HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY - 550   The question of first settlement is always one of great interest, though it cannot always be solved, owing to the non-recording of early transactions. It is a curious fact, yet people are constantly doing things of which they will be sorry. A little thought is sufficient to convince them. though at the time they are as blind as Cupid to all results. People deceive themselves, because they color their judgments with their prejudices. They seem incapable of taking an unbiased view of any object or question where their interest is involved. Metaphysicians prescribe as a fixed rule for the mental mastery of any subject, a complete rejection of all prejudice, that the mind may be as free as air in all its movements. But few persons are capable of this. With some, the greater the effort, the greater the difficulty. Some have formed wrong conceptions of their own interest. They have studied long and have acquired extensive knowledge, but wisdom still lingers. These are the persons who are unable to tell what is best for them. These are the persons who neglect to record passing events, and thus refuse to provide for ascertaining the probable future, for from the past do we judge of the future. Although people are not in the habit of recording passing events, yet many things are stored in the memory that are recalled when needed. Tradition is a library of fact (sometimes somewhat doubtful) that the historian is at liberty to peruse. It is the deepest spring from which the waters of the past are drawn. Old records are often valuable, as will be seen below. The following is a catalogue of all the land-holders of the township for the year 1827: Ebenezer Allman (320 acres), Jacob Anspaugh, Harman Buchtel, Jacob Bixler, Samuel Bixler, George Brantingham (625 acres), Christian Blough, John Burkholder, John Bachtel, John Brinton, Jacob Burkholder, Jacob Burns, Henry Burkholder, John Cook, James Chapman, Aaron Culver, John Kreighbaum, Jonathan W. Condy (who owned nearly all the lots in the village of Bethlehem), William Christmas, John Dinnius, Peter Dinnius, Hugh Davidson, Henry Fry, George Foulk, Michael Finley, Henry Grendle, Joseph Gibbon, Christian Garber, Abraham Galloday, Horton Howard, John Hutchinson, Samuel Hughes, Edmund Hogg, John Housel, James Hughes, Henry Hipsh, William Jolly, John Kerstetter, George Keen, Baltzer Koontz, Adam Kemmel, William Lewis, Charles Linerode, Daniel Longenacre, Isaac Lash, Thomas McKean, Alexander Mock, Gotlieb Myers, Samuel Mufflin, John Naftsinger, Daniel Oller, Peter Rider, Abraham Rowland, John Roan, Abraham Shrock, Adam Shell, Christian Schwenk, John Shalter, John Sherman (not the ex-Senator), John Shorb, Jacob Shorb, Henry Shoemaker, Nicholas Stump, Mathias Shipler, Simon Snyder, Frederick Stump, Joseph Snively, Michael Sterner, Thomas Troul, John Troul, Thomas Taylor, Zaccheus Test—(ninety-nine lots in the village of Calcutta were owned by unknown parties)—Herman Van Dorstan, Henry Van Dorstan, Benjamin Whetmore, Henry Wade, John Wright, George Warner (686 acres), Jacob Youngman, Abraham Yant (322 acres), John Yoder, r., and William Young. Among the above are some of the earliest settlers in the township. Many came in prior to 1827 and left before that date, and their names, of course, would not appear on the list. The following regarding the early settlement of the township, is taken from sketches written a few years ago by Rev. David Yant : " The Indian capital of Tuscarawas at the old Indian crossing place above Fort Laurens, the Post Mission and Calhoun's trading-house were located at and near the mouth of Sandy, and were included in the original boundaries of Bethlehem Township. Richard Carter, a Quaker, and Joshua Comly, a brother-in-law of Carter's, settled at the mouth of Sandy at an early day. Elizabeth Himes, whose maiden name was Musser, says that the Musser family came to Laurensville, opposite Fort Laurens. in 1807, and that Richard Carter was then living at the mouth of Sandy. Carter was a bachelor, his two sisters, Sally and Maria Carter, two pleasant young ladies, keeping house for him. They are well remembered by the writer. A trading-house had been built upon the ground previously occupied by Mr. Post's mission, by John Fleming, a mulatto from Canada, and a man by the name of Armstrong, who had been captured when he was but fourteen years of age by the Indians, and grew up to manhood among them, acquiring their tastes, habits and modes of life. His father found him and tried to persuade him to return to his home in Western Pennsylvania ; but it was in vain. His nature had been entirely recast in the Indian mold. He said he would not work, and returned to the Indians. It is much easier to BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP - 551 make an Indian out of a white man in life and habit, than to make a white man out of an Indian. Richard Carter got possession of the trading house after Fleming left, and kept up a brisk trade with the Indians. The friendly treatment of William Penn and his Quakers had so far won the confidence of the Indian tribes generally, that the former were classed as a distinct race. Beaver Hat said : When an Irishman fills my powder horn, he fills it about half full ; an American fills it a little higher ; but a Quaker fills it up full.' The same generous and Christian treatment would have secured the same confidence to the Irishman and the American. But the country has reaped the harvest of a bad seeding with the Indian. Richard Carter went to Wheeling for supplies, and left Elizabeth Himes (then Musser) aged fifteen, and her brother, in charge of the trading house. The young fellow was fond of the hunt, and left his sister two days alone with the Indians. She said she was not afraid unless they got fire-water, but an Indian came along who was on a bust.' He took a butcher knife, cut the string of the window shutter and proceeded to throw out the furs and skins, and completely emptied the post. Mrs. Himes knew there was no use to oppose him, but a squaw came along and persuaded the Indian away, and returned and put things to rights. Mrs. Comly, the wife of Joshua Comly, took the fever at the mouth of Sandy, and died. She left her heart-stricken husband with the care of four small children. This was, perhaps, the first death among the settlers. Mrs. Comly was buried on the Stump farm. Mrs. Elizabeth Himes kept house for Mr. Comly until he was able to make further provisions. " The great flood of 1815 is still remembered. It took place in the month of June. Carter's house stood by the house of John P. Bordner. A canoe had been tied at the bank of the river, and the water had risen during the night so as to leave only the untied end of the canoe upon the surface. My father, Abraham Yant, and Philip Yant, my grandfather, managed, by swimming and diving, to untie the canoe, and run it on the porch of the house. The inmates had retreated to the second story, and were carried out, and brought to our house, until the flood abated. Richard Carter owned over 500 acres of land, of what has since been known as the Brantingham tract. He traded the land to George Brantingham, another Quaker from England, for city property in Philadelphia, Penn., and removed there about 1818. " Many chapters might be filled with interesting incidents and anecdotes, but a few only can be given. Game was abundant ; deer were so numerous that they were hardly ever out of sight for a day. Bears were not so plenty, but they were frequently met with. On one occasion, John Swank, who lived in sight of our farm, went through the woods to George Kuhn's, somewhere near where Davidson Brown now lives. He treed four cub bears on a dogwood sapling, made strings of some tow he had in his pocket, climbed the sapling and secured the cubs by tying two together. When he came to the ground the noise of the cubs attracted the mother, who rushed at him with her jaws wide open. He dropped the cubs on the side of a large fallen tree and jumped upon it, and the bear came up on the opposite side, but did not attack him. He broke off a dead limb and frightened her off, and after following her a short distance, returned, caught the cubs. made his escape and brought them home. Swank parted with two of the cubs and kept two, which grew finely. The bears and a pet pig slept in the shelter of a hollow sycamore that had been sawed off and placed for the purpose. One rainy night after washing day, when a grapevine full of clothes had been left out, the bears put their natural instincts to work, and taking the clothes proceeded to the woods and climbed a large red-oak tree, the top of which parted into three branches, where they made a nest of the clothes and lay snugly down. In the morning the clothes were gone, and the bears were gone. After many conjectures and a protracted search, the white clothes were seen and soon the whole mystery was solved. Then the question was, how to get the clothes. This could only be done by chopping the tree. When the bears became sensible of the situation, they coolly ran out on a limb, rolled up into a ball, dropped to the ground, and scampered off home. They afforded abundance of amusement, and in our evening visits, would waylay us in the dark. In the chase the hindmost " codger " was sure to be caught by the foot in the paws of the bear, frights and screams availing nothing, but we were never hurt. My father had a large, strong, active greyhound, named Beaver. Swank's children came on an 552 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY. evening's visit and one of the bears accompanied them. Beaver was frantic with rage at the bear, but never would take hold of it. The bear ran up a tall sugar tree, sat among its branches and growled. When the children left it came down and took to the fence, and the dog followed, making a fearful .noise and threatenings of mortal combat, but would not come in reach of the bear,s paw. I never saw an animal for which I had formed so strong an attachment, as Beaver. He lived until old age rendered him nearly helpless. He had been my constant companion in my hunts and rambles, killing and treeing the wild game ; but at last it was determined that he should be killed to 'put him out of his misery. I pleaded for his life, caught him round the neck and wept as though he were-my brother, but without avail. " Richard Carter left the mouth of Sandy in 1816. George Brantingham, a Quaker, his wife Phoebe, and Sarah Bolton, an unmarried sister of Mrs. Brantingham, with four children, came to the mouth of Sandy in the spring of 1816. Mr. Brantingham traded city property in Philadelphia to Richard Carter for a tract of 500 acres of land, and settled upon it. The Brantingham children were Joseph, Hannah, George. and Sarah. The children, like their father, were full of life, and soon exchanged their city ways for the more free and active enjoyments of the backwoods. My father's family and the Brantingham family became much attached to each other, and were lifelong friends, notwithstanding their different religious views. When my father would kneel in family prayer, George Brantingham would sit in solemn reverence, with his hat on, and worship God in the spirit. The want of religious society of their own faith, rendering the further stay of the Brantingham family at the mouth of Sandy undesirable, and the tract of land owned by Mr. Brantingham was subdivided and sold. The neighbors tried to reconcile him to stay, stating as a reason the fertility of the land, to which he replied : If we live for hog and hominy, we need not leave ; but if we live for something better we had better go.' This striking declaration of the choice of a good man contains an important admonition. There are many, vast numbers indeed, who live only for hog and hominy.' Esau lived for hog and hominy, or he would not have sold his birthright ; Lot was governed by hog and hominy or he would not have pitched his tent toward Sodom. In 1821, the Brantingham family removed to the vicinity of Salem, Ohio, where George Brantingham, Sr., died, in 1845, aged seventy-five years. Phoebe Brantingham, his wife, died in the spring of 1853, in her eightieth year. Among the early settlers, none were more conspicuous than Mathias Sheplar, Nicholas, Stump and Ebenezer Allman. Mr. Sheplar was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., November 11, 1790. His first wife was Elizabeth Retan. He came to Bethlehem Township in an early day ; was for many years a Justice of the Peace, and several times a member of the Legislature, both of the House and Senate; served one term in Congress and filled various minor offices, in all of which stations he retained the confidence of the people, as a moral, upright man, and faithfully discharged the various duties assigned him. Mr. Shepler was married three times. His first wife died while yet young. He was married to Elizabeth Bechtel, who died in 1837. His last marriage was with Sarah Linerode, the widow of Otho Linerode, and daughter of John Sherman. She still lives at the age of seventy-six, though much enfeebled. Mr. Shepler died in April, 1863, a member of the United Brethren Church. His remains are interred in the Sheplar burying ground, on the farm where he formerly resided. " Nicholas and Frederick Stump came from Chambersburg, Franklin Co., Penn., in 1808. Most of the goods belonging to Nicholas were lost in crossing the Nimishillen. Frederick Stump settled in Perry Township, on the farm now occupied by his son, Levi Stump. Nicholas Stump settled on the northwest quarter of Section 10, now owned by Henry Myers. Nicholas Stump was elected several times to the office of County Commissioner, when public honesty and economy were the rule. Rings, jobs and reckless extravagance are the results of a superior refinement and the advancement of the age. " Ebenezer Allman came from Bentleysville, Washington Co., Penn., in 1807. His sons George and William were out a year or so previous. They settled on the northeast quarter of Section 4, now