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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY - 287 CHAPTER XII CANTON TOWNSHIP ITS STRIKING FEATURES-THE OLD FOREST SECTIONS-DIFFERENT SOILS -DRAINAGE-PIONEER SETTLERS OF TOWNSHIP AND COUNTY-FIRST FARM SETTLED-FIRST DEATH-THE MEYER'S LAKE SETTLEMENT- FIRST MARRIAGE IN ST ARK COUNTY-LAST OF CANTON'S SURVEYOR-WOLVES NOT MONEY SHARKS- FIRST MILLS ESTABLISHED—CORNMEAL MILL A FAILURE-THE SLUSSER FAMILY-HORSE RACING VS. HORSE SELLING-FIRST SETTLER IN CANTON-LAND OFFICE AND POST- OFFICE AT CANTON-A LOST LAKE-FIRST BANK OF THE COUNTY- "THE FARMERS BANK" OF CANTON-MEYER'S LAKE HISTORY- ANDREW MEYER-FIRST SCHOOLHOUSE AND TEACHER-BITTER "BARRING OUT" FIGHT-THE HEAD OF THE FARMERS BANK-SHORB RESCUES RUNAWAYS-ANOTHER FINE PIONEER, PHILIP DEWALT -UNRIVALLED AS A HORSE TRADER-MRS. HARRIET K. WHITING JOHN DANNER, OLDEST LIVING NATIVE-MARTIN WIKADAL AND HIS STORE. Before considering the many details which go to make up the history of the City of Canton, it seems best to picture a number of people, events and general features connected with the township as a whole. The old times are also so closely joined to the new that they will come in for our final attention, as they relate to this part of the county. When the name of a person is first mentioned, what is the most natural of inquiries? Why, how does he or she look ? Meaning, what are the predominating features of the individual who has just been introduced by name? Thus with Canton Township. ITS STRIKING FEATURES Situated but a few miles south of the summit that divides the valley of the Ohio from that of the Great Lakes, the township has some geographical features common to both, but the predominating ones are those of the Ohio River basin, to which it properly belongs. The surface features are varied-rolling and inclined to be hilly, in the northeastern portion ; in the northwestern it is almost a level plain ; south 288 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY of the central section line it becomes more and more hilly, until in the southeastern and southwestern portions it is very rough and hilly ; and this is particularly the case along the Nimishillen Creek just before it leaves the township, where steep, precipitous banks rise on both sides to an elevation of 150 to 200 feet and extend back in each direction, east and west, for a considerable distance. The Nimishillen is hemmed in by ridges of moderate elevation through its whole extent, inclosing bottom land of great fertility from half a mile to a mile in width. Hurford's Hill, a little west of south from Canton, and Buck Hill, about two miles southwest, not more than 11/ miles distant from each other, are remarkable from the fact that, while each of them is of about the height of 125 feet, they differ radically and materially from each other, and represent quite closely the difference of the sections in which they are situated. The former is composed of shales of slate, several coal veins, fire clay and limestone, and it is characteristic of the whole, or nearly the whole, eastern and southern parts of the township. The latter is a mound of gravel-drift formation and characterizes the northwestern part. THE OLD FOREST SECTIONS The eastern and southern sections, including all parts of the township east of the Nimishillen and its west branch, belong to the forest region of North America. A small branch, rising from springs in swamp land, a little south of the middle section line of the township, and emptying into the Nimishillen three-eighths of a mile below the junction of its east and west branches, is the southern boundary. as the West Nimishillen is the eastern, of a sandy-soil region extending in a northwesterly direction to the Tuscarawas River. DIFFERENT SOILS The southern portion of this region in Canton Township had some small timber, but at the beginning of the nineteenth century the greater part of it was without trees and covered with long grass, and was the first of a series of prairies west of the Alleghanies. which, gradually growing larger, at last culminated in the great prairies of the Northwest. The lands here are fertile gravel lands of drift formation, and are at this time in a high state of cultivation, ranking among the first lands in the county for the raising of all kinds of grain. Most of the hilly portions of the township, and the valleys inclosed by them, are clay lands, though gravel and sand hills are by no means HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY - 289 uncommon among them. They are mostly underlaid with coal strata of sufficient thickness to be profitably worked. The soil is generally fertile on these hills and in the valleys, and yields a rich return to the labor of the husbandman, while the coal beneath, readily mined from the hillsides, gives a double source of income and makes the land very valuable. DRAINAGE From the northeastern part of the township a branch of the Nimishillen Creek, flowing