HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY - 175 sorbed the activities of the farmers to the exclusion of other branches of farm industry. The aim of the earliest .settlers, with their lands as their only resource, was to derive from these a complete support, and, to this end, a system of mixed husbandry was a necessity. Their descendants, hedged about by the results of experience, and aiming to sell their surplus products in such form as would take from the land the smallest amouut of its fertility, have, from the nature of the case, followed in their footsteps. The early settlers were principally of German descent, from Pennsylvania, and brought with them a strong preference for wheat-raising, and the county soon took the leading place as a wheat county. In the early culture of wheat, a great many discouragements were met. The weevil and rust destroyed it year after year, and, when it escaped these, the frost worked great damage. But perseverance and improved methods have wrought a great success in the culture of this grain, and it is now the leading crop in the county. There is trouble experienced from insects, but frosts have proved disastrous occasionally. The Todd wheat has been a favorite variety with the farmers of late years, though the Mediterranean for a long time held sway. This was found the most favorable, and less liable to be injured by insects and frosts. The greatest objection to this was its long, dark grain, but little superior to rye; but the effect of soil and climate greatly improved its qualities, and it so n grew a plump, fair grain, strong in stra and quite a favorite for bread, and has not yet entirely lost its hold in the farming community. There is a great diversity in the practice and opinions of farmers in regard to the cultivation of this grain, and no particular system has been adopted. The prevailing method is not to sow wheat on the same field oftener than once in three years, and then only when, for two years, it shall have been in clover. It does well to follow barley or oats with wheat or rye, but it is considered bad farming to have wheat or corn follow each other. Wheat, in early years, was sown among the standing corn, and later, between the shocks that were placed in rows through the field, and the spaces thus left put in oats on the following spring. The latter method is occasionally practiced yet, but generally an oat crop intervenes. Manure is generally spread in the spring, and plowed under in the fall for wheat. The ground is carefully prepared, and the seed generally drilled in. The breadth of land sown is pretty uniform, though discouraging crops have the effect to limit somewhat the acreage devoted to it. The grain is usually threshed in the barn, the machine worked by the portable steam engine manufactured in this county, being the favorite, and largely used. For some years, Stark led the counties of the State in the yield of this grain, but its dismemberment by the formation of Carroll and Summit, together with the ravages of insects and frost, has reduced the yield one-half. Rye and barley are not extensively cultivated. Rye is marketed entirely at home, both the black and white varieties being sown. The first, however, though good for feed and distilling, has rapidly given way to the white, which is not inferior for these purposes, and makes a whiter flour. Spring barley, some years since, was quite an important crop, not only on account of its marketable value, but also because it leaves the ground in fine condition for wheat.. The average crop is about twenty-five bushels per acre. Under the revolutionizing effect of the Great West, however, these grains are gradually losing favor here, and are no longer cultivated to any considerable extent. Buckwheat is very little cultivated for home consumption, and scarcely enough for that. Oats is quite an important crop, though what is raised is barely sufficient for home consumption. There are three varieties cultivated to more or less extent—side oats, branch oats and black oats, the latter being now seldom seen. The side oats weigh more to the bushel, but are not so prolific as the branch oats. The average yield is about fifty bushels to the acre. This is a reasonably sure crop, and, though occasionally injured by the blight, it is relied upon with considerable confidence for home use. Rust has at times proved a serious drawback to the raising of this crop, and a late frost occasionally ruins the crop, but these have not been troublesome of late years. HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY - 176 The corn crop, while not grown to the exclusion of the others, is the one on which the farmers of Stark County most confidently rely, and the land devoted to its culture is only limited by the necessities- of the situation. It is far more stable in its yield, less liable to disease, and may be slighted in its cultivation with greater impunity than any other crop. The soft varieties of seed are generally preferred, and are usually planted on sod ground. It is usually well put in the ground, being prepared with considerable . care, and worked until it "tassels out." The old rule of "going through" the field a certain number of times before " laying by " the crop, has long since been abandoned by the better farmers. The last plowing, after the corn has reached the height of five or six feet, is considered the most effective in its cultivation, but the exigencies of the season often prevent the farmer bestowing this crowning attention. The farms, many of them small, are worked by the owner alone,' and the clover and wheat cutting coming close together, frequently obliges the small farmer to slight his corn. When, however, the farmer is able to hire help, or has boys who can be trusted to do ,the work, the plow is kept going through the corn, an expense which is amply paid by the increased yield. The crop is cut and husked in the field, the corn being stored in cribs. The habit of husking from the standing stock is also practiced, though it is generally conceded to be a wasteful method of harvesting this crop. Corn is sown broadcast for forage to a considerable extent. The other crops that occupy, or have occupied. a more or less prominent place among the agricultural products of the county, are potatoes and sorghum. The quality of the soil is well adapted to the raising of potatoes, and farmers who have given considerable attention to the proper cultivation of this highly prized and indispensable esculent, have always been well rewarded for their labor and painstaking. It is a staple vegetable, universally used, always commands a fair price, and its general cultivation for exportation would undoubtedly prove highly remunerative. This fact seems to have made no impression upon the farmers, as no more are produced than are used at home. The leading variety is the early rose, with the peach-blow and peerless cultivated in considerable quantities. The Neshannock is highly prized by many, while other varieties are being cultivated as experiments, or to suit individual tastes. The average yield of this crop is good, and is not often seriously affected by disease or insects. Sorghum was, in Stark County, an exception to the general rule. It was introduced here about 1857, but most of the farmers conceived a dislike to it. It was planted in small quantities by a good many, but it was allowed to pass without any particular care, and many never harvested it at all. Two or three mills were bought, but comparatively little molasses was manufactured. The first product, owing to the lack of interest and information, and the carelessness with which it was manufact ured, was sorry stuff. This result re-acted with discouraging effect upon the producers. Another cause which contributed to this result was the exercise of a ruinous economy on the part of the mass of the farmers. Instead of purchasing new seed and „„sparing no pains to make a fair trial of this new crop, the majority of those who planted a second crop procured seed of their neighbors, and allowed the farm work to seriously interfere with the cultivation of the cane. The result was that it deteriorated in quantity and quality, and the whole thing was voted a failure. No great effort was made to produce sugar, as the expense proved an insurmountable barrier to its successful prosecution. Tobacco is cultivated here and there by individuals, for the private use of the producer, and it may well be hoped that its culture may not be further extended. It is an exacting crop upon the land, and, sooner or later, the exhaustive process will ultimately work the deterioration of any neighborhood or farming district where its .culture is a prominent part of the farming operations. The forests of. Stark County are well supplied with the sugar maple, and farmers have not been slow to utilize them in the way of making sugar. It was the practice, at an early date, to manufacture this product in grain sugar, as it proved more available for the HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY - 177 uses of the household, but of late years it has found a more valuable market in cakes and as sirup. A survey of this branch of Stark County's agriculture would hardly be complete without some reference to the late frosts of 1859 and 1845. The frost of 1859 came on a Saturday night in June. The previous night had brought a fall of rain, and on Saturday it cleared off with a cool atmosphere, which grew colder as night approached. In the morning, the " killing frost" had left scarcely a vestige of the growing crops alive. Corn was about eight or ten inches high, and potatoes had reached the growth that made the effect of frost most damaging. All grain was ruined, and the people found themselves face to face with " perilous times," if not starvation. The frost had been general over the State, and the situation was considered alarming. Some time was lost in unavailing regrets, and some crops that might have been saved by prompt cutting off even with the ground were lost by delay. Fortunately, there were some late crops that had not come forward enough to become involved in the general disaster, and others were saved by favorable locations. The less fortunate farmers set at once to repair the misfortune so far as possible. The corn and potatoes were replanted, buckwheat was sowed in the place of wheat, and, thanks to an unusually long season, these crops were fairly matured. There was a large proportion of soft corn, hundreds of bushels of which proved almost a complete loss. Fruit culture has, from the first, occupied a prominent place in the care and attention of the farmers, so that Stark is now the leading county for fruit in the State. As early at 1806, orchards were set out and considerable care given to their culture. In this year, Rev. Mr. Gans, of Lexington, had an orchard; Valentine Weaver, in Plain, had an orchard raised from seed at the same time; James Gaff, two miles north of Canton, followed in 1808, as well as Simon Essig and Frederick Stump; Jacob Shanabager started an orchard on the farm of J. Harmer in 1806 and 1807. Considerable care was exercised in the selection of varieties and in cultivating 4 42- the trees, and among some of the early varieties were some which still find a large number of cultivators. Among these may be mentioned the Pennock, Blair, New Town Pippin, Vandever, Romanite, Roman Stem, Spitzenberg, Bell Flower, French Pippin, etc. During the first years, apples were a great luxury, and found a ready sale when brought into the settlements from the older communities. They were brought in from Steubenville as early as 1809, and were among the regular order of things on training days. On these occasions, the wagon-loads of apples were hailed with as much enthusiasm as the loads of water-melons at a fair in these later days, and were rapidly sold at a shilling a dozen. Among the early varieties, the Blair, though a small apple, was a prime favorite, and was readily sold at $1 per barrel. The Romanite was especially marked as an excellent keeper, and was in good demand. Stark is well situated for a fruit country. It is particularly free from frost-killing, and, with a little more of the iron element in the soil, would be the ideal location for fruit-growing. The natural hindrances to this branch of farm industry, by intelligent experiment and careful husbandry, have been so far overcome that much of the best fruit of the country is produced here in excellent quality and profitable quantity. Among the leading modern varieties may be mentioned the Baldwin, Bell Flower, Vandever, Red Canada, Wells Apple, Ohio Nonpareil, and King. The last-named, known by many as " King of Tompkins County," is a great favorite. It is a fine, large apple, some of the fruit measuring fourteen and a half inches in circumference, and at the same time retaining a fine flavor and smooth texture. The demand here is not, however, for a large apple. They are found more liable to rot, with a consequent greater loss, than in the case of a smaller apple; fruit-growers find the loss from dropping from the tree greater, and, as the larger part of the picked fruit is marketed in the county, the various demands of the domestic economy are better served with fruit of medium size. The apple is the hardiest fruit in this locality, and there are probably more acres in apple orchards than in all other fruits 178 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY. combined. The extensive cultivation of apples in orchards, however, has been of com- paratively recent effort. Most of the surplus crop finds a market in Germany, and is dried for shipment. The recently improved evaporators are used on most of the