550 - HISTORY OF TUSCARAWAS COUNTY.

CHAPTER VII.

FRANKLIN TOWN TOWNSHIP.

ORGANIZATION - SIZE - MAGISTRATES - SUGAR CREEK VALLEY - SOIL - FIRST SETTLERS - FIRST SCHOOL - MILLS - SUGAR CREEK FALLS- MILTON - STRASBURG -FIRST PREACHING - CHURCHES. .

THE last township organized within Tuscarawas County was Franklin, which dates its origin to December 6, 1854. It was taken from the territory of Wayne, and its original limits, as given below, coincide. except in one slight instance, with the present boundaries: Beginning at the southeast corner of Wayne Township, thence along the south boundary of that township to the southwest corner of Lot 22 of the second quarter of Township 9, Range 3; thence north to the northwest corner of the southeast quarter of Section 14, Township 10, Range 3; thence west to the southwest corner of Lot 8 in the second quarter of Township 10. Range 3; thence north to the north line of the township, thence eastward along the north line of the county to the northeast corner of Wayne; thence south to the place of beginning. Its northern boundary is the Greenville treaty line. north of which is Stark County. Franklin is three and one-half miles in width. east and west, and its average length is about six and one-half miles. It is principally Congress land, but in the southwest portion are ten Western Reserve school lots, and in the northern part are thirty-five military lots.

While this territory was yet a portion of Wayne Township, a number of its settlers were elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, and since the organization of Franklin its magistrates have been as follows: John M. Shelter, 1855; Christian Swartz, 1855; Christian Swartz. 1858; George Beck, 1858; Thomas C. Ayres. 1855; William I. Wright, 1860; Christian Swartz. 1861; Amos Woodling. 1861; Christian Swartz, 1864; Amos Woodling, 1864: E. R. Benfer, 1865; Henry F. Krantz, 1866; Amos Woodling. 1867; Henry F, Krantz, 1869; Philip. A Garver, 1869; Joseph Hartline, 1870; Amos Woodling, 1871; Philip A. Garver, 1872; Amos Woodling, 1874; Philip A. Garver, 1875; Philip A. Garver, 1878; Daniel Haas. 1880; Philip A. Garver. 1881; Daniel Haas, 1883.

Sugar Creek is the main feature of Franklin's topography. It enters the township at the northwest. and by a bending course from northeast to southeast reaches the southeast part of the township, where it makes its exit, cross ing into Dover. A broad valley, ranging from one to two miles in width, follows its meanderings, and gives shape to a large portion of the surface of Franklin. The valley proper was densely timbered with sugar-maple, which gave the stream its name. Rising above this thirty or forty feet were the second bottoms or plains. The forest growth here was scant. A few sturdy scattered white oaks and sparse thickets of ground oak and underbrush comprised it all The soil was sandy and gravelly, unlike that in the first bottom; below, which was loamy and of rich productiveness. Back from the plains the surface is rolling in some few places broken, but the amount of land in the township that is not easily tillable is slight. The plains were avoided by the earliest settlers. who were accustomed to judge the fertility of the soil by the density of its timber. They chose to locate among the distant hills rather than try to

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farm the scrubby plains. Time has proved that they were mistaken. Tho plains, though at first somewhat deficient in yielding generous harvests, are now considered to be lands of the richest and most valuable kind. No stone is found on the surface back of the first range of hills. The types of timber most abundant in early days were white and black oak, chestnut, walnut and hickory. Some poplar was found. and in the little valleys some beech existed. The hills are rich in coal and mountain iron ore, but they have been little developed.

Several archaeological remains of considerable magnitude have recently existed in this township, but the ravages of the plow are rapidly effacing all traces of them. About sixty rods above Sugar Creek Falls, on the north side of the stream, a raised earthwork extended across the plains. The embankment may yet be clearly traced where the land has not yet been cleared. A large white oak, standing on the top of the elevation near the north end, attests the antiquity of the works. About three-fourths of a mile south of Strasburg, on the Hartline farm, near the edge of the plains, is a fort, inclosing about a half acre. The embankment in early days was three or four feet in height. On the east side in one corner, was a gateway or entrance.