southwesterly and in a westerly direction, meets the middle branch of the same creek coming from the north, just northeast of Canton, and they there form what is familiarly known as the East Creek, which, flowing in a southwesterly direction 21/9 miles, forms a junction with the West Creek, south of Canton, and makes with this the Nimishillen Creek. From this point the Nimishillen flows in a southwesterly course through the township. The West Creek comes from the northwestern part of the township, and on its way it receives the outlet from Meyer's Lake. (Besides the tributary from the west, already mentioned above as dividing the gravel from the clay lands, the Nimishillen, farther down, has another small tributary from the east.) Springs and small rivulets are very numerous, and these, with the creeks, render the soil well watered. PIONEER SETTLERS OF TOWNSHIP AND COUNTY The early pioneers in the settlement of Stark County settled near the present site of the City of Canton. Previous to the year 1805 the land office for all this part of the country was at Steubenville, in Jefferson County, of which originally this county was a part. Connected with the land office was James F. Leonard. He seems to have been the first one who came into Canton Township with the purpose of remaining and making a permanent settlement. FIRST FARM SETTLED In March, 1805, in company with James and Henry Barber, Mr. Leonard established a station just northeast of the present city and near the county fair grounds. Leonard and the Barber brothers took pains to induce other settlers to come here, and showed them lands suitable for location; and, when required, surveyed and measured them. Vol. I-19 290 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY FIRST DEATH Leonard, as a land surveyor, made frequent trips to Steubenville, and, on one of these trips, he induced one of his personal friends named James Culbertson to come back with him. Soon after coming here, however, the latter was attacked with inflammation of the lungs and died on the 5th of October, 1805, his being the first death among the (PICTURE) OLD FASHIONED FIREPLACE white people in the county. Others from Pennsylvania and Maryland came during the fall of 1805, who located lands and did some clearing, but returned to their eastern homes before winter. THE MEYER'S LAKE SETTLEMENT Soon after the establishment of Leonard's Station another was established by Butler Wells and Daniel McClure, who were also surveyors HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY - 291 from Steubenville, upon lands located and owned by Bezaleel Wells, about two miles northwest of Canton, near what was then called the Large Spring, now well known as Meyer's Lake, so named from Andrew Meyer, who afterward owned a large body of land around it. Wells and McClure brought workmen with them to build upon the lands and to cultivate them, their effort being most likely the first one for a systematic occupancy and cultivation in the township. These stations of Leonard and Wells were chosen with good judgment and discrimination; the one being in the undulating forest region almost at the very entrance of the less rugged and hilly lands between the branches of the Nimishillen Creek, as compared with the lands east and south of Canton, which, though good lands for farming and rich in mineral resources, were not, at this early period, so well adapted to please the eyes of emigrants from the older settlements seeking a new location ; the other, upon the plains west of the Nimishillen, offering a tempting bait to settlers desirous of finding land already cleared, and waiting for the farmer to come in, possess and bring out its rich resources. As a consequence of this foresight on their part these stations soon became, at this early period, the points to which emigrants came in search for new homes. The woodless lands of the prairie, however, did not for a long time at first receive from the early settlers the attention which from their agricultural worth they should have had. Most of them preferred the wooded lands northward from Canton, and hence the early settlement of Plain Township is almost coincident with that of Canton Township. FIRST MARRIAGE IN STARK COUNTY In July, 1806, Leonard united in marriage with a daughter of James Barber, one of his associates, which is worthy of special note as the first marriage in Stark County. LAST OF CANTON'S SURVEYORS In the autumn of 1805 Leonard surveyed and platted the original Canton, and at the first sale of lots by public outcry, in 1806, he purchased the lot on the southwest corner of Seventh and Market streets, and erected thereon a brick building, so long and so well known as the Oberly corner, which stood a relic of the olden times until the year 1879, when it was torn away to give place to a hardware store. Later he removed to Plain Township, thence to Jackson Township, afterward to Summit County, and finally to Cleveland, where he died at