farms, which save time and give a better color to the fruit, enhancing the market value of the dried product 100 per cent. Peaches are not so successful in this county. They were grown here as early as 1809, and were at first as prosperous, perhaps, as apples, but succeeding years have wrought such climatic changes that there is a good crop hardly more than once in five years. There is an exception, perhaps, to this rule, in the case of Sandy and Pike Townships, where the great bulk of the peach crop of this county is produced. The peach-tree is found to mature too early, and consequently to rapidly decline, the average life of a tree not reaching more than ten years. The leading varieties are the early and late Crawfords, which, in the particular localities mentioned, produce reasonable results. There is, however, no disposition to surrender the cultivation of this fruit entirely. Fresh trees are being planted, careful investigations are being made, and it is hoped that the present obstacles will be overcome. Pears were found in this county at an early date, the first being cultivated on Adam Oberlin's place, on the Fulton road. Stark takes the third place in the State in the growth of this fruit, and many orchards of considerable size are devoted to it. The Bartlett, Flemish Beauty, Siecle, White Doyen, etc., are the leading varieties. The tendency to blight, which the pear-tree shows here as else where in Ohio, has caused considerable loss in the culture of this fruit, but a remedy has been found which, it is thought, will effectually prevent it. This is the application of salt to the ground about the tree. The theory of this remedy has not been explained, but, so far as experiments have been made, its success seems to be demonstrated. Cherries of the hardier sort are found to do pretty well, ,though, as it is a fruit into which iron enters more than any other, the soil here is found the best adapted to the highest success in the cultivation of this fruit. The various kinds of English Morellos are the only kinds grown to any extent, and, though needing considerable attention, they produce a fair return. They are seldom injured by frost, and are planted in considerable numbers. The history of the plum-tree here is that of this fruit in most parts of the State. It is a natural plum country, and, until about 1845, it was the surest fruit in this section; but about this time, the curculio came in, and has taken the fruit regularly ever since. Occasionally a fair product is got from a single tree, by a lavish outlay of time and pains, but the result does not warrant the. expense needed to secure it. The number of large towns, with their large proportion of mechanic population, found in the county, has of late years given a marked impetus to the cultivation of small fruits and vegetables. Strawberries, raspberries and blackberries of the improved varieties are largely cultivated, and find a ready sale at fair prices in the different towns. There is no surplus for exportation or for wine-making, and little of either is done in Stark. Grapes are found to flourish here scarcely second to any other place in the State. The Concord, Delaware, Lady and Agawain are the leading varieties. The Isabella is not grown, and the Ionia and Catawba are unsuited to this location, the early frost of autumn preventing their maturing. These also find a ready market in the various towns, and are not made into wine at all. Of late years, the interest and profit in the cultivation of vegetables for the home market has shown a marked increase. Last year, a considerable " annex " was built by the agricultural society to accommodate the display of exhibits in this class. This success in fruit-growing is doubtless to be referred not less to the intelligence with which the subject has been studied, than to the natural advantages of the soil. An outgrowth of the interest in this subject was the organization of the Horticultural Society, October 11, 1878, by such gentlemen as J. K. Neisz, Levi Stump, Andrew Pontius, Lewis Essig, H. W. Firestone, J. F. Neisz, W. W. Reed and others. This society has its meet- HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY - 179 ings monthly, at the residences of its various members, and has accomplished a great deal for the fruit-growers of the county. Experiments are constantly being made, which are fully discussed at their meetings, and the value of these discussions is being felt and acted upon by the mass of farmers. In the matter of stock-breeding, there is a very general interest, though the number of those who make it a specialty, or a leading feature of their farm industry, is small. Probably less than one-tenth can be placed in this class, though among these may be included many of the wealthier farmers. Among this portion of the farming community, a persevering, patient, investigating spirit has been manifested, that has accomplished large results for the stock of the county. No class of stock has been slighted in this respect, though perhaps horses and sheep have profited most. It is quite natural that the early history of the horse in Stark County should be somewhat obscure. In the early settlement, the nature of farm work called for the steady strength, the freedom from accident and the easy keeping of the ox, and horses found no general demand until the pioneers could afford the luxury of speed in travel. It was not long before this demand made a marked change in the character of the teams, which has continued until now one would scarcely meet with an ox team in a month's travel through the county. The early stock of horses were such as could be bought in the older settlements, and were marked by no particular characteristic of breed or quality. The only demand was for the ordinary purposes of the farm, and the people were not only not in a position to " look a gift horse in the mouth," but were quite as powerless to be fastidious in regard to any horse. Among the earliest efforts to improve upon this stock was the importation of a horse known as " Merry Andrew," from Virginia, and which was reputed to be a thoroughbred animal. The old settlers, who remember his appearance, agree that his equal has not since been in the county. He was imported in 1825, by Dr. Simmonds. Henry Barber, .who was a devoted lover of fine horses, had at this time a fine imported mare, of good blood, and from these two animals some excellent stock was raised, which gave the first impetus to an effort to improve the grade of horses. About 1832, John Meyers brought into the county a fine chestnut-sorrel stallion, called " Windflower." He was a good-blooded horse, of fine parts and splendid action, and left a marked impress upon the stock of the county. He sired a great many colts, and his blood can be traced in the fine appearance and action of many of the best horses yet to be found in the county. In 1849, " Napoleon Morgan" was brought from the East, and first introduced this strain in the county. His trotting qualities, fine action and splendid appearance gave him a popularity, and for several years the Morgan strain was in high favor. " Green Mountain," a dark brown horse, was brought here in 1859, and was the sire of a number of valuable horses. The natural tastes of the people who settled this county, however, did not lead them to prefer this class of horses, and in a few years the demand veered around to those of heavier proportions. This led to the introduction of the English draft horses, " Scotch Clyde" and " Plow Boy." This class of horses are of Scottish descent, of the largest size, averaging from sixteen to eighteen hands high, with ponderous bodies, stout limbs, hairy at the fetlocks, of high and noble carriage, and unsurpassed in Weight and strength. They occasionally reached a weight of seventeen and even eighteen hundred pounds. Of late years, the Norman, though not bred here, has been brought in from neighboring counties, and are largely used in the extensive teaming business which the mining and manufacturing interests support. They are natives of France, and embody more speed in action than the ordinary draft horse, together with great strength of limb and power of locomotion. Their average size is from sixteen to seventeen hands high, compact in body, symmetrical in shape, clean in limb and enduring in labor. Their color is a fine silver gray, the best adapted to withstand the burning rays of the sun in the field or on the highway. Other horses that have contributed to the present status of the horses in Stark County are " Chilton," " Timoleon," " Tuckahoe," and the Messenger strain. Both carriage and draft horses 180 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY. are well represented in the county, and a marked improvement has been going on for the past twenty years. The introduction of cattle into the county was as early as the coming of the first settler. Cows were a necessary part of the pioneer's outfit, without which his chances for obtaining a reasonably comfortable existence were very poor indeed, and few families were without them. But, once here, it required all the care and diligence of the settler to protect them against the ravages of wild beasts and disease. Wolves were not so dangerous to cattle as in many places, but now and then a yearling or calf was sacrificed to their voracious appetites. The murrain, a little later, took off scores of these animals, entailing considerable privation before they could be replaced. Then the marshes and the rank vegetation took their quota, so that, in spite of the employment of all the available children in the settlement as herders, and the dosing of cattle with alum, soot and soft soap, hundreds fell victims to the snares of a new country. Under such circumstances, the effort was narrowed down to a struggle to maintain, rather than improve, the breed. The shorthorn Durhams were probably the first introduced. These cattle were introduced into Ohio. from Kentucky at first, but, in 1834, the " Ohio Importing Company " was formed to import short-horn Durhams from England. Seven bulls and twelve cows, nineteen in all, were imported, and exhibited the following year at the State Fair. This company subsequently increased the number of their importation to thirty head. In 1852, the " Scioto Importing Company" imported sixteen head, and, in the following year, a similar company formed in Madison County, imported twenty-two head. In 1854, similar companies were formed in Clinton and Clark Counties, by which some forty more animals were brought to the State. Amid all this activity in the improvement of stock, it is not to be expected that the enterprising people of this county should fail to profit by it. The Devons are also held in high esteem here. This is a strikingly distinct breed in form and quality, medium in size, uniformly red in color, and comely in appearance. This blood, or that which was closely allied to it, seems to have been imported into New England in he seventeenth century, and the native stock of that section has for many generations borne strong resemblances to this stock. The stock of the county has been greatly improved by the intermixture of these breeds, and it is estimated that at least three-fourths of the stock of cattle are more or less mixed with these breeds. Among those who have been identified with this movement are Edward Brook & Son, of Marlboro. Township, John Shock, of Canton, and Thomas Chapman, of Bethlehem, with Durham stock; Benjamin Thompson, of Lake, Jonas Brougher, of Jackson, and H. Raynolds, of Canton, with Devon. The value of this stock over the native breed is plainly apparent in their keeping qualities, size, form, early maturity, increase of milk, and superior beef. It is claimed by the friends of these improved cattle that there has been an increase of one-third, at least, in the value, of the cattle of the county by their introduction. Sheep were introduced into Stark County almost as early, as any stock. The first settlers seemed to have looked the ground all over, and to have prepared for an isolated existence in the woods. In these plans, sheep formed a conspicuous item, as the production of wool for the various articles of clothing seemed nearly indispensable. But the number and boldness of the wolves made sheep-raising a burden upon the frontier farmer, taxed as he was with the cares and anxieties of a " clearing," that he could ill afford, and many soon gave up the experiment. Others; however,. persevered in spite of discouragements, and the county has probably not been without sheep since their first introduction, though the number has been very small at times. After the wolf had been exterminated under the influence of liberal bounties paid for their scalps, the dogs caused serious havoc among them, a farmer sometimes finding as many as twenty or thirty killed and wounded in a single night. It did not need any outside encouragement to wage a war of extermination upon these animals, and many a sheep-killing dog was summarily disposed of. It is difficult to determine the characteristics of the early sheep. In 1816, Wells & Dick- HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY - 181 inson, large woolen manufacturers at Steubenville, had large flocks of Spanish merino sheep, derived from the Humphrey importations. These were pastured at this time on the Stark County plains, and were the talk of stock admirers of the State. In 1824, the failure of this firm caused these sheep to be scattered in small parcels all over the State, and they fell into the hands of many who cared more to improve on the common stock than to breed full-blooded animals. These sheep were characterized by a light carcass and fleece, though the latter was. of fine texture and good fiber. American cultivation has done much to improve these original and subsequent importations, so that at this day no fine-wooled sheep in the world excel, and few equal, the American merinos in the heavy product of their fleeces, or the size and stamina of their bodies. Previous to the Wells & Dickinson flock, about 1809, " Mr. Thomas Rotch, a member of the Society of Friends, emigrated from Connecticut to this county, and brought with him a small flock of merino sheep. They were good, and a few of them were of the flock imported by Col. Humphrey. At that early day he hoped, in twenty years' time, to see every farm in the county stocked with merinos. In this he partially succeeded, but a prejudice against the breed prevented them from becoming so general as he had anticipated."