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CHAPTER IV.

CLAY TOWNSHIP.

ITS HISTORIC INTEREST - SITE OF THE FIRST WHITE SETTLEMENT - THE MORAVIAN PIONEERS - THE PRIMAL CHURCH - BEERSHEBA CHURCH-OTHER RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES-THE COMMENCEMENT OF METHODISM IN THE COUNTY-VALUE OF COMMODITIES IN 1800- MILLS, SCHOOLS, ETC.-ERECTION OF CLAY TOWNSHIP -ITS JUSTICES - LOCATION - GNADENHUTTEN - LOCK 17.

PERHAPS to no region in Eastern Ohio clings so tragic an interest as that which attaches to the beautiful shaded groves of Gnadenhutten, for it was here, on the fatal 8th of March, 1782, that ninety-six unoffending, peace-loving Indians fell innocent victims of the fierce border hatred that raged relentlessly between two bitter, hostile races. It was not the mere destruction of the Indians that shrouds the locality with so deep an interest, but the fact. that they were martyrs, sacrificed by an implacable venom engendered by Indian warfare, which demanded victims, guilty or innocent, before it would be appeased. Within the secluded cemetery, near the banks which overlook the Tuscarawas, is the site of the tragic occurrence, narrated in an earlier chapter of this volume. Clay Township was also the region of Tuscarawas County that was first permanently settled by the whites. When the faithful remnant of Indian converts returned from Canada to the Tuscarawas valley, in charge of the Moravian [missionaries in 1798, John Heckewelder, the agent of the Society of United Brethren, which held in trust the three Moravian tracts, sought to induce Moravians of Pennsylvania to occupy, by lease, the lands not needed by the Indians. An Indian mission was re-established at Gnadenhutten, but not long after it was consolidated with the Goshen mission in what is now in Goshen Township, leaving the Gnadenhutten and Salem tracts unoccu-

516 - HISTORY OF TUSCARAWAS COUNTY.

pied. From the records of the church of Beersheba, from which much of the following has been obtained, it is learned that on the 8th of October, 1798, both the Salem and Gnadenhutten tracts were surveyed into farming lots.

John Heckewelder and William Edwards, accompanied by five Indian brethren, arrived at Gnadenbutten, June 18, 1798, after a very difficult and fatiguing journey through the wilderness from Fairfield, Canada. Heckewelder built the first house in Gnadenhutten, and moved into it September 29, 1798. It stood on Lot 3, west corner of Main and Cherry streets. Paul Greer, Peter Edmonds, Ezra Warner and Peter Warner, the first permanent white settlers, came from Gnadenhutten, on the Mahoning. Pennsylvania, May 29, 1799. They cleared a few acres of land west of the river, opposite Gnadenhutten, on land now owned by the Patricks, and all returned to Pennsylvania for their families in the autumn of the same year, except Paul Greer, who remained at Gnadenhutten. The first wagons arrived from Pennsylvania in June, 1799, and brought John and Dorothea Jungman, and Gottfried S. and Catherine Oppelt, missionaries, on their way to Canada. Rev. William Edwards, June 18, 1799, after a year's residence at Gnadenhutten as assistant to Heckewelder, removed to Goshen. Rev. Mortimer. of Goshen, preached his first sermon at Gnadenhutten, June 23. 1799, to seventeen white people and six Chippewa Indians. The first communion was served at Gnadenhutten, July 13, 1799, by Rev. Zeisberger to thirteen persons, including John Bush and Henry Ballenger, employes of Heckewelder. A store house was raised at Gnadenhutten on what is now Lot 39. south corner of -Main and Cherry streets, August 21, 1799, and on the following October 18th, David and Dorcas Peter arrived from Bethlehem, and took possession of the store building three days later. November 6, 1199, Jonathan and Sarah Warner and Mary Everett, also Nathan and Anna Deliverance Warner with six children. and Asa and Catherine Walton arrived from Pennsylvania. On the 15th of the same .month, Ezra and Magdalina Warner, with four children, and Mrs. Hannah Greer, a married sister, also reached their future home on the Tuscarawas.

