USA > Ohio > Stark County > Combination atlas map of Stark county, Ohio, compiled, drawn and published from personal examinations and surveys > Part 8
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Bechtel, an carly constable, on being sworn in, mundo the execption "to swear when he pleased and huut on Sunday," and so qualifiod.
Whent is a special orop; other grains are profitably raised. Two ecal- banks are worked, ene by John Oberlin, the other by Mrs. Menin.
The cigbth school district was organized Septomber 9, 1826, and Poter Lonteen- beiser1 John Gaff, and James llarry wero the directors, Oaff being clerk and treas- urer.
LAKE TOWNSHIP.
Agricultural statistios aro recorded, but pioneer life has its solo existence in the waning memorles of one or two aged links to a former generation ; whon these are gone, the history is irretrievably lost. It is yot possible to obtain some facts of Inko's early history,
Among its oldest seltlors, locating nt vorlous chosen seetions of fresh Innde, woro Joseph Moore, Henry Schwartz, tho Markloys, Jacob Brown, Commp, John Fryberger, George Machaner, John Morehoart, Martin Buchtelq and Peter Ream. Tho presont oldest man in this quarter is Jobn Miller, just now a residout of Greentowu, and aged ninety-ono.
The Wiso's, Myora', and Pentins', numerous families, established their abode on the west side of this territory.
Organization of Lako dates from Juno 4, 1816, by order of the County heard, then consisting of James Brennan, Jobn Kryder, and James Latimer. Election was ordered June 29, at the house of Jeseph Moore, for township officers. Of justices, Jolm ffenghton was sworn in, 1835, and served eighteen years ; anceceded by S. S. Geih. This prominent man served the soruo long period.
The surfree of the towuship is undulatory ; the suil is rich in grain elements. Excellent wheat and fine fruit nro raised in abundaneo. Congress Lake, the pres- ence of which probably suggested the name of this part of Stark's demain, is a fino sheet of water, one mile and a half long hy a hatf mile wide, and loentod in the northeast corner uf the townsbip. Woll stocked with fino lish, it is a favorite resort for disoiples of the rod. Its outlet was clenrod out and the Inke mnde a feeder to tho Ghio and Pennsylvania Canal, hut timo has seeu both reclaimned by unturo.
The wator-shed between the Inke and gulf extends frow tho enst westwardly across the townsbip : the inolinntion either side is imperceptible. South of tho lake aro small swamps, being drained by the respective Inud-owners upon whoso farina they oxist.
Tho inception of various oocupations, so far as leurnod, were as follows : A pust-office, on Section 33, in a strueturo built by John Fryberger, and used as a tavern, snid Fryborger being both landlord and postmaster. Anothor public house was kept by Jncoh Brown, balf a mile north, on the Canton and Ravenna road, and a third, by Henry Kramer, on the same road, south of the first named. They were all of the old, well-knowu log typo. Ono of the ourliest distillers was Henry Swartz, in the southenst of the township. A water-mill is running still, built in 1835, hy David Shroves. A steam grist-mill is in operation near Greentown, run by Housely, Wiso & Co.
There are four post-offees, and onoh is a point of interest in township history. Uniontown and Greontown enjoy a daily mail; Cniro and Hartsville but twieo a week. Martsville, in the northeast, is a smart business place, laid out, in 1850, by Joseph Shullenberger, now soventy-four years of ago. It has growa to n present population of ono hundred and fifty to two hundred. Its first trader was Henry Grove, followed by John Willis, and then Squiro Houghton.
The old log store fulfilled its mission and gavo way, in 1874, to n church owned by tho Evangelienl Lutherans, and constructed at a outlay of three thousand dol- lars. Rev. Birch, pastor. The Methodists had ereeted, ahout 1845, n house of worship, whieb was bought by the German Roformed; it has since gono down. A log enbin, one mile north of towa, is noted as the fororunner of greater things in the ineoption of schools.
Cairo, to the south, is u bamlet, owing its oxisteneo to Simon Snyiler. It has a steam-mill, and its singlo tradesman, B. F. Maobamier, solls ainny goods.