* To this statement Secretary Klippart adds a note to the effect " that his wife, Charity," frequently solicited from him a fund which might be invested for charitable or benevolent purposes. But he hesitated, until, one spring morning, he gave her two sick merino lambs, and told her that she might take them as " capital" for benevolent purposes; the noble-hearted wife thankfully accepted them, nursed them and cured them. With this, as foundation of a flock, she accumulated a sum which, in course of time, became sufficient to build and endow the " Kendall Charity School." Many efforts have been subsequently- made by farmers to improve the breeds, both native and those early imported. The Vermont merino, Cotswold and Liecester, have been in- *State Agricultural Report, 1859. troduced, but none have gained the suffrage of the whole county. The Dickinson merinos still hold their place with old wool-growers, while the younger portion of wool-growers prefer the Vermont sheep. There does not seem to be any middle ground on which the two classes can meet. It is claimed on the one part that the Vermont merinos require more care and attention than the Dickinson, and that the increased weight of the fleeces is caused entirely by a gummy grease peculiar to them. It is also claimed that they will not thrive in large flocks, and that, although the fiber may be longer, this advantage is more than counterbalanced by the other disadvantages. On the other hand, it is claimed for the Vermont sheep that they not only have a longer fiber, but finer wool, and that they will clip from half a pound to two pounds more clean wool. It has been suggested that a cross between the merino and Cotswold would make a better sheep for all purposes, but this experiment has not yet been fully tested. Swine were the earliest and the most easily maintained of any stock on the frontier farms. No family was so poor as to be without them, and none were so rich as not to need them. In many parts of the county, they were allowed to run at large in the forest, gradually taking on the nature of the wild hog, which was found here by the first settlers. This breed of hogs was of thin flesh, large bones, thick skin and formidable tusks. They were wholly unfit for food, though the exigencies of pioneer life often made them the only resource. Their skin was used for tanning purposes, and . furnished a very desirable leather for horse collars and other parts of the harness. The woods breed of hogs, however, has long since become extinct in this county, and, where it used to take two years to make a 200-pound hog, a 300 and 400-pound hog can be made in nine to twelve months. In these animals there are more evidences of improvement than in any other class of stock. The original breed was long in the body, long in the legs and long in the snout, famous for rooting and jumping fences, and were distinctly termed " land sharks." The " grass breed" and the Berkshires were introduced about the same time, and a cross 'between 182 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY. these produced a hog before which the native swine fast disappeared. The principal breeds which have been more or less introduced here are the Suffolk, Chester White and Berkshire. The latter, when first introduced, were a rough, coarse-boned animal, and were crossed with the " grass breed" and soon abandoned in their purity. A fine-boned Suffolk followed, but they were found as much in the one extreme as the early Berkshires had been in the other. A cross between these and the Chester White haS produced a favorite animal with many. A later Berkshire, which answers the demands of the critic, has been introduced to some extent, but the Chester Whites and Suffolks are preferred, and a cross between these two are the great favorite in the county. They are noted for their rapid growth, fine form and fattening qualities. In poultry, Stark County is perhaps second to no county in the State. About 1860, there was a marked interest taken in this branch of " farm stock," and several varieties of chickens were introduced, among which were the Game, Shanghai, Dorking, Brahma-Pootra and Black Spanish. The last-named is the only one that time has proved to be a considerable improvement. Many turkeys are raised, but no special effort has been made to improve the variety. The same may be said of geese and ducks. Guinea and pea fowls are found here and there, but they are raised more for appearance than for profit. The Stark County Agricultural Society held its first fair on the 15th and 16th of October, 1850, and numbered at that time 235 members. The exhibition of stock was held on the south part of the grounds belonging to the Presbyterian Church, while the domestic and fruit display was made in two rooms of the West Tuscarawas Street Schoolhouse. The State Report of that year says in regard to this fair: "More than enough to pay all the expenses for diplomas, arranging grounds, erecting pens, providing feed, preparing rooms, paying hands, and all the printing bills, were procured by the committee from the citizens of Canton. The streets of Canton, during' the whole time, were thronged with the members of the society, and with anxious and admiring spectators." After using this ground two years, the society bought twelve acres on the "Young farm," now in the Fourth Ward of the city. Here the grounds were inclosed, permanent buildings erected, and a track built. In the course of some eight or ten years, this was found to be too small, and a tract of land extending from Lawrence avenue to the Louisville road, in the north part of the, city of Canton, was secured. Here a good half-mile track has been constructed, and good buildings. In 1866, a magnificent hall was erected, at a cost of about $6,400. The center is octagonal, eighty feet in diameter, surmounted with a dome ninety feet high. Wings extend north and south, 56x22 feet, each having recesses and a dome. In capacity and architectural beauty, it exceeded, it is said, anything of the kind in the State at that time. The exhibitions of the society continue to increase in interest, and considerable inconvenience is being felt at the lack of room, though the grounds cover some forty acres. [NOTE.—The geological features of the foregoing chapter have been compiled from the State Report, and the agricultural part has been largely drawn from an essay by M. Raynolds, written in 1866.—ED.] HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY - 183 CHAPTER II.* THE EARLY INHABITANTS—PRE-HISTORIC OCCUPATION AND REMAINS OF STARK COUNTY— CLASSIFICATION OF EARTHWORKS—SKETCHES OF THE INDIAN TRIBES- STARK COUNTY INDIANS DURING THE BORDER WARS —INTERESTING INCIDENTS. THE development of all the branches of natural science within the last half-century has been so colossal that a flood of light has been thrown upon numberless subjects, that before were either wholly or partially unknown. New fields of instruction have been opened to the race in every department of science, and a vast fund of information that touches the springs of human life, and widens and elevates the sphere of social usefulness, has been placed before every true philomathean for his improvement. One of the most baffling undertakings for the unpromising research of scientific men, is to clear up the mystery enveloping the origin and early stages of human life. That all earnest efforts looking to this result have signally and wholly failed, is not because millions in money have not been expended, nor because unremitting research of splendid intellects has not been turned in this direction; but is probably because the subject lies beyond the limits of the circle in which the mind of man must move. The sedulous endeavors to clear up the mystery have disclosed many circumstances connected with the early history of the human race that are of vast social value, and are regarded with universal interest throughout the earth. Many of the factors which combine to form the wonderful organism of society, many of the relations and forces compelling and controlling individual conduct, and many of the pre-existing, environing conditions, which metamorphose the laws governing social intercourse, have been revealed by the persistent labor of scientific men. The general desire and inclination to sift all subjects of this character to the bottom, have led antiquarians to the study of the lives Contributed by W. A. Godspeed. of the ancient people, now universally known as Mound-Builders. That a strange and semi-civilized people resided throughout all the country in times which antedate the Indians' occupancy of the soil is established by conclusive evidence, aside from the almost universal denial of the savage tribes of their having had any participation in the erection of the vast number of earthworks scattered throughout the continent. It is estimated that, in Ohio alone, there are 10,000 of these works, many of them being in a fair state of preservation. All that is known of this mysterious people has been discovered from the decaying remnants of their works; but their origin and final fate are enshrouded in hopeless obscurity. Some authorities have suggested that they ultimately deteriorated into the ancestors of the Indian tribes, though the majority of intelligent writers on the subject discourage such a view, and give evidence tending to show that an interval of many centuries elapsed between the reign of the two races. Others state the conviction that they were Mongolians, having reached the Western Continent by way of Behring's Strait. Various antiquarians have referred their origin to the Hebrews, Tartars, Persians, Celts, Egyptians, Toltecs, Aztecs and Peruvians; but in most cases the reference is largely speculative. From their works must be derived the solution of their modes of life; habits; customs; advancement in intelligence; morals, social intercourse, and the means of sustaining life; their degree of civilization; their knowledge of the arts of peace and war; their language, religion, and labor; and their final fate, whether by extinction through war, famine, or pestilence, or whether they became the ancestors of the succeeding Indian tribes. Although the pre-historic remains of Stark HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY - 184 County are few in number and comparatively uninteresting in detail; yet, since research has thrown so much light upon the subject, and aroused so much interest among scientists and lovers of science, a brief statement will here be given of the progress that has been made in this branch of archaeology. The ancient earthworks, conceived to have been erected by the Mound-Builders, have been divided from the theory of their special uses into mounds, effigies and inclosures. Mounds are subdivided into sepulchral, sacrificial, templar, observative and memorial. Effigies are animal, emblematic, symbolical and religious. Inclosures are military, covered, sacred and festival. Earth was the usual material used in the construction of these works. Some are found built wholly of stone, and some of earth and stone in varying proportions. Sepulchral mounds are ordinarily conical in form, are of all sizes, varying in height from a foot to seventy feet, and are more numerous than any other class. Within them, and usually at the center of the base, there are always found bones, which sometimes are hard and sound, but usually are brittle or in a crumbled condition. The universal presence of human bones renders the view plausible, that these mounds were used as sepulchers. They always contain one or more skeletons, together with implements and ornaments, supposed to have been placed there when the individual was buried, for use in the Spirit Land. It is thought that the size of the mound bears some relation to the illus- trious character of the person, in whose honor it was erected. Others infer from the quantity of bones often found in the larger ones, that they were the tombs of many individuals. Igneous stones, ashes, and charcoal are often found in proximity with the skeletons, under conditions which render it probable that fires were used in the burial ceremony. With the skeletons are also found specimens of mica, pottery, bone and copper beads, and animal bones. Ordinarily these mounds contain but one skeleton, though in Licking County seventeen were found. The most noteworthy of this class was one in Hardin County, which contained 300 crumbling skeletons. Col. Whittlesey and others, however, entertain the opinion that they belong to the Indians, who had used the mounds for burial purposes. Templar mounds are few in number, and are ordinarily circular. They are invariably truncated, and are often surrounded with embankments, inclined planes, or spiral pathways or steps, leading to the summit They are found round, square, oblong, oval and octangular, and generally rest upon