USA > Ohio > Stark County > Combination atlas map of Stark county, Ohio, compiled, drawn and published from personal examinations and surveys > Part 6
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The first ronds Inid ont in this towaship were the one lending froma Deerfield to Canton, dingonnlly neross tho towasbip, and that from Solem, intersecting the first at the village of Lexington. Tho first post-office was on the formor of these routes ; it wns established in 1911, tbreo-fourths of a milo west of the vilinge, at the cabiu of tho pioncor Jessu Feltz. The form is now owueil by his son, Shad- raob Foltz, who hnil control of tho office nearly twelve years. A weekly mail arrived at this statiun ; it was carried ou horseback hy Jeduthan Farnbam, who wns considered to havo mude an extraordinary trip when he ronobed Canton from Deerfield in one day. William Ringshury, a wounded veteran of 1812, was postasaster for many years. fr. M. Kingsbury bas the sole honor of representing tho County in the State Assembly, from this towaship, iu 1843.
The first newspaper published in the division was the Ledger, in 1854.
In early days, the "Mahoning was a grand stream, now dwindted to a rivolet. The pioneers considered it navigahlo, and thoughtit would he a future highway of commerec, heaco Lexington in 1805. Tho river caters the township on the south- orn third of its castera border, winds in a cirouitous direction, and passes out at its northeastern corner.
Indians and pioneers drew from its waters a full supply of fine fish.
Tho township possessed a municipal organization March 4, 1816,-eleven years after the primal settlement.
The first house in Lexington distinguished hy & shingle roof was builtin 1808, by A. Mfollowny. Horcin Gidcon Hughes opened the first store, und, not succeed. ing, was the first mercantile failure. The bouse then became of uso for the first religions meetings, by the Friends, and when not so used was still further util- ized as the first seat of learning, witn Daniel Votaw as its first pedngogue, whoso services were secured by subscription among the Friends. The first improvement east of Allianco was on Mercer Clearing, situated at the junction of County line and Mt. Union roads.
The ouly house or cabin, in 1818, between Salem and ths present sito of Alli- ance, stood half a mile west of Damasens, and was built by Mr. Morris. Charles Hamlin and others went down to the mouth of Little Beaver to get wheat floured. Corn was floated down the Obio in harges, and soll to the settlers until their olearings yielded a sufficieney. It occupied three days to take two bushels of corn to he ground, carrying it on horschuck. The first grist-mill ia the township was on the river south of Lexington. It was built by Aaron Stratton ; a saw-mill Was huilt in connection with it. Ilere Amos Haltowny lost a son by the fulling of a benm upon him. Tho next mill wna built by Byron Elliot, on Deer Creoic, ono mile west of the village of Limaville, und is stilt in uso. Snw-mills are necessi- ties of early days, and transitory in existence. Rolla Day built the first in Lox- ington Township, on the Mahouing. Prior to 1840, ton to twelve bad been built, and nono since. Steam mills have supplanted tho water mills, but the timber has become searoc and is small. Georgo Stronp preoted one in 1857, at Alliance.
The town of Lexington was Inid out iu lots during 1807, and named after tho huttle-field of April 19, 1775. Williamsport sprung into existeneo iu 1827, Free- dom iu 1838, and Mt. Union in 1840.
The post-oflico in Freedom was established in 1848, and David G. Ilester, tho first postmaster, beld the office eighteen months. The first mail to Freedom brought ono paper, the Ohio Repontory, and one letter. The gross receipts of the first quarter were sorenteen dollars ; for 1873 they were fifteen hundred dollars. The first mail carrier through the township was named Forman. The earliest physician was Dr. Joseph Shrove.
The first school in the Alliance section of tho township was held in a vocatod enbin, built on land west of the fair-grounds. It wns tought by Andy Murray, in 1820. The Union School at Alliance was organized Februury 21, 1827, with J. K. Piokett for first superintendent.
Lexington Towoship was surveyed in December, 1799, by Zuccheus Biggs, in seotions, and subdivided in 1805, by William Heald. From 1806 to 1812, taxes ranged from one to two dollars por section. The collectors nununlly traversoil the township to gather this amount.