occupied by Mrs. Eve Allman, a daughter of Frederick Stump, and the widow of Barney Allman. Carroll Allman was killed by the falling of a tree, in his seventeenth year, BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP - 553 and was the first death in the family. Jane was married to George Klingle, referred to as the first dry goods merchant in Bethlehem. Sarah, another daughter, was married to Jerry Sluts. The family consisted of seven sons and two daughters. Ebenezer Allman died in 1828, aged sixty-four ; Agnes, his wife, died in 1839, aged sixty-six. " Abraham Yant came from Allegheny Co., Penn., to Bethlehem Township, in the fall of 1812. He stopped at the house of Nicholas Stump, who went with him and showed him the northeast and southeast quarters of Section 24, then vacant. He went to Steubenville, located one quarter; returned to his home, seven miles from Pittsburgh, near the Monongahela River, worked at the shoe bench until the spring of 1814, when he came out and located the other quarter, built a shanty or camp of butternut poles, stayed three months, cleared a field, planted it in garden vegetables; corn and potatoes. While at work in the wild woods his supplies of bread were procured from the settlers, the wild turkeys and pheasants supplied him with eggs, and his rifle abundantly supplied him with venison and turkey. He returned in July, and started for his new home about the 1st of September, and arrived at the cabin on the 19th of September, 1814. The family consisted of my grandfather, Philip Yant, Sr., my uncle, Philip Yant, Jr., my father and mother, Abraham and Catharine Yant, my brother Anthony, and my sister Magdalene, I being then sixteen months old, and the youngest. The moving party were on the road two weeks, with wagon and two horses. The season was remarkably wet. My mother says she carried me all the way ; that it rained every day, and I cried the whole journey. The little but had a fire-place on the projecting corner, and it contained room for kitchen purposes, a bed, and the dear old " trundle-bed " The rest of the family slept in the covered wagon. A cabin house was soon put up, with a log fire chimney, puncheon floor and clap-board roof. The farm in its natural state was heavily timbered with oak trees of immense size on the hill slopes, and the bottoms were covered with sugar maple; beech and hickory. It was hard labor and a slow process to clear up a farm ; but by perseverance, late and early, every year added an eight or ten acre field to the opening. Labor was cheap. The best choppers could be hired for $8 or $10 per month. The sugar season afforded the greatest enjoyment and the hardest labor of any other part of the year. Camping out and running the sugar camp day and night was full of fun and excitement, through slush, snow and rain. The exposure was not considered dangerous. Half a dozen different camps, within neighboring distance of each other, afforded a vast amount of social enjoyment for the young folks. The log-cabin pioneers, with all their hardships and simple, rough fare, were healthier and enjoyed social life to a greater degree than falls to the lot of their more refined and weakly descendants. Abraham Yant became% minister of the German Baptist denomination. The last few years of his life were spent in the Gospel ministry. He died in January, 1842, aged sixty-one years. His widow, Catharine Yant, survived him, and reached the unusual age of 'ninety-three years before her death occurred. " Prior to 1815, Bethlehem and Pike were included in Canton Township ; but, in 1815 and 1816, Pike and Bethlehem held elections jointly. Bethlehem Township was created on the 12th of December, 1816, and an election held in April, 1817. Baltzer Koonts was the first Justice_ of the Peace. The first couple married in the township were Aquilla Carr and his wife, Nelly ; her maiden name is forgotten. The ceremony was performed . by Squire Koonts. Adam grounds, the father of Jacob Grounds, came to Bethlehem in 1806 or 1807. The first three barrels of salt were brought into the township by Mr. Carr. He conveyed them up the Cuyahoga River in a canoe, hauled the canoe across the Portage, south of Akron, to the Tuscarawas, and floated down to Bethlehem. He sold one barrel to Godfrey Huff at the mouth of One-leg Creek ; Mr. Grounds got one barrel, and the other was secreted in the woods, to keep the Indians from finding it. The salt was sold at $25 per barrel, but Mr. Carr said he would haul no more at that price. Jacob Grounds taught the first school at Bethlehem and was clerk of the first election held at Canton. James Gaff.made the ballot box, for which he received 50 cents. The first entries of land were made by Brinton & Condy, Richard, Carter, Nicholas Stump, Ebenezer Allman, Harman VanDorston, Mathias Shepler, Charles Linerode and others. " In 1819, Mr. Brantingham laid out the town 554 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY. of Calcutta, had a sale of lots, and built a warehouse on the bank of the river. Several flat-bottom boats were loaded here for the southern trade, the cargoes consisting of flour, whisky, bacon and pottery ware, the latter being manufactured at Canton. A store was also established and continued for several years by Frederich C. Phersich, a- German. His goods were valued at about $500, and comprised axes, hoes, salt, tobacco, groceries and a small quantity of prints and muslins. Of course he kept whisky. There was where his greatest profit was realized. His store became quite a resort on this account. Some six or eight dwellings were erected in Calcutta, in which as many families resided for a few years. A -blacksmith appeared, and, it is said, a printer named White came there with the intention either of starting the somewhat doubtful vcnture of a newspaper, or of doing a general advertising business, or both. He was probably looking up a location, as he stayed there but a few months. The outlook was decidedly unfavorable for such an enterprise. The warehouse did quite a thriving business for a few years, until the river was no longer safely navigable by the flat-boats. Calcutta was considered the head of navigation on the Tuscarawas. The river, except at a high stage of water, proved unsafe, and a number of shipwrecks, with loss of cargo, put an end to the New Orleans trade upon the Tuscarawas. The last flat-boat that passed down the river was about 1822, or a year. later. As the leading idea of building up a town of some commercial importance, was directly connected with this trade, the prospects of the future city of Calcutta were abandoned with it. The town plat was vacated, and is now embraced in the farm of John Kaler. " Thomas and Charity Roach, from Kendall, Stark County, frequently stopped at Brantingham's, on their way to visit the Zoarites, in whose welfare they interested themselves greatly. George Brantingham went with Thomas Roach to a Yearly Meeting at Mount Pleasant, Jefferson Co., Ohio, during which Mr. Roach took sick and died, and was buried at the Short Creek Quaker burying ground. Charily Roach and her husband, Thomas Roach, were without children. Charity, with the true spirit of Christian benevolence and charity, founded the Roach Charity School.' She requested Sylvanus Buckius, a tinner, to make a roach, (a fish) to be placed upon the building as a vane, so that the name should not be forgotten ; it is there to this day. There was but little need of this, as the name of the righteous shall be an everlasting remembrance.' Although not upon an extensive scale, it is one of the noblest charities in the State. Men of wealth who do not know what to do with their abundance, should pay it a visit, then go and do likewise.' The remains of Charity Roach rest in the old burying ground at Kendal. Many a poor orphan has stood by her humble grave and called her blessed. " The village of Bethlehem was laid out by Jonathan W. Condy, in 1806. Mr. Condy and Martin Brinton, a brother-in-law, were lawyers from the city of Philadelphia. They located large tracts of land in Bethlehem Township. Mr. Condy was accompanied by the Rev. Richard S. Goe. Religiously, they had, embraced the tenets of Emanuel Swedenborg. Their project was to establish a religious society, molded after the Moravian Society at Bethlehem, Penn., after which the town was named. Mr. Condy was a man of enterprise and integrity. He built a saw-mill on the stream east of the village, and contracted the building of a gristmill ; but the latter was abandoned. He erected a storehouse on the northwest corner of Market and Second streets, which was occupied by James Klingle. This was the first dry goods store in the village. It was afterward occupied by Mr. Goe as a store, and was torn down but a few years since. For various reasons, Mr. Condy's expectations were not realized. He returned to Philadelphia until after the location of the Ohio Canal, when he came to see his landed interests. On riding across a corduroy bridge his horse was attacked by yellow jackets, became frantic, threw Mr. Condy, broke his shoulder, and otherwise very seriously injured him. From these injuries he died a short time afterward, and was buried in the old graveyard. This was in August, 1827. "After the location of the Ohio Canal, Navarre was laid out by James Duncan. The year before, Nathan McGrew had laid out on the western side a village, which he named Rochester. Raffensperger and Chapman afterward laid out an addition to Rochester. The three villages, Navarre, Bethlehem and Rochester, became places of immense trade in wheat and dry goods. The principal merchants were D. & BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP - 555 H. Allman, Hill & Co., Chapman & Raffensperger, Poe & Co., Wirt & Burgent. The leading export was wheat. Before the opening of the Ohio Canal it did not bring thirty cents in cash, but now commanded remunerative prices. For some years this sudden impulse in trade went on in a torrent, results quite satisfactory were realized, and handsome fortunes made. Its influence upon the country was seen and felt in the enhanced value of real estate, the taste of buildings and all kinds of improvements. This season of prosperity was followed by the stringency and reverses of 1837 to 1840. Fortunes that had been gathered in the years of prosperity, were more quickly swept away. The failures in mercantile circles were as common then as at the present. Trade, like the ocean, seems to be subject to ebbs and flows. Much of the money made in wheat raising remained in the hands of the purchaser. All the original firms largely engaged in the produce trade failed, but the farmers did not. They jogged on, slowly and surely, some wiser than before. Every generation learns this truth—that dealing in large sums begets recklessness and extravagance. Quickly made is quickly spent. A post office was established at Bethlehem, February 8, 1828, Thomas Hurford being the first Postmaster. On the 14th of August, 1843, the name of the office was changed to Navarre, and George W. Sweringen became Postmaster. Soon after Navarre was laid out, James Duncan built a mill, and connected with it a store. The Ohio Canal supplied the water-power procured from the State. The mill did a prosperous business, and was a great advantage to the place and the surrounding country. It is now owned by James Corl, and is doing a good custom business. Soon after Rochester was laid out, James Sproul built the steam-mill. After changing- hands several times, it is now owned and successfully operated by the Coup brothers. The prospective importance of Navarre, as a business point, soon began to decline. The superior advantages and enterprise of Massillon' drew capitalists to that point. The Fort Wayne & Pittsburgh Railroad, the iron works, machine shops and car works located at that point and successfully carried on, have largely directed trade from Navarre. The latter is still a place of considerable business. Projected railroad facilities, should they be realized, may add to its present value." The village of Bethlehem was laid out while Stark was yet a part of Columbiana County. The original village plat may be seen at the county seat of that county. Calcutta was laid out as stated above, in 1819, though the plat thereof does not appear on the records at Canton. One of two things must be true : either the record of the plat has been lost or destroyed, or the plat was not properly recorded. When the Ohio Canal was built through the township and opened Bethlehem was re-enforced by population and prosperity. By 1830, there were some twenty dwellings. H. & D. Allman opened a store there in about the year 1828, and had a stock of goods worth probably $4,000. In October, 1833, Nathan McGrew laid out thirty-six lots on fractional Section 5, about three hundred yards west of Bethlehem, along the bank of the river, and named the village thus begun Rochester. He immediately offered the lots for sale, but Bethlehem proved a formidable rival, and he did not succeed very well. In March, 1834, James Duncan laid out nineteen lots on the bank of the canal between Rochester and Bethlehem, and named this village Navarre. The reason for the projection of new villages so near together and so near Bethlehem is not very clear. The latter village was so situated that quite a steep bluff was between it and the canal. This rendered the shipment of all kinds of productions a troublesome matter, as buildings could not be located on the bank, and, even if they could, teams could not approach to unload grain. And besides this, there was considerable fun thrown at the village on account of its inactivity in the management of the grain trade. People seemed afraid to locate there, and men with capital moved on to localities which pleased them better. This state of things continued until a few years after the opening of the canal, or until the other villages were laid out. Mr. McGrew laid out Rochester on the bank of the canal, but there the approaches were unfavorable to the rapid handling of grain. These facts led