a large base, but have a limited altitude. It is supposed that these elevations were surmounted with wooden temples, all traces of which have been removed by the ravages of time. These mounds and the buildings at their summits, are thought to have been erected for religious purposes. Sacrificial mounds are ordinarily stratified, with convex layers of clay and loam above a stratum of sand. They generally contain ashes, charcoal, igneous stones, calcined animal bones, beads, stone implements, pottery, and specimens of rude sculpture. They are often found within inclosures, which are supposed to have been associated with the religious ceremonies of the Mound-Builders. Altars of igneous clay or stone are often found. Evidences of fire upon the altars yet remain, showing that various animals and probably human beings were immolated to secure the favor of the Great Spirit. These mounds infrequently contain skeletons, together with implements of war; mica from the Alleghenies; shells from the Gulf of Mexico; differently colored varieties of obsidian; red, purple, and green specimens of porphyry; and silver, copper and other metallic ornaments and utensils. Observative mounds were apparently designed for alarm-towers, or signal stations. Some writers have fancied that they " occur in chains, or regular systems, and that many of them still bear traces of the beacon fires that were once burning upon them." They are often found built like towers from the summits of embankments surrounding the inclosures. One of the latter, in Licking County, has a height of twenty-five feet. " Along the Miami River," says Judge Force, " are dotted small mounds or projecting highland which seem to have been built to carry intelligence by signals along the valley." Memorial mounds are of that class of tumuli intended to commemorate some important HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY - 185 event, or to perpetuate the memory of some distinguished character. Most of the stone mounds belong to this class, and usually contain no bones, for the supposed reason that they were not used as sepulchers. They are thought to have been monuments over the illustrious dead of the Mound-Builders. Effigies are elevations of earth in the form of men, beasts, birds, reptiles, and, occasionally, of inanimate objects, varying in height from one foot to six feet above the surrounding soil, and often covering many acres of land. Mr. Schoolcraft expresses the belief that this class of works were designed for " totems' " or " tribular symbols;" while Prof. Daniel Wilson and other writers of distinction entertain the opinion that they were erected in accordance with the religious belief of the various tribes of Mound-Builders, who worshiped or in some way venerated the animals or objects represented by the elevations. A large work near Newark represents a bird of enormous size, with its wings outspread in the act of flight. Its total length is about 200 feet. An excavation in this effigy disclosed a clay and stone altar, upon which were found charcoal, ashes, igneous stone, and other evidences of fire. The surroundings indicated that the altar had been used for sacrificial offerings. It is called " Eagle Mound," from its fancied resemblance to that bird. Another work near Newark represents a huge alligator, having a total length of 200 feet. Prof. Wilson believes that it "symbolizes some object of special awe and veneration thus reared on one of the chief high places of the nation, with its accompanying altar, upon which these ancient people of the valley could witness the celebration of the rites of their worship, its site having been, obviously selected as the most prominent feature in a populous district abounding with military, civic and religious structures." The greatest breadth of the body is twenty feet, and its body, from hind-legs to fore-legs, is fifty feet. Each limb is twenty-five feet long. The principal portions of the animal are elevated about six feet, while other portions are much lower. The most remarkable earth work in Ohio is in Adams County. Its form is that of an enormous serpent more than a thousand feet in length, with body in graceful anfractuous folds, and tail ending in triple coils. The greatest width of the body is thirty feet, and the effigy is elevated about five feet above the surrounding soil. " The neck of the figure," says the American Cyclopedia, " is stretched out and slightly curved, and the mouth is opened wide, as if in the act of swallowing or ejecting an oval figure, which rests partly within the distended jaws. The combined figure has been regarded by some as a representation of the oriental cosmological idea of the serpent and the egg." Defensive inclosures are irregular in form, and are always on high ground, in positions difficult to approach by a hostile foe. " The walls," says the American Cyclopedia, " generally wind around the borders of the elevations they occupy, and when the nature of the ground renders some point more accessible than others, the height of the wall and the depth of the ditch in these weak points are proportionally increased. The gateways are narrow and few in number, and well guarded by embankments of earth placed a few yards inside of the openings or gateways, but parallel with them and projecting somewhat beyond them at each end; thus fully covering the entrances, which, in some cases, are still further protected by projecting walls on either side. These works are somewhat numerous, and indicate a clear appreciation of, at least, the elements of fortification, and unmistakably point out a certain degree of engineering in their general make-up. " A large number of these defensive works consist of a line of ditches and embankments, or several lines, carried across the neck of peninsulas or bluff-headlands, formed within the bends of streams—an easy and obvious mode of fortification common to all rude peoples." The embankments of one of this class in Warren County are nearly four miles in length, varying in height from ten to twenty feet, to accord with the locality to be protected, and inclose several hundred acres. Covered ways or parallel walls are often found, either connecting different inclosures, or portions of the same. They were undoubtedly designed to protect those passing back and forth within. There are large numbers 186 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY of sacred inclosures in the form of circles, squares, hexagons, octagons, ellipses, parallelograms, and others, many of which are designed and executed with surprising geometrical accuracy. They are sometimes found within military inclosures, and very likely were connected with the religious rites and ceremonies of the people, as small elevations are found within them, which were evidently used for altars, upon which sacrifices of various kinds were offered. Some archaeologists maintain that many of the so-called sacred inclosures were intended and used for national games and celebrations, and it is probable that those without the altar were used as such. The earthworks and their contents afford abundant opportunity to speculate as to the characters and customs of this ancient people, of whom nothing is left save their crumbling habitations. They were a numerous people, as is clearly proved by the magnitude and elaboration of their works. Their presence here, beyond question, antedates the coming of Columbus, and very probably extends back a ;thousand years or more. Perhaps a majority of intelligent men who have made the subject a study place the Mound Builders' period back to that of the Egyptians, Assyrians and Babylonians—to a period two or more thousand years before the Christian Era. Some place them back much farther in the past—back to a time when Southern Europe and the British Isles were inhabited by what is now known among antiquarians as " Fossil Man." The antiquity of man is now an established fact.* Pre-historic archaeology, the latest-born of the sciences, has lived through the successive stages of scornful denial, doubt and unwilling assent, and has finally won for itself substantial recognition. Even its most strenuous opponents are forced to concede that there are proofs of man's existence during a lapse of time far exceeding the limits of the previously approved chronology. In the Quaternary gravels and caverns, mingled with the bones of numerous extinct species of animals, such as the mammoth, the woolly rhinoceros, and the cave bear; human bones have been discovered, although compar- The Fossil Man: by Henry W. Haynes, in the Popular Science Monthly, July, 1880. atively rarely, while the implements and objects of man's fabrication are found in large quantities. Those found imbedded in or covered by stalagmitic formation, sometimes many feet in thickness, render it impossible to confuse these evidences of man's prehistoric existence with those of a later date. The human remains discovered show man, at this earliest epoch, to have been possessed of -a cranial development quite equal to the average now. But, though the antiquity of man . is admitted, and the fact of his co-existence with extinct animals during the Quaternary period cannot be denied; yet both the duration of the Quaternary period, and the question of his existence in the previous Tertiary age, are still stoutly contested. Whether the duration of Quaternary, times extended over a period of. one hundred thousand years, as some claim, or over twenty thousand, or even less, can never probably be absolutely determined. The most satisfactory explanation of the chronological question has been found in the systematic explorations that have been carried on without interruption since 1865, by a most competent committee of the British Association, of a large cavern in South Devonshire, near Torquay, called " Kent's Hole." The most scrupulous care and vigilant watchfulness have characterized these explorations and investigations. The following is a brief sketch of what has been discovered in the course of the exploration: The bottom of the cavern was found to be encumbered with huge blocks of limestone that had become detached from the roof, between and under which was a layer of vegetable mold of varying depths, up to a foot or more. In this layer were found objects of various periods, running back as far as the time of the Roman occupation of the island. Below this came a floor, a stalagmite of an average thickness of sixteen to twenty inches, and underneath it a layer of cave earth four feet deep, in which were found objects of man's fabrication. Still lower, they came upon a second floor of stalagmite, which in some places had attained a thickness as great as twelve feet. Below all came a breccia (angular fragments of rock cemented together), in which were found numerous teeth and bones of the cave bear, HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY - 187 and with them three undoubted flint instruments. Now, in one part of the cavern is a huge boss of stalagmite rising from the floor, and on it is inscribed, " Robert Hedges, of Ireland, February 20, 1688." For newly two hundred years, the process of the formation of stalagmite appears to have been going on, and still the letters are now only covered by a film of not more than one-twentieth of an inch in thickness. Even granting that the deposition of stalagmite may have proceeded much more rapidly under former conditions than at present, when more water and more carbonic acid may have penetrated the cavern, still it is evident what a lapse of time is required to account for the formation of such a mass of material. Nor can accident or fraud be invoked to explain the presence of these relics of man, under the circumstances in which these have been found. The work was executed under the daily supervision of the committee, and by trustworthy laborers, and no intermingling of objects falling from a higher level; no burying of them in later times in excavations made in an older deposit; no attempt at making gain from forged articles, palmed off upon the credulous collectors, in this case, is possible. Much more might be quoted in this connection, if space permitted. The distant antiquity of the Mound-Builders is not so well established as that of the " Fossil Man." While some intelligent authorities place the latter twice, or thrice, or even more times, back of the Mosaic account of creation, the former are allotted a period in history corresponding, as has been said, with that of the Egyptians, when records were first chronicled. Many important inferences can be drawn of the character of the Mound-Builders, from their works. They were unquestionably subservient to rulers or superiors, who had power to enforce the erection of gigantic structures, which, considering the semi-barbarous condition of the people, their lack of suitable implements of labor, and their imperfect and insufficient knowledge of mechanical principles, are surprisingly vast in extent and ingenious in design. Their works indicate that the people were warlike; that they were familiar with many mechanical and mathematical rules; that they were religious and probably idolatrous; that they were skilled in the manufacture of metallic and bone ornaments and pottery; that they had attained no little degree of perfection in the working of metals; and that they were essentially homogeneous in customs, pursuits, religion and government. They, of necessity, were an agricultural people, being too numerous to live by the chase alone. They offered burnt and other sacrifices and oblations to both good and bad spirits. Dr. Foster says they worshiped the elements, such as fire, air and water—also the sun, moon and stars, and offered human