All these families settle.' a lessees on the Gnadenhutten tract, west of the river. They were members of the Moravian Church. The beginning of the present century thus found about half a. dozen families settled on this tract in Clay Township. Besides the missionaries at Goshen, there were probably no other white men within the limits of what now constitutes Tuscarawas County. The children of Ezra and Maria Magdalina Warner, some of whom were born in Tuscarawas County, were Samuel, Lydia, Ruth, Sarah. Maria Magdalina and Hannah Susanna. All except Ruth moved farther west in 1511. and settled on the Mohican River. The children of Nathan and Ann Deliverance Warner were Massa, Nathan, Peter, John, Moses, Joshua, Jesse. Anna and Susanna. The family of Asa and Catherine Walton consisted of six children Mary, Joel, Jeremiah, Sarah, Elizabeth and Stephen, all born in this county.

In July, 1800, Rev. Lewis Huebner and wife Christina, arrived at Gnadenhutten from Pennsylvania. Shortly before, Peter and Elizabeth Edmonds, with five children, and Peter and Grace Warner, with three children, came from the Mahoning, Pennsylvania. The family of Peter Edmonds consisted of David and Daniel by his first wife, and Peter, Edward Daniel, Benjamin, Elizabeth, Rosina Bethia, Catherine and Rebecca by his second.

John Heckewelder returned from Pennsylvania June 9, 1801. with his wife Sarah and two daughters, Anna Salome and Susanna. Joseph and Sarah Everett, formerly from Gnadenhutten, Penn., arrived November 21, 1802, from Marietta, Ohio. where they had settled some years before. They brought with them seven children. Until April, 181)5, they dwelt on the east side of the river; they then removed to the west side. The family consisted of John, Joseph, Moses. Thomas, Henry, Charles Peter. Phoebe, Maria and Sarah

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Mrs. Mary Warner, a widow, and Jesse and Hannah Walton reached Gnadenhutten from the Mahoning, Pennsylvania, October 19, 1803, and settled west of the river. The children of Jesse Walton were Boaz, Hannah, Cynthia, Caroline, Hiram, Rosanna, Lucinda and Jesse V. Boaz and Rosanna Walton, with three children, Isaac and Rebecca Simmers, with five children, and Miss Mary Simmers came from Gnadenhutten, Penn., November 19, 1805; also the aged father of Isaac Simmers and Miss Catherine Rhodes. who were not Moravians. The children of Boaz Walton were Joseph, Lydia, Martha, Benjamin, Catherine, Josiah and Matilda; those of Isaac Simmers were Jesse, Sarah, Hannah, Edith, Rebecca Maria, Martha Melinda and Charlotte.

John S. Petticoart raised a house on his lot north of Boaz Walton's, near Lock 17, January 7, 1807, and moved into it with his family from the other side of the river, January 31, 1807. His children were Levi, Mathias, Mary and Elizabeth. In October, 1809, Thomas Hamilton raised a house on the north bank of the river, near the southwest corner of the Gnadenhutten tract. One year later, Mathias Taylor built a cabin on the east side of the river, in the Gnadenhutten tract. His children were John, Ann, Mary Ann and Rebecca. Mathias Taylor and family, William, Horatio and John S. Petticoart, three brothers, and Thomas Hamilton, an unmarried young man, emigrated from North Carolina in 1804 and settled in the vicinity of Gnadenhutten. Thomas Hamilton was here married, in July, 1805, to Mary Ann Taylor, one of the earliest marriages in the county. Until 1809, the young couple dwelt in what is now Warwick Township. Mr. Hamilton remained a life-long resident of the county, and died in Clay Township in February, 1872, aged eighty-eight years. His children were Archibald, Alexander, William, John, Mathias and Taylor. All the above were connected with the Moravian Church.

Abraham Fry was probably the earliest resident of Fry's Valley. He owned and occupied Military Lot 25, immediately north of the Gnadenhutten tract, was a Moravian and remained in the township the remainder of his life. His wife was Susanna, and they had but one child-Samuel-and an adopted daughter-Lydia Dodge.