The earliest white settlers of Franklin Township were not land owners. A few squatters built temporary cabins on the plains and tilled a little soil, but hunted and trapped principally for a living, and the school lots in the southwest part of the township were leased and occupied before much, if any, land was entered and settled. It is impossible to state with any degree of certainty the name of the first pioneer. John Burris is said to have been here more than eighty years ago. He came from Maryland, was a noted hunter and Indian fighter, and participated in the war of 1812, More than one Indian is said to have fallen beneath the aim of his rifle. Burris was of a roving disposition, leased a school lot for a time, owned no property, and died in the township. William Smoyer is accredited be some with being the first settler. He was an old bachelor and a squatter. He cleared a little patch of ground on the Zeltman farm, a half mile north of Strasburg, lived there for some time in a little cabin, then encamped farther up the stream on the Zimmerman farm, southeast quarter of Section 13. In his old age, he shook the dust of Tuscarawas County from his feet and departed for a wilder, more western habitation.

Jonas Bair. from Westmoreland County, Penn., in 1807, settled near Winfield. He lived there sixty-three years, then moved to Dover, where he died in 1879. Leonard Bair, Sr., is said to have come to the township in 1808. His son. Leonard Bair, Jr., in 1817, leased school Lot 17, and lived there till his death. John Zigler resided in the township before 1809. He was a Marylander, and prior to settling in Franklin, had dwelt in Dover, where his son Daniel was born in 1807. John Zigler married a sister of Isaac Deardorff. leased school Lot 6, and died in the township at a good old age. John France and his father came early from Pennsylvania and leased school Lot 11. Mr. Knistrick, father of John Knistrick, was amongst the earliest settlers. He hailed from Maryland, and leased school Lot 16. John Cummins, an Irishman, who was equally noted as an imbiber of whisky and a wood chopper. came early in the settlement of the county, but late in life, and alone. He remained but a short time in one locality. The school lands were sold in 1831, and the lessees, who had cleared much of the land, were rarely the purchasers. They wore as a rule, a worthy class of people, but their means were few, and their position did not enable them to accumulate money sufficient to purchase land.

Among the earliest land holding pioneers of Franklin, were William Bacher and Isaac Deardorff, both of whom were residents of the county before 1809.

554 - HISTORY OF TUSCARAWAS COUNTY.

Mr. Backer was a Pennsylvanian, had leased and occupied a school lot in Dover Township, and at the expiration of his lease, probably in 1818, settled in Franklin, on the southwest quarter of Section 21, which he had entered. Isaac Deardorff owned 320 acres. the northeast quarter of Section 18, and the northwest quarter of Section 19, the latter of which he entered. He was a cousin of Judge Christian Deardorff of Dover Township, was an early Justice of the Peace, and an excellent and life-long citizen of Franklin Township.

Other pioneers were Abraham Brenninger, John Casebeer, Henry Duncan, Abraham Forney, Walter Griffith, Benjamin Gundy, Christian Guagy, Michael Kohr, Philip Knappenberger, Jonas Kline, Jr., David Porter, Thomas Lappington, Jehiel Savidge and George Wallick.

Abraham Brenninger came from Pennsylvania about 1809, and settled on Military Lot 13, in the northern part of the township. He was a respected citizen, and remained here through life. Henry Duncan owned and occupied Lots 16 and 17 in the extreme northern part of the township. John Casebeer entered and settled on the northwest quarter of Section 12. in the southern line of the township. He subsequently moved West. Abraham Forney emigrated from Somerset County, Penn., to Dover Township about 1809, and entered a farm on Crooked Run, which he sold to Michael Welty, and in 1814 came to Franklin and settled on the northwest quarter of Section 2. He was a local minister of the United Brethren Church, and preached a great deal, at first in his own neighborhood, but later on the circuit. He died about 1825, aged forty-one years. Two of his eight children still reside in Franklin. Walter Griffith entered the southeast quarter of Section 13, and settled here about 1816. After his death his family removed West. Benjamin Gundy was the. owner and occupant of the southwest quarter of Section 20, prior to 1820. Originally from Pennsylvania he had lived in Harrison County for awhile, and after a residence for a time in Franklin Township, he returned to Harrison County. Again changing his place of abode, he sojourned in Wood County for a brief season, then returned to this county and died here. Christian Gnagy came from Pennsylvania about 1818, and purchased the southwest quarter of Section 19. He was a noted local minister of tho United Brethren persuasion, and in his old age removed to Wood County, where he died. Michael Kohr was one of the earliest pioneers, and also one of the largest landholders. In 1811, he came from Maryland, and settled on the east half of Section 8, which he had entered. He first came out alone, boarded at Knistrick's, built a cabin and cleared and planted about two acres, hired Mr. Noftzinger, of Dover Township, to tend it, then returned East for his family. He lived in this township till old age, then re-married and removed to near Navarre, Stark County, where he died. Philip Knappenberger was born in Northampton County, Penn., in 1783. Attaining his majority, he made a trip West, entered the east half of Section 9, in his father's name, and the north. west quarter of the section in his own name. Returning, he married and brought his wife to the new country. In the face of the Indian troubles, during the war of 1812, he returned East, and at the termination of hostilities, again took up his residence in Franklin. He was a Justice of the Peace, a gun-smith and a farmer; he was a disbeliever in the Bible, and wrote and published a book expressive of his views. Mr. Knappenberger was twice married and died in this township. Jonas Kline emigrated from Pennsylvania before 1820, and settled about two miles west of Strasburg. He afterward went West. David Porter owned a little place, and lived for a time in the northern part of the township. Thomas Lappington originally from Maryland, emigrated to Stark County, there married Mary Shutt, and entered and removed to the southwest quarter of Section 9. Franklin Township. He died here

