IV'kiu now stands, and saw the Indians bury tlieir dead the next day. He said there were at least two killed, one being buried near the present site of Mr. Thomas Jackson's residence in Minerva.

In October, 1793, this same five scouts, Dillon, Miller, Downing, Ouppy and Faulk, made an excursion, passing through this township to a point within about six miles of the villages of the Huron Indians, on the Huron River, in the present county of Huron, this State ; they here attacked an Indian camp ; the time chosen was at daj'break as soon as they couhl see the sights on their rifies. One of the Indians, becoming uneasy from some cause, took up his gun and came out and stood between the Rangers and the camp fire. F'aulk said he would shoot him. and did so, when they rushed upon the camp and killed two more Indians. The Indian whom Faulk had first shot was not yet dead, but that gentleman declared that " he had begun and he'd finish him." so he drew his tomahawk, buried it the Indian's brain, scalped him, and the scouts returned to their rendezvous on the Ohio River.

Thus it was, that savage Indians were pursued to the death by scarcely less savage white men, in order to plant the present civilization, which is shaken to ils center b}' a deed of blood that, in those daj-s of yore, would have hardly been deemed worthy of a passing notice.

Among our most respected and best known pioneer citizens now living is Mr. Jacob Glessner. Mr. Glessner was born about 170-t or 1795, and his twin brother, Jonathan Glessner, is yet living in Indiana. Mr. Glessner's mind is (juite clear, and he relates manj- interesting incidents of early times. He came to Oliio in 1818, and worked at his trade, that of a cabinet-maker, near New Lisbon ; here he took a job of laying a large floor, and was to receive in payment a lot of produce, which, when counted up at the prices prevailing at the time, came to $9. This, considering that by dint of lively work he did the job all in one day, was deemed a remarkable day's wages. He, however, had to hire a man to take it to town, and when he got there and paid his teamster, he hail not money enough left to buy a hat, which he much needed, and had to go into debt for the balance. All this was bad enough, but when the hatter became alarmed about his pay and sued for the amount due him, Mr. (rlessner began to conclude that he had better work ff>r less wages and take better

About the year 1838, there lived near what was known as the Baker or BIcIntosh Mill, on Little Sandy, a cooper by the name of Jesse Evans. He was, in the main, a peaceful man, and remarkable for qualities of intelligence above his neighbors. He had a son William, who, at a law-suit between his father and one of the Creighton family, was compelled to give evidence unfavorable to his father. This led to a fierce quarrel, and the next morning William was missing. Suspicion was aroused, and search was at once instituted, but the young man had disappeared utterly. Parties were organized and the mill-dam dragged, the woods scoured in every direction. A place was said to have been found where a struggle had evidently taken place ; hair and blood were found on the bushes and lea\es, :ind ever3'thing pointed to a "murder, foul and most unnatural." Jesse Evans was therefore arrested, charged with the murder of his son. and at the preliminary examination before Ksquire John lloss, a most convincing chain of circumstantial evidence was adduced, and, protesting his innocence, the old man was securely locked up in jail to await a trial at the next term of court. By the time all thi.s had been done, the story, no smaller grown by travel, had reached Clevehmd and found a recoril in the weeklj- papers. Young Evans saw the tale of woe, and hastenecj back to relieve his father from a tlilemma which was likely to find a terrible solution. This incident we have heard related b^' some of our most reliable citizens, and is recorded as one of the remarkable circumstances in our earl^- history. It seems to us a keen commentary upon all cases of conviction on circumstantial evidence only.

In these times, Sandy and adjoining townsliips supported what is now an unknown occupation. William Mays, father of the venerable Andrew Mays, for many ^ears a citizen of Waynesburg, and grandfather of Madison M. Mays, Esq., was a traveling shoemaker. He went from house to house as he was wanted, making up shoes for the family. Mr. John Uewit has still in his possession a shoemaker's hammer, which once belonged to this knight of the last."

Travel from one part of the township to another, now a matter of so much ease, was, in the young days of the settlement, a (juestion of serious moment, as will be realized upon reading the following incident : Mrs. Miles, a resident of the northeastern portion of the township, had occasion to visit a neighbor who lived in the south part of I'ike Township. .\t some point on the journey, which, carrying a young babe, she began after dinner, expecting to accomplish it easily and return before dark, the woman lost her wa^', and wamlered about in hopeless bewilderment until the darkness came on and night closed in to comph^te her misery. With the gloaming came the dismal bowlings of the wolves, which were numerous, and ever and anon the flashing of fiery eyes amongst the underlirush increased her alarm, until, terrorstricken, she hurriedly climbed into the branches of a friendly chestnut tree. This was the signal for an outbreak of howling rage amongst the cowardly wolves, and as if by magic the woods swarmed with them, snarling and fighting within a few feet of her beneath the tree. She feareil she might in some way drop her babe, and so she tied it up securely in her apron, and swung it to a limb of the tree near her. Then she made herself as comfortable as possible and awaited patiently for da^Might. It was a weary wait, but the dawn finally came, and with it the tormentors left, and she climbed down to find that she had lodged in a tree within a hundred yards of the very cabin she was seeking, and whose occupants came out in the morning to see what the wolves were making such a dreadful noise about the night before. Mrs. Miles was escorted safely home, and lived to tell to her grandchildren in Iowa how their mother had slept snugly- hammocked in a chestnut tree.

and the result is, that its historian has no great or startling event to record beyond such as had an ecjual effect upon the country at large. Her people have been ever prompt in their response to calls of patriotism or luimanity. In the hour of his need, there were always those to be found ready to minister to the needs of the fugitive from bondage, and when the hour came and America's great apostle of Liberty commanded liOose him and let him go I " there was but a corporal's guard to be found in " Little Sandy' who failed to respond with a hearty approval. Incident to the war of the rebellion, much might be written of the experiences of its citizens who participated in that struggle. A complete roll of her volunteers has not been kept, and hence, after sixteen years, it would be impossible to give the names of all who went from the township. As an entire chapter in this work is devoted to the military historj' of the county, we will make no further allusion to it here.

Peter Mottice kept the earliest regular tavern in tht; township on his farm, now the propertjof J. Creighton Rogers, Escj., two miles north of Waynesljurgh. .Mr. Mottice kept this tavern as early as 181S, and perhapsayear before, but Capt. John Beatty, now of Carrollton, was sent to Mottiee's tavern in 1818, with a sack of oats to sell, and he says the house was crowded with travelers. Mr. Mottiee kept this place until 1829, when he sold it and a quarter section of land to Robert Hamilton, who moved from New York City in 1830, and kept the tavern for several years, and then moved to Wavnesburgh, where he continued in the business, and was one of the most popular landlords in Ohio, as well as one of the most widely known. He died in 187(5, highly respected and deeply regretted. The Hamilton House is still the property of Mr. Hamilton's children,

Moses Porter kept a regular tavern on the present site of Malvern, and an old pear tree planted by him is still in flourishing health. He was there as early as 1807.