Michael Rehmel, a Moravian from Lancaster County, Penn., came about 1802 and settled on Lot 20 of the Gnadenhutten tract, just east of the village. He remained here till his death, which occurred September 9, 1845, at the age of sixty-nine years. He left a large family of children, of whom Joseph still lives in Warwick Township.

Tobias Hirte, an eccentric character, who had formerly led a wandering life in Maryland. Pennsylvania and elsewhere, came to the township about 1803 and remained here for some time. He was a bachelor and a hermit, and employed his time in extracting and distilling various roots and herbs.

Cornelius O'Donald settled in Fry's Valley, three miles north of Gnadenhutten, in 1806. He was a Catholic and was killed near Newcomerstown. Casper Engler, a Lutheran, settled in the same region a year later. David Smith, a Methodist from New York State, came in 1809. In the northwestern part of the township, among the earliest settlers were Henry Davis, who owned Military Lot 1: William Simmers, brother of Isaac Simmers, occupying Military Lot 18: another brother-Henry Simmers-a bachelor, lived and died on Fry's Creek. Charles Oppelt, son of the missionary Godfrey Oppelt, resided on Military Lot 8.

John Anderson, in 1820, owned and occupied the south half of Military Lot 6, situated about one and a half miles south of Gnadenhutten. The southern part of the township was not settled to any great extent until after the construction of the Ohio Canal. The population of this portion of the township is largely German.

518 - HISTORY OF TUSCARAWAS COUNTY.

The first church of white membership in Tuscarawas County was the Moravian Society of Gnadenhutten, which was formed in 1800. In July of that year, Rev. Lewis Huebner and wife arrived at Gnadenhutten from Pennsylvania, and became the first regular pastor of the few Moravian families who had settled in that locality. Rev. Mortimer, a missionary at Goshen, had occasionally held services at Gnadenhutten previously. January 30, 1801. a parsonage was built on Block A, the pastor having formerly occupied a cabin which stood on the same lot. The first services were held in Heckewelder's cabin, afterward under a spreading tree on the east shore of the river, and from August, 1801, in Peter's house, and soon after in Rev. Huebner's parsonage. January 8, 1802, a hewed-log church about thirty feet square, was raised on Block A. It was dedicated July 10, 1803, by Revs. Zeisberger and Benjamin Haven, of Goshen. Rev. Huebner returned to Pennsylvania in August, 1805. He was succeeded at Gnadenhutten by Jacob Roushenberger, who remained in charge until about 1828, when Rev. Samuel R. Huebner. son of the first pastor, assumed the ministry and continued until 1834 or 1835. The subsequent pastors have been Revs. Traeger. Herman Titze. Sylvester Wolle, F. Campman. Charles Block, C. L. Reinke. Henry Bachman, James B. Haman, Henry J. Van Vleck and Henry T. Bachman. The last named minister is now in charge. The communicant membership is 218; the total membership, 346. The present church edifice, which succeeded the first structure, was erected in 1852 on Lot 48. It is valued at $3,000, and is 45x70 feet in size.

Bishop Loskiel, in the autumn of 1803, visited Gnadenhutten, and while here the settlers west of the river petitioned him for separate ministerial laborers, inasmuch as the high waters often prevented them from attending church and from sending their children to school. The request was granted, and in the spring of 1804. Rev. George G. Muller was called, but the prevailing fevers induced him to postpone his journey to the infant charge. A spot for the church building was selected and cleared June 20, 1804, in the west corner of Lot 28, about a mile west from Gnadenhutten. Rev. Muller arrived in August, 1805. The erection of the church building is thus minutely described in the records of the church: " The building was raised in March, 1805, and the roof laid in August. Doors and windows were cut out by Peter Edmonds and Joseph Everett; the chinks were filled by Jonathan Warner in September and October. It was plastered October 11 and 12 by all the brethren and some others. The chimney Was completed by Nathan Warner October 15, and, in November. logs were sawed for floors by Mr. Tracy and Daniel Warner. The doors were laid December 3 to 6 by Boaz and Jesse Walton and Joseph Everett. Doors, stairs, windows, etc., were made by Jacob Winsch, of Gnadenhutten, and a bake oven was built by Nathan Warner and a garden spot cleared by Peter Edmonds in December. The church was dedicated December 15, 1805, in the presence of about. 200 people, and christened Beersheba Church." Rev. Muller moved across the river December 20. Under date of August, 1807, he writes: "I hired at my own expense Everett's twins, and they cleared an acre of ground for me toward the south." The first burial in the Beersheba Cemetery. a mile west of Gnadenhutten, occurred May 10, 1812, when the body of Rebecca, daughter of Cornelius O'Donald, was consigned to its resting-place. Beersheba Moravian Church was maintained as a separate congregation until about 1825, when it was merged into the Gnadenhutten congregation. from which it had its origin. It was the second religious society of white men organized within the county.