an ad- 292 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY vanced age. Meeting as he did, at that early period, all classes of persons, who had come west to look up new locations for themselves and families, he had many adventures, and in after years took great pleasure in relating these and stories of the pioneer times. One of these may give a better insight into the then condition of things by being given here. WOLVES NOT MONEY SHARKS A stranger from the East came to the station, during Leonard's absence on a trip to Steubenville, to register lands for various persons in the land office there, which he had measured for them. It was on a Saturday, in the spring of the year 1803 ; the Barber brothers and Culbertson, who were in charge of the station, were engaged by the stranger to show him the lands as far from the station as it was safe to venture on the following day, Sunday. The stranger had brought with him $338 in silver, in a heavy cloth sack, in which he also carried his provisions for the journey ; for greater security, before starting out to look at land, he placed this in the trunk of a hollow tree, and carefully covered the opening with moss, so that it might not be discovered by any one during his absence. Returning to the station late on Sunday evening he concluded to let it remain in the tree until the next morning. But what were his terror and astonishment when, on Monday morning, he could find no trace of sack or money, or the very necessary, in those days, bread and meat. The man was inconsolable, and as there was an encampment of Indians in the neighborhood he naturally charged the theft upon them. But as he could find no trace of his money, and an encounter with the Indians to justify his suspicions and recover it was entirely out of the question, he went homeward with a heavy heart. Three hundred dollars in those days was a large amount, and it was doubtless the man's whole fortune, the savings from many years of previous industry and economy. On the way back he met Leonard and told him of his loss, and also of his suspicions against the Indians. Leonard consoled the man as best he could and assured him of his own belief that wolves, and not the Indians, were the thieves, and that probably the money would be again recovered at some later day. Four months later three men from Pennsylvania were looking over the land, about a half mile from the tree trunk in which the money had been placed, to find a desirable location, when one of them picked up a piece of the ticking sack ; this, of course, led the man who was conducting them to relate the story of the stranger's kiss, whereupon all made diligent search and found nearly all of the stolen HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY - 293 treasure. Wolves, indeed, true to their instinct, and lured by the savory smell of cooked meat, had discovered the hiding place and carried off sack, bacon and money ; but as they had no special need of the last they left it lying around loose among the leaves of the forest. FIRST MILLS ESTABLISHED Philip Slusser came from Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, to Beaver County in the year 1804. The next spring he came to Stark County, chose a quarter section of land directly east of Canton and had the same entered in the land office at Steubenville. He then re- (PICTURE) OLD-FASHIONED WATER WHEEL turned to Pennsylvania, and in the autumn of 1805, leaving his wife and younger children in the old home, he came back with his three sons, Philip, Peter and John, and his daughter Elizabeth, to take charge of the housekeeping branch of the business, together with eight or ten laborers. He erected the first mill in the county for grinding wheat and other grains. This mill, so long and so favorably known as the Roland Mill, played a by-no-means unimportant part in the early settlement of Canton and the township. Previous to its establishment the settlers were obliged to go thirty or forty miles away to the older settlements for their flour, and not at all unfrequently it required a number of days to get it ground, to say nothing of the long and wearisome journeys to mill and back home again. It must be remembered that in those days our pioneer settlers did not have 294 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY the benefit of well-established and worked roads; the greater part of the country between them and the older settlements was an unbroken wilderness, and the roads were often mere paths through the woods. Sonic, accordingly, were obliged to live almost entirely upon wild game and fish, or used hand-mills and depended largely upon hominy for their grain supply. Others took a piece of iron plate, perforated it, and ground their corn, or rather, crushed it through the perforations by rubbing it on the rough side of the iron plate. CORN MEAL MILL A FAILURE Soon after the establishment of the Slusser Mill, another one, a small log house upon four stone pillars, was erected