Mr. Duncan to lay out Navarre. The Massillon Rolling Mill Company was in existence at that time, and had considerable capital at its command. This was partly invested in land. Mr. Duncan was a member of the company, and was authorized to purchase the land upon which the village of Navarre now stands. This he did. He also laid out the village with the intention of building 556 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY his up at the expense of the other two. His plan, owing to the imperfect location of the other villages as regards the canal, and the jealousy that had sprung up between them, was in a measure successful. The Allman Brothers, who were then keeping store in Bethlehem and doing a general warehouse business, were induced to transfer their interests to the new village of Rochester. This movement Met with opposition from the Bethlehemites who at first endeavored to persuade them to remain, but finding this course unavailing they made efforts to kill out Rochester. Duncan built a store building in Navarre, and J. & W. Chapman, who were selling goods in. Bethlehem, moved to the former place. The withdrawal of the Chapmans and the Allmans from Bethlehem was a serious blow to the expectations of that village. McGrew who had been in business there had left and laid out Rochester. These men saw that, in view of the growing trade at that point, a better location was not only desirable but, if extensive business on the canal was to be done, it was necessary. This, among other things, led them to break away from Bethlehem. After they left, George Pfoutz opened a store where they had been, and bought grain at the old warehouse they had occupied and deserted. This was about the year 1835. Duncan built at Navarre a grist-mill and a saw-mill, besides other buildings, including several dwellings. In short, he did his best to build up the village he had founded. The saw-mill was soon afterward burned down, but was immediately rebuilt. After a few years, it was again burned own, and was then permitted to remain down. Stump & Fisher opened a store at Bethlehem in about the year 1838. The Allman Brothers, when they went to Rochester, built a storehouse and also a large warehouse. From this time forward there was constant rivalry between the three villages. In each there were merchants who were buying large' quantities of grain and produce, and as a necessary consequence each was envious of the prosperity of the others. Close margins were made in consequence, the merchants endeavoring to undersell each other in store goods and over pay each other in the trade in grain. The results are easily guessed. Their business soon languished under this pressure, and when the financial troubles of 1837 came on, the merchants failed and made an assignment of their property. From this time onward almost every man who engaged in .buying grain at the villages failed in business. As soon as a man opened a store in either of the villages he must dabble in the speculation in wheat. These men did not profit by the experience of those who had failed before them. They, forsooth, were shrewd enough to foresee the future condition of the markets. And another thing : they would not permit the other buyers to do a more extensivebusinesss than themselves ; that would not do. The facts are curious, yet this was about the condition of affairs for a number of years. Failure after failure succeeded each other, and still a fresh supply of daring capitalists crowded their way to the front. Among the men who have been in business in the villages are the following : Isaac Hawk, Charles Poe (a descendant of the renowned borderer of that name), Enos Raffensperger; who with Chapman, in 1845, laid out a large addition to Rochester, Hill & Waldron, Martin & Harris, Brobts & Rudey, R. & J. Sprankle, Davidson & Company, Mr. Wertenbergert, D. Mentzer, Bash, Minor & Company, Goodman, Chapman & Company, J. & M. Bash, Goshorn & Rose, Goshorn & Eckrode, Dennius & Draoenstrod, Zerby & Gorgas, H. V. Beeson & Company, Hall & Company,Loutzenheiserr & Company, Hetzler & Company, Thompson & Baxter, J. & J. W. Raffensberger, G. H. Cross, and others. Among the present business enterprises are, G. H. Cross, John Weidman, Daniel Metzer, Alexander Garver, G. W. Henline, Grossklaus & Ricksecker, Gnau & Moog, A. Schmidt, J. Loud, Mrs. Donnovan, milliner, and others. In about the year 1850, there was formed what was called the " Farmers' and Mechanics' Association." This company of perhaps fifty men was not incorporated, but it had a paid up capital of nearly $20,000, which was divided into shares .of $25 each. The business was controlled by a board of directors. A large warehouse and a large dry goods store were built, and the company began buying grain and dealing in goods. It owned one or more canal-boats and a large hardware store. As high as 3,000 bushels of grain were bought in one day, and, during the years of the company's greatest activity, nearly 100,000 bushels of wheat and other grains were purchased and shipped to Cleveland on the canal. The company had unbounded credit, and soon went beyond its means. BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP - 557 Within about six years after its promising start, the company found that almost its entire capital was swallowed up in book accounts and stock in store. From the fact that the company was conducting a similar business in other villages, and had come to about the same strait in those places, it was found impossible to continue. An assignment of the property was made, and the individual members were required to make up what the assets lacked of meeting the liabilities. In about the year 1844, W. Wann erected a suitable building, and began manufacturing plows, stoves, steam engines, hollow-ware, etc. He employed a few assistants, and, after continuing a few years, admitted a partner named Widgeon. These men then extended the scope of the enterprise somewhat, and after the lapse of a few years, sold to C. & J. Snyder. Finally, Yant, App & Company purchased the foundry, and, in addition to what had been manufactured before, began making wheat drills. After this, under other owners, the business was changed to that of wagon and carriage making. changed present, under R.. Hug, the building is a planing-mill, where doors, windows, blinds, etc., are manufactured. The first public house of entertainment was kept by John Shalter, on the southwest corner of Third and Market streets. The first one in Navarre was opened by J. Yant, opposite Mr. Sisterhen's shoestore, and was known as " Yant's Hotel." The building is yet standing. He was succeeded by a Mr. Horton. The " Reed House," known first as the " Navarre House," was built by Richard (The. The present landlord is B. F. Reed, whose good looks are proverbial, and whose knowledge of horse-flesh is almost infinite. Men named Wingert and Sprankle kept tavern in Bethlehem at an early day. "Since the earliest times, as might have been expected, rivalry and jealousy have marked all commercial relations between the villages. Nothing serious has transpired, the rivalry usually confining itself to bitter thoughts. On the 29th of August, 1871, a petition, signed by over fifty qualified voters, residing in the combined villages, was presented to the Commissioners of Stark County, praying for the incorporation of Bethlehem, Navarre and Rochester, under the name of Navarre. The subject was laid upon the table until the September session, when all things, pro and con, having been duly considered, it was ordered that the prayer of the petitioners be granted. The boundaries were fixed, but were afterward amended. In April, 1872, the first municipal election of the incorporated village of. Navarre was held. As soon as the officers were qualified, the necessary ordinances were drafted and adopted, and a small tax levied for municipal purposes. A small, strong, wooden jail was built at a cost of about $150. The following is a list of the city officers up to the present time, with the dates of the commencement of their terms of office : Mayor-1872, Jacob E. Mentzer; 1876, Mathias Sisterhen. Clerk-1872, Alfred J. Rider; 1876, Charles Diedler. Treasurer-1872, Henry R. Bennet; 1876, Alexander Garver. Marshal-1872, - James Linn; 1876, Seraphim Shively; 1878, Edward R. Steil Street Commissioner-1872, John A. Keplinger; 1874, Michael Ungeshick; 1875, Jacob Wolf; 1875, Seraphim Shively; 1876, John J. Biddle; 1878, John Linn. Councilmen-1872, Samuel Miller, two years; Mathias Sisterhen, two years; Peter Theobald, two years; John Baltzer, one year; Gotlieb Winter, one year; William O. Sifted, one year, 1873, Peter B. Welsh, George W. Swarengen, Enos Raffensberger, Edward J. Hug; 1874, A. S. Duley, John Leow; 1875, David Ricksecker; 1876, J. M. Corl, J. C. Kritzinger, J. E. Loud; 1877, A. W. Goshorn; 1878, T. F. Lerch, A. Henderson; 1879, J. W. Ream; 1880, William Donnovan; 1881, Kern Ackerman. The first school in the township was taught at Bethlehem by Jacob Grounds. When this occurred is not known. The village was laid out as early as 1806 ; but the school was not probably taught until eight or ten years later, when a log schoolhouse was erected. This house, or log building which succeeded it, was yet standing in 1835. Soon after this date the old school-house was abandoned, and a large, two-story structure erected in its place. Navarre and Bethlehem could not agree on school privileges, and the former and Rochester united means and erected a small brick schoolhouse; to which a large addition was made some time afterward. This building is yet standing, and is used as a dwelling. In 1871, the three villages, or rather the one village of Navarre, contracted with M. V. Leeper and A. W. Goshorn for the erection of a large, brick union school, building. It was completed during the summer of 1872, and cost, including the furniture, etc., 558 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY. about $11,000. It is two stories in height, and contains four rooms. R. S. Page was the first principal in this building, and received $70 per month for his services. His assistants were Misses M. E. Adams and R. E. Poe, the one receiving $35, and the other $25 per month. The present enumeration of scholars in this union district is about 325, with an average attendance of some 70 per cent. The school year begins in September and ends the following May. The early country schools were slow in starting. In 1820, there were but two or three schoolhouses in the township outside of Bethlehem. By 1830, there were five or six, and in 1840, nearly as many as there are at present. Log schoolhouses were usually first built, and afterward, as time passed and settlers became numerous, better ones took their place. The following is the condition of the township's school funds : Balance on hand September 1, 1879 - $1,828 55 State tax - 630 00 Irredeemable fund - 149 42 Local tax, for school and schoolhouse purposes - 5,078 93 Fines, etc. - 33 44 Total - $7,720 34 EXPENDITURES. Amount paid teachers - $1,737 00 Sites and buildings - 525 00 Amount of interest on redemption bonds - 1,545 65 Fuel and other contingent expense - 434 58 Total - $4,242 23 Balance on hand September 1, 1880 - $3,478 11 Value of school property - $9,000 00 Average paid male teachers, per month - $33 00 Average paid female teachers, per month - 20 00 Number of male pupils enrolled - 248 Number of female pupils enrolled - 224 Total - 472 Average daily attendance, males - 171 Average daily attendance, females - 156 Total - 327 Number of school districts - 8 Number of schoolhouses - 8 Population of Township, 1880 - 2,303 The following is taken from the sketches of Mr. Yant : " The first house of worship in the township was the German Lutheran log church in the northeast part of the village. This wad built about 1810. Jacob Grounds was employed to erect the building, which he did in a creditable manner. The next was the Salem Church, known as the .Sherman Church, built and occupied jointly by the Lutheran and German Re- formed denominations. Rev. Anthony Weyer, of Canton, was the Lutheran Pastor of both these churches. Rev. Benjamin Foust was the Pastor of the German Reformed society. Salem Church was built in .1818. Rev. Weyer served the congregation for many years. Lately the house, a large two-story log building, was sold and torn down. The Lutherans built a neat frame church in 1871. Previous to the building of Salem Church, Mr. Weyer held religious services at the house of John Sherman, who donated the ground for the church and burying ground. " The Catholics have a good church building and school. Their first church was a log building that had been intended for a wag, n shop. It was taken and altered, provided .with necessary furniture, and occupied by the congregation. After a time they built a brick church, which, not many years ago, was enlarged and is their present church. The Catholics have the strongest church society in the township. They have also a separate school building. This is a frame building, and was constructed in 1872, at a cost of $1,800. Between 70 and 80 scholars are in attendance, though but one teacher is employed, who usually is a female, and receives about $30 per month for her services. The German Lutheran, the English Reformed and Lutheran, the Methodist Episcopal and the United Brethren in Christ, have each good houses of worship, flourishing Sabbath schools and fair congregations. “The first Methodist society was organized by Revs. Walter Athey and Curtiss Goddard, at the house of Ebenezer Allman in .1815. Mr. Allman was leader of .the class. The members of the society were Ebenezer Allman, . Agnes Allman, Abraham and Mary Phillips, Mrs. Elizabeth Sheplar, wife of Mathias. Sheplar, Elizabeth Sheplar, Abraham Sheplar, Samuel and Sophia Miller, Capt. John and Ellen Brown, John Alexander and Henry Coder. Regular preaching was continued at the house of Mr. Allman until 1835, when the church was built in Bethlehem. John Brown was not satisfied as a member of the Methodist Church, and in after years he connected himself with the Catholics, and died in that faith. He is buried in the Catholic burying ground at Navarre. LAKE. TOWNSHIP - 559 CHAPTER XXIX.