About two miles northwest from Gnadenhutten stands Fry's Valley Moravian Church. It was erected in 1858. The society that worships here was

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organized in 1857, with twenty-four members, prominent among whom were Joseph Kinsey, Jacob Wenger and L. Keiser. Rev. Henry Bachman was the first pastor. His successors have been Revs. James Haman, E. Schwartze, L. Huebner, William T. Van Vleck and H. J. Van Vleck. The first services were held at the residence of Joseph Kinsey. At present, this congregation has a total membership of 243, of whom 114 are communicants.

The Ross Moravian Church is a small edifice located near the center of Section 19. It was built by the Lutherans in 1855. The Moravian society was organized in 1859, with eleven members. Its pastors have been those who have had charge of the Fry's Valley congregation. Peter Helter, F. Helter, Jacob Reitz and Charles Helter were among its first members. Services are conducted in the German language. The society has a membership of about thirty, sixteen of whom are communicants.

Besides the Moravians, the Methodist Episcopal is the only religious denomination that has an organized society within the township. The Moravians were first in the field, but itinerant and zealous Methodist preachers in a few years invaded the frontier settlements, preaching the Gospel at every opportunity. An account of the inroads which they made upon the Moravian membership is preserved by Rev. George G. Muller, in the records of Beersheba Church. He says: " In July, 1809, a certain Mr. David Smith, with several of his children, four families, arrived here, and were for a time received in the houses of Brothers Jonathan Warner and Asa Walton. Being most of them zealous Methodists, they were very active in persuading others to join them. Here let it be noticed that already, the 15th of December, 1807, a Methodist minister. Rev. Watts, began preaching at Carr's, two miles below us (in Salem Township); after awhile, also, at Mr. Seward's, on Lewis Knaus' land (in Warwick Township), at Henry Davis' over the hill, and at Butt's, not far from New Philadelphia. Mr. Watts came regularly every three or four weeks for more than a year. After him came one Mr. Holmes for a short time, then a young man. Mr. West, twice. To this day, October 22, 1809, since Mr. West, no regular minister of the Methodists came to these places.

"It is farther to be noticed that with my approbation Mr. Watts preached January 5, 1808, at brother Boaz Walton's house, and once more two weeks after; since which time, I having spoken with him, he never accepted of any invitation to preach in our settlement, and it is no more than just to say that in all respects he behaved like a true Christian, with candor and honesty, and his discourses, as well as his person, were generally approved. March 27, 1808, Mr. Watts came to our meetings. Some families of ours, viz., Nathan Warner's, Peter Warner's and Ezra Warner's, frequented the Methodist meetings more than ours, and already in the spring of 1808, four persons-Grace Warner, Annie Warner. Lydia and Ruth Warner-formally joined the Methodists, and thus excluded themselves from our society. But though Mr. Watts refused, Mr. Holmes and Mr. West kept meetings at Nathan Warner's and Peter Warner's, and since Mr. David Smith and his family arrived here, his son Arariah and others kept frequent meetings at Peter Warner's and Nathan Warner's. So much I thought necessary to relate of the origin and progress of Methodism in our settlement. In November, 1809, a Methodist minister James Finley-was sent to preach in these parts. December 10, 1809, Peter Warner came and told me plainly that he intended to join the Methodists, to which I had no objection. December 11, being informed that Mr. Finley desired my attendance at his next meeting at Nathan Warner's, I sent him a letter [explaining] why I could not come. and an address intended to be read to his hearers. He did so, and made suitable remarks thereto. The next day I went to Thomas Carr's, and assisted him in preaching, on his desire." The

520 - HISTORY OF TUSCARAWAS COUNTY.

records further show that, under date of March, 1810, "last year Nathan Warner's children, Amasa, Nathan, Peter and Moses, joined the Methodists, and this year Lehah, Daniel and Peter Warner likewise joined. July 8, 1810, for several days the Methodists have had meetings three miles below, at Clark's place [Salem Township]." This was the first camp meeting held in Tuscarawas County.