On Thursday, Juno 8, 1834, the first nowspaper was published. In 1830, people were ordered to meet for muster ucar Louisville; Do que went. Ia 1846, Ilenry Chonoo was Cuptaia of a fino well-dritled company. In 1861, tho real spirit of the people was shown in their "rally round the Blog." Wheat was dis- eused in 1950; it looked well, but produced sickness among those who used its finur. Thrasbing by fluil was doue from 1825 to 1845 ; since that date thrasher» have been used.
The first person to officinto as justice of the penoe, at the hend of a line of sixty succeeding, was Nathan Gaskill, whose commission dated from May 19, ISt7, and who served during three consecutive terms. Ile married two couple elad in homo-mado linen, the groom barefooted, the bride in stoga sbocs nud stockingless.
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Jehn Warnor, s justice, gave the following decision in a ease brought beforo him : "Defendant shall give pleintiff a pig at weaning timo, make elnp-beards when weatber permits, and pay cost of suit as soon as ho enn sell his maple sugar."
Jehn Greer, tanner, was Limaville's first Methodist elass-leasler. Its municipal government began April 3, 1841, by the election of Isane Winnns, Mayer. Loxington Township has the following table of population : 180G, 10; in 1820, 165 ; in 1873, 6000. A casnatty occurred December 5, 1850, by a collision of trains, by which nine persons were killed and twenty injured.
The Methodist Church began with six members, in 1810, at Lexington, Calvin Cutter and Jehn Stewart heliling services in private houses till 1827, when A chureb was built ef white-onk logs.
Lnud-owners in the towuship hell, on an average, thirty-seron acres. July I, 1853, enw tho first engine on the Cleveland and Pittsburg Railrond bero.
THE CITY OF ALLIANCE.
This, Stark's third city, is of recent origin and rapid growth. Its name is in- dicativo of union; its leeetien, where the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chiengo and Cleveland and Pittsburg railroads interscet, is favoreble to its business men ; and its rapid adravec in population bud menufactures is duo te tho cutorprise of its citizens.
The survey lines were run by John Whitacre, County Surreyer; and the town of Freedom, now included in the corporate limits of Allianeo, was laid out on the 24th of July, 1838, by Matthias Hester, who erected a plnin, newt brick house, the first built, during the same year. Allinneo was Inid out September 21, 1850. Hester maile tho first addition. Elisha Tecten come in 1835, and in 1851 laid out the second or Teeten's aildition; building thereon the first house and inang- urnting the practice of medicine in the new town. Ellis Johnson was his sur- veyor, whom he personally assisted in the work. In 1$51 Freedom had one hundred and seventy- five inhabitants, one four-mill and saw-mill, water-power; two tavorna, n tan-yard, three frame churches, and ono small school-house. Farm fenees disappeared; fromes gavo way to brick ; where was a swamp, the home of hear and deer, the engines run, and commerco ban ite way.
Religious history : during 1840 the United Brethren wore the leading denoui- inntion; built a brick chureb in 1858 ; pastor in 1808, David Kosht. In 1851 the Methodists, forty or fifty strong, built a frame, which the Friends bought in 1865. April, 1867, the new M. E. church was completed, at a oost of twelve thousand five hundred dollars. A. B. Leonard was pestor during the work. Presbyterinns in 1853 numbered twelve ; A. B. Maxwell, pastor. Christians in 1857 had thirty of a congregation; P. K. Dibhle in charge. Catholie, 1861, Ofteen families; Father Haunin, founder of the church. Other societies are represented and growing in strengtb. In 1868, Alliance, in a population of five thousand, had one thousand three hundred and fifty-ono church members.
Sehool interests are flourishing. A small brick house held all the school-going population in 1850. Now, one fine house is erected at a cost of nearly oleren thousand dollars, three smaller at three thousand dollars ench, and two more begun. The enrollment is large, the tenebers are experienced, and system prevails. Tradesmen : Hester sold the first dry goods during 1838. llo was succeeded in 1846 by Samuel Shaffer. Linus Ely, from Ravenna, opened the first hardware store, first in Freedom, then more prosperously in Alliance.