Uniontown, on the Canton and Akron road, was laid out, in 1810, by tho Myers Brothers, whoso various appellations ara still a subject of plonsantry. Tho Ger- man Reformod put throo thousand dollars into a church, in 1835, and bung ia its steeple a musical-sounding bell, which is heard for miles around. There are two other ehurehes, and drug and dry-goods stores. Pooplowako tho town a place in which to live rather than to do business, and it bears a nnine for quiet. Popula- tion, one thousand.
Greentowu, niue mites north of Canton, has five hundred pooplo, several mills, and a church. llero Ephraim Ball started a foundry, about 18351 and hegon a prosperous onreer. This town has the honor of boing tho birthplace nad carly home of Cornelius Aultman, Colonel E. Ball, Jacob and Lowis Millor, and licorgo Cooks, the prominont men of Canton and Akron.
Lako Townsbip has a real estate valuation of over one million dollars. Pou- perago is unknown. Sho has an aged man in the infirmary who mado over to the institution his property aud ohoso it for bie lifo's home.
North of Groentown is n handsome quarry of sandstone, opened by Loonard Rabor, Esq. Limo-kilos abound; coul-banks are amplo, and the citizens of Lake Township will find, by omigratiou olsewhere, no better homos.
BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP.
Tho township was sottled hy Richard Carter, n Frlondy with his son-in-law, Joshun Condy, at the mouth of Sandy, as early no 1802. Carter kopt a trading- house at Post's mission station, on land latoly owaod by Elins Young. A Fronob Canadinn passing in 1780 to 1785 from Betroit south, spenks glowingly of tho beauty and richness of the country. Tusenlala Village containod threo thousand inhabitants, ond sevoral thousand acres of land wore in eorn.
In 1802, tho Belawaros woro a powerful tribo; full five thousand warriors woro botween Bethlehem audl Fort Lawrenoo. Tho "Leni Lonapo" have disappeared, und Cooper's " Last af tho Mobienus" presorves in romaneo n story of the rnoe. The plowsharo levols their graves, and tho powerful Belnwaros aro no more. Carter suppliod ammunitiun to the Indians, in exchange for their furs and polts, and, in the fall, they bung their vonison around his cabin for safo-keoping, aml told him to tuko what ho wantod.
'The first death In Bothlohem Township wos Mrs. Coady. Iler remains lie on the old Allinan form, near Bothlohow. Mrs. Klino kopt housofor Condy and took eure of his four children.
Jonathan Condy laid out the village of Botblchem, built the first house, and Mr. Klingle, father of James Klingle, of Sugar Crock Township, kopt the first store. James Grounds taught the first school at Bethlehem, and was clerk of the first election beld at Canton. James Gaff mado the ballot- box nmed oa tho
occasion, for which ho roecivedl fifty cents. Aquilla Corr and his wife, Nelly, were the first couple married in the towuship.
Bethlehem Towuship was incorporated in 1816, on the 12th of Becomber. The petition was presented to the Commissioners, then in sossion,-John Kryder and William Albin.
The first entries were made by Johu Shulter, Niobelns Stump, Georgo Kelm, Mathias Shepler, Representativein the Twenty-fifth Congress, from 1837 to 1839, J. W. Condy, Kreigbbaum, Ebenezer Allman, and John Sbalter. Rov. Richard S. Gee, n Swedenborgian, was the earliest known minister. He and Condy came Wost to begin a system of society in the Tuscarawas volloy such as bas been tried hy Owen, at New Harmony, Indiann, aud elsewhere in the United States.
Condy was a man of great ontorprise as well as personal probity of life. lle erected a steam grist- und enw-mill in 1816. The mill-houso was contracted to be built of stone quarried from the vicinity of Hurford's mill. Tho township is irregularly formed on the south. The Obie Canal following the bends of the Tuscarowne River, and neurly parallel in its course, oxtends through the town- ship. Bethlehem, Rochester, and Navarro are three closely-situated villages, known principally hy the latter name, and situated on the river, in the northwest part of tho township. This place hos an old-time roputation for wheat ship- mouts.