* LAKE TOWNSHIP—SURFACE FEATURES AND CLIMATIC CONDITION—FIRST SETTLERS AND EARLY ORGANIZATION—INDUSTRIAL AND SOCIAL GROWTH— VARIOUS MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS—VILLAGES, CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS. " Ye say they all have passed away, That noble race and brave; That their light canoes have vanished From off the crested wave; That 'mid the forest where they roamed There rings no hunter's shout; But their name is on your waters, Ye may not wash it out." --Mrs. Sigourney. MANY of the more valuable portions of the history of Lake Township have been carelessly permitted to pass into forgetfulness, and the truth of the old saying, " What is everybody’s business is nobody,s business " has thus been verified. This is to be deplored, as not only are the early incidents interesting and even fascinating, but they often furnish important information, without which endless disputes would arise and extreme bitterness be engendered among quondam friends. The preservation of old records is often of great public moment; yet, notwithstanding this fact, it is unfortunately too often the case that men, in whose keeping such records are confided, become negligent, whereby valuable material is lost or destroyed, thus entailing upon their successors and succeeding generations an infinite amount of trouble and annoyance. It is as if some person should contract some troublesome and disgusting disease, and afterward transmit it in its most malignant type to his descendants through several successive generations. Such procedure has a lasting effect, and guileless parties are made to suffer -the consequences, that should have fallen like the curse of Jove upon the offender. While township records are not usually of general public value, they occasionally are so, and should be preserved with that prospect in view. As will be learned more fully elsewhere in this volume, Stark County, before its organ- * Contributed by W. A. Goodspeed. ization as such, was for a time attached to Columbiana County, and in about the year 1806 was divided into two townships, Canton and Lake, which included all the present county and more. The boundary between the two townships was the line running east and west between Canton and Plain Townships. How they came to be called Lake and Canton is a mystery more profound than that of Eleusis. Dr. Slusser thinks that Lake, which included all the northern- half of the county, was thus named because it was nearer Lake Erie, or because a portion of it was drained by streams which flowed to that lake. It is the opinion of the writer, however, after much inquiry, that the township derived its name from Congress Lake. The presence of that lake was undoubtedly known, as it must have been discovered by hunters, and by those who were looking at lands with a view of settling. The hunters in Columbiana County can be imagined as saying, "I'm going up in the lake country to hunt bears," so that the region became designated as " the lake country." At all events, that portion of the county was known as Lake Township while it remained attached to Columbiana. When Stark was organized, the present Lake Township was a part of Plain, and remained thus until the 8th of April, 1811, when all the northwestern portion of Plain, including the present Lake, was organized as Green Township. No other changes were made with Lake Township, as it now stands, until the following proceedings relative thereto were enacted in June, 1816, by the County Commissioners: " Ordered, That the 12th Township, in the 8th Range, be, and it is hereby, erected into a separate township by the name of Lake. Ordered also, That the qualified electors of said township meet at the house of Joseph Moore in 560 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY. said township, on the 4th of June, 1816, for the election of township officers. Ordered further, That advertisements for said election in Lake Township be put up at the house of Peter Dickerhoof in the town of Union, and at the house of Joseph Moore. (Signed) James Latimer, John Kryder, and James Drennen, County Commissioners." The name of the first settler in this township is not known with certainty. Among the earliest, however, were Joseph Moore, Henry Schwartz, the Markleys, Jacob Brown, Mr. Camp, John Fryberger, George Machaner, John Morehart, Martin Bachtel, Peter Ream, Mr. Wise, Mr. Meyer, Mr. Pontius and several others. It seems, upon examining the county records, that while the first election of officers was ordered to be held at the house of. Joseph Moore, on the 4th of June, 1816, the meeting was not thus held, which fact called out this further act from the commissioners: Ordered, that an election be held June 29, 1816, at the house of Joseph Moore to fill the necessary township offices. The names of the first officers cannot be recovered. The township soon became quite well populated, and the material condition of the settlers became more satisfactory. Land was rapidly taken up, and soon Government land became a thing of the past. The following were land-holders in the township in 1.8267 Christopher Auble, Jacob Bechtel, John Bush-ong, Jacob Bauer, John A. Bauer, Jacob Brown, Conrad Broombaugh, John Creighbaum, George Creighbaum, John Clay, Christian Christ, Jacob Critshal. Peter Dickerhoof, George Everhard, Peter Eby, George Frank, Jacob Fouse, John Fouse, George Nodle, Simon Harsh, William Holsinger, Anthony Housel, William Irwin, Jesse Johnson, John Ruder, George Myers, Joseph Moore, Jacob Mayer, Christian Balmer, Peter Pontius, Dan- iel 'Markley, George Markley, John Markley, John Morehart, John Muny, George Null, Benjamin Pontius, Solomon Pontius, Nicholas Pontius, John Raber, Thomas Raber, Abraham Reem, Peter Reem, Conrad Raber, Philip Roser, Jacob Ruff, John Shorb, William Stripe, Jacob Sell, Jacob Sholt, John Wise, John Weller, George Westerberger, Michael Snyder, Henry Swartz, Jonas Smith, George Stut, George Snyder, Jacob Schaffer.. William Staddon, George Stidger, Daniel Smith, John Thompson, Jacob Warstler, William Wise, Henry Wise, and John Wise. This list is taken from the tax duplicate of that year, at the county seat. The township was an inviting locality for the settlers. The soil had every appearance of being very rich, and gave in its silent way ample promises to the prospective husbandman. An unusual number of small swamps abounded, but it was seen that the most of these could be drained in after' years without any very great cost. An abundance of limestone was to be found by removing a few feet of earth, and coal, also, was soon found to be abundant in the western part. The township is situated on the " Ohio Water Shed," as the waters of the southern part reach Nimishillen Creek, a member of the Ohio River basin, while the waters of the northern part flow into the Little Cuyahoga, a member of the Lake Erie basin. In the northeastern part is a fine sheet of water called Congress Lake. How it came to receive this name is not stated. It is likely that for many years the lake remained the property of Congress, and finally became so designated. It is about a mile and a half long by half a mile wide, and is perhaps fifty or sixty feet deep. It is well supplied with fish. Since the Connotton Valley Railroad has been projected through the township, it is the design to make a pleasure resort of the lake. Suitable buildings are to be erected on the lake shore, for the comfort and accommodation of pleasure-seekers. This will add to the attractions of the township as a. locality in which to live. Lake Township, on account of its swamps and bodies of water, was the resort, in early years, of large numbers of wild animals, which found a safe retreat there when pursued. It thus became a favorite hunting ground, for, in the winter, when the marshes and streams were frozen, hunters could trace the quarry to its lair. Many of the settlers were skillful hunters and trappers, and on account of the bounty offered for scalps and the market value of the furs, made considerable. money. The country was destitute of every kind of money. When the settlers first LAKE TOWNSHIP - 561 appeared, they often had considerable means, but this was soon drained from them like blood. After that they were obliged to do without money as a medium of exchange, and substitute their own wants instead. All commercial relations were carried on by a system of exchanges, the base of which were the individual wants of the parties participating. This gave rise to what were known as the " trade price" and the " cash price." Those who were fortunate enough to have considerable means at their command, and who were wise enough to invest it judiciously, soon amassed large fortunes, and their descendants are now reaping the advantages. Men without money or property, and with large families dependant upon them for support, suffered incredible hardships and privations, and were often compelled by the force of circumstances to relinquish their title to their half-improved farms, and return to the Eastern States. The most of those who came to the West, however, made up their minds before starting to undergo the coming adversities, and to be cheerful under the burden of difficulties and dangers. The taxes on their farms had to be paid in money. This money was often raised by the sale of furs. There were the furs of the mink, the beaver, the muskrat the otter; and the skins of the bear, the wolf, the panther, the deer, and various other animals. The pursuit of these animals, both for sport and profit, led to many an exciting adventure, as thrilling as any of those narrated on the page of fiction. Several of these incidents which transpired in Lake Township have never been made public. George Nodle, one of the earliest settlers, owned two cows that were permitted to roam at will through the woods in quest of food. On one occasion about sunset, the cows not having returned, Mr. Nodle started with his little dog in quest of them. He was an experienced and skillful hunter, and as usual when leaving home, took his rifle with him, although he had but four and a half bullets left. Reaching one of the streams which had overflowed its banks, Mr. Nodle was unable to proceed any farther, but sent his little dog across to start the cows, should they prove to be on the opposite side. Away went the dog, and was soon barking vigorously off in the woods, although after several minutes it did not appear with the cows. Mr. Nodle at last succeeded in crossing the creek, and hurried forward to ascertain what the dog had encountered. It was now almost dark, but as the settler approached the spot where the dog stood at bay, he knew that something unusual was about to transpire. He cautiously peered through the twilight, and saw with astonishment a mother bear and her three cubs. He instantly drew up and shot the large bear, and then, loading rapidly, shot in turn each of the cubs. He now had but half a bullet remaining, and it became a question of doubtful propriety in his mind whether he had better await the return of the sire of the bear family that had been slaughtered, or leave the spot immediately. He finally adopted the latter course. It is probable that the cows remained undisturbed in the woods that night. On another occasion, a bear caught and partly consumed a member of the genus Sus belonging to Mr. Nodle, who, the following night, guarded it with his rifle in hopes of killing the marauder. During the night the bear appeared, but was shot by the unerring hunter. Many circumstances similar to the last occurred. The bears were extremely fond of pork, and would often come boldly into a door-yard, in broad daylight, and in sight of the family, who were peering in fright from the windows, seize and carry off a hog or calf. A very unusual and surprising incident occurred on one occasion —one that in many respects has no parallel in the history of the past. The incident is related on the authority of several prominent citizens of Greentown, and is as follows: An early settler, whose name could not be remembered, was one day in the woods without his gun, when he was attacked in some manner by a bear, and compelled to ascend a small tree for safety. The bear was terribly enraged, and began making desperate efforts to dislodge the terrified settler, perched like a hawk in the branches above. It began to tear at the tree with teeth and claws so savagely as to threaten, if continued, the speedy fall of the tree. The settler hallooed repeatedly and loudly for assistance. The calls finally attracted the attention of a boy of about four- 562 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY. teen years of age (probably the son of the distressed settler), who started with gun in hand to discover what was meant by the continued calls. As he approached the spot, he was probably cautioned by the settler in the tree, and directed how to proceed. At any rate the boy cautiously approached the place until the bear was seen, when he drew up, took deliberate aim, and sent a bullet crashing through the bear, at which the animal fell over and gave up the ghost (if it had one). The settler, considerably relieved, descended from the tree, which was found to be completely girdled, from the effects of which it died. The settler would not permit the tree to be felled, but kept it standing, in remem brance of the occurrence, until it was blown down. Did not the boy display remarkable intrepidity in approaching and shooting the bear? :Many other incidents of a similar nature could be mentioned, but these will suffice to show that extreme danger often accompanied the sojourn in the backwoods. Industries began to spring into life immediately after the township was first settled. Saw-mills and grist-mills of primitive fashions began to appear on the various streams, to supply for the increasing demand articles nearer home. Roads were apparently