Rise in real estate has mado the poor rich and replaced the old clapboard with the stylish Mansard roof. Lets which were high nt forty dollars, are now cheap at two thousand dollars. Where now stand tho finest blocks the land was almost given away to encourage building.
Railroads: Tho grade of the Cleveland and Pittsburg railroad was completed to Alliance in 1850, and Freedom heard the engine's shriek as the first train of cars arrived on the 4th of July, 1851. This samo year Alliance obtained a post- office, with D. G. Hester ns postmaster.
The two railroads beiug finished to this point, General E. R. Eekley, on his way to Cloveland, called on Samuel Cassidy, the owner of a farin noar town, and found bim much disturbed that the trains should be run so near him, and iung- ined much trouble from tho " devilish things." Ho concluded hy offering tho land to the general at twenty-five dollars per acro. Ho did nut buy, and S. Jen- bings and J. Brooks beenmo owners. Much money has been realized from sale of lots by Messrs. Teeten, Lamborn, and Bleakley, the next ownors.
In 1857, two small houses stood between Allianec and Mount Union ; now hond- some and costly residences on either side line the entiro distance of two miles.
The chief inonufnotory of Alliance is her rolling-quill, begun is 1806. It has n capacity of over fifty tons daily, and tho salaries of its hands amount monthly to over twelve thousand dollurs. Besides thin there are agricultural works, fur- niture-factories, planing-mills, lend-works, stenm-engine works, trashing-ma- chine factory, bauka, hotels, newspapora, stores, and a full representation of a live city's industries. A buge and lofty building, known as the Opera- House, takes the eye of the observer. lis roputed cost was seventy thousand dollars. It was not a profitable investment, but it nulds to the looks of the city. Apparently, nature and art are united in furnishing resonrees to the city, und either as a plece of business or a pleasant boine Allianeo offers superior inducements.
'The veterans of 1865 have a "post" of the Grand Army of the Republic, The city has a fira department, prompt and fearless in tho disebarge of their duty, and the guardians of posee bave qniet times.
SANDY TOWNSHIP.
Sandy Township was organized on the same day by tha Commissioners as was Canton, Plain, Nimishillon, and Osnaburg. The original division of the County into these townsbips was made on March 16, 1809. The first election was held at the house of Isaac Baumefus. The first Inx, amounting to cighteen dollars and seventy-five centa, was collected by William Withrow.
THE FIRST SETTLERS
came to Sandy in 1805, from Virginia. They were Isaac Van Motor, wife, and ohild, and his father-in-law, Jutues Downing, who, serving as a soout under Brady, hnd been over tho territory previously. Their elearing was inado on land now owued by Richard Elsou. Downing returned to Virginia for his family, and came back in 1800, accompanied by bis ebildron, James, Ilugh, Adaus, and n daughter, Sarah, still living. In the same year James Reeves and Muwily Bottled on lands owned by John Bowman. Next como William Knotts and family, John Veneman, half-brother, and their motber, in 1808, and located in the southwest corner of the township. Along in the enmo year William Thompson and family, John Creighton, and James llewitt came in. Hewitt was warried on his way west,-a runaway match, Along in 1810, settlers arrivod in strong foree and acuttered themselves over the township. They erected rude cabin horues in the woods ; there were no openings, no ronds.
William Hewitt claims to be the first white chill born in the township, on Jan- uary 31, 1809, but tho point in disputed by Jobn Van Metor, son of the first original settler, whose birtb dutes iu IS00.
The first death was that of Mrs. Veneman, November, 1808. Sho was buried on the Knotts' form, on a spot still in use as a burlal-ground.
This form claims the sito of the first school-house, put up in 1808. Tho second scheel-hense was built on the Cameron farm, In 1816. The first school-teecher was William Lco; the seeemil, Jehn Laughlin. The first teacher in the Camoron scheel was Alphons Brown, who later held offices in the County.