Daniel Shaeffer started a hotel in Waynesburgh in 1816, in the house now owned by the heirs of Daniel Glessner. His house was a noted one, and was the headquartfrs of the Democratic party of that day. It was in this house that the first political meeting of the township was held during the Adams-Jackson campaign. Robert Creighton was the Whig advocate and William Hammers was the champion of Democracy. In 1831, Mr. Shaetfer built the brick building which stood for fifty years on the southwest corner of Main an.d Lisbon streets, and which at the time of this writing is being razed to the ground to give place to a more modern structure being built by Messrs. G. W. Elsass & Bro.

The first saw-mill in the township was built by Robert McCall, father of Thomas McCall, Esq., late of Sandy Township, but now of Canton, about the year 1815, near the present residence of JlcClure Boyd. Esq. The first gristmill was built by William Hardesty, where Malvern now stands, in 181G. Mr. Hardesty took his surplus stock of mill products to Cleveland by wagon. It required a week to make the trip and sometimes a part or all of Sunday. The first grist-mill in what is now Sandy Township was built by Jehu Brown, an early settler and a remarkable man in many respects. He was a fine mechanic, a preacher and a politician, but of these latter trades more anon. He built a grist-mill, saw-mill and woolen-mill a short distance down the creek from where Messrs. Sherrod, Wilson & Co.'s fine steam luill now stands. The first distillery was built and operated by Daniel Shaeflfer, near the spring just south of the present residence of

Alexander Robertson. A large thorn tree on the west side of the road from Waynesburgh to Canton marks the site of the first tannery'. It was built and operated by James McClure. The next was kept by George Beatty, on the site of the Boory Tannery of the present time. The first coal mine in Sandy Town.ship was opened by Samuel Allerton, the blacksmitii. near where Jlr. J. H. Ross is now operating a successful mine. There are at this writing, ' 1881,' eight mines in successful operation.

The Tuscarawas Indian trail passed througii the township from east to west, keeping generally near the banks of Big Sand3' Creek. It crossed the Little Sandy, a short way north of where McCall's saw-mill stood, and crossed Big Sandy at an easy fording on the lands ncjw owned by Jacob Painter, and thence continued on the south side of the Sandy, (Jnadenhutten, in Tuscarawas County, being its objective point. This trail seems to have been a popular route, a regular trunk line " amongst the untamed traveling public of those pre-Caucasian days. It was of quite narrow gauge, being not over eighteen inches wide, but its bed was beaten down bj' moccasined feet until it was two or three inches lower than the surrounding ground. There never was a toll road in the township. The bridge across the Sandy just north of Waynesburgh, was for a short timea toll bridge. The roads of this township, passing as they do, over sand and gravel have not required piking.

We have not been able to fix the date of the establishing the first stage or hack line, but it was at least as early as 1830 that a through line of good stages was put upon the road from Canton to Steubenville. The steep hill south of Waynesburg was the scene of several accidents, which, though very startling, w-ere none fatal to human life. On one occasion, the brake upon the wheels of the stage gave way, just as it was applied at the top of the hill. The weight of a full load of passengers drove the stage upon the horses, and away the}' went, pell-mell, down the hill. Thedriver, Abe Hall, a famous '- whip " of the route, was on the seat. He gathered the lines carefully, braced himself as best he coidd, and applied the whip sharply, keeping the horses ahead of the coach. By the time the level was reached, the team was in a frenzy of excitement, and they dashed down the street at a terrible pace. The horses were in the habit of turning in at Hamilton's hotel, and the driver realized that it would be imiJObsil)lo to stop them otherwise than to iriiide tlieni into the inclosed barnyard. The iiotel people saw the stage coming, opened wide the gate, and by taking all the circuit the street afforded, the driver managed to guide the terror-stricken beasts safely throusjh the gate, and landed safely about as badly scared a lot of passengers as ever alighted from a stage-coach.

The completion of the Tuscarawas Branch of the Cleveland & Pittsburgh Raih'oad was a death blow to this primitive mode of travel, as well as to the Sandy & Beaver Canal, which was commenced through the tonnsiiip in 1833. Work progressed until tiic financial panic of 1837 locked the wheels of that, as well as of most other enterprises, and its building was suspended until 1845. when new capital was invested and the canal completed, in 1849, from the Beaver River to Bolivar, where it connected with the Ohio Canal. Its years were few, however, for, as before remarked, the railroads ca-iii' along by its coui-se. in 1854, and it yielded to destiny.

.\boul the spring of 1852, a hack and mail route was established to connect New Philadelphia with Bayard Station. These places were the termini of the then proposed railroad, which on the 1st day of January. 1854, ran it-s first train into Waynesburg. This hack line was owned and operated by Thomas Cannon. John Karn. of Waynesl)urgh, and John Stevenson, now one of the oldest and most popular ('onductors on the Cleveland & I'ittsbnrgh Railroad, were drivers. It was on the first regular trip of this hack line that the first daily newspaper came to Waynesburg. The paper was The Fui-nsf i^iti/. pnblislied at Cleveland. As the railroad grew longer the hai'k line grew shorter, and its history closed with the completion of the railroad. Several of our citizens took a lively interest in the building of the railroad. Robert Nelson and John W. Mays built the mile whi(;li passes the village of Waynesburg. and 1. .V. Ross had the contract for the mile next east ; both parties made money by their contracts. The work at this point was heavy, and was conducted to the end with but a single serious accident, which residted in the crippling for life of Mr. William (ilessner, who still lives to tell the story of his sufferings. Sandy Township lays claim to a very early railroad enterprise, which was the result of the mechanical skill of Jehu Brown, whose name has already been mentioned. It was in 1833 or 1834, that it became necessary to transport a large numl)er of heavy stone from David Reed's stonequarry to what has been for years known as Seaburg's or Elson's dam. To do this conveniently, Mr. Brown, who had charge of the worlt, contri\ed what w<}uld to-day be voted a good, substantial railroad, of three-foot gauge. It had its embankments, bridges, trestle works and all in order, save the iron rail. The rails were of maple wood, fastened with wooden pins. The motive power was a mule. The time made was not remarkafile. but the work was well done, and the road answered fidly the purpose for which it was built, it was about half a mile in length, and was considered a wonderful piece of work by the rural inhabitants of that day, one of whom gave us the above account. Not a trace remains of this early and successful railroad enterprise.