bottom-less, and the sticking qualities of the mud were demonstrated to the settlers--often to their infinite annoyance and sorrow. The continued impassable condition of the roads (if they can be properly called such), led to 'a demand for mills, stores, etc., near home, and led to their speedy erection. Whisky was an article found on the mantel in every household, for to be without liquor was thought to be without one of the necessities of life. Men at work in the field must have it; and, when visitors appeared, it was deemed a gross breach of hospitality to restrain from setting up the drinks. No house or other building could be raised without it. It is asserted that there were fewer drunkards then than now; but this is undoubtedly a mistake. The custom of imbibing was so common and drunken men were so numerous that people did not notice the evil effects as they do now. Time has wrought a wonderful change in this, as in many other things. Saw-mills started up as early as any industry, but these, like those of the gods, were compelled to move slowly. The streams were sluggish, though there was double the volume of water then than now. George Creighbamn erected his saw-mill on a branch of the Nimishillen sometime before 1830, and for many years did extensive work, as there was a steady and increasing demand for lumber to be used in the construction of dwellings and barns. His son William operated it after him until but a comparatively short time ago, when Elias, son of William, and grandson of George, assumed ownership and control. This mill in its time has been a good one. Simon Harsh also built an early one, not far from the year 1825. This was also a good mill in its time. Other mills will be mentioned farther along. The following men have, at various times, conducted distilleries in the township, some of them beginning in very early years: Jacob Harbrook, George Everhart, Lewis Hanshalter, Mr. Shriver, John Bushong, Andrew Pontius, George Creighbaum and Henry Swartz. More than one of these men owned 'the same distillery. There were certainly enough to supply the township With all the liquor needed,' which is saying a good deal, as the German element of humanity can carry as much liquor without staggering as any other. They are cold and phlegmatic, and not easily persuaded to fall, when King Alcohol beckons. There are four villages in the township—three of them wholly, and one partly in Lake and partly in Plain. These four are Cairo, Hartville, Greensburg and Uniontown. The origin of these names is obscure or perhaps altogether unknown. Cairo is numerically the weakest, although it began its career many years ago. D. T. Machamer has been conducting a store there for a number of years. The village has a post office, and a church, built by the Lutherans and Reformers perhaps forty years ago. When these few things have been said, the past history of Cairo has been almost wholly unfolded. The records of Hartville are not much more voluminous. So far as could be learned, neither Hartville nor Cairo was ever properly laid out and recorded. Hartville has had a population of some twelve or fifteen families, LAKE TOWNSHIP - 563 while Cairo can scarcely boast of having had that number. As nearly as can be remembered, John Houghton opened the first store in Hartville soon after 1830: His stock of goods was small, but included many useful articles. Joseph Brown embarked on the mercantile sea some time afterward. Peter Shellenberger was another early merchant. It is likely that others have sold goods in the village, but their names are locked forever in the casket of forgetfulness, and the key is concealed. Some future historian may discover it. John Morehart opened a tavern about the year 1838. Daniel Baum is the present landlord. George Machamer and Henry Grossenbaugher are the present merchants. They have a fair country trade, and are presumed to be making some money. Dr. Hoffman was located in the village quite early. Some other things might be said of the village, to its credit. Some thirty years ago, Elias Shriver erected, in the northern part of the township, a large grist-mill, in which were placed five sets of stone. The capacity of the mill, which is operated by steam, is said to be 360 bushels daily. The present owners are Bitter Brothers. The mill is in operation both day and night, and not only does,, it have an extended custom trade, but it ships considerable flour to distant points from the station at Uniontown. It is probably the best mill of the kind ever in the township. The town of Union was laid out by Elias Brenner and Thomas Albert, owners and proprietors, in April, 1816, from portions of the northeast and the northwest quarters of Section 7. Township 12, Range 8. Sixty lots were laid out, and immediately offered for sale. Albert was an old bachelor, and like all members of that class was possessed of curious or eccentric traits of character. A few houses were immediately built, and as many families resided therein. As early as 1825, George Myers and W. H. Whitney opened a store, and not long afterward secured the location of a post office at the village. It is said that George Guisweit was in with a small stock of goods before these men, which, if true, would make him the first merchant in the village. When he first began selling goods is not so well known. He peddled his goods all over the surrounding country, which fact secured for him the universal and homely appellation, " Cheap George the peddler." He did not have altogether more than $200 worth of goods, and although a portion of these was sold at his house in the village, the greater portion was peddled as stated. He became known to everybody, who seemed to think that he was a proper subject for their jokes. All was taken in good humor by him, and he was well liked and well patronized; so that, although he ,sold his goods very low, he contrived to make considerable money. After him came Myers & Whitney, who kept a good country store, and had an extensive trade. Other merchants in the village have been Aultman & Holwick, Samuel Woods, J. B. Woods, D. T. Frank, William Steese, Feather & Glasser, M. & M. Joseph, Woolf & Foust, Stutzman & Price, W. H. Nees, Nees & Price. Mr. Nees is yet in business in the village. It is probable that others than those named have followed the mercantile pursuit in Uniontown. Charles Brown is one of the present merchants, as is also the firm, Huns-man & Schick, Some of the earlier stores were inferior and short-lived, while others were well filled and had an extensive trade. There have been times when Uniontown was a lively business village. In early years, when there were no railroads on which to transport goods and thus vary the cost of conveyance, one store was about as good as another. Stores in small villages could sell as cheaply as those in large villages, and in consequence, if they were well filled, it was better to patronize them, for they were nearer. Some of the early stores had on hand as high as $10,000 worth of goods, and probably Hunsman & Schick have more than that quantity at present. John Bolender built a cabinet-shop in 1868, which he has since conducted. He furnishes work. for some three employes, and manufactures bureaus, tables, chairs, bed-steads, secretaries, etc., and has a fair trade. Joseph T. Halloway preceded Mr. Bolender at the occupation, for he began not far from the year 1830, and continued a number of years. John Woolf was another, who made spinning-wheels, etc. Samuel 564 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY. Woods opened a tannery many years ago, beginning with some ten vats, which were afterward increased to more than twenty. Large quantities of leather were prepared, and whai could not be used at home was shipped to distant places. There were no such persons in early times as commercial travelers. Merchants in the West were in the habit of going East twice or more times a year to purchase their goods, which were then hauled by wagon to their destination. Then it was that settlers crowded in to have their choice of the stock on hand. Wearing apparel of all kinds was not ready made, but made to order. Farmers were obliged to buy the cloth with which to clothe their families, after which either a tailor was employed to do the cutting, or the task was turned over to the wife and mother. Some of the latter became proficient from long practice, and could furnish a neat fit every time. Journeymen tailors traveled throughout the country to secure engagements at cutting, fitting, or making. Shoemakers did the same. Leather enough to make shoes for the whole family was purchased at the tanneries, after which the services of a shoemaker were called into requisition, and the family provided with shoes for the coming year. In this manner, Samuel Woods, tannery secured a large trade. His son, J. B., succeeded him. Charles Glasser also conducted an early tannery, as did William Motz. There were two of these in the village at the same time, but it is thought that Mr. Woods, disposed of the most leather. George Winters began hatting in the village in about the year 1833; he was an adept at the occupation, having followed it in the East before coming to Ohio. Except, perhaps, by means of a. few rude mechanical contrivances, all his work was done by hand. During the month of June, he visited the surrounding farms where sheep were kept, and selected the finest article of lamb’s wool to be found to be used in hatting; he owned a small shop in which his goods were kept for sale;. he continued some ten or twelve years, manufacturing, in the meantime, large numbers of excellent hats; his hats became celebrated for their capability of resisting rough usage and continued wear; he finally left for other fields. In about the year 1855, C. W. Lane erected suitable buildings and began manufacturing plows, kettles, pots, skillets, etc., an occupation that he followed a number of years when he sold the foundry to H. B. Richards and John Fritch. These men built a large shop and greatly increased the scope and capacity of the undertaking. They attempted the manufacture of cultivators, but failed to produce satisfactory implements, and finally the whole project was either abandoned or transferred to some other locality. The following doctors have practiced in the neighborhood, while residing in the village: Devaux, Reed, Zollers, Parliman, Weimer, Buchtel, Ashman, Steese, the present physician, Allen, Hatcher, McConnell, Waldron and Richards; this may not be a complete list. George Bolinder opened a tavern in about the year 1825; he had for a sign a large blue ball; in 1827, this sign was removed, and an ordinary signboard erected in its place, bearing the date 1827. Other tavern-keepers have been William Wagner, Isaac Statden, Samuel Swine-hart, Joseph Dreese, J. W. Creighbaum, John Bender, Leonard Raber, Amos Johnson, James Woolf, Urias Weitman, Enos Fasnocht and John Leed, the present landlord. Joseph T. Halloway is said to have been the first Postmaster, receiving his appointment about the year 1825. The office is now under the control of Mrs. Dr. Steese. This concludes the brief history of the village of Uniontown. Greentown has had a similar history, varying only in names and dates. No one can realize the truth of the maxim, "History repeats itself," until he has made history a study. Human nature is the same the world over, and as history is but a record of human experiences and achievements, it necessarily repeats itself. Greentown was laid out in February, 1816, by Henry Wise and Peter Dickerhoof, owners and proprietors. A total of sixty-four lots was laid out, thirty-two of which were on the land of each proprietor. The lots were laid off from the northeast and the southeast quarters of Section 30, Township 12, Range 8. In accordance with a peculiar freak of the owners, the village was -unusually and peculiarly laid out. Each square was divided by two diagonal alleys, LAKE TOWNSHIP - 565 and at the four corners of the central square were four small open parks, or squares, the one at the northwest being called Jones' Square, the one at the northeast, Burrow's Square, the one at the southeast, Blakely's Square, and the one at the southwest, Allen's Square. Mr. Wise owned the northern half of the village, and Mr. Dickerhoof the southern half. Both men, in after years, did a great deal to build up the village. It is said that the daughters of Mr. Dickerhoof worked regularly in the fields. One day, Betsey, his daughter, while busy in the field, suddenly felt something touch her shoulder, and, turning quickly around, saw a tall Indian standing laughing at her side. It is also related that there was a man at the village, in early years, who had lost an arm and a leg, both from the same side of the body. One day Betsey asked him how he came to lose his limbs, but he avoided her repeated questioning for some time, and at last said: "I will tell you, if you promise not to ask another question." This she agreed to do, whereupon the man said: " They were bitten off." As may be imagined that answer made the whole subject more mysterious than it was before; but her promise prevented Betsey from asking any further questions. But to return to Greentown. It is said that James McNabb built the first house in the village. When this building was torn down, a few years ago, the air-dried body of a rat was found between the walls, in such a position as to show that it must have been inclosed there when the building was constructed. It is thought that this building was erected immediately after the village was laid out. Other buildings were soon erected, and erelong, several families were found residing in what may be called ancient Greentown. It is probable that a. man named Goodwill opened the first store in the village. The date is not given, although it was not far from 1820; he did not own over $200 worth of goods. Hiram Myers, who succeeded him, had a very good store, and made some money, devoting the most of his time to this pursuit. Other merchants have been: Ephraim