Joshua Beer was the carly prencher,-e Presbyterian,-and useil te preach at Downing's hense. Among the church-members were Peter Mottice, David Silver, James Hewitt, and Mary A. Bentty. The l'resbyterians united with the Luther- Rua, wheso first prencher was Rov. Mr. Wagenbeltz, to build their first chureb. The first Methodist meetings were held at the house of Morgan Van Meeter.
The first physician called was D. Ruppee, ef Canton, in 1810. No docter located till 1816, when Dr. Mays, of New Lisben, opened an offico at Waynesburg. The first merriuge was that of Ilugh Duwning to Mary Ilibbitt, on Mny 13, 1813. John Laughlin, in 1813, built the first cabin on ground upen which Joseph Ilandlin Inid out the village of Waynesburg, and had the plat recoriled in 1814. The samo year Daniel Sheffer bought the lands and unsold lets of fandlin.
James A. MeCInro ostablisbed the first tonnery in the township. Jeb Allen enme te Waynesburg in 1816, end began blacksmithing. In 1817, Henry Pickard began shoemaking at the some plneo. Frederick A. Boegel, in 1810, did the first tuitoring ; generally the people wove their own cloth and mado up their own cloth- ing, and he for whom the tailor made up clothing was upper quality. The fel- lewing gires pioneers in otber occupations : grist-will by John Brown, sow-mill by Joseph Hanillin, in 1817, which was at a later date converted into a weelen- mill by Jehn Choddoek ; hotel-keeper, Daniel Shaeffer ; store, Mendlin and Bar- Dard Mahon. First Waynesburg soboel-teacher was John Alexander; second, Alpheus Brown. The first burial in graveyard nt Waynesburg was in 1818, the hody of Philip Shneffer.
SOLDIERS OF 1812
from Sandy wero James Downing, Jr., Captain ; and James Reeves, Benjamin Miller, Benjamin Greathouse, James Carothers, John Creighton, Jr., Henry and George Shultz, Robert Thompson and brother.
FIRST ELECTION.
Sandy, Rese, Brown, and Horrison were united for township affairs, and the first election bas beon noticed. Hewitt was the first justice of the peace. To Thomna MeCall, a settler in 1818, wo are indebted for much of Sandy's history. Waynesburg, in the sontbenst part on the Tusenrawas Railroad, a branch of the Cleveland and Pittsburg Railroad, is quite a flourishing town. There are four churches, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Disciplo. The Union school enrolls one hundred and seventy-eight pupils. Magnolia is a villago near the County line. This towuship contains but twenty sections, the balance having been taken to form Carroll in 1932 and 1833. The name was suggested froin the anndy loam, a fertile and highly productive coil. There is in the township good timher, fine atone and conl quarries, and all the elements of comfort and progress.
OSNABURG TOWNSHIP.
At a meeting of the Commissionors held on the 16tb of Maroh, 1809, this town- ship was bounded and named Osnaburg. Tbo first cleetion was ordered to be held at William Noilor's house. Tbo first colleotor was James Price, and the amount of tax first levied in tho township was nineteen dollars and fifty cents. Among the sottlera prior to 181I we find the names of Sheffer Hartman, Henry Shull, Michael Flora, Jacob Troxell, and Thomas Seovey.
Tho surfaco is one of the most broken and hilly in Stark County, but it is a fine farming scotion. The traveler soos good houses and substantial barns along the zigzag roads. Whent is tho staplo grain, and the hills are green with promise of w coming erop. Coal is plenty : nhuost overy farm bas tivo voina of ooal, one four and a half feet thick and nine feet below, the othor tbroo feet thick. The upper vein is being worked. Dr. Whiteleather's mine, near Gsnnhurg, witb cight banda, produces sixteen hundred bushols daily, wbich, at ten conts per bushel, yields a handsome income.
There are two villages in tho township. Osnaburg, in the northwest, was settled by Penusylvanians; it is a place of three hundredl to four hundred inhabitants. It has tbreo churebes, two hotels, and an excellent school-building.
