SANDY TOWNSHIP - 475 on the bushes and leaves, and everything 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 Esquire John Ross, 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 this had been done, the story, no smaller grown by travel, had reached Cleveland and found a record in the weekly papers. Young Evans saw the tale of woe, and hastened back to relieve his father from a dilemma which was likely to .find a terrible solution. This incident we have heard related by some of our most reliable citizens, and is recorded as one of the remarkable circumstances in our early history. It seems to us a keen commentary upon all cases of conviction on circumstantial evidence only. In these times, Sandy and adjoining townships supported what is now an unknown occupation. William Mays, father of the venerable Andrew Mays, for many years 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 Hewit has still in his possession a shoemaker's ihhammerwhich 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 question 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 Pike Township. At 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 way, and wandered about in hopeless bewilderment until the darkness came on and night closed in to complete her misery. With the gloaming came the dismal howlings of the wolves, which were numerous, and ever and anon the flashing of fiery eyes amongst the underbrush increased her alarm, until, terror-stricken, 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 feared 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 daylight. 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. It may truthfully be said of the residents of Sandy Township, that “Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife, Their sober wishes never learned to stray. Along the cool, sequestered vale of life, They kept the noiseless tenor of their way," and the result is, that its historian has no great or startling event to record beyond such as had an equal effect upon the country at large. Her people have been ever prompt in their response to calls of patriotism or humanity. 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 “Loose him and let him go ! " 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 history of the county, we will make no further allusion to. it here. Peter Mottice kept the earliest regular tavern in the township on his farm, now the property. of J. Creighton Rogers, Esq., two miles north of Waynesburgh. Mr. Mottice kept this tavern as early as 1813, and perhaps a year before, but Capt. John Beatty, now of Carrollton, was sent to Mottice's tavern in 1813, with a sack of 476 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY. oats to sell, and he says the house was crowded with travelers. Mr. Mottice 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 Waynesburgh, where he continued in the busi- ness, and was one of the most popular landlords in Ohio. as well as one of the most widely known. He died in 1876, 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 headquarters 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. Shaeffer built the brick building which stood for fifty years on the southwest corner of Main and 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 McClure Boyd, Esq. The first gristmill was built by William Hardesty, where Malvern now stands, in 1816. 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 mill now stands. The first distillery was built and operated by Daniel Shaeffer, 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 Township was opened by Samuel Allerton, the blacksmith, near where Mr. 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 through the township from east to west, keeping gener ally near the banks of Big Sandy 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 now owned by Jacob Painter, and thence continued on the south side of. the Sandy, Gnadenhutten, 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 by 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 or 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, were none fatal to human life. On one occasion, the brake upon the wheels of the stage gave sway, 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 they went, pell-mell, down the hill. The driver, Abe Hall, a famous " whip " of .the route, was on the seat. He gathered the lines carefully, braced himself as best he could, 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 SANDY TOWNSHIP - 477 hotel, and the driver realized that it would be impossible to stop them otherwise than to guide them into the inclosed barnyard. The hotel 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 through 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 Railroad was a death blow to this primitive mode of travel, as well as to the Sandy & Beaver Canal, which was commenced through the township in 1833. Work progressed until the 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 rail- roads came along by its course, in 1854, and it yielded to destiny. About 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 its first train into Waynesburg. This hack line was owned and operated by Thomas Cannon. John Karn, of Waynesburgh, and John Stevenson, now one of the oldest and most popular conductors on the Cleveland & Pittsburgh 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 Forrest City, published at Cleveland. As the railroad grew longer the hack 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 which passes the village of Waynesburg, and I. N. 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 resulted in the crippling for life of Mr. William Glessner, 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 number of heavy stone from David Reed's stone-quarry 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 work, contrived what would 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 remarkable, but the work was well done, and the road answered fully 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 been lacking in political preferment, and as the years have rolled away; several of her citizens have been chosen to fill positions of honor and trust. Of the first grand jury ever called in the county, Peter Mottice was an honored member. The first man of Sandy to bear legislative honors was Robert McCall, father of the venerable and respected Thomas McCall, of Canton ; the next was Jelin Brown, and next, Dr. James Welsh, of Waynesburgh. 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 Waynesburgh, was elected in 1879. 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', 1826 to 1827 ; Peter Mottice, Commissioner. 1825 to 1829 ; James Downing, Commissioner, 1833 to 1.835 ; Robert H. McCall, Treasurer, 1841 to 1844 ; Thomas McCall, 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 ; 478 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY. John C. Mong, 20 years ; William Raedel, 15 years (in office) ; Richard Netz, 3 years ; John K. Bowers, 3 years ; Thomas C. Snyder ; Charles H. Stutz, in Office. The village of Waynesburgh was laid out in 1815 by Joseph Handlon, who had previously laid out Hamburg, north of the creek. It is believed that Daniel Shaeffer the father of the once numerous Shaeffer family in the village, assisted Handlon. It is certain that these two men had very intimate business relations for a short time afterward, Shaeffer became Handlon's assignee, and in 1818, purchased the land which Handlon had entered, receiving the warrant therefor from James Munroe, President, on the 21st of January, 1819. The first house was 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 by Daniel Shaeffer, until he could build for himself. In 1816, Samuel Allerton came to town and started a blacksmith's shop, on the lot now occupied by 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 tailor. 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 by Mrs. Sarah Guinney, and it was located about eighty feet north of Lisbon street, and fifty feet wcst of Main street. The first regular mail brought to Waynesburgh was carried by Andrew Luckey, of Jerson 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 the 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. Hamilton, A. Robertson was appointed to the place under Andrew Johnson, but he never removed the office from the care of Mr. Scott. On the 6th day of February, 1833, the Legislature of Ohio passed an act, entitled "An act to incorporate the town of Waynesburgh, in Stark County," and on the 6th 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; Jo seph Doll, John Ross, Gist Clinefelter, J. H. Estep, Robert Jones, nineteen 3-ears 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 Handlon. 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 made by the village blacksmith. The first " sign-board" which was hung out in Waynesburgh 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 by D. Shaffer.' It did service for many years in guiding the weary traveler to comfortable rest. The first pegged shoes and boots made in Waynesburgh 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 SANDY TOWNSHIP - 479 now owned by Mr. Jacob Glessner, It was built by Andrew. Mays. The first and only iron foundry Waynesburgh has ever had was established in 1845 by Patrick Call. He removed it from Magnolia to Waynesburgh at the instance of R. R. Gray, who assisted him to some extent. Call sold out in 1847 to Robert Jones, Esq., who, at this writing, has conducted the business for nearly thirty-four ycars: The first fire which resulted in serious damage to property was in about 1831. A log house, occupied by John T. Rice, which was situated on the site now occupied by the " Hamilton House." It took firc early in the evening, while a congregation was listening to preaching at the residence of John Koontz. The people left the preacher without benediction, and hastened to the assistance of their unfortunate neighbor. The only brewery the village has had up 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. Paul's German Reformed Church, it was a large log structure, and remained unfinished for a long time. It belonged to the Lutheran and German Reformed societies, and these organizations, having flourished finely, in 1844 built the present brick structure, and continued to worship together in it until 1879, when they