a few mileS northwest of Canton, on the west branch of the Nimishillen, for grinding Indian corn. Two rough stones were used, but according to tradition, the corn meal turned out from this mill was so coarse and full of sand that it was not even fit for making the once famous Johnny cake, the favorite morsel in those days upon many a pioneer's table. It need hardly be added that the miller, in that mill, received, on this account, the hearty benedictions of the girls and women of the period, such as only such girls and women knew how to give them. A sawmill was added to this mill a little later, but was carried away by a flood the same year it was built; a consequence, presumably, of the bad corn meal made there. Slusser's Mill seems to have done good work from the beginning of its establishment and naturally drew custom, not only from Canton, but also from Plain Township north. THE SLUSSER FAMILY Philip Slusser was born in the Upper Rhine country of Germany, and was a man of decided upright character. He was one of the first commissioners of this county and was held in high esteem by all who knew him. He died in the year 1828. His sons, Philip and Peter, removed later to Tuscarawas Township, while his third son, John, carried on a sawmill, commenced as early as 1807, for many years. John Slusser was the father of Dr. Lewis Slusser, the widely known physician and writer on pioneer topics. HORSE RACING VS. LOT SELLING In the spring of 1806 a public sale of lots occurred. That a crowd might be brought together at this sale a horse race, to come off the HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY - 295 same day at Canton, was extensively advertised, and the result was that many people from Steubenville, New Lisbon and Beaver were present, more interested, however, it seems, in the races than in the sale of lots. Some lots were sold, but at a merely nominal price. But a good beginning had been made. The original plat had the boundaries of the streets at this time known as North Street, Saxton Street (formerly East), South Street and Wells Street (formerly West). At the sale of lots above mentioned James F. Leonard bought the lot on the corner of Market and Seventh streets for a trifle, with the understanding that he would immediately build a brick house upon it, with a view of inducing others to come in and help build up the new town. The house was built by Leonard, according to contract, and stood until the year 1879, and is yet well remembered by a few of those residing in Canton as the old " Oberly Corner." FIRST SETTLER IN CANTON The first settler in Canton was Garret Crusen, who started a tavern on North Market Street, between Fourth and Fifth streets. His house was a log cabin, with one room about eighteen feet square, which served amply all the purposes of the day ; as bar, dining and sitting room and kitchen ; two small shed additions furnished comfortable sleeping apartments for the family and guests, and a storeroom for general purposes. LAND OFFICE AND POSTOFFICE AT CANTON After the survey of lands in 1808, west of the Tuscara was River, a land office was established in Canton, with James Gibson as register and John Sloane as receiver. In January, 1809, a postoffice was established here and James Coulter was the first postmaster. The mail was carried on horseback, once a week, from New Lisbon to Canton. A LOST LAKE At the time of the location of the town, and for some years afterward, a lake, covering some thirty acres of ground, immediately adjoined it on the northeast. It was supplied by Shriver's Run, from strong springs north of town. In many places this body of water was more than six feet deep, and, as it was abundantly supplied with fish, it was a great resort for the fishermen of the period. Shriver's Run was also the outlet of this water, but its course was a considerable distance west 296 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY of the present run, which was changed to accommodate several tanneries in the east part of the town. At the edge of the lake stood a cottonwood tree, which, for nearly two generations, was the meeting place of the boys when about to engage in their active outdoor sports. The lake was drawn off, in pursuance of an act of the General Assembly in 1816. FIRST BANK OF THE COUNTY As connected closely with these varied business interests of early Canton, we here give a brief history of the first bank. In the year 1815 a meeting of the business men of the town was called for the purpose of organizing a bank. The population at this time was about 500. There were seven stores and several flour mills drawing trade to Canton from a great distance on all sides. At the close of the War of 1812 a new impetus was given to business; immigration from the East, which, during the war, had nearly ceased, set in again, and there soon arose a demand for greater facilities in the way of furnishing an adequate supply of circulating medium, and in making transfer