sacrifices to the gods they worshiped. Many implements and ornaments have been found scattered throughout the continent, that undoubtedly belonged to the Mound-Builders. Of these there are stone axes, mauls, hammers, celts, mortars, pestles, flint arrow and spear heads, fleshing and skinning instruments, ceremonial stones, shuttles, colored slate ornaments, breastplates of stone or shell, ornamental charms or totems, shell ornaments, rude and imperfect specimens of pottery, bone and metallic ornaments, igneous stones, slate implements for weaving, inscriptions and devices, and a multitude more, of all sizes and shapes, whose uses are unknown. That many of these were made and used by the Indians is certainly true. It is quite likely that the latter people would learn something from their predecessors, especially of those implements used in the arts of war, even though an interval of many years elapsed between the reigns of the two races. It is now the design to give a brief, accurate description of every earthwork in the county, whether it was constructed by the Mound-Builders or by the Indians. In Congress Lake, in the northern part of the county, is a singular formation. Near the center of the western side of the lake, bounded on the east by its waters, and on all other sides by a deep, marshy swamp, is a large mound, some seventy-five feet in diameter north and south, and about fifty east and west. It is conical, rises some fifteen or eighteen feet above the level of the swamp and lake, and is composed of the same material as the adjacent bluffs. It is difficult to determine whether this is an arti- 188 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY. ficial or natural formation. In either case, it must have been an island in an early day, and, if occupied by either of the above-mentioned races, must have been an impregnable position. An excavation of a few feet was made on the eastern side, but nothing of note was discovered. Future efforts in this direction may bring to light important facts. On the farm of David Yant, in the southeastern part of Bethlehem Township, is a structure which must be referred either to the Mound-Builders or to the Indians. In a large, level field on a low tract of land, is a large mound, which must have been erected long before the white man came to the country. The mound is some sixty feet in diameter and five feet in height, although, when first erected, it is evident it was much narrower at the base, and had a corresponding increase in height. Times has accomplished the change by washing the soil from the summit. The mound is constructed of earth and stone, and, from the design, it would seem that the latter was at first heaped together, very likely with some distinct order in view, and afterward, over all was thrown a large quantity of dirt. There is a strange tradition regarding this mound, which is as follows: Two powerful Indian tribes had been at war for many years, and still the feud between them was unsettled, and the tomahawk and scalping-knife continued to do their dreadful work. The older sachems of both tribes saw that the hostile parties were so equally matched that both tribes would be almost or wholly exterminated should the feud continue until settled by the arbitrament of war. Treaties for peace were called, but no terms could be mutually agreed upon that would be satisfactory to both parties. Finally, after many such attempts to adjust the difference by overtures of peace, it was agreed that twenty of the bravest and strongest warriors of each tribe should assemble on the level tract of land where the mound now rests, and there, with knife and tomahawk and war-club, should be closed in deadly strife, after which the " hatchet " should be buried, and peace should prevail. Accordingly, on a given day, the two parties of dusky warriors, armed cap-a-pie for the fray, assembled, and, after arraying themselves in the grotesque paraphernalia of war, and assuming a hostile attitude near each other, the word for the onset sounded, and the dreadful work began. Every art of desperate encounter was practiced by the combatants, and the brave men, one by one, sank down in death, until at last but a single one remained, a powerful young warrior, the coming chief of his tribe. But the terms by which the feud was to be adjusted called for the blood of this young warrior, and his father, an old man, and the chief of his tribe, stepped forward, and, with one blow of his tomahawk, stretched his son dead at his feet. The bodies of the forty sacrificed warriors were placed together on the ground where they fell, and over them were heaped the stones and the earth constituting the present mound. If the tradition be true, the mound should contain the crumbling skeletons of the dead warriors. It has never been opened, and it will be left to some future historian to record the probable truth of the tradition, after the mound has been opened and its contents disclosed. As far back as the memory of man runneth, a large oak tree, between two and three hundred years old, was growing from the summit of the mound. This was removed many years ago, and the soil around the mound is now a cultivated field. The Mound Builders are known to have erected similar structures, and possibly this formation may be properly referred to them. Even if the mound is found to contain many crumbling skeletons, or evidences thereof, either the tradition may be true, or the structure may have been the work of Mound-Builders, as the latter people often buried their dead in large numbers in the same mound. Of course, all positive knowledge on the subject will ever remain hidden, until all things shall be made plain. There is said to be a smaller mound not far from the one just described, but its location could not be found by the writer. At various places along the course of the Tuscarawas, there are meager evidences of the presence and work of a former people. Several mounds may be seen in the valley at different places, but there are no traditions regarding them, and, beyond reasonable doubt, they are natural formations. When the HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY - 189 county was first settled, it was no uncommon thing to discover old Indian trails intersecting each other at various points in the county, and to find the crumbling remains of old villages, that once teemed with a large and thriving population. These have long since been removed by the destructive influences of time. There are many curious earth .formations in the county, which, after extended examination, might disclose the fact that they were constructed by the earlier races. Others, no doubt, have been destroyed by the husbandman. From the fact that Stark County has a noticeable lack of ancient remains, it has been inferred that the county was a portion of the neutral land which separated two or more hostile nations or tribes of Mound-Builders. Large numbers of earth and stone works are found along the Cuyahoga River in Summit County, and also farther south on the Lower Tuscarawas, and on the Muskingum. This renders plausible the neutral view of Stark County. Perhaps, over these broad plains, long before the present growth of timber had started, the god of battles raged and thundered. In some portions of the county, large numbers of flint arrow and spear heads, and implements and utensils of various sorts, are discovered, some of which have been referred to the Mound-Builders, and some to the Indians. Quite a number of iron axes have been found in the county. These were manufactured in England, and shipped to this country to be used by the Indians during the bloody border wars of the last half of the last century. Many years ago, on the farm of Martin Bechtel, where his residence now stands, a number of flint arrow-heads, spear-heads and ornaments were found buried. At the same time, several Indian saddles were unearthed, all being considerably decayed. No evidences were seen that Indians had been buried there. Their saddles, however, had been, but certainly not for safe keeping. There is scarcely a portion of the county that has not a similar tradition. Notwithstanding the fact that the Indian history of Stark County is extremely meager as regards prominent events, several interesting incidents are remembered, and will be narrated. Perhaps no other territory in the United States was the stage upon which were enacted so many thrilling border incidents as Ohio in early years. From 1750 until the war of 1812, there was a continued succession of Indian atrocities and alarms. Some of the Ohio tribes were, for short periods, at peace with the whites, but no permanent cessation of massacre and pillage could be anticipated. Other tribes, as the erratic Shawanese, constantly protested against the encroachment of the whites on the Indian lands, and steadily resisted almost every overture for peace. During all the wars in which the borderers were likely to be involved, an alliance with the Ohio Indians was earnestly sought, or at least great inducements were offered them-to remain neutral. The British, on the Canada side, through the artifice or imposture of their emissaries, lost no opportunity of inciting the savages to butcher the white pioneers in Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania, and to pillage and burn their homes. In 1750, the members of some ten or twelve tribes lived in what is now Ohio, among whom were the following: The Wyandots (called Hurons by the French), the Delawares and Shawanese (both members of the Algonquin group), the Miamis (also called Twigtwees), the Mingoes (a branch of the Iroquois or Six Nations), and the Ottawas and Chippewas. The Wyandots occupied the country in the vicinity of Sandusky River. The Delawares were established on the Muskingum and Tuscarawas Rivers, and at a few other points. The Shawanese were chiefly found on the Scioto and Mad Rivers. The Miamis were on the Great and Little Miami Rivers. The Mingoes were in great force at Mingo Bottom near Steubenville, and at several other points in Ohio. The Ottawas occupied the valleys of the Maumee and Sandusky Rivers; and the Chippewas, few in number, were mostly confined to the southern shore of Lake Erie. Only four of these tribes were present in such numbers as to merit a special sketch. These are the Wyandots, the Delawares, the Shawanese and the Ottawas. The Wyandots, as indicated by the idioms and other characteristics of their language, were related to the Iroquois; but, about the middle of the seventeenth century, they em- 190 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY. braced the religious faith of the Roman Catholics, and, for some reason unknown, severed their connection with their relatives, the Iroquois, and cast their lot with the powerful Algonquins.* Their original residence was in Canada, some authorities fixing their location on Georgian Bay, and others, as Mr. Schoolcraft, on Montreal Island. Their number is estimated to have been about 40,000 souls. Some time after this, they became involved in a war with the Iroquois, by whom they were nearly exterminated, after which they removed first to Charity Island, and finally to Quebec. They were found south of the great lakes in 1660, by some French traders, and, ten years later, having become involved in a war with the powerful Sioux, they removed to Michilimackinac, and were accompanied by Father Marquette. Afterward, they established themselves at Detroit, their hunting-grounds extending into Northern Ohio. In 1778, remnants of the tribe were yet in Canada, while the one at Detroit was estimated to comprise about one hundred and eighty warriors. In 1829, a small band of the tribe was located in' Michigan. They numbered about forty, and were provided with annuities by the Government. Immediately after the war of 1812, the principal portion of the Wyandots, numbering about six hundred, were established on the Sandusky River, on a tract of land eighteen miles long east and west, and twelve miles wide. In 1835, the Wyandots decided to sell a strip of land five miles wide on the eastern border of their reservation, and the land was accordingly thrown into market. In 1843, they all were transferred to Kansas, where they have since resided, and the land of their reservation was annexed to the adjoining counties. The Shawanese are an erratic tribe of the Algonquin family. A tradition of recent origin makes them one with the Kickapoo nation; but they moved eastward, and a part are said to have remained, in 1648, along the Fox River, while the main body was met south of Lake Erie by the Iroquois, and driven to the Cumberland River. Some passed thence to Florida, and some to Carolina. One band was *The sketches of these four tribes have been taken from the American Cyclopedia. in Pennsylvania at the close of the seventeenth century. Those in Florida lived at peace with the Spaniards, and afterward became known as Savannahs, or Yemassees. These retired to the Creeks, and finally joined the Northern Shawanese. The Iroquois claimed sovereignty over the Shawanese, and drove them west. In 1758, they aided the French; but, in 1781, sided with the English. They joined the conspiracy of Pontiac, and were active in war until subdued by Col. Bouquet. In 1774, enraged at the attacks of Col. Cressap, they roused most of the Western tribes, and, in October, defeated the Virginians at Pleasant Point, but sued for peace the following year. Col. Bowman, who marched against them in 1779, was twice defeated. They joined the peace treaty of 1786, but took part in the Miami war, in the campaigns against Harmar and St. Clair, but were reduced by Gen. Wayne, and then entered the peace treaty of 1795. The