separated, the Lutheran Society building their present elegant edifice. The next church edifice was built by the Presbyterians. It was situated on the lot next east of West street, and on the south side of Lisbon street. The present First Presbyterian Church was built in 1867, 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 1864; to the present church on South Main street. The Disciple or " Christian " Church was built in 1855 to 1860. On the 5th day of December, 1854. the town Council entered into a contract with Robert 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 cast-iron 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 in 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 permissien to sell his water works and franchise to the "Waynesburgh Joint Stock Water Company," in whose possession they now stand. At this writing an effort is being made to have the village build new water works. The inhabitants are much divided in opinion in regard to the matter, and an injunction, sued out by the opposing party, has brought matters to a standstill, after the expenditure of $1,000. On the 15th day of May, 1841, the first ordinance was passed, compelling the laying 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 ordcrs popular throughout the county, several have been established in Waynesburg, including Sons of Temperance, Good Templars, " Know-Nothings," Union League, Grand Army of the Republic, Freemasons and Odd Fellows. Of these only the two latter have an existence. The following is a list of the business houses of Waynesburgh : Beans & Elsass, J. Shaeffer & Son, Raedel & Blythe, dry goods and groceries ; W. A. Strayer, Charles H. Slutz, hardware; Robert Jones, stoves, tinware, foundry and plow works; L. S. Bonbrak, stoves and tin- ware ; George W. Elsass & Co., groceries and notions ; Lewis Scott, exchange broker ; George W. Burson, Edward Scott, drugs and stationery; William Glessner, furniture store ; L. Scott & Co., manufacturers of iron-roofing ; John W, Glessner. jeweler ; W. H. Evans, merchant tailor ; William A. Rhoads, tailor ; Christian Gruber, brewery; Charles Gruber, drinking saloon ; Christian Elsass, shoemaker and drinking saloon ; John Bangs, barber ; Barnhart Wingerter, undertaker and notions ; Morledge 480 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY. & Mackaman, grain and produce ; Netz & Myers; clothing and carpets ; Sherrod, Wilson & Co., millers ; G. B. Belding, cooper ; E. O. Belding, cooper ; James Gibson, stock dealer ; R. B. Hamilton, agricultural implements.; Ed Ham- ilton, 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. McCollum, Henry Elson, shoemakers William F. Boory, tannery ; Geo. Bieter, .marble-yard ; Marshall & Randal, confectioners; Mrs. Alice Morledge, bakery ; Josiah Flemming, Elwood Shine, painters Charles H. Jones & Co., fire insurance ; R. d. Fawcett, attorney and Notary Public ; 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 Ada Koontz, dressmakers ; Emerson Koontz, Henry Casper, harness-makers ; Andrew Waggoner, Andrew Derringer & Bro., stone-masons ; Jacob Phillippi, B. Monroe, plasterers Snyder Bros., builders and, brick-makers ; L. B. King, job printer, Joseph Flickinger, wagon-maker ; W. T. Jackman, dentist ; A. F. Atwell, John W. McCort, G. C. Welch, J. M. Bye, physicians ; Harmon Creighton, butcher ; Corwin Firestone, A. Newkirk, sawing machines ; A. F. Rhoads, telegraph operator ; Henry W. Rhoads, agent C. & P. R. R.; William A. Robertson, Alexander Robertson, John Hewitt, farmers ; Hamilton Hotel, by Hamilton heirs ; " Morledge House," John Shaeffer. Magnolia, the second village in the township, was laid out by Richard Elson and John W. Smith in the year 1834. The line between Stark and Carroll Counties divides the village, the portion lying. in Carroll County being officially known as Downingville. This part of the town was laid out by Isaac Miller, and named in honor of his son-in-law, James Downing, of whom the reader. has read before. 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 The departing canal-boats took away her trade, and for years she was almost a deserted village, but prosperity is contagious, and, within the last ten years, there has been a steady growth, which, if not rapid, has been at least substantial, and the traveler of to-day finds a pleasant village of about 300 people, who are both industrious and hospitable. John G. Croxton kept the first store. E. J. Barkdoll & Co. were the largest general dealers ever in Magnolia. They sold and bought every thing sellable and buyable. Mr. Ed Scott, now Postmaster of Waynesburgh, was their chief clerk. Wm. Harkness was also a prominent storekeeper. 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 ; Jacob Wadsworth, harness maker ; A. R. Elson, miller ; Richard Elson, farmer ; Felix Motter, stonemason ; Mathias Koehler, saloon; Dan'l Klopman, hotel John Gregory, hotel. A. R. Elson's mill, established by Elson & Smith in 1834, is one of the finest water-power establishments in this part of Ohio. He has saw, mill and other woodworking 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 rather than what to record. The honor -of the first preaching is claimed by both the Lutheran and Presbyterian 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 James 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 Lutheran SANDY TOWNSHIP - 481 preacher named Wagonholtz came to the township and preached at Downing's house, which was open to all comers, although Downing was himself a Presbyterian. The first preacher for the German Reformed Church here was named Rodocker. This congregation united with the Lutherans, as before stated, in the building of the first church in Waynesburgh. The Baptist Church had an early 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 engaged in life. In those days, as has been intimated, the practice of dram-drinking was almost universal, and preachers were not all strangers to the spiritual strength to be de: rived 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 Shaeffer,s tavern, take a full gill of good brandy, and then repair to the grove north of town, now owned by M. M. Mays, and preach fervently, laying aside 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 congregation to "do as I tell 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 Morgan Van Meter or Fred Vanoster, the latter being the first class-leader. The first quarterly. meeting was held in James Allerton's new barn, and Joshua Monroe was the Presiding Elder. The quarterly collection amounted to $1.061. The first Methodist preacher who came regularly to preach was Rev. Weekly, and his sermons are spoken of today by those who were converted through their influence, as savoring strongly of the fiery terrors of the law. The house of Fred Yaney was also an early preaching-place, and here, in 1837, -the first regular society was organized. The first Methodist Church was 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 Wesley Chapel. It was replaced in 1867 by a new brick structure, in the valley south of the old church, and the name changed to Centenary Church. The first society in Waynesburgh had for its first class-leader James H. Rogers, who is now and has for many 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 of Ohio. They have a comfortable church at Waynesburg. 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 family 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 the old man's soul to greater efforts in the cause of his chosen Master, and he died in great peace and full of years, near Hanover, 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 Loughlin.. The site of the .early temple of learning is still discoverable by a mound where the old chimney stood. The next schoolhouse was built on the farm now owned by J. J. Welker. It was 20x24 feet in size, of rough, round logs, the spaces 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 subscriptiou school, and Alpheus Brown was the first teacher. He 482 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY. 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 teaching. The Waynesburgh Union School is the outgrowth of a small beginning made in 1816 by. Alpheus Brown as. teacher. 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 ordinary interest in educational matters until Mr. S. L. Adams, a genuine Yankee schoolmaster, came and took charge of the school. At his hands the 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 any 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 : Alpheus .Brown, John Alexander, Eliza McElmee, John Divine,   ____ Pierce, Abram Bair, Mary A. McCall, Charlotte Boegle, Henry Myers, William Freese, Mr. ____ Ready, S. L. Adams, William Unger, James H. Creighton, A. W. Heldenbrand, Miss Bontrager, Mr. ____ Carpenter, Mr. Hill, William H. Ray, George W. Yohe, A. C. Naragon and Prof. R. C. Fawcett. There was an early schoolhouse built 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 chapter, the writer has no apology to offer for anything 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 far 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 Carrollton ; Mr. 'John Shaeffer, William Hewitt and others, of Waynesburg. Scripta verba manent has been the accepted motto throughout the task. OSNABURG TOWNSHIP - 483 CHAPTER XXI.* OSNABURG TOWNSHIP—TOPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES—AN INCIDENT—EARLY SETTLEMENT—HARD TIMES AND ROUGH SCENES — ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNSHIP —SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES—VILLAGES, ETC. THIS township is one of the hilliest sections of Stark County, there being but very little land within its limits that may be termed perfectly level. Notwithstanding its rolling surface, however, the careful hands and methodical work of the Pennsylvania Dutch have reduced it to a fine state of cultivation. Indeed, through their wise husbandry, it may be said, figuratively, that "Its rocks, and hills, and brooks, and vales, With milk and honey flow." The character of the land renders it a fine grazing township, though considerable corn and wheat are cultivated, and also some small grain, but stock and grazing is the main business of the farmer. The land is thoroughly drained by the Little Sandy and Indian Run, and their numerous tributaries, which, though mostly small, traverse, the township in all directions, and afford ample drainage. Coal is found in many places, and that of a very good article. It is rapidly becoming an important branch of business, 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 quantities of good 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 Paris, on the south by Sandy Township and Carroll County, and on the west by Canton Township. Long ere the Pale-face dreamed of the 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 *Contributed by W. H. Perrin. 