PERRY TOWNSHIP.
Perry Township wes oreoted iato a distinct organization en tho last Saturday of Fobrunry, 1814, and took its name from the hero of Put-in-Bay,-Oliver Haz- ord Perry. It is well watored. From Sippo Lake, in the northeast, runs tho Big Sippo to the Tusearawas Branch of tho Muskingum, in Massillon, furnishing waler-power for the city's famous flouring-mills. Little Sippe reaches the canal through the same city. The Turcarawas River, flowing southward through the township, nearly parallel with its wostern boundary, wes once a navigahle stream. Salt was once brought over the portage, from the Cuynboga down this river, in canoos and fint-bonts, and sold at sixteen dollars per herrel.
Au examination of the treaty of Fort McIntosh, of dato January 21, 17851 and that of Orcenville, August 3, 1775, diseleses the fact that tho fee of the Tus- oarawas brauch of the Muskingum River yet remains with the Indians.
When tho township was organized and its boundaries defined by the County Commissioners, in October, 1813, the first oleetion was held at the littlo enhin of Benjamin Meck, on Sectiou 16, oa the south hank of tho Littlo Sippo.
No rolinble township records can bo found of township proceedings till 1825. It is known, however, that Charlos K. Skinner, C. Coffin, J. Neely, B. Cunninger, J. Waggons, J. Balney, P. Jacoby, S. Shorb, M. GInsier, M. Oswalt, II. Costlo- man, J. Ress, R. B. and B. Meck, R. Andrews, J. Bowman, M. Folger, were, with many others not named, frat settlers, and hore their part in township duties and held its early offices; hut one, Mr. Skinaer, at the ripe age of eighty-four, remains. Immigration beenmo so rapid that it is hard to say who built the first eabin. To Benjamin Cunninger the honor is thought duc. It was loented bo. tween Canton and Massillon, near the site of the late F. Bechler's houso, itself one of the oldest residenees in the township.
The first saw-mill and woolen-winnufactory wero put up by Thomas Rotoh, n settler of Porry, in 1812. They stood many years, but both mills nre of the past : not a restige of cithor remains. In 1814, Captain M. Folger erected u grist- and saw-mill on Sippo Creek, fifty rods above the mill of Warwick & Justus, on the Big Sippo, in Massillon. These, toe, havo passed away, to make room for modern improvements. Onrrett Crusen olenred and plowod the first pieco of Innd in the township, on premises now owned by Colonel F. Wehh, in the northeast part of tho township.
Thomas Rotoh and his wife, Charity, wore prominont members of the Society of Frionda, and born in Now Bodford, Massachusetts. They moved to Stark County in 1812, and mado a frontier settlement in the westera wilds. Mr. Rotob having entered about two thousand aoros of land, laid out the village of Kendal, naming it after a manufacturing oity in England. lle intended to bo the founder of just suoh a city, and himself creotod a large woolen-mill, and hought the most thoroughbred Spanish merino sheep, careless of cost. lle bad, and took, bis choieo of stock imported hy Colonel Bavid Humphrey in 1803, and did moro to improve the breed than any other man in the County. The first select school in the township was taught by the lato General Cyrus Spink, who, at his donth, was member of Congress eloet from the Woostor distriet. Ife taught iu the building known as tho " Quskor Mooting. House," in Kendal. This house was the first one creotod for publio worship in the township. In connection with onrly cburch membership the nnmos ooour of J. Taylor and wife, M. Collins, E. Hony, and J. Hoald.
Buring 1826 trado was dopressod, produco unsalable, and money non est. Be- sidos milling, T. Rotch brought in tho first stoek of goods for sale. Ho was soon followod by Judgo William Honry and A. Chapman, and in 1826 by Isninh Brown; these wero, thorofore, of tho early storokeopers. The first justico of tho-peace was Franois Smith; the second, N. Ray. Among prominent men of an early dny were J. Buncan, II. Bull, aud G. Earl.