Of the Moravians at Gnadenhutten, Rev. James B. Finley, in his autobiography, says in his familiar, graphic style: "At this settlement I found the Rev. Mr. Mortimer, who had charge of the Indians, and the Rev. George Godfrey Muller, who had charge of the whites in the Moravian reservation. Here I ventured to go and preach, and the Lord owned and blessed His word ; many were awakened and converted. I formed a class and appointed a leader. This rather displeased old Father Muller, and he wrote me a letter, requesting me to leave the reservation, and not preach there any more. I sent him word that I could not do that. * * * I furthermore said if he could ascertain from the Lord that my field of labor did not include the. reservation, then I would comply with his request and retire. The next week the old gentleman walked four miles to brother Carr's to meeting. I asked him to preach for us, which he did; and after meeting, at my request, he remained with us in class, where he received with all of us a powerful blessing. The whole class was in a flame of love and joy; and the old Moravian saint caught the fire and shouted as loud as any of us the praises of God."

In 1842, about fifteen Methodists including William Hamilton and wife, Archibald A. Hamilton and wife and James McCreary and wife met at the house of the first-named, one mile south of Gnadenhutten, and organized a class. For four years services were held in the barn and house of William Hamilton: then, in 1846, a frame. church, 30x35, was erected nearly a mile farther south on Military Lot 4. The first ministers were Revs. Robert Boyd and William Devinney; Revs. Devinney and Dudley served the second year. A few members withdrew and formed the Cross-Roads class, in Warwick Township, about one and a half miles east of Gnadenhutten. Among them were James McCreary. Robert Ricketts and wife and James B. Cresap. The Hamilton congregation removed to the village of Gnadenhutten in 1860 and erected a frame house of worship, 40x50 feet, at an expense of nearly $2,000. With repairs, it has since served as the meeting house. About 1867 the Cross-Roads class re-united with this congregation. The present membership is about seventy. Rev. John Beetham is pastor in charge.

In the southwestern part of the township, on the south line of Section 18, is an old Methodist meeting-house, known as the River Hill Church. It was erected about 1845. Solomon, Samuel, William and Hamilton Parrish and John Watson were early members. The class was small and regular services are no longer conducted here.

A small Methodist class formerly convened for worship at dwelling houses in Fry's Valley, but it has long since gone out of existence.

Mr. Edward Peter of Gnadenhutten. has in his possession the first ledger of his father, David Peter's mercantile transactions in Tuscarawas County. Mr. Peter was the first, and for nearly ten years, the only merchant in the territory of Tuscarawas. The accounts are neatly kept, and include the names of most of the foremost pioneers of the county. Individual accounts were also kept with the Moravian Indians. Values are stated in pounds, shillings and pence in the old Pennsylvania currency, in which $1 is equivalent to 7 shillings 6 pence, or a shilling equivalent to 13 1/3 cents. and a penny to 1 1/9 cents. The following were the prices paid for commodities at Peter's store in the year 1800: Per pound, butter, 11 pence.; bear's fat, 6 1/2 pence;