Mapleton, to the southenst, is politically a Republican stronghold. It has two dry-goods stores, and otbor business buildings. George Snyder is the present postmaster, and ono of the oldest residents. There is but one mail a week. The pioneor settlors of the townsbip wore Peter Mottice, Michael Engle, David Edward&, James Prico, Jacob Kitt, Robert hutimer, Abrabarn Bair, the Thomases, Bossamon, n Methodist minister, and Jobn Sluss, eno of the first justices. Thesa come partly in 1804, nud some as Into as 1807, and located near Osnaburg. Aloxandor Com- eron sottled, ahont 1867, south of the village of Mapleton, ou the Little Sandy, and Balser Augustino and George Poe took sections adjoining him.
James Leoper laid out the town of Gsnnburg about 1807, and settlers located near by, in the expectation of its being tho County seat.
Frank Ake and Douglass Wilson and families settled in Section 32 in 1811. There were no ronds, and enoh settlor out his own rond to his section.
The war of 1812 checked settlement, hut in 1815 the tido returned, sud poured its wave iuto nearly all parts of the towuship.
Christian Koontz, an early merchant, began business with half a dollar, and hy fair denling amassed a million. Each of three sons has a controlling interest is as inany national banks.
William Mitchell, a jolly Friar Tuck, was a circuit-ridor in 1812, and enjoyed the hospitality which all were glad to give him.
Cameron was the first class-lendor; the class numbered four families.
The pioneer preacher of tho Baptists was'Edward Otis; meetings wero held once a month at Mr. Engle's house. Polly Kitt, now wife of Joseph Doll, residents of Osnnburg, was the first white child born in tho township; she is now, in 1875, in her seventieth year, a sprightly and companionahle old lady. Sickness was uncominon. There was no resident physician, and when modical nid was needed Dr. Hartford was called from Canton. The first funeral was in the spring of 1811, wben Mrs. Milligan was buried. Her coffin was a rough box. . Rev. Hutchinson sang a verso beginning " From all who dwell beneath the skies," nud that was all there was of ceremonies.
The first township roud, from Pekin to Congress Furnace, was orderod on the potition of Samuel Mohley, during the years 1815 or 1816.
David Bair, in 1843, gavo the name and existence to Mapletou.
Abraham Boir ran a saw-mill, near by, at the sumo date. The axo and cross-out saw were the early implements for house and furniture making. Trading was generally done at Canton or Waynesburg. A. Bair scoms to have been a teneber as woll as sawyer, and baring built himself a new house, used his old one, in 1822, for his school-room.
Peter Byers built the first grist-mill, on tbo Loutzenheiser placo, in 181-1.
Jacob Kitt, already moutioneil, still lives in lluntington County, Indiana, at the advanceil age of ninety.seven years. It is suid of him that wben ho wns in search of a loention, in 1804, he mow a îne rapid- flowing brook, aud, trneing it to where it gushed from the earth a strong spring, he struck his staff into the enrth, exclaiming, " This is my quartor seetion." Here, one mile south of Gsnahurg, he built his onbis and lived many years. In 1811 fire destroyed his home, but his
neighbors rallying, soon rebuilt it, Mrs. Barbora Kitt, bis wifo, wes the first white woman in tho township, and come in 1805. George Latimer wes tho second birth und the first mele child born in the township, in Geteber, 1865.
The first school-master in Osnaburg was Robert Thompson ; the second, Wiltiem Neiler. They were supported by tho Kitts, Studybekers, Latimers, and Bairs. Tuition waa dear, at half a dellar per child for three months. Revs, Weir, a Lutheren, end Fanst, German Refermed, organized tbe first church iluring I$20, with about twenty-five members. Tho firat sermen was preached hy Rev. Lambrick, Lutheren, in Minniob's house, in the year 181.1. A Sundny-school ins commenced in Mepleton ebont 1827. Rudolf Bair, in 1808, become the first justice, and hed, with his successor, Sluss, the jurisdiction frem the Ohie to Luke Erie. Hlecking Smith was the first constable, John Helly, first weaver ; leury Lung, blacksmith; Jneob Kitt, distillery; Mr. Handlin, enbinet-meker; and Ira Woed, physician. Ilew singular thet the aged ferget events of recent date, and recollect, as though a thing of yesterday, these interesting items of a well- nigh forgotten past !