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 effulgence, 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 he pursued the bounding deer, or howled behind his flying prey. One day, when sitting on a log in the forest, quietly 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 buried 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 1806—just three-quarters of a century ago. The pioneers were Jacob Kitt and John Sluss, natives of Pennsylvania. Their first visit to this section is thus told by a local correspondent of the Canton Democrat : ".On a beautiful morning in the fall of 1805, 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.    484 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY. Of the number were Jacob Kitt, John Sluss, John Thomas, another whose name has been forgotten, and a surveyor engaged to accompany them as guide, and who had field-notes and knew what quarter-sections were yet open to entry. The land office was then in Steubenville, called at that time Stewben for 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 office 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 easily be packed in their saddle-bags, and a blanket strapped to the saddles constituted the outfit. The horses could obtain subsistence by feeding 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 southwesterly course they came 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 say, I'll take this quarter.' This was the southeast quarter of Section 18, the same now owned by David Bowman. At that day, for obvious reasons, land that had on it a good spring of water was preferred. At 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 accordingly. The member of the company who interposed no objection, but was silent, was the same whose name could not be procured. Continuing 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 but the very 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 jot 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 Lisbon. 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 both in the wagon boh couple packed all their worldly goods. Their route was by the Thomas road,' then being laid out—the same that passes through 'Freeburg and 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. With the help obtained here, and the assistance 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 passed 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. This 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, by honest toil, rendered " Soft as downy pillows are." This was the rude style in which the pioneers OSNABURG TOWNSHIP - 485 of Osnaburg began life, and is not in the least exaggerated. There are those still living, who, though children then, remember 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 early 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 that day. 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 rifle 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 exceedingly 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 years 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 in 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 Rabenstein, 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 friends. 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 Engle James Leeper, William Nailor, John Studebecker, Ja- 486 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY. cob Troxell, David Edwards, James Price, Jacob, Bowers, Peter McCabe, the Bairs, Alex Cam eron, Henry and Adam Shull, George Poe, B. Augustine, John and George McEnterfer, the Latimers, Daniel Graybill, . 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 Pennsylvania, 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. Douglas Wilson and Frank Ake settled on Section 32 in 1811, and opened up farms. Studebecker was a Dunkard preacher, and brought to his new home his earthly all packed on a horse and a cow. The Floreys and the Camps enjoyed quite a reputation as fighters, and the state of society and of morals, at that early period, afforded them ample opportunities of gratifying their 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. They 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 both 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 himself cheated 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 $3 and the Constable's fees, whereupon all drank again and expressed themselves satisfied. The Squire was rejoiced at his success in settling the case, as his docket, which he kept between the rafters of his cabin, had been carried away by the squirrels, 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 by 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 wan and best fighter in the neighborhood. A story is told of a fight that occurred once at Osnaburg, OSNABURG TOWNSHIP - 487 at "muster," between Jacob Sherrick and Richard Elson, in which they fought, and scratched, and gouged, and pounded each other almost beyond recognition, and in a manner that would scarcely be creditable at the present day, even among prize-fighters. But this mode of settling old grudges has given place to the more refined way of unceremoniously pulling out a little gun, and shooting off 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 County now lying east of Canton Township, and to the present western boundary of Columbiana County. Indeed, it is said of Rudolph Bair, who was the first Justice of the Peace, and was commissioned in 1808, that his jurisdiction as such extended from the Ohio River 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 May 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 1809, 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 child born in the township, but 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 Doll, 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 1811. Her coffin was a rough box, and as there was no minister present at the funeral, a Mr. Hutchins.on, 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 Democrat: " The first marriage of which we have any account was mixed with a bit of romance. There were a Mr. and Mrs. Anderson living in Osnaburg, who had two children. Anderson was a drunken loafer, who would do nothing for the support of his family, 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 by the name of Ihry, a German, proposed to marry her, and was accepted, although she was not divorced from Anderson. Mr. Kitt brought the couple to Canton, and they were married by Squire Coulter. They lived together for three years, when Ihry died, leaving his wife a comfortable homestead. This pioneer wedding was followed by many others, as the present population of the township clearly indicates." In the early days of Osnaburg, the people went to Steubenville to mill. This was a great inconvenience, and took up considerable of their time. This difficulty 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 Steubenville. Peter Boyer built a grist-mill in 1814, 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 488 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY. neighborhood ; and previous to its erection, the people used puncheon floors in their cabins, if they 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 county. 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. The early settlers of Osnaburg were a Godfearing people, and at an early day religious societies were organized in the township, and religious services held at the people's cabins. Among the early messengers of glad tidings was Rev. William Mitchell. a Methodist circuit rider, who preached in the neighborhood as early as 1812. Rev. Edward Otis was a Baptist minister, and preached once a month at Michael Engle's cabin. A church society was organized in 1820 by Rev. Mr. Weir, a Lutheran minister, and Rev. Mr. Faust, a German Reformed minister, with about twenty-five members. The first sermon' by either of these denominations was preached in 1814, by Rev. Mr. Lambrick, a Lutheran, at the house of Mr. Minnich. As early as 1827 a Sunday school was organized in the neighborhood of Mapleton. Alexander Cameron was the first Methodist class-leader, and his class comprised four families. There are three church edifices in this township outside the villages. On Section 36 a' German Lutheran and German Reformed Church are located, not half a dozen rods apart. The two denominations originally occupied the same church, but could not agree very well, and finally the German Reformed congregation sold their interest to the Luther- ans and built a new church in the immediate vicinity. It is a frame building and quite a tasty edifice, while the old building is a substantial brick. The Disciples have a church on Section 28, which was built some twenty or twenty-five years ago, and is a handsome frame, beautifully located on the brow of a hill, even as Solomon's Temple adorned the brow of Mount Moriah. So far as reliable information could be obtained, John Augustine was the pioneer school teacher of Osnaburg, and "taught the young idea how to shoot " as early as the winter of 1818.. Previous to that year, the few children in the township went to school on the Aultman place, in Canton Township. During the winter of Augustine's school, snow fell to the depth of three feet and lay on the ground for several weeks. A few days later, it rained and froze, forming a hard crust on the snow that would bear up a man. Many deer were caught by the school boys which were unable to make their way through the deep snow with much speed. Among their captives was a large buck, which they kept in a pen at the school house, but as he refused to eat they turned him loose again. William Hutchinson was an early school teacher. Abraham Bair also taught as early as 1822. These were followed by teachers in different