of funds. Wooster, thirty miles west of Canton, began to loom up as a rival town, and, what at this time appears rather laughable than otherwise, the contest for superiority was almost entirely based upon the relative advantages of Killbuck and Nimishillen creeks for future purposes of navigation. The meeting called, as above stated, was considered a good stroke of policy to gain other advantages. Five trustees were appointed, viz., John Shorb, William Fogle, Samuel Coulter, Thomas Taylor and James Hazlett, with instructions to take initiatory steps at once to compass the end desired. "THE FARMERS' BANK OF CANTON" In the month of April a notice was published in the Ohio Repository for a meeting at the Eagle Tavern, of Philip Dewalt, to hold an election for nine directors of a bank to be called "The Farmers' Bank of Canton," the word "Farmers" being adopted at the suggestion of Doctor Fogle. At this election Thomas Hartford, John Shorb, John Myers, William Fogle, Winans Clark, James Hazlett, Philip Slusser, Jacob Myers and George Stidger were chosen directors. John Shorb was made president, and William Fogle, cashier. Subscription books were immediately opened to raise stock for the new bank at Canton, at Tallmadge, at Stow and at Cleveland. In the summer of 1815 a banking house was erected on lot 28, and in the fall of the same year it was occupied as such, and the bank went into operation. HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY - 297 MEYER'S LAKE HISTORY Meyer's Lake, from the earliest settlement of the township, has always been a favorite resort of sportsmen, fishermen and pleasure seekers. But with all the boating and bathing done here for more than seventy years there was but one case of drowning. Robert Stewart undertook, in the year 1816, to swin across the lake for the purpose of getting a boat. On account of the many springs with which the lake abounds, some of them very powerful ones, the water, even in midsummer, near the middle of the lake, is fresh and chilly. Stewart was reputed to be a good swimmer, but becoming benumbed or being overtaken with cramps, he was drowned in his attempt. A cannon from Canton was brought into speedy requisition and fired over the water in the hope of raising the body, but without result. A few days after, however, the body was found, and was buried on the point which, from this circumstance, has ever since been known as Dead Man's Point. The lake derives its name from Andrew Meyer, who, in the year 1816, came into Canton Township and purchased, in 1818, 3,000 acres of land, including the lake and the lands about it from Bazaleel Wells. Being a man of energy, of means and of good business habits, he kept about him a number of worthy and reliable laborers to develop the rich resources of the vast tract of land which by this purchase came into his possession, and, without ever having held any public position, he exerted a large influence in the early settlement of the township and of the City of Canton. ANDREW MEYER Andrew Meyer was born in Bonn, Prussia, in the year 1762. He served nine years as a soldier in the allied armies of Europe against Napoleon, in the latter part of the last century, but, in 1802, he emigrated to America and settled in Baltimore. Here he pursued the business of a brass founder a number of years, and being successful in business, he soon became sole owner of two vessels engaged in the ocean trade, and at the same time part owner in several others. He served personally in the war with England in 1812 as a volunteer, giving the faithful services of an old soldier against the enemies of his adopted country. He took an active part in the battles of Baltimore and Bladensburg against Lord Ross, the British commander. Andrew Meyer was the father of three sons and two daughters. After his death, in 1849, his vast property was divided among these children, and, as it was entailed property to the deceased's grandchildren, nearly 298 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY the whole of it is yet in the possession of his heirs. Mr. Meyer died in 1849 at the age of eighty-seven years. The first building for the accommodation of the public at Meyer's Lake was erected by Meyer and Cross in 1866, and served its purpose well until the increasing demands of the place as a popular resort induced Joseph A. Meyer, a grandson of Andrew Meyer, to build, during the winter of 1879-80, the new "Lake Park Hotel," on the north bluff bank of the lake. The building was two stories high and well adapted to accommodate a large number of guests, with all the comforts at hand to make their stay at this pleasant place agreeable and beneficial. A twelve-foot veranda extended on both floors entirely around the building, and it was surmounted with a tower in the center of the front, eighty feet high. The first boat house at the lake was erected by the Eclipse Boat Club, of Canton, in 1873. This club held their first regular regatta August 12, 1876. Since