main body was at this time on the Scioto, but a few had gone to Missouri, and another band had gone South. During the war of 1812, urged by Tecumseh and his brother, the Prophet, they endeavored to unite the Western Indians against the Americans; but those in Ohio remained faithful. The Missouri band ceded their land to the Government in 1825, and the Ohio band in 1831. In 1854, the band of Shawanese proper, living in that part of the Indian Territory now included in Kansas, and consisting of 1,600,000 acres, numbered 900; but at this time, or soon afterward, the tribal relations were dissolved by treaty, and the lands divided in severalty. Besides these, there were, in 1872, ninety in the Quapau Agency, and 663 in the Sac and Fox Agency. The Ottawas, when first known to the French explorers, were located on the Manitoulin Islands, and the northwest shore of the Michigan Peninsula. They believed in Michabou, " the great hare," a mythical personage who formed the earth and developed men from animals; in Mirabichi, god of the water; and in Missabizi, " the great tiger." Soon after 1649, they fled before the Iroquois to Green Bay, thence west beyond the Mississippi to the country of the Sioux, with whom they became involved in war, when they fell HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY - 191 back to Chegoimegon before 1660, and finally to Mackinaw. The tribe became considerably divided here, one of the divisions settling near Detroit, and the other at Mackinaw, but finally passed over to Arbre Croche. The greater number of the Ottawas were in the last war with the French, and at its close, Pontiac, an Ottawa chief, and one of the ablest Indians of any tribe that ever lived, organized a vast conspiracy for the destruction of the English. They were under British influence during the Revolution, and at this time numbered about 1,500. They participated in the treaties of 1785, 1789 and 1795, and afterward, by other treaties, they acquired a tract of land on the Miami, thirty-four miles square. By the treaty of 1833, they ceded their land around Lake Michigan for land south of the Missouri River, and soon ceased to be a distinct band. A band of Ottawas at Maumee ceded 49,000 acres in 1836 to Ohio, and 200 emigrated to the Osage River, locating south of the Shawanese. Some 230 remained and became scattered in detached bands. In 1867, they became citizens, and, in 1870, were removed to a reservation of 24,960 acres in the Indian Territory. Several thousand are yet living in scattered bands in Michigan and Canada, and all are self-supporting. The Delawares are a tribe of the Algonquin family, and, when first known to the whites, were dwelling in detached bands, under separate sachems, on the Delaware River. They styled themselves Renappi, or, as now written, Len ape, or Lenni Lenape. The Dutch began trading with them in 1616, and enjoyed friendly intercourse with them until 1632, when the settlement at Swanendael was utterly destroyed by a sudden attack, but trade was soon afterward resumed. The Swedes made efforts to Christianize them, and had Luther's Catechism printed in their language. The Delawares claim to have come from the West with the Mingoes, who soon afterward reduced them to a state of vassalage, and, when they were conquered by the Five Nations, they were termed women by the latter. The Delawares formed three families or clans—the Turkey, the Turtle and the Wolf. At the time of the " walking treaty," made by Penn, the Delawares complained that they had been defrauded in the interpretation of the treaty, and showed a reluctance to "walk," upon which the authorities called upon the Six Nations, who ordered the Delawares, as women, to retire. The Delawares were now thrown among warring people; and, though previously mild and peaceable, they now became energetic and savage, and conducted their wars with great ferocity and courage. In a war with the Cherokees, they reached the Ohio River, where a portion remained until 1773. They took up arms and fought with the French at Braddock's defeat, and elsewhere, but suffered so much from English attacks that they finally treated for peace, part of them in 1757, and the others after the fall of Fort Du Quesne. They then centered on the Susquehanna, and a small number soon afterward came West and settled on the Muskingum. They took up arms in the border war, but were badly defeated at Bushy Run, in August, 1763, by Bouquet. Their towns on the Susquehanna were pillaged and burned, many were killed and dispersed, and, in 1768, they emigrated as a body to Ohio. In 1774, they were again badly defeated at Pleasant Point, and a part were afterward engaged in the Revolution. In 1772, the Christian Delawares settled on the Muskingum (which, in early years, extended as far north as the mouth of Sandy Creek), but were hastily removed to Sandusky in 1781, by the British. Early in the following year, ninety-four who returned were murdered by a party of enraged borderers under Col. Daniel Williamson. By the treaty of 1785, the Delawares occupied the soil between the rivers Cuyahoga and Miami. At this time, there were many scattered bands of Delawares, several of which were Christian, and at peace with the whites: The main tribe at Grand Blaze, with 480 warriors, was hostile, and 400, under Buckongehelas, were at the defeat of St. Clair in 1791; but, four years later, they joined the peace treaty at Greenville. In 1808, there were 800 at Wapeminskink, a few at Sandusky, a few on the Muskingum (and Tuscarawas), and a large body at Fairfield, Canada. In 1818, the Delawares, 1,800 strong, ceded their lands to the United States, and emigrated to Missouri. In 1829, many went to Kansas, and some to south 192 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY. of the Red River. In 1853, they sold all their lands to the United States, except their reservation in Kansas. During the last war, out of 201 able-bodied warriors, no enlisted and served in the army. They sold their lands, in 1868, to the Missouri Railroad, and settled on the Verdigris and Cone Rivers. In 1866, they became citizens, though their clans —Turkey, Turtle and Wolf—still exist. The Delawares who lived along the Tuscarawas and Muskingum Rivers were the principal tribe with which Stark County has to deal. The lands upon which they lived did not really belong to them, but had been granted them by the Wyandots, whose headquarters were at Sandusky, when they immigrated to Ohio. Portions of the Delaware tribes through all the bloody Indian wars of the last half of the last century, were steadfast friends to the white settlers, and did all they could to restrain their young men. Sometimes they were successful, but oftener the headstrong young warriors, through the influence of the savage Shawanese, or at the instigation of British agents, refused to remain at peace, and took up the hatchet, notwithstanding the protests and entreaties of those who were opposed to war. From the fact that the Moravian missionaries were not only established along the Tuscan was further south, but also in Stark County, the Indians in this part of the State were no doubt often counseled not to take up the hatchet against the borderers. It may also be reasonably concluded that the Delawares were often restrained from indulging in war through the influence of the missionaries. However, the. Moravians could not do much, as there were always prominent chiefs in the tribe who were bitter enemies of the white borderers, and lost no opportunity to slaughter and pillage. The following, from the pen of a local writer, was written in 1846: " In 1762, an Indian village of forty wigwams was standing across the river from the post settlement. The spot where the dwellings stood, and the streets between them; as well as the place of carousal, and where they used to play ball, were plainly visible. So was their burying-ground easily identified, as well as the havoc which some unprincipled fellows committed about twenty years ago, in digging after some silver trinkets, which the Indians used to bury with their dead. The graves were dug open, the silver taken out, and the bones scattered over the ground. Just across the river is the old missionary station. It is situated on the north side of the river, near its bank, about three-fourths of a mile above the bridge, on the road leading from Bolivar to Bethlehem, and just below a spur of the hill which approaches the river above it. The stones which had probably formed the back wall of the chimney form a heap of rubbish about two feet high. This is all there is left by which the site of the house can be identified. The place where their garden was differs from woods around it by the total want of heavy timber. This corresponds in all respects with the description given in Mr. Heckewelder's journal." It will be remembered that Frederick C. Post, the missionary who is reputed to have been the first permanent white settler in Ohio, built his cabin in southern Bethlehem Township, where he lived in constant communication with the. Indians for many years. The following, taken from the sketches of a local writer, more fully explains Mr. Post's surroundings: " The old Indian crossing-place at the Delaware capital (called Tuscarawas), one mile north of Fort Laurens, is a prominent landmark in the early geographical division of Ohio, as well as the scene of the most important events that trans, pired in Stark County. Tuscarawas Town was located upon the bluff on the west side of the Tuscarawas River, at the mouth of Sandy, on land now (February, 1877) owned by Samuel Burns, and was on the main trail frOm Fort Pitt to Sandusky." The writer goes on to say that near the southeastern corner of Bethlehem Township was the cabin built in 1761 by Frederick C. Post as a mission among the Indians. It was located about a mile from the crossing, on the east bank of the Tuscarawas. The trading-house of Calhoun was on the west side of the river, about fifty rods above the iron bridge. In 1764, the military expedition of Col. Bouquet followed the Indian trail west from Fort Pitt into the heart of the Wyandot and Indian country, crossed the Muskingum (now Tuscarawas) at the above-mentioned crossing-place, and pro- HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY - 193 ceeded down the river to Goshegunk (Coshocton). Post's house was about a mile northwest of the Delaware capital. The Delawares were at first disposed to dispute the right of Post and Heckewelder to cut down the forest around their cabin, and sent them word to desist, and to appear at the council the following day to give an account of their conduct. At the head of this council was Tamaque (or Beaver), the chief of the Delawares, who said to Post that the latter, instead of devoting his time in instructing the Indian children, was cutting down the forests and taking possession of the land, as all the whites unlawfully did. Post replied that, while his real object in coming into the Indian country was to instruct the children, yet he must make arrangements to live. He must have corn and vegetables, and could not raise them unless he had the necessary land. Finally, after some further amicable discussion, it was agreed that Post should have a garden, fifty steps square, and this land was stepped off the next day by the afterward famous, or infamous, Capt. Pipe. There was at this time quite a large Indian village at Navarre, or near there. A mile down the river from Post's house was a trader named Calhoun, and farther down was the Delaware capital (Tuscarawas), containing some forty wigwams. Post owned a canoe, and was in the habit of rowing up the river until near Navarre, when he would land, cut a quantity of cedar wood, load it in his boat, and return down the river. The wood was used in making tubs, etc., for the Indians. The Indian capital about this time is supposed to have contained some 700. inhabitants. It is stated that the village was the capital of the Senecas, as well as the Delawares. No doubt but that, in the early border wars, white captives were held at this village, and very probably more than one white Indian slayer was tortured to death on this spot. Col. Bouquet, in his expedition into the Indian country passed through the southern part of the county. His object was to subdue the Indians, or awe them into submission, and his army comprised some 1,500 men, all well armed and prepared, if necessary, to chastise the Indians in a manner they would not soon forget. Seeing the danger they were in, the Indians came humbly forward and sued for peace. Col. Bouquet charged them with a wanton violation of their treaties, but the Indians, through their speakers, Turtle Heart, Custaloga and Beaver, vehemently asserted that they were unable to restrain their young men. Col. Bouquet demanded every white captive they had, and finally received some 300 of these unfortunates. " There were seen," says a writer in the Historical Record, " fathers and mothers recognizing and clasping their once captive little ones; husbands hung around their newly recovered wives; brothers and sisters met, after long separation, scarcely able to speak the same language, or to realize that they were children of the same parents. In those interviews, there were inexpressible joy and rapture, while, in some cases, feelings of a very different character were manifested by looks or language. Many were flying from place to place, making eager inquiries after relatives not found, trembling to receive answers to their questions, distracted with doubts, hopes and fears; distressed and grieved on obtaining no information of the friends they sought, and, in some cases, petrified into living monuments of horror and