Ball, who failed, and "became $1,000 worse off than nothing," G. & M. Wise, W. J. Lininger, Henry Nunamaker, Wylie, Smith & Co., Henry Clemmer, Isaac Hunsberger, Thomas Gorgas, Pollock & Hayes, J. H. Wise & Co., Henry Shanafelt, Young & Stine, Feather & Glassor, Willis & Baugh, H. Shanafelt & Co., Peters & Shafer, France & Bair, S. S. Bumberger, who failed, 0. P. Shanafelt, Shanafelt & Shafer and Isaac Hall. Some of these kept large fine stocks of goods on their shelves, and received excellent patronage. Others had small stocks and small patronage. It has in all cases been true that a good store at the village has done well; it is the case in all small villages, and in large ones, also, that poor stores, miserably conducted, apparently poison the public confidence and respect. They vitiate the public taste for good ones. This is true everywhere. Too many men undertake the mercantile pursuit, as a result of uncontented dispositions, who were never cut out for John B. Astors or A. T. Stewarts; knowing nothing of this interesting occupation, they blindly peg along for a few years, perhaps, after which the significant words, " failed" or "busted" could be appropriately inscribed on their banners. This is true in every occupation in life. Men should search for the pursuit best adapted to them; when found, it should be followed to the exclusion of all others. The system of skilled labor has become both a science and an art. Experience teaches that it is better to seek excellence in few things than mediocrity in many. Various industries have flourished from time to time in Greentown. In about the year 1857, Houck, Morgan & Co. purchased the old Methodist Church, intending to use it as a shop in which to begin the manufacture of engines, etc. One was really constructed, several others repaired, and then the undertaking was abandoned, much to the disappointment of those men at the village who may be looked upon as capitalists, and who had expected to be financially benefitted by the presence of the industry. After the enterprise was abandoned, the owners built the grist-mill, which is yet in operation in the village. The mill is operated by steam, and has two run of stone. A small custom trade has been the extent of the mill's operations. It has changed owners several times; one of the owners, finding that he could do better with the mill elsewhere, threatened to remove 566 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY. it to Alliance, in case he could not sell it. The citizens did not wish the mill removed, and to prevent this disposal of it, finally formed themselves into a company with the title, Wise, Housley & Co., and purchased the mill property for $6,000, paying much more than it was really worth. These men were Leidigh Housley, John H. Wise, Michael Wise and Abraham Miller. Several changes in the ownership were afterward made, until the mill is at present owned by Housley & Ball. It is doing a limited custom work. A number of years ago, Christian Kryder and Henry Shanafelt, Sr., started a furnace on Section 36, and began manufacturing stoves, plows kettles, pots, skillets, ete. They at first bought their pig iron at Hanging Rock, and had it shipped by canal to Massillon, whence it was hauled by wagon to the furnace. The enterprise was begun soon after 1840, and was continued by these men some twelve years, when the property went to Levi Kryder, son of Christian, who conducted the business until ten or twelve years ago, when it was purchased by Wise & Acker. The present owners are Wise, Acker & Hissner, who manufacture scrapers, cultivators, some hollow-ware,. plows, making a specialty of plow points, of which they manufacture great numbers. Col. Ephraim Ball, who resided at the village about forty-five years ago, had his attention called to a new threshing machine, and, after he had examined it, he concluded to engage in the manufacture. Himself and brother finally formed a partnership, and purchased the right for Wayne County for $200, giving their written obligations for that amount. After some maneuvering, they finally built appropriate buildings at Greentown, and Mr. Ball made the first machine with his own hands, having scarcely any tools, or other suitable implements; he had no money nor credit in the undertaking, for all the neighbors looked upon the project as erratic and visionary, and besides Mr. Ball was in debt over $1,000. This first machine was sold to John Miller, of Greentown, for $102. It was not portable, which was considered a serious drawback to the value of the thresher; so Mr. Ball set his wits to work to devise one that was portable. The necessary patterns for the castings were made and taken to Messrs. Hart & Brown, of Massillon, where they were criticised and pronounced satisfactory, if about $25 worth of paint and varnish was added. Here it was that, from the criticisms on his labors, Mr. Ball became a skilled pattern-maker. About this time he began wooding cast-iron plows. A horse-power for the thresher was made, but the machine had to be sent out of the county to be tested, to escape an execution in the hands of the Sheriff. After being tested, the machinery was pronounced imperfect and unsatisfactory, and was finally sold, and the proceeds used in paying off the execution. In February, 1840, Mr. Ball and his three brothers, having obtained a promise from their. father for $400, concluded to build and conduct. a foundry. Their intentions were ridiculed by the citizens, who looked upon the undertaking as wild and visionary. Everything was got in readiness, and, finally, in June, 1840, the citizens, to the number of several hundred, assembled to see the "big fizzle" at the first casting. When the castings for three plows, a dog-iron or two, and a few skillets, were taken in good shape from the moulds, it is said the citizens would scarcely believe their eyes, but handled the various articles to see if indeed they were genuine pot-metal, and sound. It is said that Mr. Ball, Sr., was so pleased with the result that he bought a bottle of whisky and treated all hands. It was extremely difficult to get patterns for the different articles of machinery, as the prices were very high, and the Ball brothers were without money. Necessity compelled Mr. Ball to devise some for himself. He finally made one for a plow from a piece of tough, knotty maple plank; and, so excellent were the plows made from this pattern, that hundreds were sold all over the county, and even in distant places. All this business was done in the face of executions and judgments that poured in as soon as it was discovered that Mr. Ball was handling a little money. There were eleven executions held against him at one time. The brothers manufactured cooking stoves, plows, hollow-ware, and a few threshing machines. One day several men came to Mr. Ball and offered him $600 for his foundry; but the latter, knowing    LAKE TOWNSHIP - 567 that it was worth much more than that, refused to take less than $1,000. They threatened that if Mr. Ball did not sell for $600 they would build a rival establishment. This was finally done, and the first thing Mr. Ball knew, his rivals had purchased the right to manufacture the plow upon which he had been engaged. This left him almost helpless, but he went to work, and finally devised a pattern of his own, which, in the end, proved as valuable as the one he had lost. After a time Mr. Ball began manufacturing the Hussey reaper, six being made at one time. Three of these were sold in the county, and three were taken to Illinois. This was in about the year 1848. Twelve were constructed in 1849, and the harvest was almost over before one was sold. One was taken to Louisville, where a public exhibition of its workings was given before a motley crowd of men, women and children. The farmers saw with astonishment how nicely the standing grain went down before it. The owner of the field immediately purchased the reaper, but his cradlers were so bitterly opposed to it, declaring that it would leave them, like Othello, without an occupation, that it was finally returned to keep peace in the family, as it were. Other public exhibitions were given amidst much opposition and numerous discouragements but, in the end, ten out of the twelve reapers were sold, at low prices, and on time. Mr. Ball constructed a few separators about this time. The motor for his foundry was an old horse, named "Prince." This now venerated animal was apparently subject to fits and starts, sometimes running the motion of the machinery up to a frightful rapidity, and then suddenly lowering it so that no motion, or but little, could be perceived. At last a ten-horse-power engine was purchased, at Cuyahoga Falls, for $400; this proved to be a great improvement on the old horse. In January, 1851, Mr. Ball,s partners sold their interest in the foundry to C. Aultman and David Fouser, and, in April of the same year, George Cook and Lewis Miller were added to the partnership, which then became known as E. Ball & Co. Soon after this, the whole business was transferred to Canton, but just before this occurred, Jacob Miller became a partner, and the firm name was changed to Ball, Aultman & Co. The subsequent wonderful career of this partnership will be found in another portion of this volume. The enterprise begun by Mr. Ball under so many discouraging circumstances, and against such opposition, has spread its branches over all the earth. More than 11,000 reapers have been manufactured in a single year, and shipped to all parts of the world. A valuable lesson, well worthy of perusal, may be read in the history of this enterprise. But little more remains to be told of Greentown. Among the physicians at the village have been Stough, Ogden, Parliman, Dolwick, Chittenden, Ashman, Jones, Stephens, Bomberger, Belding, and J. E. Dougherty, who has been at the village for some thirty years. His son, L. E., a graduate of the Columbus Medical College, is at present associated with him. Almost every physician in the township has been of the allopathic persuasion. Among the tavern-keepers have been William Rupp, Mr. Roberts, G. H. Wise, Henry Shanafelt, Sr., Peter Shanafelt, Israel Schlott, C. F. Dunseizen, Samuel Getz, H. B. Herr, Gerhart Leed, Benjamin Eby, Urias Weidman, Samuel Miller, Samuel Botz, Samuel Shriner, Haak & Shanafelt, Ruck & Haak and Mr. Green-walt. H. P. Houck built a saw-mill in the village twenty-five or thirty years ago. It has changed owners several times, but is yet in operation. The Greentown Coal Company and the Mogadore Coal Company are mining black diamonds near the village. The former employs some fifty hands, and mines not far from one hundred tons daily, while the latter is yet in its infancy. Ferdinand Schumacher, of Akron, has lately completed a large warehouse at the station, where a little village is in the act of springing into life. About six years ago, Isaac Strife began burning drain tiles, red and fire bricks, near the station. Hiram and James Stripe have just.began to manufacture sewer-pipes, fire bricks and roof tiles. Daniel Myers buys and ships quite a number of cattle during the winter months. Schools were early instituted in Lake Township. It is probable that several terms were taught before schoolhouses were erected, the sessions being held in dwellings or in deserted buildings. Much of the early school 568 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY. history has been forgotten. Too bad. If accounts are correct, the first schoolhouse in the township was a hewed log building, erected in Uniontown about the year 1820. This house was used many years and for all purposes; it had a broad fire-place, and rude seats that soon became smooth and polished by continued use. When the weather was cold, and a blazing fire was roaring on the hearth, the room was pleasant to contemplate. More than one old settler will remember this old house, as the first place where he heard the word of God preached, or where he received his first instruction of a literary character. It was a homely room, but within its venerated, if not classic, walls, minds that have since shaped the records of the township, first caught glimpses of the multiplex affairs of the busy world. In about the year 1826, another schoolhouse was erected, but it was not intended to take the place of the former. The citizens were not willing that their children should forget, or be deprived of learning their native language. One of the schools was to be English, and the other German. Teachers were employed, and for a number of years the villagers boasted of having two schools in session at the same time. Some fifteen or twenty years later, both houses were abandoned, and an old church that had been built by the Methodists was secured and devoted to school purposes. However, it must not be understood that before this both the English and German schools were kept in session continuously. The German school was somewhat irregular, and did not continue many years after about 1826, when it first started. The present school building was erected some twelve or fifteen years ago. It is not remembered with certainty when the first school building was built in Greentown. It is likely, however, that it was erected soon after 1820; at least, in 1835, a respectable log schoolhouse, in which was a ten-plate stove, was used by the villagers. Inasmuch as another house was built between 1840 and 1845, it is to be presumed that the building referred to was the first erected, and had been used since soon after 1820. A man named Goss was one of the early teachers in the old house; he was accustomed to adopt unusual modes of punishment, compelling troublesome scholars to stand or sit in extremely unpleasant and excruciating positions. It is said that he sometimes put red pepper in the mouths of bad children. On one occasion of this kind, while he was administering the pepper punishment, the scholar, in a rage, bit his fingers severely. The teacher did not die of hydrophobia, neither did the scholar suffer from the bite he had taken, other