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before 1820, and his widow and child returned to Stark County. George Wallick, a Pennsylvanian, was an early settler, and the first tanner in Franklin. He purchased and occupied until his death, fifty acres in the western part of Section 19, now the Eberly place. Jehiel Savidge, a native of Connecticut, came from Portage County in 1818, to the plains about a mile north of Strasburg, possessing a faith in the value of this soil, which was ridiculed by many of his neighbors, but which proved in the end to be well founded.

The first and for many years the only schoolhouse in the township stood on the Eberly place. It was a little round-log cabin, one end of which was filled by a large fire-place and chimney. The seats were only slabs. The building was built in 1816. Mr. McCarter was the first teacher; David Teeters followed him. The Bible and the United States Speller, were the principal text books. One of the early teachers possessed an arithmetic, a copy of the " Western Calculator," which did good service in teaching the youth to cipher.

John Aultman built the first grist mill in the township, on Sugar Creek. about one and a half miles south of Strasburg. After his death, George Welty operated it. Being burnt, it was rebuilt by the Winkelpleck brothers, subsequently owned by Daniel Garber, Henry Beck, Mr. Burnott, of Dover, and at present by Rath & Syler. It is a good custom mill, contains three buhrs, and has been recently repaired. Philip Yerkey built the mill on Sugar Creek one mile north of Strasburg, about forty years ago. Michael Eberly was the second owner, and he sold it to Frederick Hartline, who now operates it. Philip Trapp erected a grist and carding mill many years ago, about a half mile south of Strasburg. It has been abandoned for a long time, but a saw mill is still in operation.

Michael Kohr started the first distillery in 1818. Wilson & Griffith then operated one on the Zimmerman, and soon after John and Jacob Garber, Isaac Deardorff and others, manufactured spirits in considerable quantities. The demand for whisky was great for home consumption. It was the popular beverage, cheap. and as many thought, essential to health and happiness.

Christian Deardorff built and operated for many years a carding and saw mill at the Falls of Sugar Creek, in the northwestern part of the township. A natural waterfall of several feet is found here, and this distance was doubled by the construction of a dam. Before the railroad was built, this, locality was pleasure resort of considerable note. It is a beautiful spot, and a hotel was kept close by to provide for the material needs of visitors.

The earliest attempt at town making in Franklin was in 1816, when Christian Deardorff and James Clark laid out Milton, a short distance above Sugar Creel. Falls. The plat embraced fifty-six lots and six outlots. It prospered for a brief season, containing at one time perhaps ten houses, but Wilmot was founded about two miles above, in Stark County, and its growth proved the ruin of Milton.