Sandy Township has not t)een lacking in political preferment, and as the years have rolled awa}-. several of her citizens have licen chosen to fill positions of honor and trust. Of the first grand jury ever called in the county, Peter Mottice w:is an honored member. The first man of Sandy to bear legislative honors was Roljcrt Mef'all. father of the venerable and respected Thomas McCall, of Canton ; the next was Jehu Brown, and next. Dr. James Welsh, of Waynesbnrgh. The dates when these gentlemen served the county at our State Capitol, the writer is not able to fix from any data at hand. Thomas C. Snyder, of Waynesbnrgh, was elected in 1 879. At the county seat, the following men have held office during the time indicated : Gen. John Augustine was Sheriff, 1819 to 1825 ; he also served in the Senate and House of Representatives at Columbus. Timothy Reed, Sheriff, 182() to 1827; Peter Mottice, Commissioner. 1825 to 1829 ; James Downing. Commissioner. 1833 to 1835; Robert II. McCall. Treasurer. 1841 to 1844; Thomas Mc- Call. Auditor, 1858 to 1859. Amongst those who served as Justices of the Peace in Sandy Township, are the following : (When known, the number of years of service is given.) James Hewitt, first in office ; Peter .Mottice. at least 24 years ; Gist. Clinefelter ; John Ross ; Andrew Hamilton ; Michael Welker, 3 years ; J. S. Brownewell, 6 years ; A. B. Silver, 3 years ;

John C. Moug, 20 years; William Raedel, 15 years (iti office) ; Richard Netz, 3 3ears ; John K. Bowers, 3 years ; Thomas C. Snyder : Charles H. Slutz, in office.

The village of Waynesburgh was laid out in 1815 by Joseph Handlou, who had previously laid out Hamburg, north of the creek. It is believed that Daniel Shaeffer, the father of the once numerous Shaefi'er family in the village, assisted Handion. It is certain that these two men had very intimate business relations, for a short time afterward, Shaetfer be(uxme Hand- Ion's assignee, and in 1818, purchased the land which Handion had entered, receiving the warrant therefor from James Muuroe. President, on the 21st of January. 1810. The first house vras the cabin of Isaac Van Meter, which stood, as has been before mentioned, on the bluff, where Market street descends toward the railroad. This cabin was afterward occupied bj' Daniel Shaefler, until he could build for himself

In 1816, Samuel Allerton came to town and started a blacksmith's shop, on the lot now occupied bj- Frederick Mackaman's buildings, on the southeast corner of Main and Lisbon streets. John T. Rice was the first shoemaker, and Henry Wagoner the first tailoi'. Simon Shook was the first cooper ; he had his shop on the lot where L. B. King now resides. The first well ever dug in this town was on the Boegle property, now owned bj- Mrs. Sarah Guinney, and it was located about eightj' feet north of Lisbon street, and fiftj- feet west of Main street. The first regular mail brought to Waynesburgh was carried by Andrew Luckey, of Jefferson County. He traveled on foot from Steubenville to Canton, sixty miles, making the round trip easily in two days, one day each way, once a week. This was about 1825. George Beatty was tlie first Postmaster, and kept the post office on South Main street, in a log house yet standing, just across the alley from where John C. Mong, Esq., now resides. The post office has not changed hands very often. The following persons have held the office : George Beatty, Dr. James Welsh, Dr. Robert H. Mc- Call, Henry Rhoads. George P. Augustine, Robert Hamilton, Robert B. Hamilton, Edward Scott. Mr. William A. Robertson was appointed to the place under Andrew Johnson, but he never removed the office from the care of Mr. Scott.

On the (Jth day of February, 1833, the Legislature of Oliio passed an act, entitled " An act to incorporate the town of Waynesburgh. in Stark County," and on the (5th day of May following, an election was held at the house of Jacob Steiner (now the residence of Jacob Glessner), at which John Koontz and Jacob Steiner were Judges, and Rice Blackford, Clerk, for the purpose of electing officers for the newly made incorporate town. At this election, R. K. Gray, a prominent storekeeper, was chosen Mayor ; Rice Blackford, a hatter, was elected Recorder ; Dr. James Welsh, Daniel Shaeffer, Charles C. Camp, Solomon Koontz and Andrew Hamilton were elected Trustees, as the members of the Village Council were then called.

The first meeting of this board of officers, was held on the 20th day of June, 1833. Its first official act was to elect Andrew Mays, Marshal ; Alexander Mcintosh, Treasurer, and John Koontz, Street Commissioner. Amongst those who have held the office of Mayor, are the following: R. K. Gray. James Welsh, Joseph Doll, John Ross, Gist Clinefelter, J. H. Estep, Robert Jones, nineteen years in succession, and John W, Glessner, present incumbent, who was first elected in 1874. Illustrative of the straits to which the early builders were at times put, we mention the building of a large two-story barn by Joseph Handion. It was the largest structure of the kind in town, and was as well finished as any other hereabouts, but in his whole construction there was not used a single piece of sawed lumber. Doors, door-frames, floors, shingles, everything in the shape of lumber was made by splitting it from trees cut near by. and every nail used, and they were not many, was niade liy the village blacksmith.

The first 'sign-board'' which was hung out in Waj-uesburgh was that of Daniel Shaffer's Hotel, in 1816, and its making and painting was a matter of serious consideration. When the board was finished, it was necessary to send to Canton for a painter, who painted on a black ground in yellow letters the words, "Tavern bj- D. Shaffer. ' It did service for many 3'ears in guiding the weary traveler to comfortable rest. The first pegged shoes and boots made in Wa3'nesburgh were made by a man named Henry Pickard. He made his own pegs, and had considerable trouble introducing pegged work, as people thought the pegs would rot off. The first frame house built in town was the one now owned by Mr. Jacob Glessner. It was built by Andrew Mays. The first and only iron foundr\- Waynesburgli has ever had was established in 184;') by Patrick Call. He removed it from Magnolia to Waynesburgh at the instance of R. K. (iray. who assisted him to some extent. Call sold out in 1847 to Robert Jones. Ksq.. wlio. at this writing, has conducted tile l)usiness for nearly thirty-four years.

The first fire which resulted in serious damage to property was in about IB.'U. A log house, occupied by John T. Rice, which was i situated on the site now occupied by the Hamilton House." It took fire early in the evening, while a congregation was listening to preaching at the residence of John Koontz. The people left the preacher without lienediction, and has- I tened to the assistance of their unfortunate neighbor.

The only brewery the village has had ui) to this time was built by Roger Morledge. . The first serious accident was the scalding to death of Phillip, a son of Daniel Shaffer. The child was watching its father boiling something in a large kettle, out of doors, and in an unguarded moment, fell into the kettle. It died in a few hours, and was the first body buried in the cemetery here.