than by means of the "licking" that probably followed for the unscholarly act. N. W. Goodhue, an attorney of Akron, taught the first school in the second building. This house was a comfortable frame structure; it was used until a few years before the last war, when the present building was constructed, at a cost of about $1,800; it is a one-storied building, and has two rooms. Two teachers are employed a portion of the time. The country schools sprang into existence between 820 and 1830. Some of these were German schools, and it was only after the lapse of time that their character was altered. The township is well supplied with good schools. The Methodist Church, in Greentown, was erected a short time before the last war, and cost in the neighborhood of $2,500; it took the place of one that had been built in an early day. A short time before the second house was built, the old house was purchased by Houck, Morgan & Co., who converted it into a machine shop, mention of which was made a few pages above. The present membership of this society is large. The Reformers and Lutherans built a church in the western part of Uniontown some fifty years ago; this church is yet in use, although a short time ago the members remodeled it so that it now has the appearance of a new church. It is a large, fine-looking frame building, with a steeple that rises, perhaps, seventy-five feet in the air. The membership is quite large. The Methodists early built a church in Uniontown. The building was a small concern, and, as stated above, was finally converted into a schoolhouse. After that the Methodists had no organization worthy of notice until about twenty years ago, when two societies —the English Methodists and German Methodists (or Albrights)—united means, and built MARLBOROUGH TOWNSHIP - 569 a comfortable church; this is yet used, and the two societies are in a thriving condition. The English Reformers built a church in Uniontown nearly forty years ago, which was used until during the last war, when their present building was constructed. Some thirty years ago, the Methodists built at Hartville, but after about twenty years, sold to the Reformers, who are now in possession of the church, and are quite strong. About six years ago, the Lutherans also built at Hartville; this society is in a prosperous condition. The Dunkards built a church north of Hartville a few years ago. Another society of this denomination, about twenty-five years ago, built a fine little church south of Hartville. These societies are said to be prosperous, with a good average membership. The Lutherans and Reformers have a church at Cairo, which is said to have been built at an early day. The township has some ten church societies, and twelve school districts. This speaks well for Lake. Can any other township equal it in this respect? If so, we will pause for an answer. CHAPTER XXX.* MARLBOROUGH TOWNSHIP—COMING OF THE PIONEER—ROLLINGS AND RAISINGS—LIST OF OLD SETTLERS—MILLS AND FOUNDRIES—DISTILLERIES AND DRINKING CUSTOMS—THE QUAKERS AND THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD —VILLAGES— EARLY SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES—AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES —SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL SOCIETY. "Alas for them ! their day is o'er, Their fires are out on hill and shore ; No more for them the wild deer bounds, The plow is on their hunting-grounds ; The pale man's ax rings through the woods, The pale man's sail skims o'er their floods ; Their pleasant springs are dry ; Their children—look, by power opprest, Beyond the mountains of the West, Their children go to die." —Sprague. THE common experience of old age is an earnest wish to live over again the life that is swiftly drawing to a close. How many mistakes have been made! how many hours have been unprofitably spent! how blind to good advice and influence! The stealthy and inevitable approach of death baffles the desire for a renewal of youth and fills the heart with bitter remorse at the thought of what might have been. Youth is always bright with hope and expectancy; but, as the years glide by, the scales fall from the eyes, and the sorrowful experiences of earth trace wrinkles of care upon the brow and bend the once stalwart form toward the grave. No rocking vessel on life,s great sea can escape the angry rain that dances upon it, or avoid the bitter winds that check its course. *Contributed by W. A. Goodspeed. " Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like a toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head." Let us learn from the wretched experience of others—learn from the lives that have gone down amid the gales of sorrow that encompass the earth, to shun the shoals and quicksands that beset our course, that the sunset of life may be gilded with the gold of eternal joy. There is a strange attraction in reviewing the occurrences of past years, and in noting the wonderful improvement that has resulted from the expanding intelligence of man. Within the short space of the last half-century, the United States has experienced almost unparalleled growth in all that makes a people great. Inventions in all departments of progress have succeeded one another with great rapidity, until the means of sustaining life are vastly numerous, and within the reach of all. No State in the Union has seen greater change during this period than Ohio. The forests have disappeared; the swamps have been drained; costly residences have gone' up where once stood the log cabin; riding and gang plows have succeeded the old wooden mold-board; harvesters have succeeded the sickle; knowledge has driven ignorance from the land; a 570 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY. broader charity has sprung up in the religious world; intemperance has been greatly reduced; railroads and canals have usurped the duties of the old stage; telegraph lines have bound distant lands together; and thousands of other changes have taken place. Philosophers contend that happiness is the real object after which all mankind are striving. Some find temporary happiness in one thing, some in another; but, as yet, abstract happiness has not been found. Man, as yet, is not truly happy. He imagines himself to be, and, for a time, relishes a mock enjoyment; but, after a time, his happiness is gone, and he must seek farther for the alleged object of life. Philosophers say we worship God with the selfish object of our own happiness in view, and not because we delight to glorify God. At least, the latter is a secondary consideration. This view accords With their theory regarding happiness. They say that real happiness consists in doing good—that all our enjoyment is imaginary until we can appreciate the sublime gratification of a. noble act. All have experienced, in a slight degree, that fine feeling which results from having done an unusually good deed. When all mankind shall " cease to do evil and learn to do well,". unalloyed happiness is at hand, and the millennial days have come with perfect joys. Marlborough was not universally settled as early as most of the other townships in the county. While some few settlers arrived very early, no great -rush was experienced until after the war of 1812. This was largely due to the fact that the township, covered with water as it was, and containing many marshes and swamps, was not regarded with especial favor by those who were seeking homes in the West. It could not be expected that, when dry and elevated land could be secured at a low figure, settlers would choose that which was swampy and covered with water. And it must be remembered that lands which at present are low and marshy, were in early years covered with water. The removal of the forests has let in the heat of the sun, and extensive systems of drainage have let out the surplus water. Perhaps one-fourth of the township could not be cultivated in early years, owing to the large amount of land that was covered with water. And this obstacle to cultivation has been only partially removed up to . the present time. Large portions of land in the northwestern and southwestern parts are yet to be reclaimed. Some portions probably never will be, as they are covered to the depth of two feet and over with a heavy peat bed that will resist the efforts of the husbandman. The township is situated on the Ohio watershed, as a portion of its water reaches Lake Erie and another portion the Ohio River. Deer Creek, in the northern part, is the only stream of any note, although in early years several others contained considerable water. This creek reaches the Mahoning River. A portion of the swamps in the northern part is drained by irregular inlets of Congress Lak6, while the greater portion of the southern part is drained by the branches of Nimishillen Creek. Sufficient drainage, either for cultivation or for sanitary measures, was not secured in the western part until large sluices were dug; but now the farms are encroaching on the low, marshy lands, and in some instances small swamps have been reclaimed and turned up by the plow. The soil is rich, the controlling or prevailing element being a fine sand, which is found so necessary for the proper growth of the smaller grains. Marlborough has considerable land which cannot be cultivated. That which can be cultivated is very rich and productive. Many things concerning the early settlement have been forgotten. Lexington Township, which at first included Marlborough, was created in 1816, at the March term of the County Commissioners. Prior to this, and before the county of Stark was organized, this portion of the State was within the jurisdiction of Columbiana County. In June, 1821, the following action was taken by the Commissioners: Ordered, That agreeable to a number of petitioners of Lexington Township, the same be divided, and the twentieth township in the seventh range, be named Marlborough, and the nineteenth, township in the sixth range be named Lexington. Also Ordered, That an election be held in the township of Marlborough, on the 25th day of August, 1821, for the purpose of electing officers of the same. This action was followed by the election of township officers, but their names have been unfortunately forgotten. In March, 1823, MARLBOROUGH TOWNSHIP - 571 the following curious proceedings were enacted: WHEREAS, The Board of Commissioners of Stark County, in the year 1821, at their June and December sessions, struck off, and by their order organized two new townships in said county, called. Marlborough and Washington ; and, as there have been some doubts about the legality of said order, it is now Ordered, That the 20th original surveyed township in the 7th Range be stricken off and divided from the 19th Township in the 6th Range, named Lexington, and that said 20th Township be organized and called by the name of Marlborough, and the election in said township continue to be held at the same place it has during the past year. Since this date, so far as known, no further change has taken place in the geographical limits of the township. Those who purchased the first land in the township paid $2 per acre, but, after a few years, the price was reduced to $1.25 per acre. The following is a complete list of patentees of Government 'land in the township in the year 1810: S. D. Cope, Peter Baum, D. Markley, Mahlon Wileman, R: Beeson, John Brown, David Brown, William Copeland, P. Baum, 3. Enlow, J. Snider, B. Hama David Johnson, Martin Houser, J. Heiser, William Hoover, Nathan Haycock, Phillip Hollingbaugh, Christian Hoover, Abraham Harmony, Jacob Mclntifer, Christopher Markley, John Miller, James McGirr, John McGirr, Christian Palmer, Elijah Price, Thomas Price, C. Foutz, Abraham Wileman, Jacob Wileman and Samuel Winger. In the year 1820, the following land-holders were residents of the township: Jerub Baldwin, William Beeson, Conrad Brombaugh, William Cozens, James Enslow, Elisha Everett, Christian Houser, Nancy Harpley, Amos Holloway, Phillip Hollobaugh, Exum Johnson, Joseph Brown, Peter Baum, John Brown, David Brown, Isaac Elliott, Timothy Gruwell, Daniel Houser, William Hoover, John Hamlin, Nathan Haycock, Martin Houser, and others. Among the early residents of the township, in addition to those named above, were the following: William Pennock, Israel Scott, Martin Bradtingham, Matthew Vaughan, John Hardy, R. B. Wells, Samuel Welch, Jeremiah Shaw, Robert Hamilton, Nathan Price, Amos Coates, Abraham Troxel, John Lyman, Thomas Crockett, Joseph Taylor, Abram Niswonger, Henry Niswonger, Samuel Weary, John Shellenberger, Peter Shellenberger, John Whitstone, Nimrod Smith, Jacob Replogle, Jonathan Nees, Jacob Nees, Mr. Clingaman, Michael Young, David Keiser, Jacob Immel, Eli Shriver, Mr. Logue, Abraham Shriver, Mr. Paulus, Mr. Roudabush, Mr. Seagley, Joel Bair, William Allman, Christian Beard, Henry Shaffer, David Thomas, Peter Lilly, William Hatcher, Jacob Harper, Edward Brooke, and several others. Mahlon Wileman was the first permanent settler in the township. He came with his father during the autumn of 1805, and erected a rough log cabin on Section 1, after which the father returned to Columbiana County and did not return until the following spring. Mahlon remained alone at the cabin during the winter of 1805-06, clearing, in the meantime, some six or eight acres of land around the cabin. He did his own cooking largely, although, every two or three weeks, he went to Columbiana County for supplies of bread and like articles. The greater portion of the meat eaten by him was obtained from the woods by means of his rifle. It is said that Mahlon Wileman was one of the most powerful men ever in the township. This, combined with good sense and undaunted courage, rendered him one of the most prominent of the early settlers. He was a Quaker, as were also some two-fifths of the early settlers. In the spring of 1806, Abraham, the father of Mahlon, came to the township with his family, and soon afterward Mahlon went south to Section 23, where he cleared and improved a farm, and where he