parts of the township, and as the country settled up schoolhouses were built in each neighborhood until the final development of the present school system. From the last report of the Board of Education we extract the following statistics for Osnaburg, which are of interest : Balance on hand September 1, 1879 - $3,366 85 State tax - 955 50 Irreducible fund - 144 09 Total - $4,466 44 Amount paid teachers - $1,794 16 Fuel and other contingent expenses - 201 21 Total - $1,995 37 Balance on hand September 1, 1880 - $2,471 07 Number of schoolhouses in the township - 10 Value of school property - $12,000 00 Teachers employed—males - 14 Teachers employed— females - 8 Total - 22 Number of pupils enrolled—males - 291 Number of pupils enrolled—females - 216 Total - 507 Average daily attendance—males - 160 Average daily attendance—females - 130 Total - 290 Almost the entire township of Osnaburg seems to be underlaid with. coal, and a large number of mines opened, but hitherto, for the lack of facilities for transportation, they have not been developed to any great extent. Now, however, with a railroad passing through the OSNABURG TOWNSHIP - 489 township, a full development of this interest may be looked for. Samuel Montgomery has recently sold his land at $200 an acre, and measures are being taken for mining coal on it. Several mines are already opened on this land, and every means will be used to facilitate the work of mining and shipping. For the war of 1812, a little unpleasantness that took place some thirty years after the close of the Revolution, between the United States and England, this township furnished a number of men, some of them volunteers, and some drafted men. The names of many of these old heroes have passed away with the heroes themselves. Among the few still remembered, however, are the names of Peter McCane, Peter Moretz, Edward Strickland, Adam and Jacob Anderson, and Richard Byles, who went as a substitute of Jacob Kitt, the latter having been drafted. In the Indian wars of the early period many of them also participated. Joseph Anderson, a brother to Adam and Jacob, mentioned above, fell at the battle of Tippecanoe, in 1811. Indeed, Osnaburg has ever been patriotic and true to the Government. In the war of the Rebellion, she did her duty, and turned out volunteers by the score, as will be seen in another chapter on the war history of the county. After the close of the war of 1812, under the old militia law of the State, which continued in force for a number of years, all the able-bodied men between eighteen and forty-five years of age were compelled to attend the regular military trainings, or general muster, as more commonly called, where they had to undergo military drill and inspection. The usual places of meeting of these troops of the " peace establishment," were at Canton, Kendal (now a part of Massillon), Loutzenheiser's (where Louisville now stands), and Osnaburg. These occasions drew out large crowds of the young and old, male and female, for many miles around, and the scenes and incidents of the day —the parade, the sham battle, the personal encounters—were long afterward the subject of fireside gossip: As if by common consent, all sectional disputes and neighborhood quarrels were " readjusted " ,on these training days. Each party to a feud had their friends and backers, who were particularly careful to so engineer matters as to end the business with a fight. If the question was one of great importance (!), others became involved, and more fights followed, to the great delectation of the crowd. It was on an occasion of this kind, that the fight occurred already alluded to in this chapter. But we will not dwell further upon this subject. The first roads in Osnaburg Township were the Indian trails. These were cut out by the settlers to suit their convenience, until public highways began to be ordered by the County Commissioners. The first of these was a road from Pekin to Congress Furnace, and was granted by the Commissioners in response to a petition of Samuel Mobley, in 1815. Other roads were made soon after, from different points, as necessity demanded them fir the benefit of the people. The roads of the township at the present day, while as good, in a general way, as those of any part of the county, yet, owing to the hilly nature of the country, are extremely crooked and zigzag in their course. After the settlement of the township by white people, Indians frequently made excursions into the neighborhood, hunting, but were friendly, and never known to do any harm to their white friends. They would often beg for something to eat, and what was given them they would either eat or carry away. Their village, or camping grounds, were west of the Tuscarawas River. Osnaburg Township has two villages, viz., the village of Osnaburg and the village of Mapleton. Osnaburg is an old place, and started out in its career with the laudable intention of becoming a great city, and with hopes shining brightly through the expectation of finally winning the seat of justice of the new county all knew must soon be formed. It was supposed that the county would be formed around it as a natural consequence, and from the incipient city rays of wisdom would diverge and penetrate to the uttermost parts of the new district. Unburdened with the weight of its lofty aspirations, for a time after its birth, it stood proud as Rome upon her seven hills, and serenely awaited its coming greatness. But at length the new county was created, and Osnaburg failed to be made its seat of justice. This was a severe blow to her anticipated greatness. Her aspirations withered prematurely, and her "Hopes departed forever." Like the Eternal City, even down to the present day, " The spider weaves his web in her palaces, 490 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY. the owl sings his watch-song in her towers." After three-quarters of a century, she is an insignificant village of a few hundred inhabitants, while Canton, " the beautiful city of the plain," wears the glory Osnaburg once fondly dreamed would be her own. The village of Osnaburg was laid out in the latter part of 1806, by James beeper, a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania, and one of the early settlers of the township. It is located on Section 8, and is about six miles east of Canton. Leeper erected a one-story log cabin, and in this limited edifice opened a hotel. His mode of keeping a tavern may be gathered from the personal experience of one John Larwell, as he told it to a correspondent of the Canton Democrat: "Larwell's house was at Fawcettstown (now East Liverpool), on the Ohio River. In March, 1807, he was sent with provisions to his brother, Joseph Larwell, then in Government employ, surveying lands west of the Tuscarawas River. He went by an Indian trail leading from the Ohio River, crossing Sandy Creek near the mouth. Having heard of Osnaburg, he concluded to return that way, as the distance was about the same. Leaving the camp of his brother in the morn- ing, he reached Osnaburg in the evening of the same day. Riding up to the most preten tious house of the village, Mr. Larwell and out came Leeper, the landlord. He inquired if he could stop with him overnight, and receiving an affirmative answer, lie wished to know what accommodations he had for his horse. Leeper pointed to a beech tree that had just been cut down, saying that the horse could be tied to a top limb and feed upon the twigs. As there was not a stable in town, Mr. Larwell had no alternative but to submit to such accommodations for his jaded horse. The tavern was a log structure, the whole constituting a single room, which was made to answer the purpose of kitchen, dining-room bed-room and sitting-room. The floor was of puncheons, and the chimney of sticks and mud. It had evidently been on fire at some time, as there was a considerable hole burnt through, near the ground. The supper consisted of a ' pone' and fresh pork. While the pone was baking on the hearth, a pig came through the hole in the chimney, snatched up the pone and carried it out the same way he came in. Mrs. Leeper gave chase, recovered the pone, replaced it upon. the griddle and watched it until the baking was completed. Mr. Larwell remarked that he enjoyed the supper,, as it was seasoned with hunger. For a bed, he had his choice of the floor below, or on the loft. As the night was growing cold, he preferred the former, and with his feet toward the fire, his clothes on, and a blanket, he had a tolerably co nfortable night. His breakfast was the same as his supper. Over a foot of snow fell during the night, to which his horse was exposed. For these limited accommodations, his bill was 75 cents." Leeper is represented by those who knew him as a man of considerable energy and enterprise, and who worked industriously to build up his town. He was a good talker, and as he kept the only tavern for many miles around, his house was the general stopping-place of those who came west in search of land, and he induced many to select homes in the vicinity of Osnaburg. He also induced many mechanics to settle in the village, and used every exertion to promote the prosperity of the place. But the great evil that has wrecked so many lives was stealing upon him, as a thief in the night. He was of a social disposition, and in his zeal to build up a town, contracted the habit of drinking. His dissipation grew upon him, until in a case of delirium, tremens he escaped from his house in the night, and was found the next morning in a pond, where he had drowned himself. But for his dissipated habits, which made an unfavorable impression upon strangers, it is still believed by many that Osnaburg would have acquired such a start over Canton, which was not laid out until sometime after, as to have eventually made Osnaburg, and not Canton, the county seat of Stark County upon its organization. But the character of Mr. Wells, the original proprietor of Canton, and the influence he exerted in behalf of his town, more than overbalanced the start Osnaburg had in the race for the seat of justice. The first store in Osnaburg was kept by one John McConnell, who opened a small- stock of goods in 1807. He kept but a few articles, and these were such as were mostly in demand in a new country. McConnell, according to the gossips of the town, was a man not of