then Meyer's Lake has become the most popular resort in the county, as will be more fully indicated in chapters devoted to the City of Canton. FIRST SCHOOLHOUSE AND TEACHER One of the first schoolhouses in Stark County was erected in the year 1807, on the Aultman place, section 12, of Canton Township. The schoolhouse was made of round logs, and was seven feet high, with a clapboard roof and puncheon floor. As a substitute for windows small square holes were cut out in the logs, small sticks were set in, and the holes were then covered with greased paper. Logs with feet set in and covered with boards were the writing desks, and slabs from the sawmill of Mr. Slusser, with legs attached, furnished the seats of this and many other primitive schoolhouses. John Harris, who afterward attained considerable celebrity as a lawyer in Canton, was the first teacher. The school books then used were Dilworth's Speller, the Old and New Testament of the Bible as readers, and Gough's Arithmetic, with its money calculations all in the old English currency of pounds, shillings and pence. Geography and grammar were not then taught, nor indeed for many years after. Christopher Bair succeeded Harris as teacher in this school. BITTER "BARRING-OUT" FIGHT In the early days the "barring" out of teachers was very common here in Ohio. On public days, such as Christmas and New Year's, pupils in schools deemed it the duty of the teacher not only to give HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY - 299 them a holiday but also to treat the crowd. In the primitive days a treat of this kind meant cider for the larger boys and something even milder for the smaller children, and the few girls who had time to go to school. As a rule, teachers demurred to the demand and a struggle between teacher and pupils was generally the result. The "barring" process was the usual tactics of the pupils to bring the teacher to terms, when it became a contest, partly of physical endurance and partly of tact and skill on the part of the teacher, to outwit his pupils. The parents, having themselves in their younger days been participants in similar contests, either sided with the youngsters or approvingly winked at their doings ; and many teachers of the times were rather anxious to invite the struggle. One of these, in connection with this first school in Canton Township, is on record, and its relation here may be not without interest, even though there is not much instruction in it. John Criswell, a tall, raw-boned man, who prided himself greatly on his disciplinary powers in governing a school, was a teacher a few years after Bair. The day before Christmas the larger boys determined that they must have a treat and that the master should furnish the refreshments. According to previous arrangement operations were delayed until noon, when, according to his usual custom, it was known that the teacher would be away for awhile; the younger children were sent home, and then commenced the operation of barring out. Among the boys prominent were the Reams, Aultmans, Latimers, Bairs, Sherricks and Trumps. When the teacher returned he found the door effectually "barred." The openings in the logs for windows would not admit the body of any ordinary man, and when Criswell found the doors closed against him he at once became angry and excited. Of course, he demanded in a peremptory tone, the opening of the door. When told that the conditions of surrender were a "treat" and a dismissal of the school for the next day he refused at once and threatened dire vengeance upon the heads (or backs) of the perpetrators. His threats did not amount to much, and when he attempted to get in by tearing off the clapboards of the roof the boys so pounded his fingers that he was glad to desist ; when he tried to come down the chimney they smoked him back; but he filially improvised a battering ram from a heavy fence rail, succeeded at last in breaking in the door and became himself master of the situation. He did not act generously under the circumstances and could only be placated by a severe bodily chastisement of the offenders. The boys got it, but they never forgave the teacher ; many of them no longer attended school, and the teacher soon lost his influence for good in that locality. 