The first church built in the village, was on or near the site of the present St. I'aui's German Reformed Church, it was a large log structure, and remained unfinished for a long time. It belonged to the Lutheran and (Jerman Reformed societies, and these organizations, having flourished finely, in 1844 built the present brick structure, and continued to worship together in it until 187!l. when they .separated, the Lutheran Society building their present elegant edifice. The next church edifice was built In the Presbyterians. It was situated on the lot next east of West street, and on the south side of Lisljon street. The present First Presbyterian Church was built in lS{i7. when Rev. T. V. Milligan was Pastor. The .Methodists built a brick church about the year 1838, on the east side of the south end of Market street. This gave place, in 1804. to the present church on South Main street. The Disciple or Cliristian " Cliurch was built in 1855 to 1800.

Nelson, granting him the right of way through the streets, to lay pipes, and establish water works. He was prompt in the discharge of his part of the work, and expended nearly $2,000 in building a reservoir and putting down castiron pipes. It was soon discovered, however, that the supply of water from the spring used, was not adequate to the growing demands of the town, during the summer season, and, although the water works are iu running order at this writing, not more than half the inhabitants draw their water supply from this source. On the 8th day of September, 1856, the Council granted Robert Nelson permissieu to sell his water works und franchise to the -'Waynesburgh Joint Stock Water Company," in whose possession they now stan<l. At this writing an ettbrt is being made to have the village build new water works. The inhabitants are much divided in opinion in regard to the matter, aud an injunction, sued out by the opposing party, has brought matters to a standstill, after the expenditure of SI, 000,

On the 15th day of May, 1841, the first ordinance was passed, compelling the la3'ing of proper sidewalks. It created quite an excitement, and it was considered by many that the members of the Council were assuming by odds too much authority.

Of the numerous secret orders popular throughout the county, several have been established in Waynesburg. including Sons of Temperance, ( tood Templars, - Know-Nothings," Union League. Grand Army of the Republic, Freemasons and Odd Fellows. Of these onljthe two latter have an existence.

The following is a list of the business houses of Waynesburgh ; Beans & Elsass, J. Shaefter & Son, Raedel & lilythe, dry goods and groceries ; W. A, Strayer, Charles 11. Slutz. hardware ; Robert Jones, stoves, tinware, foundry and plow works ; L. S. Bonbrak. stoves and tinware : George W. Elsass & Co., groceries and notions ; Lewis Scott, exchange broker ; George W. Burson, Kdward Scott, drugs and stationery; William (Jlessner, furniture store ; L. Scott & Co.. manufacturers of iron-roofing; John W. Glcssner. jeweler : W. H. Kvans, merchant tailor ; William A, Rhoads, tailor ; Christian Grul)er. brewery ; Charles Gruber, drinking saloon ; Christian Elsass, shoemaker and drinking saloon ; John Bangs, barber ; Barnhart Wingerter, nndertakei- aud notions ; Morledge

& Mackaman, grain and produce ; Netz & Myers, clothing and carpets ; Sherrod, Wilson & Co., millers ; G. 15. Belding, cooper ; K. 0. Bekliug, cooper ; James Gibson, stock dealer ; R. B. Hamilton, agricultural implements ; Ed Hamilton, Harry W. Shine, livery stables ; Doty & Troll, carriage makers ; Constantine Derringer, William Wirebaugh, blacksmiths ; H. Sweet, eggs and produce ; Yarger & Gruber, butchers ; L. Klotz. .J. W. McOollum, Henry Elson, shoemakers ; William F. Boory, tannery ; Geo. Bieter, marble-yard ; Marshall & Randal, con fectioners; Mrs. Alice Morledge, bakery ; Josiah Flemming. Elwood Shine, painters ; Chai'les H. Jones & Co., Are insurance ; R. C. Fawcett, attorney and Notary Puiilic ; John C. Mong, attorney and Deputy Probate Judge ; William Raedel, Charles H. Slutz, Justices of the Peace; Mrs. R. Guinney. !Mrs. M. Maeser & Sister, milliners; Miss Louvina Reed. Miss .\da Koontz, dressmakers ; Eincrson Koontz, Henry Casper, harness-makers : Andrew Waggoner, Andrew Derringer & Bro.. stone-masons ; Jacob Piiillippi, B, Monroe, plasterers ; Snyder Bros., builders and brick-makers ; L. B. King, job printer ; Joseph Flickinger. wagon-maker ; W. T. Jackman. dentist ; A. V. Atwell, John W. McCort, G. C. Welch, J. M. Bye, physicians ; Harmon Creighton, butcher ; Corwin Firestone, A. Xewkirk, sawing machines ; A. F. Rhoads, telegraph operator ; Henry W. Rhoads, agent C. & P. R. R.; William A. Robertson, A^lexander Robertson, John Hewitt, farmers ; Hamilton Hotel, by Hamilton heirs ; ^lorledge House," John Shaofl'er.

Magnolia, the second village in the township, was laid out by Ricluird Elson and John W. Smith in the year 1 83^. The line lietween Stark and Carroll Counties divides the village, the portion lying in Carroll County being ofHcially known as Downingville. This part oftlie town was laid out by Isaac Miller, and named in lienor of his son-in-law, James Downing, of wliom the reader has read Ijeforo. During the days of the brief existence of the Sandy & Beaver Canal, Magnolia enjoyed a season of prosperity, which, for a time, justified flattering hopes of future greatness ; but tiie departing canal-boats took away her trade, and for 3'ears she was almost a deserted village, but prosperity is contageons. and, within the last ten years, there lias been a steady growth, which, if not rapid, has been at least substantial, and the traveler of to-day finds

John G. Croxton kept the first store. !<]. J. Barkdoll & (Jo. were the largest general dealers ever in Magnolia. They sold and bought every thing sellable and buyal)le. Mr. Ed Scott, now Postmaster of Waynesburgh, was tlieir chief clerk. Wm. Harkness wasaLsoaprominentstorekeeper. It was with him that William H. Greer, Esq.. one of Magnolia's most successful business men, laid the foundation of his present worth. Isaac Teller was a storekeeper on a smaller scale, and with him John Walser, of Canton, learned the rudiments of business, which he has since so successfully pursued. Messrs. Adams & Chapman were also heavy dealers in general merchandise. Magnolia once had an iron foundry. It was built by Patrick Call, in 1834 or 1835, near the present residence of A. R. Elson. He conducted the business four or five years, and then removed to Waynesburgh as already stated. There are two churches of comfortable style and capacity, belonging respectively to the society of " United Brethern in Christ " and to the " Evangelical Lutheran, N. S."

In the Stark County part of Magnolia are the following business men : W. H. Knotts, agent agricultural implements ; .lacob Wadsworth, harness maker ; A. R. Elson, miller ; Richard Elson, farmer ; Felix blotter, stonemason ; ?>Iathias Koehler, saloon ; Dan'l Klopman, hotel ; John (xregory, hotel. .\. R. El.son's mill, established by Elson tt Smith in 1834, is one of the finest water-power establishments in this part of Ohio. He has saw mill and other woodworkirig machinery, and transacts a very large business.