woe on learning their unhappy fate." It is also said that " in some cases, strong attachments had grown up between the savages and their captives, so that they were reluctantly surrendered, some even not without tears, accompanied with some token of remembrance." The full force of all the sanguinary Indian wars during the last half of the eighteenth century fell upon the border settlements in Western Pennsylvania and Virginia, and Eastern Ohio. The savages were not slow in availing themselves of every opportunity to massacre the pioneers, destroy their homes, and drag large numbers of unfortunates into hopeless captivity. To retaliate, kands of daring borderers would invade the Indian country and slaughter many of the inhabitants. White men were bred to the one pursuit of slaying Indians. Great rivalry existed among them, in the frontier settlements, as to who could strike the severest blow the farthest into the heart of the Indian country, and return in safety to the settlements with satisfactory proof of their deeds. They were 194 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY. taught from the cradle to hate the Indian, and their boyish tongues soon learned to lisp maledictions against the hated race. Indians were not merely killed to avenge wrongs done by them to the whites. The borderers courted death and danger from love of excitement, or because they desired to boast of their exploits, or because they expected pecuniary gain. Horse-stealing was a favorite pastime, in which both races indulged without restraint, and many of the most exciting individual contests recorded in border history were the result of these unlawful incursions. The dreadful and desultory border warfare became, in a measure, systematic. Rangers and scouts were to be found all along the frontier, who constantly penetrated the Indian domain to watch the movements of the warriors, to warn settlers of impending attacks, and, if possible, to rescue white captives. These daring men were often captured and made to feel the weight of savage vengeance in agonizing deaths by fire and torture. John Glover, who was captured during Crawford's campaign against Sandusky, and who escaped death at the stake as by a miracle, states that, while he was at Wapitomica, twelve captive white men were brought in from Kentucky, all of whom were tortured to death by the savages. A captive was first stripped naked, and then, by means of charcoal and water, was painted black (a sure omen of an awful death). He was then forced to run the gantlet. Two lines of Indian men, women and children were formed, two or three hundred yards in length, and about twelve feet apart, the men being armed with tomahawks, knives, and guns loaded with powder, and the women and children with bows and arrows, clubs, knives, etc., the object being to inflict all but death upon the runner, without checking or impeding his progress by a front fire. As the captive dashed through the lines at full speed, his body was shot full of powder, and cut and hacked in a frightful manner. After this, the whole band pursued him round and round, beating, burning and torturing him in every conceivable manner, until death at last came to his relief. The body was then either cut in pieces and raised on poles, or given to the dogs! Thus ended the awful tragedy. Beyond question, the Delaware capital was the scene of incidents of this character. Perhaps the hills around Navarre have echoed with the frenzied death-cries of white men, and the dreadful yells of exulting savages. There is, one conflict, between the Delawares and a small band of scouts from Pennsylvania (probably), the record of which may properly come within the limits of Stark County history. An account of this was written a num ber of years ago by Dr. Slusser, of Canton, and will be given in his words: " On the occasion of this encounter, the party left the place of rendezvous for a scout, in April, 1793. It consisted of six men, five of whom were James Downing, Sr., John Cuppy, Isaac Miller, George Faulk and Thomas Dillon. They crossed the Ohio River at the mouth of Yellow Creek, followed up the north branch of that stream to near its source, then directed their course west to the head-waters of Sandy. After reconnoitering this section of the country for miles around without discovering any signs of Indians, they concluded there were none about. Up to this time, they had not discharged a gun for fear of being detected. The rations they had brought with them were nearly exhausted, and they concluded to kill some game for subsistence. Downing shot a deer, and another of the party a turkey. This was the morning of the fourth day out, between Little Sandy and Indian Run. As they had not yet taken breakfast, they concluded to prepare the meal. Miller was kindling a fire; Faulk was preparing the turkey for roasting; Downing was in the act of bending down a sapling, upon which he intended to hang his deer, that he might the more easily skin it; and Cuppy was sitting at the root of a tree, with his gun on his lap, examining the lock. A party of Indians, numbering eighteen or twenty, as was afterward ascertained, of the Delaware and Wyandot tribes, heard the firing, and thereby detected the locality of the scouts. They divided their force into two parties with the view of ap- proaching them from different points, and from the direction the scouts would be most likely to take in attempting to escape. One party of the Indians circled around and advanced from the northeast, the other from the south- HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY - 195 east. While Cuppy was engaged with his gun, he happened to look up, when he saw at a distance an Indian peering through the underbrush. Instantly he sprang to his feet and gave the alarm. As soon as the Indian saw he was discovered, he turned and ran, and as he did so, Cuppy fired at him, but without effect. Miller and Faulk snatched up their guns and gave chase. The ground was sparsely timbered, and, as the two men continued the pursuit, Miller being in advance, Faulk called to him to halt, as he knew that just as soon as the Indian reached a more heavily timbered place, he would stop behind a tree and shoot Miller as he approached. Thereupon Miller turned about, and he and Faulk started back for the place they had left. Meanwhile, the other party of Indians, coming from the other direction, made their appearance in great numbers. Downing said to Cuppy and Dillon: ‘Let us stand together and defend ourselves to the last.' Dillon hastily replied: Each one for himself, and, suiting his action to the sentiment, broke and ran. Downing and Cuppy kept together, and moved along the higher ground toward the forks of Sandy. As the Indians pressed upon them, they would turn, raise their guns as though they intended to shoot, whereupon the Indians would jump about with the view of diverting their aim. By degrees they became bolder, and advanced closer, when Downing shot the nearest, which had the effect to keep the others at a greater distance. Soon after, Downing and Cuppy caught up with Dillon, who seemed much exhausted, and was staggering as though about to fall. Dillon begged for God's sake that they would help him, and, as Downing turned and saw his face, he was found to be choking on account of his neck-tie. Dillon, in his haste in trying to loosen it to improve his wind, pulled the wrong end and made it tighter instead. Downing cut the neckerchief with his knife, thereby relieving the panting Dillon, who immediately took a fresh start and was soon out of sight. Downing and Cuppy were both past middle age, and somewhat fleshy. They were nearly exhausted, and knew they could not hold out much longer. Downing at last said to Cuppy: I can't go any farther; I'll stand and fight under this thorn-bush if I die '—and stand he did. Cuppy at the same time got behind a tree, and both anxiously awaited the appearance of the savages, determined to make the best resistance they could. They had not long to wait, for soon the Indians were seen approaching. Downing reserved his fire until the foremost Indian came within close range, then, taking deliberate aim, fired and brought him down, The others returned a volley, which cut the bushes around the two men, but failed to strike either. Miller and Faulk, hearing the firing, hastened in the direction whence it came, and, ere they were aware, were among the Indians. Miller observed a large one with a silver half-moon on his breast in the act of loading his gun, and, just as the scout 'was drawing a bead on him, he gave a yell and sprang behind a tree. Miller soon discovered that the Indians had so surrounded him that it was impossible to protect himself behind a tree, whereupon he determined upon flight as the only means of preserving his scalp. Quick as thought he sprang from the upper bank, and ran across the bottom toward the north branch of the stream. The Indians left Downing and Cuppy, and all united in the pursuit after Miller. At one time, they were so near him that he recognized a tall warrior known among the whites as Tom Jilleway. After Miller crossed Little Sandy and came out in an open plain, he thought, as he afterward expressed it, 'Now, legs, for it,' and ran with all his might for about a mile and a half northwest, until he reached the highland, or ridge, when he stopped to look back and listen. He could neither see nor hear anything of the Indians. After resting awhile, he concluded to return to the place where they were first surprised, in the hope of meeting the balance of the company. Not finding them there, and the day being far advanced, he decided to make for the rendezvous of the company, on the east bank of the Ohio River. He continued to track as long as lie could see, and passed the night on a ridge bordering Yellow Creek. He made a bed of chestnut leaves under a fallen tree that lay up from the ground, and slept soundly, amidst the howling of wolves and the screaming of wildcats. Next day, he crossed the Ohio at the mouth of Yel- 196 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY. low Creek and reached the place of rendezvous, where he found Downing, Cuppy and Dillon safe and unhurt, save that Downing's face was much swollen, and his eyes bloodshot from over-exertion. In the evening of the next day, Faulk made his appearance, and reported that, when the Indians started after Miller, he hid himself in the brush. When they were out of sight, he crossed over a branch of Sandy (since called Indian Run, from this fight) and secreted himself on a hill, where he could overlook the plains south without being discovered. He could see the Indians in camp, and, from their performances, was satisfied, from a knowledge of their ceremonies, that two of their number had been killed. In talking over the matter, the company were of the unanimous opinion that they had the best of the fight, and had made a very lucky escape." The above sketch was written a number of years ago, and was then published in the county papers. It has passed the ordeal of public criticism without serious injury, and is given in full as written. In conversing with various parties throughout the county, the writer has found some objections to many of the circumstances connected with the movements of the hostile parties, as narrated by the writer. It is stated by descendants of Mr. Downing that the site of the battle was farther south than as stated in the sketch. Others have suggested that some of the circumstances described are overdrawn, and that too much speculation was employed in the narration of minor details. In all histories, the writers, after becoming thoroughly familiar with the prominent events, and as many details as possible, are compelled to conjecture, from evidences known to be correct, many facts which they record. This is done by all historians, and curious mistakes often occur under the pen of the most careful writer. The high social standing of Dr. Slusser, his thorough knowledge of pioneer events, his reputation as a writer, and his eminent, recognized integrity, place his writings far above insignificant innuendoes and criticisms. The following sketch was written a number of years ago, by Col. E. Ball, of Canton, and published, as given, in one of the county papers: "A gentleman, whose name is not remembered, had been to Canton on business, and stopped on his way home (to Lake Township) at what was known as Everhart's Mill (in Plain Township), and there reported, in the presence of a number of farmers and their sons, that a band of Indians was passing through the settlements south of Canton, laying waste the country and spreading death and destruction as they went. He reported that they had just laid Rowland's Mill in ashes, and were about to lay siege to the village of Canton, and that it was their purpose to visit Cleveland and all intermediate settlements, and drive the palefaces out of the country. The settlers of Lake, Green and Plain Townships became terribly frightened. Neighbor was sent to sound the alarm to neighbor, and thus the sad intelligence spread with astonishing rapidity, until it reached the ears of hundreds. Men flew to their cabins, where each family held a council of war. Every latch-string was pulled in, the store of ammunition was examined, and, if bullets were lacking, new ones were cast. Axes, pitchforks, scythes and sickles were immediately hunted up and brought into the house, not only to prevent their being used in the hands of the expected savages, but for the purpose of being used as defensive weapons in the hands of the family. Many families carried their most valuable articles to the woods, and covered them with leaves and old rubbish, while