300 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY THE HEAD OF THE FARMERS' BANK John Shorb, who came to Canton in 1807, was a native of Zweibruecken, in Germany, and when yet quite young, he came and settled in Baltimore, where he married Catharine Gross, a sister of Mrs. Andrew Meyer, from Neiderbronn, Alsace. Mr. Shorb had pursued different branches of business in Baltimore, and had made some money before he came to Canton. He kept store a few years, first in Leonard's building and afterward in his own building. Giving up the store to his son John, he moved to his farm just northwest of the old city limits, now, however, within the city. When he went east in after years to buy goods he invariably made the trip on horseback, accompanied at different times by his wife, a feat of horsemanship that but few women of the present day would dare to attempt. In 1815, at its organization, he became president of "The Farmers' Bank of Canton." He did considerable business also in real estate. He took an active part in public affairs, and was always ready to give a helping hand to his neighbors. SHORE RESCUES RUNAWAYS An example will perhaps give some insight into Mr. Shorb 's character. It was customary in the early times for sea captains to bring over emigrants destitute of means, and, in order to pay their passage and expenses, to sell them out to service for a number of years. Sometimes whole families were thus sold out into this condition of white slavery. A Swiss, by the name of Imhoff, was one of these emigrants. He came from Basle, and was a tailor by trade. He was sold to one of these "dealers in human flesh," who was instinctively a tyrant. Soon finding his condition unbearable, Imhoff took the first favorable chance, as many others in like positions did, and ran away, taking his family with him. With other parties going west, he came first to Plain Township, and then to Canton. He had been pursued, and on the day of his arrival he was caught by his pursuers, together with his family, and they were in danger of being taken back to slavery, and to suffer the punishment of whipping for running away. They were almost exhausted from weariness and the want of sustaining food. and the terrible fate awaiting them if they should be taken back to Philadelphia becoming known, many of the then residents of the town took compassion on them, and John Shorb, being in good circumstances. offered to buy their freedom. The pursuers were at first unwilling to make any terms for the release of Imhoff and family, but they were HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY - 301 soon brought to terms by the loud mutterings of the villagers, and the threats of lynch law if they did not quickly accept their money and leave. One who vouches for the truth of this transaction said : "The scoundrels took themselves off mighty quick when they heard of hanging." Shorb was a zealous member of the Roman Catholic Church, and one of the founders of the first congregation in Canton. He was injured while giving a helping hand in the erection of the old Catholic Church, corner of North and Poplar streets, and on the 24th of July, 1824, and died from his injuries, at the age of sixty-five years. ANOTHER FINE PIONEER, PHILIP DEWALT Philip Dewalt was also one of the noteworthy pioneers of Canton, and located there in 1808. His parents came from Germany to America in the year 1761, and Philip was born on the vessel during the voyage over the ocean. The family resided for a short time in Pennsylvania before making Canton its home. The parents lived to great old age. The father, also named Philip, died at the age of one hundred and five years, and the mother at one hundred. Both were buried in the old graveyard on McKinley Avenue, Southwest, in Canton. Philip Dewalt first engaged in making "small beer" and "pepper cakes," but in the winter following commenced keeping the "Spread Eagle" tavern. He did a good business. From 1809 to 1812 large numbers of people from the East came to look up and locate lands, and Mr. Dewalt had often as many as twenty guests passing the night with him. His son, Daniel Dewalt, then a child, resided in Canton until he reached a venerable age. At the end of twenty years Philip Dewalt sold the Eagle Hotel to his oldest son, George, and built another tavern on the northeast corner of Tuscarawas Street and McKinley Avenue. He died in 1844, aged eighty-three years. His wife, Eva, was called home some seventeen years before at the age of sixty-four years. They had a family of seven children, five sons and two daughters, of whom "Old Uncle Dan" was the last survivor. UNRIVALLED AS A HORSE TRADER A history of Canton would be very incomplete without a more extended notice of "Uncle Dan." In the spring of 1809 he went to school to a George Geisweil, northeast of the present fair grounds, and received instruction in reading, writing and arithmetic, both in English and German. The tuition in his school was 50 cents per month. One Andrew Johnson taught the first English school in Canton in a log 302 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY schoolhouse erected in 1807 on the lot now occupied by the courthouse. Daniel Dewalt made fair progress in school and afterward helped his father in the tavern. He attended to the horses in the stable and blacked boots for the guests, sometimes assisted by his mother, and frequently did not get done with his work until after 1 o'clock in the morning. He, however, pocketed all the cash paid for his service himself, and often drove a profitable trade. He took to horses naturally when quite young, and while yet a boy did some sharp trading as early as the year 