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bear's meat, 3 pence; tallow, 1 shilling; Hour. 4 pence; venison, 3 pence; sugar, 1 shilling 2 pence; coffee 3 shillings 9 pence; Bohea tea, 6 shillings: salt 1 shilling 6 pence, or 11 shillings 3 pence per peck; powder, per pound, 9 shillings 6 pence; pepper, 5 shillings; tobacco, 1 shilling 6 pence; shingle nails, 2 shillings 9 pence; one day's labor, 3 shillings 9 pence; calico, per yard, 6 shillings 6 pence: linen, per yard, 9 shillings; muslin, 3 shillings 9 pence; whisky, per quart, 1 shilling 10 1/2 pence; corn, per bushel, 6 shillings 6 pence; writing paper, 2 pence; one box wafers,, 1 shilling; one fine comb. 1 shilling 10 1/2 pence; one ivory comb, 2 shillings 6 pence; one turkey, 1 shilling: a one-half inch auger, 3 shillings; one paper pins, 8 shil lings; twelve sewing needles. 6 pence; pair moccasins, 3 shillings 6 pence; one pair stockings, 10 shillings; one blanket, 22 shillings 6 pence; flints, 2 pence each; spelling-book, 1 shilling- 3 pence; raccoon- skins, 2 shillings 6 pence each: deerskins, per pound, 15 pence; one brass kettle, $5.50. The carriage of goods from Georgetown, on the Ohio, to Gnadenhutten was $2 per 100 pounds.

From the records of Beersheba Church it is learned that a well twenty feet deep was finished at Gnadenhutten July 6, 1801. It is still used and stands in the center of Main street, near Cherry. Rev. Lewis Huebner preached the first sermon at the cabin of John Knisely, four miles above Goshen, July 22, 1804. "The river overflowed its banks in a remarkable manner," May 11 and 12, 1807. In 1810, "the whooping-cough prevailed in both this and the Dutch settlements; also some grown people had it. "September 1, 1812, says Dialler, "the surrender of Hull's army to the English in Canada brought our State and settlement into great danger from invasion by the savage." September 8, 1813, Rev. Abraham Luckenbach was married at Goshen to Rosine Heckedorn. The record closes with the statement that the fall of 1813 and the spring of 1814 were remarkable for prevailing sickness, which occasioned many deaths.

The first grist mill in the county was a horse mill, which was completed at Gnadenhutten December 9, 1801, and on that day the first meal was ground. The mill was erected by a mill-wright, who came here for that purpose from Charlestown. William Kail now owns and operates a little corn-cracker and saw mill on Watson Creek, in the southeast part of the township.

The first school in the township was taught at Gnadenhutten, and the pastor, Rev. Lewis Huebner, was probably the instructor. February 3, 1806, school was commenced at Beersheba with eighteen children. About 1813, a school was taught in the Gnadenhutten tract, on the present farm of Benedict Gross, by Alexander Hubbard, a Yankee from the Western Reserve, in a cabin which had been built and occupied by Mr. Pettycoart. He also taught a term in the Beersheba Church, and was followed by William Reed, another Yankee, who taught two terms at the same place.

Clay Township was set off from Salem March 2, 1824, and the first election ordered at the house of John G. Demuth, on the first Monday of April following. Its original bounds included nearly all the territory now comprised within Rush and Clay, besides small fractions of Salem and Mill, as follows: Beginning at the northeast corner of Township 6, Range 1; thence west, around the north side of the Gnadenhutten tract to the northwest corner of Township 6, Range 2; thence south one and a half miles; thence east to the northwest corner of Lot 14, first quarter, Township 6, Range 2; thence south to Township 5; thence east to the county line and north to the place of beginning.

The following have acted as Justices of the Peace: John G. Demuth, 1826; Joshua Davis, 1826; John G. Demuth, 1829, resigned 1829; Joseph Walton, 1829; Thomas Hamilton, 1830; John G. Demuth, 1831; Thomas

524 - HISTORY OF TUSCARAWAS COUNTY.

Hamilton, 1833; Thomas Hamilton, 1836; David Gram, 1837; William Hamilton, 1839; David Gram, 1840; William Hamilton. 1842; David Gram, 1843; William Hamilton, 1845; David Gram. 1846; David Gram, 1849: William Hamilton, 1848; George Ross, 1851; David Gram, 1852; George Ross, 1854; David Gram, 1855; William Hamilton, 1857: David Gram, 1858; William Hamilton, 1860; Samuel Schweitzer, 1861; John Dinning, 1863; Samuel Schweitzer, 1864; William Hamilton, 1866; Samuel Schweitzer, 1867; William Hamilton, 1869; Samuel Schweitzer, 1870; Robert Morris, 1872; David Gram, 1873; Robert L. Morris, 1875: David Gram. 1876;. L. S. Winsch, 1878; David Gram, 1879; Lewis S. Winsch. 1881: David Gram. 1882.