the highest moral rectitude. Some little indiscretions on his part excited such strong feelings of OSNABURG TOWNSHIP - 491 indignation against him as to necessitate his abrupt departure from the town, between the setting of the sun and the rising of that luminary. The next tavern in Osnaburg after Leeper's was kept by William Nailor. Jacob Keplinger is noted in both town and township as a model landlord. The village at present contains two hotels, presenting to the traveling public good accomodations for a town of its size. An early institution in Osnaburg was a hatter shop, kept by Updegraff & McGuggin, who manufactured headpieces for the neighboring gentry. The present business of the village is as follows : Two general stores ; two grocery stores ; two blacksmith and wagon shops ; one harness-shop; one mill ; two hotels ; three churches, and an excellent school building. The mill was built about four years ago by Sheatsley & Stump, and is now owned by Sheatsley & Miller. They have an excellent building, containing four run of buhrs, and do a large business. The mill originally cost about $15,000, and is still in a good state of preservation. The Connotton Valley Railroad passes through the village, and has a comfortable depot and freight buildings. The churches are German Lutheran and Reformed, Albrights, or Evangelical, and Methodist. All have good church edifices and are well supported. The schoolhouse is a spacious building, well furnished and adapted to school purposes. Osnaburg forms a special district, and the school is divided into three departments, but is ungraded. Prof. G. A. Wise is Principal ; Mr. DeHoff, teacher of the intermediate department, and Miss Joetta Whiteleather, teacher of the primary department. The average attendance is about 150 pupils. One of the most prominent business men ever connected with the history of Osnaburg village was Christian Kountz. He was for many years a successful merchant of the place, and an enterprising gentleman, who fostered every good work, and supported every enterprise for the benefit of the town. The following extract from a publication concerning him is appropriate in this connection : " Mr. Kountz was born in Saxony, where he learned the trade of a lace weaver. He came to this country when a young man, and on landing in New York, all the money he had was three kreutzers, about two cents of our money. He immediately sought work, but, unable to obtain employment at his trade, he engaged in anything that offered. Having accumulated a few dollars, he was induced, by a fellow-countryman, to engage in peddling. With his limited means he commenced with a small bundle of notions ; then, I, with a pack which he carried upon his back, and finally he made a raise of a horse and wagon. He prospered, and in the course of time was advised, by a Pittsburgh merchant, to settle in some town and open a store. He located in Osnaburg about the year 1825. He was a man of strict integrity, would never himself, nor permit an employee to, take. advantage of or deceive a customer. His word was as good as his bond, and he raised his family to the same principles of integrity, and to industry and economy. He accumulated a handsome fortune, and died in 1866, at the age of about seventy years. His sons have added to their inheritance, and are successful business men." Mapleton is a small place, and is located on Section 27, about a mile from the Connotton Valley Railroad. Its business consists of one store, one hotel, one grocery store, two shoe-shops, two carpenter-shops, one blacksmith and one wagon shop, one post-office with daily mails by Connotton Valley Railroad at "Mapleton Crossing," one physician, a schoolhouse built in the summer of 1880, and two churches, viz.: Lutheran and Immanuel,s Church of the Evangelical Association. The latter was built in 1867, and the former in 1855. Both are in a flourishing condition, with Sunday schools and good membership. 492 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY. CHAPTER XXII.* PLAIN TOWNSHIP— OUTLINE OF PHYSICAL FEATURES — VALUABLE STATISTICS FROM OLD RECORDS—LIST OF LANDHOLDERS OF 1828—PIONEER IMPROVEMENTS AND INDUSTRIES—GROWTH OF VILLAGES, SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES. "They shunned not labor when 'twas due, They wrought with right good will ; And for the homes they won for them, Their children bless them still." PLAIN TOWNSHIP was among the five that were' created at the time the county was organized in 1809. It was a common thing, in early years, for the townships to have within their jurisdiction a large scope of country, which, as time passed on, and the land became settled by scattering pioneers, was created, piece-meal, into separate townships. This was the case with Plain Township. On the 16th of March, 1809, at the first meeting of the County Commissioners, Plain was created, with the following boundaries : " Beginning at the northeast corner of the 12th Township, in the 8th Range ; thence south to the southeast corner of the 11th Township, in the 8th Range ; thence west with the township lines to the west boundary of the county ; thence north and east with the county line to the place of beginning." Why the township received the name it now bears in an unsolved question. It is said by some that in one part was an open tract of land, or a plain, and the township derived its title from this circumstance. Other reports are that some of the first settlers were from a township in the East called Plain, and in remembrance of their old home bestowed that name upon the new township. The next historian may solve this mooted question.. When the township was created by the Commissioners, they ordered an election of officers to be held at the residence of George Harter, on the first Monday in April, 1809. Pursuant to the order, the election was held, with the following result, as nearly as can be remembered, in the absence of the early records : James Gaff and George Wyke, Justices of the Peace ; Abraham Van Meter, Clerk ; Jacob Warshler, Treasurer, and Henry Friday, Constable. It must be understood that the *Contributed by W. A. Goodspeed. territory within what was Plain Township then included the present Lake, Lawrence and Jackson Townships, in Stark County, and Green and Franklin Townships, in Summit County, in all, six townships. But, at that time, only a few settlers had yet located in any part of this territory, except the present Plain Township. The balance was an uninhabited wilderness, filled with fierce animals that afforded rare and dangerous sport to those who were daring enough to hunt them. This class of men was not wanting among the first settlers. They had come into the forest prepared to bravely meet its dangers and hardships, and the mobile characteristic of human nature to derive pleasure from any and every surrounding asserted itself, and gave to the pioneer a comparatively happy lot.. After .they became accustomed to the trails of their surroundings, and inured to the loneliness and danger, backwoods life was not so bad after all. Question an old settler on this point and he will tell you that, although he had to work hard and deny himself many comforts, yet, after all, he enjoyed life first-rate. He had descovered the philosopher's stone —contentment. The following is quoted from the historical sketches of Stark County by Dr. Slusser, of Canton : "The first white man who settled in Plain Township was Henry Friday. He was a Hessian, taken prisoner at the battle of Trenton and paroled. He had a wife and three children, and, in 1805, came in a rickety cart drawn by an old horse, to Section 30, where he " squatted." It being early in the summer, be cleared a small patch, which he planted in corn and potatoes, and until the crop matured, the family lived on wild meat and berries. His special occupation was that of well digging, but until he found employment in this line he cut and cured grass on the " wild meadows " in the southwestern section of the township, for which he found a ready sale to emigrants. He must. have lived PLAIN TOWNSHIP - 493 like a Digger Indian, for it is said that in the year in which the locusts appeared, he had a pie made of them, which he ate ; and in speaking of it, he would remark, " Es ist der besht poy es mer mache kan." After five or six years he moved to Jackson Township, where he died. Hugh Cunningham, an Irishman, came during the summer of 1805, and located in Section 34. His daughter, whose birth occurred the following year, was the first white child born in the township. It is said that when the draft for the war of 1812 occurred, he became so much alarmed that, to escape the service, he shot himself through the foot. During the autumn of 1805, George and John Harter built their houses in the township, but the families remained at Beaver until later. George Harter, the next year, brought with him two cows and a sow with eight pigs. The sow was kept in a pen for a short time, after which a bell was put on her, and she was permitted to run in search of food. She had not gone far from the cabin when the family heard her squeal ; suspecting the trouble, Mr. Harter snatched up his rifle, which was always kept loaded, and made- haste toward the locality from where the sound came, on his way ramming down a second bullet. He had riot proceeded far when he discovered a huge bear dragging the sow by the back of the neck, through the bushes. The sound of his approach attracted the attention of the bear, which dropped the sow, stood up on its hind legs and looked fiercely at the approaching settler. Harter took deliberate aim at the chest of the bear and fired ; the bear fell over, but as Harter was suspicious that it might not be dead, and knowing that it would be dangerous to go within reach of the animal if it was only wounded, he re-loaded his rifle, and, approaching within a few rods, took careful aim and shot it through the head, when it turned over, gave a feeble kick, and was dead. The bears and wolves carried off all his pigs but two. He constructed a trap, in which several were caught, as was also, on one occasion, a large turkey buzzard." Jacob Loutzenheiser, who afterward became influential and prominent in the township, arrived in 1806, with several pack horses, and left his family for a short time with the Cun- ninghams. During the same year, there came in