NIMISHILLEN TOWNSHIP.
Nimishillen was an originally fortmed township when Stark County was divided inte townships, Merch 16, 1809. The first elcetion was held at the house ef Henry Leutzenheisor.
Tbo neme is ef Iniline erigin, and probably commemorative of peculiarities ef lands. Tho depot of tho Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railreed, which traverses the township, is built on the site of Loutzenheiser's bouse. The old township records were destroyedl,-an irretrievable loss. Frem Adam Lout- zenheiser, resident of Louisville since January 30, 1808, and the first born white in the township, we glean these fragments of its history.
The first settlers who came here on or before 1800 and settled were John Bowers and family, located on land now owued by Bollinger, John Thomas, enstern part of the township, on Lefong's land ; and a group consisting of John Rupert, Georgo Saner, Daniel Matthina, George Ively, Harmon Obenower, and Henry Loutzenbeisor came out in 1807, and settled near Harrisburg. Adam Rupert cama out alono in 1805, and selected the ecotions of Ilenry and John, near where all settled. Ulrich Sbively settled westward of present site of Louis- ville.
The reason of their settlement being made near Harrisburg, was tho elevated location and the beavy poplar anil chestnut timber. They thought the land lying lower and westward was poor, while tbo reverse was true. Tho low ground in gravelly, the bigh a heavy olay. Whent is an uncertain crop through its liability to winter-kill.
John Warner and brothers made a settlement in the northwest corner of the township in 1807, and found good level agricultural lands. John Eby, an 1807 settler, put up a raw- and grist-mill on the Nimishillen, a mile and a half west of Louisville, in 1810, tho first of the kind erceted. The first etenm snw-mill was put up and run by Henry Hoover, on the east lino of tbo township. Its career was brief; soon exploding, it killed John Reed, the firciuon. Ilenry Leah was killed at a raising by the falling of a log,-the first death by accident In the township.
During 1808 many families moved in. Some carried pocket-compasses, and, keeping the direction of their claim, eleared their way to it with axes. Ou arri- val, the wagon became the home until a shelter could he made; this took but a day or two, and then work at elearing by all hands begon. The first shelter was generally about twelvo feet square, and wben circumstances improved, the cahin made a comfortable sheep-pen, secure from storm and prowling wolf.
Harrisburg, to the northeast, is the oldest village, and was laid out by Jacob Matthias in 1830, at tbo crossing of tho Lexington and King's roads. It grew to he quite a flourisbing place, until the completion of tho railwny farther south sounded its knell, and it is now a quiet village of about tweuty families.
David Rohn was its early storekcoper. Christian Barger put up n ilwelling- house to start the town, and a man named Wolf kept a tavorn nud store combined. A tannery was run by Samuel Connel.
Louisville, a flonrisbing town of a thousand people, is an outgrowth of the rail- rond and of plucky enterprise. It had been laid out in the fall of 1833, by Henry Loutzenheiser and Frederick Finnet. These soon sold out. A start was mado in building by Henry Wolf's putting up & hewed-log bouse, and keeping in it a store, tavern, and har combined. Solomon Georges opened the first regular store, while blacksmithing was dono by Androw Gongnuour. Produce had no loonl market. Wheat was hauled to Cleveland, thon, the equal being built, to Massillon, and finally, wben the railroad was finisbed, to Louisville. John 11. Klippart, a merebant, built a warehouse and became the first bomo wbent buyer, . Henry Matthias, an old resident of Louisville, aforms that llenry Wintrodo wws the first township clerk; Jacob Tombaugh, the constable ; Michael Ringer and A. Metz, fence-viewers; Matthew Rowes and John Rupert, trustees ; and H. Lout. zenheiser and Rowes, supervisors. Thore were but two roads,-the Lexington was partly graded by local and County nid. Stark's roads are free; the toll-gate is an unknown institution in any of her townships.
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