Of the progress of religion in Sandy Township a whole chapter might be written, and the difficulty with the writer has been, what not to write down ratiier than what to record. The honor of the first preaching is claimed by l)oth the Lutheran and Pi-esbyterian people, but it is likely that Lyman Potter, a missionary of the Presbyterian Church, preached the first sermon to a white congregation, although Elisha McCurdy was a missionary among the Wyandot and Shawnee Indians some years before white settlement. Lyman Potter baptized .fames Hewitt, of Waynesburgh, at the house of Peter Mottice. while he was yet an infant, about 1810. Joshua Beers was the next preacher for the Presbyterians, and about this time a Ijutheran preacher named Wagonholtz came to llie lownsliip and preaclieil at Uowiiing's house, which was open to all comers although J)owning was himself a Presbytei'i'in- The lirst preacher lor the German Reformed Church iicre was named Roilocker. This consircgatioii unileil with the Lutherans, as before stated, in tiie building of the tirst church in Wa^iiesburgh. The Baptist Cliurch had an earl^" and able minister in early times, whose name is already familiar to the reader - Jehu Brown, He was a man of much force of character, and made an impression, however eng;iged in life. In those days, as has been intimated, the practice of dram-drinliing was almost universal, and preachers were not all strangers to the spiritual strength to be derived from the omnipresent bottle. Brown was for many years not an exception to the rule, and it is related that he would go, just before preaching-time to ,Shaefler's tavern, take a full gill of good brandy, and then repair to the grove north of town, now owned by >I. M, Mays, and preach fervently, laying asitle his coat to gain greater freedom of action. He was often eloquent, and always an interesting speaker. He would often dwell at length upon the frailties of humanity, and was wont on such occasions to tell his congregalion to '-doasltell you, and not as I do." He was afterward a convert to the ideas of Alexander Campbell, who held several meetings here, and it is said that after this time he entirely eschewed stimulants and died an earnest advocate of temperance.

The first Methodist meeting was held at the house of either Jlorgan Van .^Ieter or Fred Vanoster, the latter being the lirst class-leader. The first quarterly meeting was hehl in James Allerton's new barn, an<l Joshua Monroe was the Presiding Elder. Tiic quarterly collection amounted to $1.00], The first Methodist preacher who came regularlj- to preach was Ilev. Wcckh', and his sermons are spoken of today by those who were converted through their influence, as savoring strongh- of the fiery terrors of the law. The house of Fred Yaney was also an early preaching place, and herein 1837, the tirst regular society was organized. The first Methodist Church w:is built on land now known as the McCall farm, within the inclosure of the present cemetery, near the residence of J, J, Welker, Esq, This church was known as Wesle}' Chapel, It was replaced in 1807 by a new brick structure, in the vallej' south of the old church, and the name changed to Centenary Church, The lirst society in Waynesburgh had for its first class-leader James H. Rogers, who is now anil has for man}' years been a much respected preacher, being now a member of the the East Ohio Conference.

The German .Methodists, or Albrights, once had a society in the township, and held their meetings at the house of Mr. Camp, on the farm now owned by John Rogers, Esq.

In 1865 there came to Waynesburgh a missionary of the Latter Day Saints, or Mormon Church. He made a few converts, and service was held at the house of Daniel Gauger, whose wife was one of the proselytes to the new faith; but they have passed out of existence.

The followers of Alexander Campbell have had a society here ever since that eloquent divine preached his ideas through this part o:' Ohio. They have a comfortable church at \\'aynesbnrg.

The early preachers had a serious time with their temporal matters. A single instance will illustrate the whole, Joshua Beers' '- subscription list for support " bears record of his pay having been given almost entirely in the products of the farms. An ordinary liberal subscription for the head of a famil}' was $4 to $5 per year, and this, if paid in produce, was to be delivered at Hardesty"s mill at Troy, now Malvern - but all these trials seemed only to fire i the old man's soul to greater etlbrts in the I cause of his chosen Master, and he died in j great peace and full of years, near Hanover, I Columbiana County, Ohio,

The first schoolhouse built in Sandy Township was on the farm of W, H, Knotts, west of Magnolia, in 1809 or 1810, The first teacher here was William Lee ; the next John LuUghlin. The site of the early temple of learning is still discoverable by a mound where the old chimney stood.

The next schooliiouse was built on the farm now owned by J, J, Welker, It was 20x24 feet in size, of rough, round logs, the spac(!S between them filled with "chunks" of wood and "daubed" with mortar of yellow clay. One log was left out all around as a window, and the space filled with greased paper to keep out the cold and let in a little light. The school was a subscription school, and Alpheus Brown was the first teacher. He charged $1.50 per quarter for each pupil, and had from forty to forty-five pupils most of the time. The first schoolhouse in what is now known as Elson's District was built in 1834, of hewed logs, at a total cost of $40. The stove to warm it cost $16 in Canton. The school at Magnolia has always been accounted a good one, and from the small beginning on the Knott's farm has grown to a respectable and useful Union School, with two teachers and modern apparatus and appliances for teacliing.

The Waynesburgh Union School is the outgrowth of a small beginning made in 1816 by Alpheus Brown as teachei-. The first schoolhouse, a log one, stood on Lot No. 50 of the original plat of the town, not far from the site of Odd Fellows Hall. The next house, a frame one, was built near Gibson's Spring, in the southwest corner of lands owned by William F. Boory. The people took only an ordinarj' interest in educational matters until Mr. S. L. Adams, a genuine Yankee schoolmaster, came and took charge of the school. At his hands tbe cause of education received an impetus that has been felt ever since, and step by step advances have been made until the school is surpassed by but few of its size an}- place, and is conducted in a fine two-story brick house with four large rooms. Among those who have served as Principal of this school, including the teachers who served when only one was required, are the following, given as nearly as possible in the order in which they served :

There was an earlj- schoolhouse Ijuilt on Boyd's farm in the then town of Hamburg in 1818. John Hancock, a Yankee, was the teacher and James and John Hewitt, of Waynesburgh, were pupils. The price was $1.50 per quarter, cash, or ten bushels of wheat, which was worth then only 25 cents per bushel in Canton.