Valentine Weaver, Peter Dickerhoof, George Bossler, George Haney, George Miller, Simon Essig, Henry Warner, John and David Eby, Conrad Buffner, and, perhaps, others. About the same time, or soon afterward, came George, Jacob and Christian Werstler, and their father, Henry Werstler, Christopher Palmer, Jacob Shoeneberger, Abraham Van Meter, the Bairs, Spielmans, Gafts, Willemans, Everhards, David Cunningham, Jacob Hosler, and many others. Mr. Weaver's three eldest children were daughters, who went to work felling timber, cutting logs, splitting rails, plowing, sowing, reaping and threshing. It is said that Betsey Dickerhoof, when the road between New Berlin and Greentown was opened, took a contract to clear ten acres of timber for John Wise, and completed the contract satisfactorily. What do the damsels of the present day think of that ? Peter Willeman owned the land where the village of New Berlin now stands. After these dates the settlers came in rapidly, the most of them coming directly from the Keystone State, with but little or no money, but with an abundance of self-reliance and unswerving' determination to create a comfortable home in the wilderness. The land was pretty much all taken by 1815, at least all the better portions. In June, 1809, a tax was levied to meet the current expenses of the county. There were no roads, the best being but cut and corduroyed paths through the woods, the routes being established without any regard to section or township lines, but wholly through dry localities, winding around on the upper lands. So much annoyance was occasioned by poor roads, that the tax levied was designed to be used in improving and constructing highways; and the record of the Commissioners, from beginning to end, especially in early years, is one continuous chain of roads viewed, created and altered, or improved. The tax on horses was 25 cents, but soon afterward other domestic animals were also rated as taxable property. Jacob Shoeneberger was the first Collector in Plain, and on the 15th of January, 1810, his tax duplicate showed that he had collected $32.20. George Miller, Collector for the following year, reported $62.05, which sum included his compensation. On the 5th of March, 1810, all the land then in Plain Township, west of the Tuscarawas River, was created, with other land, into a separate township. On the 8th of April, 1811, it was ordered by the Commissioners, that Township 12, Range 8, Townships 11 and 12, Range 9, 494 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY. and all the remaining part of Townships 1 and 2, Range 10, be severed from Plain, and created a separate township called Green. Since that date, Plain has retained its present geographical boundaries. It has always been one of the most valuable townships in the county. On the 3d of December, 1810, the Commissioners ordered viewed a road that had been properly petitioned for, extending north from Canton as far as the county line, and in a direction toward Ravenna. The Viewers were John Shorb, Abraham Galloway and William Williams. These men, assisted by George Clark, Surveyor, completed the work, and reported favorably the following March, whereupon the Commissioners ordered the road to be laid out " forty feet wide, causewayed and finished so that travelers and carriages could pass." Several other roads, extending across the township, were soon afterward surveyed and put in passable condition. Henry Everhard was one of the early County Commissioners, was County Collector in 1817, and occupied other positions of honor and trust. The citizens were generally industrious and saving, and several of them accumulated large fortunes, and their descendants are now reaping the benefits. The following list of land-holders, who were in the township in 1828, is given to preserve the names of the early settlers, several of whom, however, left the township before that period : Frederick Albright, John Arnst, John Andrews, Abraham Bair, Henry Butterbaugh, Daniel Bender, Abraham Barnhart, Jacob Becher, David Brady, John Bair, Jacob Bair, Samuel Bair, Baltzer Bentzel, Jacob. Beard, Jacob Bachtel, Samuel Coulter, Andrew Crist, William Coleman, Isaac Cairns, Phillip Duck, Jacob Dissler, Abraham Dissler, John Essig, Simon Essig, Adam Essig, Jacob Essig, George Essig. GeoEverhardhard, Henry Everhard, David Eby, Thomas Eby, Joseph Eby, John Fast, Nicholas Firestone, John Feather, Jacob Funk, Jacob Gaskin (colored), James Gaff, Jehu Grubb, Peter Grupe, Solomon Gregg, Jacob Hower, George Hower, John Hower. Ferninand Flack-stall, Jacob Hentzel, Michael. Holtz, Peter Housel, Abraham Holm, Christopher Haney, George Haney, William Haney, Jacob Hoy, Jacob Harter, Christian Hain, John Hall, Phillip. Hollebaugh, James Harry, George A. Hontz, George Hontz, Phillip Homan, Jacob Homan; William Hill, John Hains, John Harris, John") Hacken, Thomas Hill, Jacob Kouser, John Kryden, John Kendall, Isaac Kootzner, Jacob Loutzenheimer, Abraham Lantzer, David Landis, Abraham Landis, Jacob Livingston, John Long, Nicholas Murray, Abraham Miller, John Miller, James Miller, Henry Miller, Henry Markee, Henry Myers, Joseph Mishler, Andrew Myers, Daniel Mooser, RobMcClelland, Mosesoses Nelson,Adam Oberlin, Christian Palmer, Frederick Pontius, Mr. Paulus, James Packer, Paul Rider, John Reese, Henry Rabert, Samuel Roofner, G. A. Rex, Conrad Roofner, John Rice, David Risher, WillReynoldsOlds, Anthony Roof, John Reichart, Jacob Spangler, Michael Spangler, Benjamin Spangler, Joseph Spangler, John Sniner, George Snider, George Smith, Samuel Smith,. John Smith, JaShoenebergerrger, Valentine Spielman, John Swigart, Jacob Stoffer, Frederick Shaeffer, Daniel Smith, Christopher Sidnor, Jacob Sell. George Swihart, John Sterling, David Shook, David Shriver, John Trump, Peter Trump, Peter Troxal, John Thomas, Christian Warshler, Jacob Warshler, Henry Waltman, Tobias Wise, Abraham Wise, Peter Wise, Conrad Willeman, Peter Willeman, Jacob Willeman, George Willeman, Thomas Ward, Barnabas Weller, George Warshler, Adam Warner, John Winger, Adam Wise, Michael Weaver, Samuel Weaver, Valentine Weaver, Joseph Weaver, Henry Weaver, George Unger, Henry Zeigler and Phillip Zeigler. These were the resident land-holders in 1828. Other early settlers were Ezra Pepple, Frederick Slusser, Joseph Bishop, Samuel Schrantz, Michael Schrantz, Jacob Mohler, George Bossier, and mans' others whose names are forgotten. The first thing to be done after arriving in the wilderness, was to provide food and shelter for the families. Trees were immediately felled, cut ,the desired length, and everything got in readiness for the raising, at which time the neighbors would come forward, and the building begun in the morning was often ready for the family the following night. Sometimes it was impossible to get the desired assistance, in which case the owner was obliged to resort to the tedious process of building his log cabin alone. To do this he must have a team, with which to draw the heavy logs, not only to the building. but upon it. The logs for the foundation were properly notched, and rolled to their places, afer which strong skids were placed upon this frame-work and the ground, and then by means of long ropes or chains PLAIN TOWNSHIP - 495 passing over the slowly rising structure, the logs, one by one, were drawn up to their destined positions. This process often consumed more than a week, and often, in the meantime, the family were obliged to live either in the wagon, in the cabin of a. neighbor, or in temporary buildings or wigwams constructed of poles, bark and blankets. As soon as the building was completed, the family were moved therein, and then the clearing must go rapidly on, to prepare suitable fields for the coming crop. Then it was that a life of hard work and continuous privation was begun. A section of woodland, probably ten acres, sometimes forty, was leveled with the ground, and the trees were felled in windrows with their tops together. After the desired butt cuts had been rolled out of the way, and the branches had become sufficiently- dry to burn, the fire was lighted from heap to heap much the same way that a prairie fire is started. Nights were often selected for this work, and then the scene was spirited and grand indeed. While watching the fire, the settler would split the preserved butt cuts into rails, to be used to inclose the field. Sometimes the settler went to work and leveled twenty or thirty acres with the ground, after which the neighbors were called in to roll the logs into heaps to be burned. These rollings were the principal means of bringing the settlers together, and the merriment always ran high, like the wares of the sea. The man who could do the most work was the hero of the occasion. If some circumstance occurred to interrupt their work, games were projected, wrestling matches were formed, or target practice was indulged in. A rolling without whisky was a sorry occasion, and, in fact, the settlers refused to assist unless they were supplied with this essential factor for a hard days work. Often some poor fellow would get too full (or fool) for utterance, when he would retire to some secluded spot to dream of bacchanalian bliss or blizzards, and to sleep off the effects of King Alcohol. It was usual for the women to assemble to do the cooking for this " raft" of men, and their sport was scarcely inferior to that of the men. The food was an important item to be taken-into consideration among the early settlers. There were no Dr. Tanners in those days ; neither were there any dyspeptics ; but every person was possessed of a voracious appetite. The digestive apparatus were equal to those of falcons ; but the possessors were often obliged to go hungry, and to fill themselves like anacondas when they were supplied with an abundance. Hundreds of hogs soon ran wild in the woods, the great majority being without earmarks or any known owner. These were shot down „whenever meat was desired, and the cabins were usually supplied with pork, such as it was, which is saying a great deal. Large numbers of deer were in the forest, and juicy venison steak was a common dish placed before the hungry settler. Venison, however, is dry and tasteless without plenty of grease, without which the meat is partially unpalatable. The flesh itself does not contain the necessary fat. Wild turkeys were numberless, and