Tho first road laid out (wa monn in these points within tho township) as n highway, passod through Kondal, and crossed the rivor hy a wooden toll-bridgo, which became so odious a monopoly that a froo bridge was ereoted in 1818; it was soarcoly finished hoforo it was cut down. Tho toll-bridge was rando free, anil, the road being ohangod, tho frea bridge fell into disuse.
The first tavern was opened in Kondal hy Jobn Bowman, of Pennsylvania, The first Methodist winistor was the Rov. Josiah Fostor; his appointments wore at privato houses. Ifis principal plnoo for pronohing in Perry wns tho tailor shop of John C. Mokay ; tho houso now stands on Front Street, Kendal, fourth ward of oity of Massillon. Sorvioes woro hold ovory six weeks. Iu IS10, the Mothodists aud Masons united to oroot a building for their joint nac. Tho Pres- bytorians had pronohing in a onrpcator's shop until 1830, whoa a church was organized under the pastornto of Rov. G. W. Warpor. Baring tho samo yeor tho Baptists, with Rov. O. N. Sage, pastor, organized a self-sustaining church in Mns. sillon, till 1844.
The first post-offico west of Canton was nt Kendal, Roteh boing postuunstor. In 1821, James Dunonn contracted with C. Coffin, a ship-onrpenter, to build a boat on which ho could go with a cargo of flour, whisky, and potatoes to New Orleans. During a froshet in the spring of 1822 he launobed his bark, and, renchiag Ciucinnati, was bought out boat and cargo, and walked back woll paid. Ife formed partnership with Mr. Skinner, and ran a wooleu-factory with success.
THE CITY OF MASSILLON.
In 1826, this city was laid out as a village by James Duncan, F. G. and L. Iluxthal, and takes its unto from Rt. Rov. J. B. Massillon, as was suggested by Mrs. Duncan, wifo of tho principal proprietor. Till this timo tho ground-plat of tho future city was known as " Buncan's Mill," Skinner's Factory," and tho " Free Bridge."
The first building put up nftor tho villago was laid out was that known as tho main part of the Farmors' llotol, corner of Erio and Oak Streets. Tho sites at tho southwost corner of Main and Mill, and tho northeast oornor of Main and Eric, now occupied by M. Riobammor and the MeLain Brothers respectivoly, woro
purchased, end botola erected hy their owners, J. Milter and M. Folger. Both buildings were burned,-Folger's in 1851, the other in 1853. The first lawyer in Massillon wns L. L. Footo, Esq., whose stay was brief; the next was Samuel Pense, who enmo in 1831, and remained till his death, a few years sineo.
The present survivors among the pioneers are C. K. Skinner, Jacob .]. Bahney, anl Jamos Jacoby and wife, residents of the city. In the township are William S. Bahney, Henry Waggoner, and Jacob Christian, all well known and highly respected.
The first canal collector was Contoin Folger, succeeded at his death by James Duncan, wbo held the office many years.
Fathor Werntz organized the first Catholic church in 1844; it was unfortunate in tosing its first hnilding hy fire in 1853; the present church is too small, and will doubtless soon bo exchanged for one more spacious. There are also in the oity the Christian, German Evangelical, Evangolican Lutheran, nud United Brethren denominations; a Young Mon's Association, a Lodge, Chapter, and Encampment of F. ond A. Masons, and various other organizations.
In 1847 the first publie meeting was held in Massillon, to consider the project of n railway connecting the East with the West.
THE CHARITY SCHOOL OF KENDAL.
Charity Roteh, at ber death, willed her estate to the founding of a manual laher sobool for orphans and the children of the poor; twenty thousand dollars wore realized for the work. The executors so carefully managed the fuuil, that now the "school" owns one hundred and seventy-five neres of valuable lanil, fino buiblings, and is able to maintain a school of forty pupila. The first school was opened, in the year 1825, by Philander Bawley, und has continued uninterruptedlly to the present time. Both sexes are admitted; common school branches, house- keeping, and form-work are tought.