Clay Township is located in the south-central part of the county, and has an irregular outline. The Tuscarawas River, Ohio Canal, and Pittsburgh. Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad cross it from northeast to southwest through a broad and fertile valley. North and south of this the land is rough and hilly, relieved in a slight degree by Fry's 'Valley, in the north, and the valley of Watson's Creek, a small stream, in the south part of the township. The northern part of the township consists of 100-acre military lots. In the the southern part, both Congress land and military lots are found. A fraction of the second quarter of Township 6, Range 2, entered by Godfrey Haga, is in the western portion. The Gnadenhutten Moravian tract of 4,000 acres composes the central part. As intimated above it was in possession of lessees until 1824, when, having reverted by deed to the United States, it was surveyed into lots, most of which were sold by James Patrick. agent for the Government, and those remaining unsold were reported to the Zanesville land office and afterward regularly entered like Congress land.

Gnadenhutten is a quiet, secluded village, situated in the eastern part of the township, on the east bank of the Tuscarawas, and a short distance south of the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad. In 1798, when Rev. John Heckewelder returned from the mission in Canada with intent to restore the Tuscarawas Valley to its former Christian Indian possessors. he located as stated above, on the site of the mission village Gnadenhutten. where, sixteen years before. the massacre had occurred. The year following, the first white settlers came, and with them David Peter. who acted for the Moravian society in the capacity of merchant. He was born in Nazareth, Penn.. July 20, 1766, married Dorcas Chitty, and directly afterward emigrated to the Tuscarawas Valley. He had two children, Maria and Elizabeth, by this marriage. Mrs. Peter was the daughter of Benjamin and Mary Chitty, and was born in South Carolina, February 11, 1.775; she died at Gnadenhutten August 22, 1806. Soon after David Peter returned to Pennsylvania, there married Susanna Leinbach, and again sought with his new companion his former Western home. His children by his second marriage were Charles; Benjamin, Caroline, Edward, Lewis and Louisa, and three who died young. Mr. Peter remained the merchant of the settlement until his decease, which occurred November 22, 1840.

Though not a regularly laid out town until 1824, Gnadenhutten for a quarter of a century before had been the center of the Moravian settlements. Frederick Dell from Bedford County, Penn., came about 1802. He was a Moravian like the other early settlers here, and built, his cabin on Outlot 1 where he followed the trade of weaver. and afterward kept the ferry. He died here leaving a numerous posterity. Benjamin Chitty, from Lancaster County, Penn., was at Gnadenhutten in 1800. Not long afterward he removed from the county. Henry Albright, was living; at Gnadenhutten in 1800. He came from Northampton County, Penn.. was a gunsmith by

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trade and occupation, and a Moravian. He remained here but a few years. Conrad Westhaeffer was following the trade of weaver at Gnadenhutten in 1805. He also kept ferry until 1812, when Frederick Dell succeeded him. Mr. Westhaeffer died on a farm in the eastern part of this county. Martin Tschudy was a day-laborer here in 1805. He afterward farmed, and died about 1834. Jacob Winsch, a carpenter, came from Pennsylvania about 1805, remaining till his death. John Tschudy was a weaver and lived at Gnadenhutten in 1804, afterward removed to Fry's Valley, and there- farmed until his death. In 1823, there were only about eight cabins in the village, occupied by David Peter; Jacob Winsch, carpenter and cabinet-maker; John G. Demuth, cabinet-maker; John Tschudy, weaver; Frederick Dell, weaver; John Niegeman, tailor; John Andreas, shoe-maker; and the pastor. Solomon Reich, a cabinetmaker. bailing from North Carolina was here in 1826. He afterward removed to Illinois. John Heckewelder kept the first tavern; John G. Demuth, the second. Heckewelder was the first Postmaster; David Peter succeeded and held the office until 1840. Then followed Edward Peter, until 1846. Lewis Peter, Gustavus Fog, Lewis S. Winsch and Josiah Rhodes have successively served since.