subsequently died. Abraham Wileman died in his ninety-ninth year. Many interesting incidents are related concerning Mahlon Wileman, which have not, as yet, been made public. Of course, the woods at this time (1805 to 1810) were filled with a great variety of wild animals, such as wolves, bears, wild-cats, panthers, deer, turkeys, hogs and Indians. It is related by Mr. Brooke, who has made the history of the township a study, that Mahlon Wileman, when he went to Columbiana County for supplies of provisions, fearing that thieves would carry off his utensils, etc., gave them in charge of an Indian chief, whose band was encamped on Deer 572 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY. Creek, until he should return, at which time every article was given up in good order, according to agreement. Mahlon went out hunting one day, and, seeing a large buck, cautiously approached, and shot it. The animal fell to the ground, and Mahlon approached to cut its throat. But the animal had been only stunned by the shot, and, leaping to its feet, made for the hunter with head down and hair erect along its spine. To avoid it, the hunter leaped behind a tree, but the angry buck pursued him round and round, until at last he was compelled to face the situation, which he did by seizing its antlers and endeavoring, with all his enormous strength, to throw the animal on the ground, that he might dispatch it with his knife. For a time the contest was doubtful, as the buck was large and strong, but at last the hunter, by a change of position, was enabled to use his knife, and a few moments later the buck .was dead. At another time, when Mr. Wileman was on his way north to Atwater Township, as he was passing along the rude bridle-path in the northern part of Marlborough Township, he suddenly saw a full-grown bear in the branches of a large chestnut tree. When sufficiently close, Mr. Wileman took deliberate aim and shot the bear dead. It came to the ground with a crash, and immediately afterward the settler saw two others, either in the, same tree or in others near by. This was the sort of sport Mr. Wileman admired; so, as quickly as he could load his rifle and fire, he brought both of the bears, in turn, to the ground. Mr. Wileman,s brother-in-law, Joseph Marshall, who resided just across the northern line in the other county, one day captured three deer that had ventured upon a body of very smooth ice, and, unable to stand, had fallen down. The son of William Hatcher relates that one day his father, in the short space of about three hours, killed three deer. What renders the fact noteworthy is that this took place not far from 1830, at which time almost the whole county was quite well settled, or at least, deer had become quite scarce. An occasional herd of six or eight was seen, but the animals were shy, and seemed to be changing their locality. It is related that Mr. Warstler was one day returning from Canton on horseback, when, as he was passing through the deep woods, he saw a large bear reared upon its hind legs by the foot of a large tree, as if it anticipated an encounter with the traveler. Mr. Warstler, being without a gun, concluded that a retreat was the best policy. This was done with greater expedition than skill. All the settlers had their experiences with wild animals. It is stated that, on one occasion, Mr. Gruwell, the second settler in the township, while hunting in the woods, came very nearly being devoured by a bear. The circumstances are traditional, and may not be altogether true. He was walking along, so runneth tradition, with his rifle in his hand and his eyes bent on the ground, when, upon suddenly turning around a few large trees which stood close together, he came within four feet of an enormous bear that had just killed some small -game and was eating it. The bear instantly gave a ferocious growl, that chilled the blood of the settler and caused his hair to stand straight up .on his head, and, rearing up on its hind legs, it extended its powerful paws to clasp the settler in deadly embrace. But the settler was not anxious for an embrace, for, at the first glimpse of the bear, he leaped back several yards and cocked his rifle. The bear, with angry growls from its bloody mouth, began to make movements as if about to approach the settler, and the latter, taking quick aim, sent a bullet crashing through its head. Without waiting to -ascertain the effect of the shot, the settler ran from the spot with all his speed, and, when at a considerable distance, paused to load his rifle, look back, and listen. He could hear nothing, so, after his rifle had been carefully loaded, he returned to the spot, and, when there, found the bear thrashing around upon the ground with a mortal wound. A second shot finished the huge creature. Timothy Gruwell was the second settler in Marlborough. He reached the township with his family during the spring of 1807, and cated on Section 24. He erected a small log cabin, with the assistance of the Wilemans, into which his family was immediately moved. Mahlon Wileman was his nearest neighbor. In the month of August, 1807, the Gruwell family were visited by a little stranger, a MARLBOROUGH TOWNSHIP - 573 daughter, which was named Elizabeth. This was the first birth in the township. Mahlon Wileman was sent to Columbiana County for a doctor, who alone could perform the ceremony of introducing the little stranger, who came, without bag or baggage, to the family. Mahlon afterward related that, as he was passing through the dark forests on his horse, the wolves came all around him, and began howling dismally. He could see their sharp noses and fiery eyes from the clumps of bushes, but none were bold enough to attack him. Prior to the appearance of Mr. Gruwell, and immediately afterward, a considerable portion of the best land in the township was purchased by various parties, who did not come to the township until several years later. During the war of 1812, and immediately afterward, the settlers came in rapidly, and soon all the best land in the township had been entered. It was the custom in all the neighborhoods, in early years, when a new settler came in to turn out and assist him in erecting his cabin. It is stated by old settlers that this was done owing to the kindly feelings which each settler entertained for his fellows; yet, while this is partly true, it is not wholly true. The truth was, the settler was unable, without an immense amount of hard work, to raise the heavy logs to their positions on the slowly rising building. This led to a demand for assistance on all occasions of the kind, until at last it became unfashionable to remain away when your services were needed. Of course, the settlers were social, and all were at par as far as sociability was concerned. Persons with similar inclinations, desires, joys or dangers, are drawn together by the laws of sympathy; or, in other wards, " birds of a feather flock together." On the occasion of a house-raising, it was customary not only for the men to turn out, but the women also, to do the cooking. This was more noticeably the case on the occasion of large log-rollings. It is stated that, at certain seasons of the year, several consecutive weeks were often spent in going from rolling to rolling. Of course, the occasion was as dry as Sahara without whisky. A rebellion was sure to ensue if this " necessity" was withheld from the workmen. That was something not to be tolerated for a moment. The man who was so stingy that he would not furnish whisky at his rolling did not deserve the assistance of his neighbors. Thus the men thought. in that day, but that day, thank goodness, is gone. It was no unusual thing to see the men, some of them, .so drunk that they were unable to work, in which case their bodies were deposited in some secure place, that the spirit might return when the alcohol had gone. The logs were rolled together in several heaps, some of which were very large, and these were afterward burned by the settler. Fifty or sixty men were often present at these rollings. Loud shouts rang across the field, and the merry joke or hearty oath were passed about. The women in the cabin, as busy as bees preparing an abundance of food for the hungry men, were not less jovial. One thing in this connection should be noticed: From the fact that about one-third of the earliest settlers were Quakers, liquor-drinking and swearing were, to a great extent, avoided. The eastern part was the Quaker neighborhood, and here it was that this remarkable and quiet people labored for their subsistence and worshiped God in their peculiar way. At an early day, it was thought that there was lead in the township. How this report came to be in circulation is not known to the writer. Squirrels became so thick in about 1825 that numerous hunts were instituted to destroy the pests. In one of these hunts, 1,700 were killed, and a man named Thomas Grant, of Lexington Township, showed the scalps of nearly two hundred. He received the prize. The first road in the township was the Diagonal road. This was surveyed and improved at a very early day. Many incidents are related concerning the hard times the early settlers experienced. Mills and stores were distant, and the paths (not roads) through the woods were in such a plight, during a portion of the year, at least, that driving a team through them was out of the question. The settlers did not care to visit China by the underground route, notwithstanding the fact that it was the shortest. They wanted flour and meal, not pigtails or trinkets. " Washee, washee," was then unknown, and even tea was not much thought of in connection with the 574 - HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY. empire of China. So, when flour was wanted, a bag of wheat was taken on horseback to the nearest mill, which sometimes ground the grain as coarse as pepper, and here, after perhaps two or three days, and sometimes a week, the grinding was done. In the meantime, perhaps the family was without bread. Indeed, it was no uncommon thing for families to live on meat alone for several weeks. Sometimes they had bread and no meat. It was rare to have an abundance of both. Often, the wife took the rifle and killed a deer, or did other things requiring manly skill, strength and courage. At last, mills were erected in the township. The first was built in about the year 1816, by Abraham Wileman, and was located on the old Wileman farm. A strong dam was built across the creek, which was then quite large, and an old-fashioned undershot wheel communicated motion to the machinery which propelled the saw. The mill was operated for a number of years, and, although it ran slowly, still a great many logs were sawed. The rate at which sawing was done is not remembered. It is related, however, that Mr. Heacock offered a bushel of wheat for 100 feet of oak lumber, and a bushel of corn for 100 feet of poplar lumber, but Mr. Wileman rejected the offer. The next saw-mill was built soon afterward, by William Pennock. This also was a good mill in its day. Indeed, these two early mills were Godsends to the settlers. Benjamin Elliott erected a saw-mill about the year 1825. It was on a small stream that is now dry, west of the town of Marlborough. About the same time, Exum Johnson built another, which was located about a -mile and a half northwest of town. Elisha Butler built one on the old Whittaker farm soon afterward, and about the same time (1830), Jacob Wirtz erected another, one and a half miles north of Marlborough. Of course, all these mills were operated by water-power, as steam had not yet been harnessed." Strong dams were built across the streams, and water obtained in the ordinary way by means of a race. Several of these mills ran for many years, and did long and faithful service. The others were abandoned after a few years. Jacob Wood owned a mill north of town at an early day, as did also Joseph Taylor and Charles Shinn. Mr. Keiser owned and operated one in the western part in a later day. John Eby also owned and operated one in the western part. Perhaps the best saw-mill ever in the township, aside from the present ones, was built in the town of Marlborough in about the year 1843, by Allman & Ellison. It was operated by steam, and did a great deal of work. Some of the present mills are owned by Lewis Warstler, at New Baltimore; Pennock & Mason, D. Harmony, and others. The township has, from. the earliest settlement, been supplied with numerous and good saw-mills. There has been but one grist-mill of any consequence in the township. This was erected some thirty-five years ago, in Marlborough, by Pete, Barlow & Co. The building was two and a half stories in height, was about forty by sixty feet, and for a. number of years the mill was operated both day and night, two sets of hands being employed. The mill was an excellent one, and, during the period of its continuance, which was some twenty years, furnished an excellent quality of flour. It did both merchant and custom work. Another small grist-mill was started up in Marlborough, but-it did not amount to much. In about the year 1820, Jacob Nees built a small distillery in the southwestern part of the township. It was a rude affair, and was built in a hurry, to supply a sudden and strong demand for the drink which inebriates. Mr. Nees had one small copper still, but it is uncertain where his grain was ground. The liquor, a rather poor article, disappeared about as fast as it was made. People in those days were judges of whisky. It did not take them long to decide upon the merits of a drink, as constant use in their families made them familiar with the taste, smell, and general characteristics. Mr. Nees manufactured whisky at the rate of some twenty gallons per day while the distillery was running. At cer- tain seasons of the year, it was discontinued. After being conducted for a period of about twelve years, the enterprise was abandoned. Between thirty and forty years ago, Jacob Haag built a distillery, which was constructed on a little- more extensive scale, as about a