Massillon's first bank, chartered in 1833, and called the Bank of Massillon, und a paid-up capital of two hundred thousand dollars. Its first issues of notes for circulation hore date October 1, 1834. President, James Bunoan ; cashior, .]. Calder. It went down with e crash in 1853. In 1848 the Union schools were organizod under the superiatendency of Colonel Lorin Andrews, who was president of Kenyon College, and colonel of the 4th Ohio in tho Inat war.
Increase of railways: the Massillen and Cleveland, the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago, and the Clovelund, Tusearawns Vulley and Wheeling Railways being facilities of conveynnee, with extensive manufactures, hinve given the city a new impetns.
In 1808, having the required population, it became a city of the second elnss; since which its population bad incronsod, in 1870, to five thousand one hundred and eighty-five, ranking tho twentieth in the State.
Its various manufactures, its henutiful location for residences, and its zebools, nro items of the dweller's pride. It owes no debt of amount; it progresses surely, and the result is permanent growth and substantial improvements.
In closing the history of Massillon, a word in regard to ber numerous und in- orensing manufacturing interests is important.
The Massillon Agrienltural Works, C. Russel & Co. proprietors, wero alarted in 1842, and a lapso of thirty-three years finds them occupying over twenty acres of land with their shops and warehouses, employing 300 men, and turning out 1000 thrasbing-machines a year, which are found in every part of the world, und cun- ceded to stanil at the head of all similar machines wherover mauufnotured.
The Massillon Excelsior Works originatod, some forty years ago, in a humble wny, but to-day finds this establishmont, under the management of Edwin Bayliss, doing a large and varied business. The Massillon llarvestor is their specialty, and has a fino reputation ; they also make many other kinds of agricultural im- plements.
Tho Voleano Furnace Co. bas a capital of $200,000, and their buildings eorer eighteen aores of ground. Capacity of furnace, 120 tons per week ; it runs twenty- four hours per day, and consumes 2000 tons of ooul per month, sending their iron throughout the country.
The Massillon Furnace started in 1852; since 1859 it has been under the control of J. P. Burton. It produces 5000 tons of pig-metal per year, consuming 2000 tons of coul per month. The furnnoo is over busy, and a living monmuent of Massillon's entorprise.
Of the many manufacturing interests in Massillon are Killinger & Co., inn- chinists, doing a large and increasing business ; Taylor, Mitchell & Poud, rolling. mill, who are fast soouring an enviable reputation. Then we have a largo grind- stone manufnotory ; Novolty Works of Taylor Clay ; Massillon Iron Bridge Co .; Massillon Paper Co., with a enpacity of 6000 pounds of straw paper per iny ; plaster, flour, pinning-wills, and many others, which give to Massillon a repnin -. tion as a lively, ontorprising city, ouo that is second to nono iu the County.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
Jackson is tho eterenth township, niath rango south of the base-line of the Connecticut Western Reserve. The township was organized by order of tho County Commissioners on April 1, 1815, and tho first cleotion bold for township officers nt the house of Jacob Click. At that time there resided in tho township of its earliest settlers, J. C. Balmer, Jacob Ettloman, lienry Shoomaker, Nathaniel Skinner, Isano Clay, Isaac Bowman, Richardl Williams, Daniol Richmond, Georgo Miller, John Lutz, and Samuel Lutz, who had senttored in different acotion», as faney influonced.
Richard Williams, Boniol Richmond, and Isano Bowman wero members of the Society of Friends, and of Kondnl " Proparativo" Meeting, iu Porry Township. In 1817, Thomas Reed and Richard Breed moved into the southwest portion of tho township, whoro they romained till their deaths, which occurred in 1824 and 1828 respectively.
In common with the pioneer settlers of the County, the parties ahoro named wero all upright, God-fearing mon; they established oburetes nud organized schools, and their influenco and example aro felt and shown iu tho township.