Soon after the retrocession of the Moravian tracts to the United States, or in September, 1824, James Patrick, as agent for the United States, made a survey of Gnadenhutten, for the purpose of selling the lots; eighty-three inlots and thirty-two outlots of various areas were laid- out, the boundaries of the town being irregularly shaped. The principal streets, Main and Walnut, crossed at right angles, and are one chain fifty links wide; the remaining streets are seventy-five links in width. A square was set apart for a market house at the east corner of Main and Walnut streets. The square on the east corner of Main and Cherry streets contained the parsonage and church, and was reserved. Lot C, southwest of Cherry, was reserved to Frederick Dell. A commons, marked D, on the river bank was reserved to the town. A large burial lot, R and S, in the south part of the plat, was reserved for burials. Inlots 46 and 47 were reserved for schools for the Moravian society, and Lots 68 and 69 for schools for the inhabitants.

Miksch's Addition was made in 1853; it consisted of sixteen lots, west of Walnut and north of Tuscarawas streets. In 1865. the Moravian congregation made a subdivision of Outlots 22-5 inclusive, into thirty-two lots. In. 1873, Jonathan Winsch subdivided Outlot 15 into eight lots, and the same year Edward Peters made a subdivision of Outlot 14 into nine lots.

Dr. Lewis J. Zeigler, the first physician of Gnadenhutten, came about 1836 from Frederick County, Md., and remained in practice until his death in 1843. Drs. Wilson, Hahn, Robert Arnold, and others have since practiced here, and at present the village has two physicians, Drs. Samuel House and Mills.

The village contains two general stores, two groceries, two hotels, a harness shop, two blacksmith shops, a shoe shop and a cabinet shop. The school building is a large frame, in which three departments are held. The village is in a special school district, which was adopted by popular vote a few years ago. Mr. Mardis is the present Principal. The Moravian and Methodist sanctuaries here have already been noticed. The population of Gnadenhutten in 1870 was 284, and in 1880, 336. It has grown steadily during the past few years, and now has within its limits more than 400 people.

The object of greatest interest in the village is the cemetery, which is located in the southern part, not far distant from the river. It is situated in a beautiful grove, and the grounds are always neat and clean. The first white person interred in the grave-yard was a young married woman-Mrs. Stock-

526 - HISTORY OF TUSCARAWAS COUNTY.

well-who was accidentally drowned in attempting to cross Stillwater in haste through fear of Indians. From the numerous bones unearthed in digging graves, it is evident that this was formerly an Indian burial-ground. Since the settlements began, it has been the most general place of burial for the settlers in the Tuscarawas Valley, and contains the remains of a large number of the pioneers. Over 500 burials have been made. The peculiar custom has been in vogue from the first to bury the children in one portion of the grounds, the women in another, and the men in a third. Recently, however, family lots have been sold. Within the inclosed grounds is the site of the mission village, and many objects of interest are still pointed out, among which is an apple tree planted by the Indians in 1774, the site of the ancient mission house, and the human slaughter houses. The erection and dedication in the cemetery, in 1872, of a towering shaft to the memory of the murdered Indians, has been noted in an earlier portion of this volume.

The settlement west of the river, in the Gnadenhutten tract, was in early tines known as Yankeetown. The pioneers here conversed in the English tongue, while those across at Gnadenhutten clung for many years to their mother German speech, as Lock 17 is still a struggling hamlet, which in 1880 returned a population of fifty-five souls. The canal lock was built in 1829, by Whitaker & Avery, and it is said that about the same time, Frederick Sharpee attempted to found a town, which he dubbed Bevelard, on an adjoining farm. Soon after the construction of the canal, John G. Demuth erected a warehouse at Lock 17, and purchased grain. A little later, a store was opened, and a thriving business was transacted. There are now at Lock 17, the Clay Mills, on the canal, which were built and are still owned and operated by John M. Heck, a store, a blacksmith shop and a post office.