In closing this t'hapter, the writer has no apology to ofl'er for an^'thing therein which may, in the light of better evidence than he has been able to command, be found inaccurate. The shadows of almost eighty years rest upon the early history of the township with hardly a written line to aid in lifting their gloom. What has been previously printed, elsewhere, is found by careful investigation, to be grossly- inaccurate ; this has been corrected so for as possible in this chapter. It is desired to thus publicly acknowledge the valuable assistance of Hon. John G. Croxton, of Canal Dover ; Hon. John Beatty, of CarroUton ; Mr. John ShaeflTer, William Hewitt and others, of Wajmesburg. Scn'pta rrrlm itiniinit has been the accepted motto throughout the task.

rOWNSHII' - TOrOGKAlMIICAI. FKATURKS - AN INlMDENT - EARLY SETTLEMENT - lIAli D TIMES AND ROUGH SCENES - ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNSIIU' - SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES - VILLA(iES, ETC.

f'r^IIIS township is one of the hilliest sections L of Stark County, there bcinir but very little land within its limits that may be termed perfectly level. Notwithstanding its rolling surtace. however, tiie careful hands an<l methodical work of the Pennsylvania Dutch have reduced it to a fine state of cultivation. Indeed, through their wise husljandry. it may be .said, figuratively, th.at

rocks and hills, ami brocks ami vales, With milk and liom-y tlow." The character of the land renders it a line grazing township, though considerable corn and wheat are cultivated, and also some sinall grain, but stock and grazing is the main business of the farmer. The land is thorouglily drained by the Little Sandy and Indian Run. and their numerous tributaries, which, though mostly small, traverse the township in all directions, and afl'ord ample drainage. Coal is found in many places, and that of a very good article. It is rapidly becoming an important branch of liusiuess, and one that is being largely developed, through the means of the Conotton Valley Railway, recently opened for traffic. The township also affords some very fine stone quarries, which supply i|uantities of -rood building stone. The timber consists mostly of oak, hickory, maple, beech, with some black walnut and poplar. Osnaburg is bounded on the north by Nimishillen Township, on the east by I'aris. on the south by Sandy Township and Carroll County, and on i\w. west by Canton Township.

Long ere the Pale-face dreamed of f lie fertile lands lying away to the west, these slopes and bluffs, and ravines, and groves of timber, were the hunting grounds of the lordly savage, and the natural birthright of his kindred. Here he roamed as undisputed master, and for years and decades, aye. for centuries, indeed, his war-whoop was the only music that broke upon the quietude of the forest, save the song of the wild birds, and the sighing of the winds among the trees. But the rays of civilization flashed over the land, and in their etl'ulgence, the council-fires of the Indians went out forever in this section of the country. Slowly the red man was pressed on toward the Far West, there to read his own doom in the setting sun. A sad story is told in Osnaburg Township of an old warrior, who, after the remnant of his tribe had departed for their new home beyond the great Father of Waters," loth to leave the home of his fathers, remained behind. For hours he would sit in some lonely place, like " Patience on a monument smiling at grief," perchance, dreaming of brighter hopes of former days, when over those hills and valleys ho pursued the bounding deer, or howled behind his flying i)rey. One day, when sitting on a log in the forest, ([uietly smoking his pipe, wholly unconscious of danger, a pale-face foe - ever the red man's oppressor - stole near unto him, and. without a note of warning, shot him dead, and that, too, for no other cause than that he was an Indian. The poor savage was Imried in the midst of the present village of Osnaburg, and the spot where he sleeps is still pointed out to the stranger, by old residents of the place. Thus the red man's title to Osnaburg Township became extinct.

The first settlement in Osnaburg Township was made in the spring of ISDO - just threequarters of a century ago. The pioneers were Jacob Kitt and John Sluss, natives of Pennsylvania. Their first visit to this section is thus told liy a local correspondent of the ("anton Df'tiiiirrfit : -'On a beautiful morning in the fall of 180.5, five horsemen might have been seen emerging from New Lisbon, then a frontier settlement of less than a dozen log cabins, and wending their way westward - (the horsemen, not the log cabins). They were a party made up to select land for future homes.

Of the number were Jacob Kitt, John Sluss, John Thomas, another whose name has been forgotten, and a surveyor engaged to accompan}- them as guide, and who had field-notes and knew what quarter-sections were yet open to entry. The hind office was then in Steubenville, called at tliat time Stcwhai !"or short, with an accent on the last syllable. As there was no settlement between New Lisbon and the Tuscarawas River, the extent of the land otflce district, it was necessary for the explorers to provide themselves with rations - bread and cold meat - in sufficient quantity to last several days, which could easilj- be packed in their saddle-bags, and a blanket strapped to the saddles constituted the outfit. The horses could obtain subsistence by leeding upon grass and the wild pea vine, a succulent" growth with which the woods then abounded. The party moved along in single file, following the section line as indicated by blaze-marks on the trees, until they reached Range 7, when they turned south. Pursuing a southwesterlj' course thejcame to a spring. Here they all dismounted to take a drink (of water) and allow their horses to graze. While resting and viewing the surroundings, Kitt was the first to s.aj-, ' I'll take f/iis quarter.' This was the southeast quarter of Section 18, the same now owned by David Bowman. At that daj^, for obvious reasons, land that had on it a good spring of water was preferred. xVt the time Mr. Kitt announced his decision to take the piece, the rest of the company, with the exception of one, agreed by an audible assent that he should have it, and a memorandum was made accordingl}'. The member of the company who interposed no objection, but was silent, was the same whose name could not be procured. Con- - tinuing their explorations, the next piece they found that had a spring, was the southwest quarter of Section 17, the same now owned by J. Cellars, and this was first claimed by John Sluss. Again the balance of the company said ' agreed,' except the one who was before silent. This strange conduct on his part excited the suspicion of Kitt. Ruminating over the matter during the night, he was satisfied the stranger intended to enter the same quarter, and to frustrate him, Mr. Kitt concluded to make an excuse in the morning and return home, which he did with all haste. Providing himself with the necessary funds to make the first payment, he proceeded to the land office in Steubenville, secured the land, and as he was about leaving town, whom should he meet l)ut the ver3' man whose ominous silence had so disturbed him. His suspicions were true, as the man acknowlenged that he was after the same tract Mr. Kitt had just entered.