sometimes were so fat, it is said, that when they struck the ground, after being shot from the top of high trees; the skin upon their backs burst open like a ripe bean pod. Many wolves were in the forest, and were a great pest to those who tried to keep sheep. These tender animals had to be housed by night and guarded by day, and even then the climate and other circumstances combined to kill them. When the county was first organized, the Commissioners offered a bounty. of 50 cents for wolf and panther scalps of animals under six months old, and $1 for those' animals above that age. So troublesome were the animals that a year later the Commissioners doubled the bounty, and then it became profitable to hunt them. A skillful hunter would make better wages than a farmer. The streams and lakes abounded in musk-rats, minks, .beavers and a few otter, and during the winter seasons large numbers of these were trapped, and the furs sent East, where there was a growing demand for them. Bears were numerous, and were very troublesome, as they boldly approached" the cabins in the night, and sometimes in the day, and carried off hogs, calves, sheep, or other small domestic animals. A large one would seize an unfortunate Sus scrofa, and, despite its squeals and struggles, carry it off into the forest, and the next day its indig nant owner would find its partially consumed carcass. Many interesting stories are told concerning adventures with bears and other fierce animals, a few of which will be narrated. It is related that one of the settlers in the northern part, on one occasion, went to Canton for a few groceries, and, becoming belated, night over 496 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY. took him shortly after he started for home. He was afoot and alone, with a bag containing his purchases on his back. It was a bitterly cold night in winter, and the snow covered the ground to the depth of some six inches. The moon was shining brightly, and the icy wind sighed through the branches of the trees, and dashed the drifting snow into eddies through the forest glades. The traveler hurried on, anxious to reach the shelter of home. As he was moving swiftly along the obscure path, he suddenly heard a peculiar sniffing sound at a short distance to one side, and a few moments later a; large animal ran out of a clump of bushes, and bounded off at full speed through the woods, uttering a peculiar cry at ever jump. Mr. Willeman had no gun, but he knew that the animal was a panther, and although he was considerably scared, he hallooed at the top of his voice, and was still more scared when he discovered. that the cries had ceased, and the panther was coming back toward him. The fierce animal took a circle out to leeward, and after sniffing and following the traveler for about half a mile, it finally veered off and was soon lost to sight and sound in the depths of the snow-clad forest. At another time, a party of settlers living in Osnaburg Township, started a large bear with their dogs, and, having chased it to near the Wise Mill in Plain, succeeded in disabling it. They came up with their dogs, and, knowing that the bear could not escape-them, they resolved to have some fun. They got long clubs, and circling around the wounded animal, would dash in and deal a severe blow, and then retire as suddenly as their safety demanded.. The dogs were urged on, but the bear, frantic with pain and rage, soon settled them. One blow from a powerful paw was sufficient to either half-kill a venturesome dog, or prevent its second appearance on- the scene. Finally, after the men became tired, the bear was dispatched by a bullet through the head. Prior to the war of 1812, bands .of Indians wandered through the woods, camping temporarily on the streams for the purpose of hunting and trapping. Many of the arts of the chase were learned from them by the white hunters. Within a few years after the township was first settled, industries, began to spring up, to furnish much needed articles nearer home.. The township was supplied with excellent waterpower, for all the streams were about double the present size, although the flow of water is probably swifter at present. Two large streams flow across the township, the West Branch of the Nimishillen and the Middle Branch. The former enters the township from the north, and flows across Sections 5, 4, 9, 16, 17, 20, 29 and 32, while the latter crosses Sections 1, 2, 11, 12,.14, 13, 23, 26, 27 and 34. The former has quite a large branch entering it from the west, and all these creeks and their branches furnish excellent drainage. The township is not only a first class agricultural section of the county, but it has scarcely a rival for manufacturing facilities. It is underlain with exhaustless beds of fine coal, three or ,four mines being worked at present, though, from the fact that the railroads have been built within the last few years, this valuable feature of the township is not yet fully developed. Time will bring a vast revenue to the owners of the soil. The soil in different places discloses fine sandstone and limestone, which have been quarried to a limited extent in past years. A fine article of lime has been burned, and is burned at present. .Taking all these things into consideration—the strength of the soil for agricultural purposes, the abundant supply of limestone and sandstone, the inexhaustible beds of bituminous coal, the fair water-power, and the healthfulness of the climatic features—the township is a pleasant and profitable place in which to live. As early as 1810, A. Van Meter built a saw and chopping mill in the township. The building was built of logs, and was divided into two apartments, one in which the sawing apparatus was placed being little better than a shed. A set of rough and coarse " nigger-head " stones was placed in the other, but the miller did not pretend to be able to furnish first-class flour and meal. He could grind the grains, after a fashion, and did for a short time ; but, owing to the weakness of the dam he had constructed, at the end of a year, a sudden freshet swept away his mill, and it was not afterward rebuilt. In the summer of 1811, G. A. Rex built a gristmill on Nimishillen Creek, water-power being secured in the usual manner, by means of a race. Mr. Rex was an enterprising man, and had some property at his command. He brought from Georgetown a set of fine French buhrs, that cost the then very large amount of $800. This set was placed in the mill, and so excellent was the flour and meal turned out, that the PLAIN TOWNSHIP - 497 miller soon had all he could do. His mill became known for twenty or thirty miles around ; and as the owner saw his business steadily increase, he improved the water-power as much as possible, and almost doubled the capacity of his mill. Still he found plenty to do. A sawmill was built in connection with the gristmill, and was operated with water from the same dam. A few years after this mill was built, Jacob Holm placed, in a small apartment set off for the purpose, a small stock of goods, the first ever offered for sale in the township. They were probably not worth more than $200. He kept calicoes, a few groceries and notions, and some hardware, including axes. How long he continued is forgotten or unknown. In 1812, Henry Everhard built a grist-mill on West Branch. This was located at a spot where the dam flooded considerable of the bottom, and where a small quantity of cranberries grew in early years. This mill became well patronized, and furnished a fair article of flour. A saw-mill was built and operated on the same dam. Other mills were built prior to 1814, by David Wise, Conrad Ruffner and John Trump. Adam Wise, as some say, built a gristmill at Middle Branch, as early as 1815. He also built a saw-mill at the same place. In about the year 1819, he opened a small store in his mill, and for a number of years conducted the combined pursuits. His mills and store became the central point, around which quite a section of country revolved, as it were. He succeeded in getting a post office quite early, but for some reason unknown, did not lay out and plat a village, as he might have done to his pecuniary advantage. Nothing of the kind was done through the long lapse of years until the present. On the 29th of January, 1881, John Pontius, the owner and proprietor of the land, had surveyed and platted the village of Middle Branch. Sixty lots were properly laid out, by W. H. Martin, County Surveyor, on parts of the northeast and southeast quarters of Section 2, Township 11, Range 8. This was done by reason of the presence of the Connotton Valley Railroad. A station was located at that point, whereupon Mr. Pontius laid out the village, as stated, and offered the lots for sale. In time, quite a little village will grow up at that point. The first death was that of a cabinet-maker, who was killed by a falling tree. John Andrews was an early tanner. In 1820, Abram Holm opened a tannery that he conducted quite extensively for many years. It was located in the northeast corner of the township. John Bowers collected the tax in 1807, and reported with it to the Commissioners of Columbiana County, of which Stark then formed a part. The tax on quarter-sections was then $1.75 ; it is now more than $80. It was customary in early years, when a pauper turned up in the township, to sell the keeping of the same to the lowest bidder ; one was thus sold. It is said that when Bechtel, an early Constable, was sworn in, he made the following exception to the form of the oath : " To swear when he pleased, and to hunt on Sunday." Joseph Somers built and operated an early saw-mill. The land upon which the village of New Berlin now stands, was originally owned by Peter Williman. Who built the first house is as difficult to discover as a needle in a hay-stack ; both remain lost ; somebody, however, was guilty, as there was a first house built. That is a safe conclusion, at least, but that is about as far as conclusions can go and be logical and consistent. Probabilities are much more satisfactory on this point than conclusions, and will be indulged in. It is likely that a cabin was built there by some one as early as 1815, as the location was pleasant and desirable. At all events, in 1830, several families resided there, and it, about that time, dawned upon the minds of those