There are few townships of Stark which have more fertile laud or better culli- vation, while the Into development of coal-fields adds rapidly to its material wealth. It is well watored, the neror-failing Mud Brook yielding nbnost anti- oicut water in the driest sonsons to run the mills upoa its banks. Tuscarawns branch of the Muskingum draine the southwest corner of the township. Jack- son's valunblo stono quarries, loonted three miles north of Massillon, are to it connected by a sido-trnok of the some gange as tho maia lino of tho M. and C. Rnilroad. Cars can be run from the main lino down tho branch into the middle of the quarry, thore loaded, and hnulod ia all directions, and supplying Eusteru eities with tho hest of building stono.
In 1819, Samuel Bachtel moved Into the towaship, and there passed his lifo. Ilo stood high as a mann, and served with fidelity as one of the first justices.
Tho first grist- and saw-mill was built by Daniel Slanker, atso a pioneer sottter, on Mud Brook, north of tho one now run by Jumes MoConnoll; tho grist-mill ran ns n flouring-mill in 1822. This sito was nhandoned, and nnother, known as the "lligh Mill," built by the samo party on the same stream, and still naothor at the canal, at the mouth of the brook, which lust was destroyed a few yenrs sineo by fire.
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The Grat church edifice was orected in 1814, by different denominations,-Chris- tian unity being fully recognized by these pioneers. It was built of hewed logs, and named " Zion Church." The second church edifice in the township was built of Ilke material in 1815, and boro the unme of " Mud Brook." It was torn down in 1834, and replaced by a substantial brick, put up by John Lind, of Canton, and, when dedicated, called " Jacob's Church," but is better known as " Mud Brook Church."
Among the first schools, if not the first, in fonet, taught in Jookson, was one hy Themas Carmichael, in a log school-house, ou the rond between the residence of Thomas Reed aud that of Richard Breed. Noxt to Carmichael, na a teacher, wna Dr. B. Michener, whose reputation as a teacher of puro English is still fondly cherished by all whose good fortune made them his pupils.
The first binoksmith in the township is thought to have been the lato Michnel Spronkle, whose leg-built shop stood by the rondside near his residence for many years.
The village of MeDonaldaville wes laid out by Jacob Estlemon, and is the principal village iu the township. In conclusion, we aver that, na a rural tewn- ship, it knows no superior in the County.
The lands of the township have all changed owners since 1825, except the farm of John Beatty, on which he hes resided sineo 1820, and is now, February 23, 1875, in excellent health and ninety years of age.
SUGAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.
The first settlers in this township were the Grounds family, described in the County history. They enme In 1808. This part of the County had just heen surveyed, thereforo they made an unrestricted selection of a location. On ao- count of its numevous sugar-maple-trees, the quarter section now in possession of J. M. Truhy was chosen ns their future home. They cut and prepared loga for a dwelling, and gave notico to families nt Kendnl, Centon, und New Philadelphia of a raising. Two responded from Kendal, five from Canton, and three from New Philadelphia. Among them wns a lawyer, from the last-named plnee; and the County treasurer, from Canton. For eighteen months they were the only white persons living in the township, when Joshua Carr moved with his family inte the northern part of the township.
Then came Samuel IInl1, in 1810 ; Fetrow, in 1814; and, in 1815, the Welmers and Putnams enme, and thus slowly the country became settled.
The township dates ita organization from March 4, 1816. James Latimer and John Kryder, Commissioners, then in session, gave the order. The first election was held on the firet Monday in April, 1816, at the house of Adam Grounder, where their first township officers were elected. Calvin Brewster was elected justice of the peneo, and Joseph Poyser, Sr., constable. Poysor came from Fayette County, Pennsylvania, in company with John Mason and family. They stopped with Robert Barr, in Tusenrowas Townsbip, Easter Sunday, 1811. Poy. ser returned for his family, and moved to the lest-unmed township. The nearest neighbors were Robert Barr, Rev. Edward Otis, - Thomas, and Stephen El- dridge. Rev. William Mitchell, Methodist Episcopal, presohed at Peter John. son's and Joseph Poyser's bouses at stated times. Rev. E. Otis, Baptist, preached at his own house and at other houses in the neighborhood.
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