Strasburg, the next and only present village of the township, lies in the eastern part of the township, west of Sugar Creek, and has a population of about 200. It is a quiet country trading place, though in former clays it obtained a notoriety for the boisterous, rollicking element wont to congregate here. The village was laid off on the northwest quarter of Section 21, Township 10. Range 3, by Jonathan Folek in February, 1828. It embraced forty-seven lots, ranged on both sides of Main streets which extended north ffteen degrees west, and south fifteen degrees east. Main street is four perches wide, and is intersected by Cross. North and South streets. In 1574, Rudolph Kapitzky laid out an addition of eight lots between Cross and South streets, and east of the original plat. The proprietor, Folck, owned the quar. ter section upon which the village was located, and lived east of the plat, near

556 - HISTORY OF TUSCARAWAS COUNTY.

the creek. Christian Metzgar built the first house. He was a weaver by trade and occupation. Frederick Harbaugh was probably the second citizen. He war, a carpenter, a Justice of the Peace, and afterward owned a small store. Timothy Bacon was, however, the first store-keeper. He obtained a small stock of goods from Mr. Graham, a Dover merchant, and sold them on commission. A little later he purchased the Folck farm. After Bacon and Harbaugh, a Mr. Ross brought a general line of merchandise to the village and was a merchant for a number of years. Frederick Harbaugh was the first Postmaster. Timothy Bacon and Henry Fausler were his successors. Philip A. Garber is the present mail official. Joseph Stout and Christian Sees were early residents. The latter was a grocer, and the former opened and operated a tannery for many years. Quite a list of physicians have hung out "a shingle," but most of them made a very brief sojourn. John Welty practiced for a few years, and Drs. Smith and Jacob McGie succeeded him. Dr. Goudy is the present and sole practitioner.

At present Strasburg contains two dry goods stores, one notion store. one brewery, three saloons. two hotels, three wagon shops, two blacksmith shops. two shoe shops, a meat market, a cabinet shop, a school. a church and a railroad. The Cleveland, Lorain & Wheeling connects it direct with Dover, New Philadelphia and Uhrichsville. The schoolhouse is a two-story brick structure, and a model of architectural beauty. It contains four apartments. but two of which are in use, and was erected in 1851, at a cost of $5,000.

The church edifice in Strasburg is the property of the United Brethren society. It is a frame building 34 x 44 feet, and was built about 1853, at an expense of $1,200. Prior to this, the society had held services in a union church, built in 1833, one-half mile north of the village. The United Brethren, Methodists and Lutherans contributed to its erection. The earliest meetings of the United Brethren society were conducted at private houses. The earliest membership included Abraham Forney, John Forney, George Sees. Christian Gnagy, Benjamin Gundy and John Shisler. Abraham Forney. Mathias Burchfield and Christian Gnagy were early local preachers. Among the earliest ministers were Revs. Joseph Gundy, George Pfrimer, George Drum and Jacob Winters. Rev. B. F. Booth is the present minister. The congregation exceeds 100 members.

Scarcely a half mile north of Strasburg. stands St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. It is a neat, commodious frame structure, built in 1854. Two congregations worship here, the German and the English Lutheran. The building occupies the site of the old Union Church, built nearly twenty years earlier. It was about that time that the Lutheran congregations were formed Rev. Gollister was the first German minister and Rev. Abraham Snyder the first English Lutheran. Among the earliest members were George Wallick, Isaac Deardorff and George Welty. The German Lutheran congregation is the stronger of the two, numbering perhaps 150 members. Near the southwest corner of Franklin Township is an Evangelical English Lutheran Church. where a large congregation now worships. Rev. W. L. Tedrow is the present pastor. The society is quite an old one.

About two and one-half miles west of Strasburg, on School Lot No. 1, is a small Dunkard, or German Baptist, house of worship. where occasional services are held. They were commenced here but a few years ago, and the members in the vicinity are few.

The earliest preaching in the township was probably by Rev. J. B. Finley, of the Methodist Church, in 1800. He had a very extended circuit, but made an appointment for divine services at Sugar Creel: Falls. His pulpit was a large stump in a clear patch of ground. surrounded by plum thickets. During

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the sermon, his congregation would not come forth from behind the bushes, and the zealous minister had the novel experience of speaking apparently to the open air. A second appointment was made, and this time the assembling people threw off their shyness and bravely faced the pioneer missionary. The preaching however effective, did not result in the formation of a class. A Methodist society was organized however a few years later in the southwestern part of the township, and about 1820 a log meeting house was built on the John Casebeer farm, northwest quarter of Section 12. Mr. Casebeer, John and Richard Burrell and others were members. Preaching was continued for nearly twenty years, when the church was abandoned and has long since disappeared.

A Winebrennerian Church formerly stood on School Lot 21, in the southwest part of the township. It was built largely through the efforts of Andrew Swinehart and Mr. Keplinger. The membership of the congregation was not large. and services ceased here years ago.