in that vicinity, that a village was about to spring up. The question was discussed, and the owners of the land finally came to the conclusion to follow the example set by Romulus and Remus, sons of the war-god, Mars, some two thousand years before. John Hower was the owner and proprietor, and on the 18th of February, 1831, he employed Samuel Bechtel, surveyor, and laid out twenty-three lots, the most of them being in the acute angle formed by the junction of Market and Portage streets. The lots were offered for sale, and erelong the population had run up to forty or fifty. Long before that, however, the villagers had become clamorous for a store and post office, and a few years later, Josiah Sher-rick (or perhaps Peter Schick) was induced to embark on the mercantile sea. He did not venture far from shore, however, as his stock of goods was worth only about $200. A few years later he was succeeded by Peter Schick, 498 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY. who continued for quite a number of years, and kept a good country store, receiving a fair trade from the surrounding country. It was probably through the instrumentality of Mr. Schick that the post office was secured, although this is not absolutely certain. Quite a number have, at various times, sold goods at New Berlin, among whom are Peter Brilhart, Emanuel Ensminger, Samuel Witwer, Bechtel & Pierson, Mr. Young. John Hill, Daniel Holl, Bechtel & Brother, William Schick and George Sponseller, the present merchant, who has on hand nearly $10,000 worth of a general assortment of goods. He has a large and valuable trade, and is the present Postmaster. John Hower was the first blacksmith. Not long after the village was laid out, Peter Schick made considerable of an addition to it, and still later Samuel Schlott made another. These combined, furnished over a hundred excellent building lots. After this the village grew quite rapidly ; various other industries, besides those men tioned, sprang up through the medium of genius and necessity. The latter is the mother of invention, and no sooner is a want felt by the. American people, than some means to meet it are devised. The world is filled with men who would be properly classed among the great, were it not for some flaw or blemish in their otherwise fair capabilities. One man will possess transcendent genius in some branch of human endeavor, but, lacking the power to apply it properly, he passes through life comparatively unknown, and his death is unsung by the wise and great of earth. G-. G. Nodle, of New Berlin, is a mechanic of rare powers, gifted with that peculiar cast of mind that can see, through necessity and want, the means of supplying them. He has invented several interesting and valuable mechanical contrivances. A number of years ago, he invented a valuable improvement on Lamb's knitting machine, prepared his model and sent it to the Patent Office, but a short time afterward discovered that his patent had been entered by some other person. Whether another man had invented the same improvement a little earlier, is not yet determined, but Mr. Nodle thinks otherwise. He works in any metal, .ivory, bone, stone or wood. He has lately invented a combination door-lock, that, for simplicity and value, is without a rival. In proper hands, a fortune could be made with it. .Several other valuable inventions have been developed, one of them being a machine for cutting cogs, and another for filing saws. In about the year 1867, Joel Stephens erected suitable buildings, and began the manufacture of various sorts of pottery, among which were crocks, jars, jugs, etc. The material was obtained near by, and, for a number of years Mr. Stephens did extensive work, and under his management the industry was profitable to him, and a credit to the village. Some two years after starting, he sold out to Isaac Stripe, who dropped the pottery business, and ventured in that of manufacturing, tiles and sewer pipes. He employed one or two steady hands, and, at busy seasons of the year, several others. He discontinued the occupation in a short time. In 1865, William H. Hoover, who owned and conducted a tannery, began manufactaring horse collars on an extensive scale. He had the means at his command for supplying all necessary materials at a small cost, and his sales at home and abroad soon placed him in the catalogue of wholesale manufacturers. His sales from tannery and factory reach the satisfactory amount of about $40,000 per annum. He employs from seven to ten laborers. This is, perhaps, the most extensive and important industry ever in the township. It is certainly a credit to New Berlin. In 1880, Peter Pierson & Son, with a capital of nearly $10,000, opened a lumber yard in the village. The piles of lumber give the place the aspect of a city. This firm keeps on hand an abundance of ready-made doors, windows and other materials necessary in the erection of buildings. They have both hard and soft woods, and are operating a saw mill in connection with their lumber yard. Henry Hoover, as early as 1820, erected a distillery in the township. He had the necessary apparatus for manufacturing considerable liquor. He owned a copper still, which held some twenty-five gallons, and succeeded in distilling about a barrel of whisky per day. He conducted the pursuit for many years, realizing fair pecuniary advantage therefrom ; but, at last, when the demand for strong drink at home had partially subsided, and larger distilleries in the county had captured his distant trade, finding that his time could be more profitably spent in other occupations, he closed his distillery, and retired from the now detested business. Samuel Cossler engaged in the same occupation about the time that Hoover began, erecting his PLAIN TOWNSHIP - 499 buildings, and placing therein apparatus necessary for turning out whisky at about the same rate as the Hoover distillery. He continued for a number of years. Solomon Miller is distilling at present,, and has been for many years, although not continuously. He distills about a barrel of whisky every day the distillery is conducted, and those in the township, who seem to know whereof they speak, say it is a first-class article. In the fall, when cider is abundant, Mr. Miller distills a fine article of cider brandy. He finds a ready sale for his liquor, not only at home, but abroad. No other distilleries, so far as known, have ever been conducted in the township. In the summer of 1880, Uriah Gray erected a small building in New Berlin, and began the manufacture of cigars. Although not yet on a very extensive scale, his business is gradually assuming shape, and erelong will be' a valuable feature among. the industries of the township. He furnishes labor for one employe, and his cigars are said to be superior in fillings and wrappers. His cigars are greedily consumed by the delighted Berlinites. Many other interesting items might be mentioned of this village. The first tavern-keeper was John Hower, who opened his building to the public before the village could be called such. He has been succeeded by Mrs. Shriner, Jacob Wolf, Jacob Mohler, Cyrus Manderback, George Wagner, John Cloud, Amos Johnson, Jacob Hisner, Martin Aist, Harry Triesch, Daniel Winger, Jacob Bowers, Gerhart Leed, Cyrus Brady, the present landlord, Jacob Munderbaugh, William Pepple, Samuel Sloat and Michael Bitzer. The first resident physician was Dr. Allen M. Weidler. After him were Drs. Peter Crum, Benbarger, Shanefelt and Young. The latter was succeeded by Dr. George Holtz, who began practicing in 1845, and has continued in the village ever since. It is scarcely necessary to add that he has an extended practice and the confidence of the citizens. If the writer is correctly informed, he is a graduate of the Cleveland Medical College. Other physicians have tried to supplant him, but have signally failed. One day a young doctor went to Mr. Pierson, and asked him if there was any chance for another doctor to work into a practiee at the village. Mr. Pierson eyed the young man a few moments in silence, and then remarked : “I'll say to you frankly, I don't believe there is any chance for you whatever, because Dr. Holtz has the unlimited confidence of the people, charges very low for his work, and never collects what he charges." That commendation is enough to satisfy the :most exacting. The Doctor has served over twenty consecutive years as Justice of the Peace, often against his expressed desire, although he never refused to serve when elected. It is said that his judgments are rarely reversed, and but few appeals are taken from his decisions. The first tanner in the village was Peter Brilhardt. He was followed in the same occupation by Jacob Mohler, John Lind, and the present one, W. H. Hoover. William Palmer and Nicholas Kolp are the present shoemakers. Frank Shields is the village butcher. He adopts the now common method of conveying his meat to the residences of his patrons. He buys and ships considerable live stock. Israel Carpenter is the village cabinet-maker. H. Bailey is conducting a livery stable. This concludes the brief history of the village of New Berlin, with the exception of noting that a station on the Valley Railroad is located about a mile west, and that the village has a copulation of about 400. Abram Stevens, who had enliisted with Aaron Burr in his expedition to the Southwest, and had embarked down the Ohio in a flat-boat, became dissatisfied with the prospect ahead, and, abandoning the enterprise at Steubenville, he started westward, and, in 1807, arrived in Stark County. During the summer or fall of the same year, a log schoolhouse had been built by the settlers in the southern part of the township, and located on the farm of James Gaff. Stevens was employed to teach school in this house either during the fall or winter of the year 1807. This is said to have been the first term of school taught in Stark County. But little is remembered of it, except that quite a number of young men attended, and were in the habit of carrying their guns to school with them in hopes of being able to bring down a deer or other animal, either going or returning. The hours of intermission were often spent in seeing who were the best marksmen. Children in the backwoods were extremely backward in their studies. Young men over twenty-one years did not know as