1812, when the last war with Great Britain broke out. About this time he owned, in his own name, a flock of sixty sheep, which found good and abundant subsistence on the rich plains near Canton. One day a farmer came to the Eagle Tavern with a tolerably (PICTURE) FIRST BRICK HOTEL good horse which he wanted to exchange for sheep. Daniel gave him four sheep and took the horse. A few days after his father sent him on business to New Philadelphia, and he, of course, took his horse along with him. On the way he saw a very beautiful dark chestnut horse which took his fancy and he traded his own horse and a gold watch worth $30 or $40 for him. When he came home on his noble charger he was a wonder to his father and all the people at the hotel. He traded this horse again a few days later to the soldiers, at that time encamped on the courthouse lot, receiving in exchange two other horses and $74 in money ; one of these he sold soon afterward for $100. Some years later he learned watch-making and the jewelry business, but not finding this his particular forte, he has spent the greater part of his life in trading. He was generally successful in his ventures. HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY - 303 In the summer of 1809 there was a great scarcity in horse feed in the neighborhood, and to meet the urgent demand, Philip Dewalt sent to New Lisbon, a distance of thirty-three miles. His two daughters, Mary and Nancy, aged respectively twelve and fourteenth years, made the journey in two days. They rode horseback, and, leading other horses by the bridle, brought three sacks of oats on each horse. Those days developed hearty and brave women, as well as hardy and daring men— women who were in every respect helpmeets to their husbands in town and country. MRS. HARRIET K. WHITING At her death, March 1, 1910, Mrs. Harriet K. Whiting was the oldest woman born in Stark County. Her birthplace, ninety-two years before, was the house on the east side of the public square, now occupied by the George D. Harter Bank. Mrs. Whiting was born January 8, 1818. Her father was Gen. George Stidger, already mentioned. In 1847 she married Julius Whiting. Four children were born, one of whom, Julius Whiting, Jr., survives. Two died in infancy. A third was Mrs. Frederic S. Hartzell. Mrs. Whiting and Mrs. James Saxton, the mother of Mrs. McKinley, were as two sisters. It became a custom for the Whitings, Saxtons and Barbers to assemble each Thanksgiving at a big dinner. That custom never was broken and Mrs. Whiting was present at the last dinner, the sole surviving member of the original gathering. JOHN DANNER, OLDEST LIVING NATIVE John Danner is now the oldest living person born in Stark County. His birthplace was Canton Village and his birthday March 10, 1823, while his maternal grandfather was Philip Slusser, also the grandfather of the Doctor. Mr. Danner was reared and educated in Canton and was a clerk in the store of Martin Wikadal, with whom he spent four years. Then he spent several years in Massillon and in 1865 returned to his native city and started the Canton Stove Works with John R. Bucher. This business he sold out at the end of a year, then went into the dry goods business, manufactured his patent revolving bookcase for two years in a small way, and for thirteen years on quite an extensive scale. His plant was burned in 1903, but rebuilt on even a larger scale. He was active until a comparatively late day-that is, in a business way; in church and temperance work he never tires or relaxes. Mr. Danner has been prominent also in both the city council 304 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY and as a member of the school board. The venerable and honored citizen was born at the corner of Tuscarawas and Wells Street, the site of the Saxton home, which is, therefore, a real historic corner. MARTIN WIKADAL AND HIS STORE Martin Wikadal, the pioneer merchant who died in December, 1893, was an Austrian who came to Canton in 1833. He had lived in France with his sister since his youth and was therefore drawn to his adopted town, then a village of about 800 people, because quite a number of French people had already settled there and in the neighborhood. He opened a dry goods store in a small building on Market Street, but afterward moved to the Courthouse Block, and at the time of the Civil war was one of the leading merchants of the county. After retiring from mercantile pursuits Mr. Wikadal associated himself in banking with the late Julius Whiting, Sr., and also became a stockholder in such railroads as the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago and the Connotton Valley. In 1868 he retired from active business and died in 1893. Mr. Wikadal married Miss Fredericka Schaefer, a sister of Louis Schaefer, who was a clerk in his store during the first year of his coming to Canton. As stated, John Danner also had his early business training in the Wikadal store ; so it was really quite noteworthy. |