Mr. Sluss, on his return, secured the place he had selected. Both he and Kitt were married, and were living upon land in the neighborhood of New Lisljon. They remained there during the winter of 1806, and came out together early in the following spring. Each had two horses, Mr. Kitt a wagon ; so they joined teams, and in the wagon both couple packed all their worldly goods. Their route was by the Thomas road,' then being laid out - the same that passes through Freebuj'g aud Louisville, the first legal highway in the county. They came to the improvement of Philip Slusser, who was then building a grist and saw mill on the Nimishillen, the same site now known as Roland's. Witli the help obtained here, aud the of James F. Leonard, a surveyor, who had a camp on the west side of the creek, the two emigrants cut a way to their new homes in Osnaburg Township." This was the actual beginning of the settlement in this township. Nearly three generations have pas.sed away since Mr. Kitt erected his pole cabin on the southeast quarter of Section 18. He brought with him to his new possessions a hired man, and with his help logs were soon cut, or poles, rather, for help enough to handle large logs was not to be had, and a cabin was erected of sufficient magnitude to shelter the family from the inclemencies of the weather, and protect them against wild beasts. Tiiis primitive cabin was built without any iron, not even a nail was used. It was covered with clapboards or " shakes," which were held to their places by " weight-poles." and the door was hung with wooden hinges and the boards fastened to the rough battens with wooden pins. A chimney, built of cat and clay," in connection with a fire-place, occupied one end of the cabin, and an opening filled with greased paper served as a window. Mother Earth formed the floor, and a rude frame in one corner constructed with a side and foot board, and a bed-tick filled with leaves and grass, was, bj' honest toil, rendered of Osnaburg began life, and is not in the least exaggerated. Tiiere are those still living, who, though ehildren then, renieinlier much of the hardships of the pioneer days. Cooking utensils were scarce ; the modern cook-stove was unknown, and tableware was of the commonest kind. Mrs. Kitt, for a time, it is said, kneaded her dough in a bucket, and afterward in a sugar-trough. The following, related of Kitt, is an apt illustration of life in the carl}' days of the country : "A few weeks after he had settled in Osnaburg, he was in the woods one morning, when he heard some one chopping with an ax - a quite unusual sound at thatda}-. Suspecting there were Indians in the vicinity, as he had no knowledge of a white settler so near him, he determined to investigate the phenomenon. So he returned to his cabin, procured his ritle and started in the direction of the sound. He advanced cautiously, always keeping a large tree in range between himself and the locality where the chopping was going on. Approaching nearer, he detected that it was not the work of Indians, and emboldened by the discovery, he advanced upon the choppers, when he found them to be the Latimers, - three brothers, who, with their hired men, had moved in, and were clearing, in Section 13, Canton Township, about one mile from his (Kitt's) own cabin. This was a welcome discovery, and .Mr. and Mrs. Kitt were delighted to find that they had white neighbors so near to them." Some five years after Kitt's settlement in Osnaburg, his house was destroyed by fire, but his neighbors, who had increased in number, came to his assistance, and soon rebuilt his cabin, and thus repaired his loss.

When Kitt and Sluss moved into Osnaburg Township they brought some stock with them, besides the horses that drew their wagon, among which were a cow, and a hog of the female species. Soon after their arrival, the cow brought forth a calf, and the sow a litter of eight pigs. This welcome addition to their -' families," notwithstanding it was a matter of considerable rejoicing, but increased the troubles and perplexities of the owners. The wolves, which were exceeiiiiigly plenty and very troublesome, were attracted to the vicinity of the cabins by the smell of cooking meats, and in order to save their young calf and pigs, they found it necessary to take them into the cabins during the night. Mr. Kitt lived many j'ears a respected citizen of Osnaburg, and finally removed to Huntington County, Indiana, where he was still living a year ago, at the advanced age of 101 years, in good health. A daughter - Mrs. Joseph Doll, of the village of Osnaburg, now nearing her fourscore years, is still living, and in good health for one of her years. Her mother, Mrs. Jacob Kitt, was the first paleface woman to tread the soil of Osnaburg, and Mrs. John Sluss the next. They accompanied their husbands to the township in 1806, and bore their part in all the privations of making a home in the wilderness. Referring to old age in Osnaburg Township, a correspondent gives the following to the Canton Repository \n March, 1880: -^ There are three families very near each other in the village of Osnaburg, and in the three families can be found three of the oldest couples living in the county to-day. First, there is Jacob Marcker, aged 86, and his wife, aged 87 ; this couple has lived together as man and wife for 63 years. Next comes Joseph Doll, aged 78, and his wife, aged 75 ; they have been married for 55 years. The third couple is Anthony Kabenstein, aged 75, and his wife, aged 71 years; they have lived together for 53 years. And these remarkably old people are enjoying good health, and to all appearances will enjoy life for many years to come. "

Mr. Sluss, who came to Osnaburg with Kitt. was a man who was held in high esteem among his neighbors, and somewhat above the average in education and intelligence. He was elected Justice of the Peace at an early day, an office which he held for many successive terms, as well as that of County Commissioner. He raised a family of children, all of whom became highly respected men and women. His sons are all dead ; his daughters married and moved West. Mr. Sluss and his wife both lived to a good old age. When she died, he ordered a coffin for himself at the same time he did hers, remarking to the undertaker, that he should soon need it. He ordered the two, and paid the price - -$6 apiece - the price, at that day, for the best walnut coffin made. He died in a few years afterward, lamented by a large circle of frien<ls.

Other pioneers of Osnaburg Township, in addition to Kitt and Sluss, and who came in prior to the war of 1812, were Frank Ake, Douglas Wilson, Peter Moretz, Michael Kngle, James Leeper, William Nailor, John Studebecker, Ja- cob Troxell, David Edwards, James Price. Jacob Bowers, Peter McCabe, the Bairs, Alex Cameron, Henry and Adam Shnll, (Jeorge Poe, B. Augustine, John and George McEnterfer, the Latimers, Daniel Gra^bill, Henry Bowman, John Crisswell, the Shearers - four brothers - Jacob. John, Adam and Henry. Daniel and John Lichtenwalter, the Floreys and the Camps, Samuel White, Casper Gephart, and others, whose names have passed from the recollection of the few older inhabitants now living. Most, if not all of these, came from PennsNlvania, and were thrifty, hard-working tillers of the soil. The neat and well-kept farms of the township, the comfortable, and even elegant residences, and the spacious barns, plainly denote their energy and industry. Alex. Cameron, who was of Scotch origin, settled near the present village of Mapleton in 1807. and Augustine and Poe settled on farms adjoining. ]>ouglas Wilson and Frank Ake settled on Section 32 in 1811, and opened up farms. Studeliecker was a Dunkard preacher, and brought to his new home his earthly all packed on a horse and a cow. The Floieys and the Camps enjoyed quite a reputation as fighters, and tiie state of society and of morals, at that early period, afforded them ample opportunities of gratifying tiieir tastes in that direction. Casper Gephart is said to have been a Hessian soldier who was captured at the battle of Trenton, and decided to throw off the yoke of his former master and become an American citizen.