others buried them in the ground. Many of those residing within a few miles of Greentown met at Squire Dickerhoof's, where they placed the wives and children in the garret of the cabin, while the men formed themselves into a company. Everybody armed, and all awaited the 'arrival of the savages. One man became so much alarmed that he loaded his family in a two-horse wagon, and, leaving his house and such goods as he could not carry, left the country. He did not stop until he found himself east of the Allegheny Mountains, where he had come from a short time before, and where he remained for the space of two years, when he returned, never to hear an end to the jeerings of his neighbors for this singular manifestation of backwoods bravery. My own father left his cabin, which was situated in HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY - 197 the woods about a mile and a half west of Greentown, and, with his wife and children, walked to the residence of my grandfather, a distance of several miles. Such was the consternation in the neighborhood that finally a few young men volunteered to act as a scouting party. Accordingly, they mounted the best horses they could find, and, with their trusty rifles, moved down toward Canton. That village, consisting of about half a dozen houses, was found to be unharmed. Here the whole affair was found to be a complete fabrication. The boys returned and spread the glad tidings, and thus ended the last Indian war in Stark County." Whether this Indian alarm occurred during the war of 1812 is not stated. During and prior to this war, the Indians were to be found in large numbers at the old Delaware capital, and in many temporary encampments throughout the county. They were peaceable, though it was well known that they might arise in fury at any moment. It was a common thing to hear them boast of their exploits on the border—of how many white men they had killed, or how many had suffered death by torture at their hands. Some of them proudly displayed dry tongues or scalps, stating that such had been taken from white captives. It is related that, on one occasion, when one of the Indians had displayed a string of dried human tongues, and had boasted of having killed the white men, he was followed by Mr. Harter, of Plain Township, and after that the Indian was never seen again. Mr. Harter is said to have stated significantly, afterward, "He will never show those scalps again." Mr. Bechtel had a similar experience with another, who is also said to have started, about that time, on a prolonged trip to the happy hunting grounds. Occasionally, troubles arose between them and the whites, mainly owing to the rascality of the latter. The Indians were notorious beggars, surpassing the tramp in artifice and expediency. They were very fond of sweet milk, and one of them could envelop a gallon of that delicious liquid with apparent ease. Cows were frequently found dry upon being driven home, but no one seemed to know what became of the milk. The Indians would secure wild honey, or venison, or furs, which would be traded for potatoes, pumpkins, melons, corn-meal, flour and other provisions. Sometimes, when they found the whites unwilling to give, they resorted to artifice. They would watch the cabin until the husband and father were absent, when they would quietly present themselves, enter without invitation, seat themselves, and ask for whisky, or whatever was wanted. If the settler's wife hesitated or demurred, a few hostile looks and gestures were sufficient to kindle into life her most lavish generosity. If whisky was given, the wife knew that she must immediately get rid of her tawny guests, or, when the liquor had gained control, she might suffer many indignities, and perhaps serious injury or death. " The northwest quarter of Section 20, in Green Township, formerly belonging to Stark County, but now to Summit, on land purchased by Cornelius Johnson of the United States in 1813, appeared to have been a favorite hunting-ground, or battleground, of the Indians, as arrow-heads, hatchets, skinning knives and other implements have been found there in great abundance. From the numerous flint chips found on that quarter of the section, it seems to have been a place for manufacturing their stone hatchets and arrow-heads. Where they obtained such large quantities of flint is unknown. The spot seems to have been selected on account of its being light-timbered, clear from underbrush, and elevated a little above the surrounding lands. Scattered over this elevated plateau were found piles of stones, varying in size from two to eight inches in diameter, and arranged in heaps of from four by six feet to a little larger or smaller. Tradition assigns to them the honor of holding the ashes of some warrior or chief, but, as no bones or human remains have ever been found in them, they are thought by some people to have been sacrificial altars, or monuments, erected to perpetuate the memory of some great events." The above is quoted from the writings of Josiah Q. Kern. Henry Bechtel, of Jackson Township, says that on one occasion a settler who was sawing logs in the woods was approached by an Indian, who, after viewing the operation with great interest for a time, left, and, some time afterward, when the settler was absent, the Indian returned, accompanied by 198 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY. two others, and, after pointing to the nicely sawed logs, took his ramrod and drew it back and forth at right angles across the log, to illustrate the manner in which the sawing had been performed. The ease and simplicity of the process were beyond the comprehension of the red men of the woods. During the war of 1812, the settlers in the county were apprehensive that the Indians might turn against them, in which case a dreadful time of blood and death might be expected. At one time, news was received that 800 warriors had congregated in the bend of the river at Navarre, and were making preparations to attack the settlers. The news came from a reliable source, and was credited, and immediate preparations were made to receive them in a fitting manner. A company of militia at Canton, commanded by Col. Sloane, and another in Sandy Township, commanded by Capt. Downing, were hastily assembled to resist the expected attack. The few cabins then in Canton were barricaded, and rendered as strong as possible by levers and bars. Pickets were sent out a half-mile or more from the village, and all movements of the people were made subservient to the orders of the military commanders. All the settlers living on the outskirts of the settlement hurried to Canton, armed with pitchforks, sickles, clubs, scythes, axes, etc., prepared to sell their lives at a high premium (if the figure may be indulged in). Philip Dewalt's tavern became a sort of headquarters for the excited populace. Drums were improvised from old pails, and martial music soon fired the blood of the citizens to fever heat. No one slept that eventful night. All were watchful, and properly so. Indeed, the settlers did exactly right, for, if the report had been true, their promptness would have disconcerted the savages, to say the least. Some laughable incidents are related. John Shorb, during a portion of the night, was assigned picket duty on the advance line. While on his beat, on the alert for any suspicious sound, he was suddenly startled by the snapping of a twig, as if some person had incautiously stepped upon it. Mr. Shorb instantly cocked his rifle, and demanded, in stentorian tones, "Halt! who goes there?" A painful and ominous silence answered his words, and for a moment nothing could be heard but the rapid beating of his heart, and the soft sighing of the night wind through the dark forest. Suddenly the same noise was repeated, and again Mr. Shorb commanded a halt. Squatting upon the ground, he could see some dark object coming nearly toward him, and, raising his rifle, he took deliberate aim and fired. A heavy fall announced the success of the shot, and Mr. Shorb, after loading his rifle, stepped cautiously forward to view his fallen foe. He reached the spot, and, peering forward, saw the bloody corpse of a—cow. He afterward said, " That's what the cow got for not answering." He never boasted very much, however, of this exploit. When the =morning dawned, the two companies moved forward to discover what had become of the Indians. The site of Navarre was reached, but no bloodthirsty savages were seen, and, after proceeding some farther and not finding an enemy, the companies returned to Canton. The vigilance and alarm did not subside immediately, but everything, including the militia companies, was kept in readiness to resist a possible attack. Extra precautions were taken when the news was received that the British were landing from Lake Erie, with the intention of attacking the settlements in Eastern Ohio. All apprehensions of danger from this source were removed by the appearance of a few of Hull's half-starved, half-clothed, paroled soldiers, who were the ones that had landed at the lake. The Indians continued in the county, and in all Eastern Ohio, until after the war. It is said that, just before the battle of Tippecanoe, the Indians were seen to be unusually . active. War dances were frequently held, and the battle cries and scalp halloos could be heard above the boisterous confusion in the Indian village. The Indians would flourish their tomahawks and scalping-knives, and the, settlers wondered- if another outbreak was brewing. At last the news of the battle of Tippecanoe was received, and after that, the commotion in the Indian villages ceased, save an occasional war dance, indulged in in memory of olden times, and to prevent the time-honored customs of the tribe from dying out. The settlers were often pres- HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY - 199 ent during the tribular ceremonies, and occasionally they took part in the dance. When it came to taking food or soup prepared on these occasions, the settlers, one and all, desired to be counted out. Wrestling matches were formed, and the " whites " and " reds " were arrayed against each other. Sometimes one succeeded, sometimes another. Shooting matches were formed, yet, notwithstanding the superior vision of the Indians, the white hunters usually secured the prizes. The greater portion of the Indians left immediately after the close of the war, though straggling bands remained and could be seen as late as 1825, or even later. The tale of the red man will soon be told as a romance of the past. CHAPTER III.* POST AND HECKEWELDER'S MISSION — EARLY SETTLEMENT BY THE WHITES — EARLY PUBLIC BUILDINGS—COURT HOUSE AND JAIL—DIVISION OF THE COUNTY—POOR HOUSE AND CHILDREN'S- HOME. STARK COUNTY can proudly boast of being the site of the earliest white settlement in the State of Ohio. In about the year 1740, large numbers of Moravians had established themselves in a beautiful section of country at Bethlehem, Penn. Here they quietly worshiped Gcd and increased in numbers, and at last instituted an association, the object of which was the establishment of missions among the Indians, that these wild people might learn more of Jesus Christ, and their children be taught to read and write. Great influences were brought to bear by the Moravians, to induce, grave and capable men to dare the dangers which would possibly result from constant communication with the Indians. This course, calculated, as it was, to bring to the front the courage, intellect and religious manhood of the Moravians, resulted in the creation of a vast system of pioneer missions, whose holy achievements have become embalmed forever in the history of this country. Under the influence and protection of the system, the sturdy ministers of this sect penetrated unmolested far into the wilderness, where no white foot had before pressed, and where the wild forms of nature were as yet untouched by the fashioning hand of man. Homes with the savages were not always secured without a struggle, as is evinced by the historical fact that many failed to secure the longed and prayed for results—some efforts, indeed, resulting in bloodshed, others in brief and un- * Contributed by W. A. Goodspeed.   happy periods of continuance, while a few were hopefully successful through a long, bright period of years. One of the chief designs of the Moravians was the creation of a friendly feeling between themselves and the Indians, that a basis might be formed by means Of which the former might induce the latter to refrain from bloody wars upon the white pioneer settlements. This design was effectively accomplished in some instances; in others, it utterly failed. Sometimes the Moravians sent their missionaries to the Indian villages; but the most noteworthy missions known in history were established by men who immured themselves amid the dangers of the wilderness from choice, and quite often in opposition to the wishes of the Directors of the Moravian Association. The early settlement in Stark County referred to above has been recorded in detail by many writers, all of whom seem capable of throwing some new light on the subject. One thing is certain: The results accomplished by the settlement have been greatly overdrawn. Rev. Christian Frederick Post, a regularly ordained minister of the United Brethren Church, of his own choice, and independent of the Moravian Association at Bethlehem, Penn., came to Stark County some time during the year 1761, and erected a log cabin, after which he immediately returned to Pennsylvania, to seek an associate who could teach the Indian children to read and write, while he preached to the adults. How long Mr. Post remained in Stark