The Bairs figured prominently among the early settlers of the township. Tiiey were men of considerable intelligence, and became, by natural right as it were, local leaders in the affairs of the time. There were Abraham, Stophel and Rudolph Bair ; the latter, who was commonly called "Rudy," was a member of the convention that formed the first State Constitution, and afterward represented Columbiana County - then including Stark - in the Legislature. Rudy and Stophel were brothers, and botii entered land in Osnaburg Township, but Rudy settled in what is now Paris Township, though at that time it was embraced in Osnaburg. He was an early Justice of the Peace, and it is said that the first law suit in what is now Stark County was tried before him. The particulars of this pioneer trial, as handed down through a long sweep of years, are thus detailed by a local writer : " Thomas and

Bosserman, two early settlers of the neighborhood, had traded horses, and as Thomas considered hiiiisfif rhcated in the swap, he brought suit against Bosserman for damages. A man named Hockingsmith, -of Pike Township, was Constable, and subpoenaed three witnesses. The parties and the witnesses were present on the day set for trial. When the parties met, Rudy brought out a jug of whisky and proposed a drink all around. At the close of this preliminary indulgence, he suggested that they settle the case without going to trial ; that each one make his statement, and he would give judgment. To this Thomas objected, but after considerable talk, and another horn, he agreed. Each told his story, and the Court, after due deliberation, decided that Bosserman should pay Thomas S3 and the Constable's fees, whereupon all drank again and expressed themselves satisfied. The Squire was rejoiced at his sue cess in settling the case, as his docket, which he kept between the rafters of his cabin, had been carried awa}' by the s(juirrels, and he had nothing in which to make the entry. " This was an easy way of dispensing justice, and altogether different from that of the present day, when representatives of the law too often assist in stirring up bad blood, merely for the sake of litigation, instead of trying to nip little disputes in the bud, as Rudy did with his jug of whisky. A son of Stophel Bair, named Adam, had the reputation of being the stoutest man in the township. This championship was contested bj' one Jacob Shirley, a native of Bedford County, Pennsylvania, and an early settler in Osnaburg. The following incident is related of Shirley : ' He was a large man, and of great muscular power. He was a Dunkard, and was once beset by a crowd of seven men, who slapped his face, when he turned the other cheek and was again struck. This, he said, was according to Scripture, and he would now defend himself He accordingly turned upon the crowd and vanquished the seven, literally piling them up on top of each other." These little exhibitions of manly strength were quite frequent in the early days of the country, and although considered highly degrading, in this enlightened age, as they truly are. yet it was deemed quite an honor, fifty or seventy-five years ago, to be known as the stoutest man and best fighter in the neighborhood. A story is told of a fight that occurred once at Osnaburg, at " rauster," between Jacob Sherrick and Richard Elson, in which they fought, and scratched, and gouged, and pounded each otiiev almost beyond recognition, and in a mnniier tliat wouhl scarcely be creditable at tlic present day. even among prize-fighters. But tiiis mode of settling old grudges has given place to the more refined way of unceremoniously pulling out a little gun, and shooting ofif the top of an enemy's head.

Osnaburg is an old township, and was organized before Stark County was created. It was part of Columbiana County, and its jurisdiction extended over all that part of Stark Count}- now lying east of Canton Township, and to tiie present western boundary of Columbiana County. Indeed, it is said of Kudolph Bair, who was the first Justice of the Peace, and was commissioned in 1808, that his jurisdiction as such extended from the Ohio Kiver to Lake Erie. The township was first surveyed in 1801. by John Bever, in sections of four miles square, and in 1806 it was subdivided, by James C. McFarland, Says a local writer upon the subject : "As near as can be ascertained from cotemporaneous events, the township was organized in 1806. The records of Columbiana County, however, of that date are lost or destroyed, and nothing has been discovered that would enlighten us. from any researches made among the archives of that county." At a meeting of the Commissioners, held in March. 1809, the township was named Osnaburg, but why it was so called, or from what source the name was obtained, we are not informed. The next Justice of the Peace, after Bair, was William Nailor, who was commissioned Ma}- 1, 1809. The next was Jacob Fulton, whose commission was dated a few days later. John Augustine and John Sluss succeeded them some years afterward. James Price was Collector of the township in 180!*, and the amount of tax collected amounted to the enormous sum of $19.50.

In the natural course of human events, all things must have a beginning, and the continuation of the human race in Osnaburg Township began in the family of Jacob Kitt. Not only the first white cliild born in the township, hut the first in the present County of Stark, was a daughter, '-born." as it is reported, "to Jacob and Barbara Kitt." She is still living, and is the wife of Squire Poll, of Osnaburg village, and is still, as her friends say.

as " pert as a cricket." She was born September 7, 1806, and is now, 1881, seventy-five years old. The next birth in the township, and which proved to be the first male child born, was George Latimer, son of Robert Latimer, and was born a few months after Mary Kitt. He died in 1873, in Ashland County, from injuries sustained in falling from a load of straw. The first death was that of a Mrs. Milligan, and occurred in 181 1. Her cotfln was a rough box, and as there was no minister present at the funeral, a Mr. Hutchinson, a school teacher, sang a few verses of a hymn, and offered prayer, which comprised the funeral ceremonies. Since that first funeral, the "pale horse and his rider" have made numerous visits to the township, as the several graveyards will attest. The first marriage is thus described by a local historian of the township, in the columns of the Canton Dtmocrat: "The first marriage of which we have any account was mixed with a bit of romance. There were a Mr. and Mrs. Ander.son living in Osnaburg, who had two children. Anderson was a drunken loafer, who would do nothing for the support of his famil}-, and, as a consequence, Mrs. Anderson had to work out. She was a good spinner, and went from house to house, taking her children with her, earning about a $1 a week, beside their board. A man bj- the name of Ihry, a (lerman, proposed to man-}- her, and was accepted, although she was not divorced from Anderson. Mr. Kitt brought the couple to Canton, and they were married bySciuire Coulter. They lived together for three years, when Hiry died, leaving his wife a comfortable homestead. This pioneer wedding was followed by many others, as the present population of the township clearlj- indicates."

In the early days of Osnaburg, the people went to Steubenvilie to mill. This was a great inconvenience, and took up considerable of their time. This dilliculty was, to some extent, obviated by Mr. Kitt, who built a little mill, a few years after his settlement. It was what was known as a "tread wheel mill," and oxen were used to furnish power. This was a great improvement on grinding corn in a coffee-mill, or of spending a week going away to Steubenvilie. Peter Boyer built a grist-mill in l.SU, and shortly after Daniel Laird built one on the Little Sandy. Abraham Bair built a saw-mill about this time, which was the first in the neighborhood ; and previous to its erection, the people used punoheon floors in their cabins, if the3' had any floors at all. Christian Harshbarger built a grist-mill on Little Sandy, .south of where Mapleton now stands. John Newman also built a mill on Little Sandy, two miles northeast of Mapleton. There are no grist-mills now outside of the village. The first goods were sold in the village of Osnaburg, which is one of the oldest towns in the count}'. The first tavern was also kept there, and the first blacksmith shop, etc. In fact all of the interests of the township, in early times, centered in the little village.