USA > Ohio > Columbiana County > Hanover in Columbiana County > History of Hanover, Columbiana County, Ohio, 1804-1908 > Part 6
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THOUGHTLESSNESS.
They say the world is round, and yet I often think it square; So many little hurts we get From corners here and there. But one sad truth in life I found While journeying east and west- The only folks we really wound Are those we love the best. We flatter those we scarcely know- We please the fleeting guest, And deal full many a thoughtless blow To those who love us best.
There is so much bad in the best of us, And so much good in the worst of us, That it scarcely behooves any of us To talk about the rest of us.
This cold world we are living in Is mighty hard to beat; We get a thorn with every rose- But ain't the roses sweet ?
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CIRCUS AND OPERA.
In days when circus and menagerie managements traveled by road there was no better show town anywhere than Hanover, all the big shows of the tine Icoking with favor on the village as a place wherein to pitch their tents. Every year saw its aggregation of griz- zlies, lions, tigers, giraffes, elephants and funny clowns in Hanover. In 1864, following the rebellion, when the boys of the 115th O. V. I. returned, Dan Rice, the greatest showman of his time, exhibited here. John Robinson was here with his shows two or three times, as was also Van Amburg. Yankee Robinson and the May Be & Cross Be shows, popular in their day and generation, were also here. It was not unusual for a show management to sell from 2,000 to 2,500 tickets for the exhibit of the day and 2,000 for that of the night.
The town hall was built about 1883, the second story being ar- ranged for the opera, numerous excellent troupes appearing before its footlights. The hall was dedicated by that popular man of the stage, Felix A. Vincent, assisted by a talented company of actors.
James S. Garside, the Hanover township boy, who has achieved considerable prominence as an actor, and who has appeared on the stage in almost every state of the union, has greeted fine audiences here upon several occasions, both with professional talent and with local companies while on a visit to his old Hanover home.
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BOOT AND SHOE DEALERS.
William L. Parthe, Hanover's boot and shoe dealer prior, during and immediately following the Civil War, left the village in either 1867 or 1868, and about this time we find Henry Keith and Joseph Heston carrying on similar enterprise.
John B. Speidel was a shoemaker, plying his awls and waxed ends in Hanover also at this time, and in 1867 or 1868, we find him branching out and carrying a stock of ready-made footwear, finally extensively engaging in the trade and continuing up to 1894, when he was succeeded by his son, D. H. Speidel, he still carrying a com- plete line of stock.
Thomas Vernon, along in the '70's, had an excellent shoe store in Hanover, his successor being William Moore. During later years Forest Koffel, Faloon & Melbourne and H. C. Dutton also conducted shoe store enterprises.
In 1907, L. F. Ling opened a shoe house in the village, and carries a nice line of stock.
James Gallaher was also during his life one of the old line shoe- makers of Hanover.
GUNSMITH.
William Johnson, a skilled gunsmith, came to Hanover an es- tablished a business during the winter of 1864 and 1865. He continued the work practically up to the time of death, March 19, 1885. He died at the age of 71 years.
BLACKSMITHS.
Hanover for many years had two well established smithy stands, each enjoying a splendid trade. Among the long line of smiths for the town were David Johnson, William Lockard, Walter Lockard, Joseph Kreusch, Wesley Fox, Samuel Fox, Jasper Johnson, Robert Campbell, Wilson Ramsey, F. J. Davis and A. J. Hoffman.
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HARDWARE, STOVES AND TINWARE.
In about 1870 William Lawson and Aaron Derhammer opened a general hardware, the first ever in the village, nothing in the way of hardware other than the shelf goods kept by other merchants hav- ing priorly been handled, the people hitherto going to New Garden for their needs in this line. The firm's successors have been G. W. Yant, Abe Shively, G. A. Sheets and C. E. Sinclair. Shively also handled stoves and tinware.
COOPER SHOP.
The making of barrels and casks, one of the obsolete industries of the little towns in times past, was for many years a thriving in. dustry in Hanover. Two shops were maintained. Alex McKee was the last of the coopers, his shop being operated about 1870.
FEED AND GRAIN HOUSE.
The only feed and grain store in Hanover since war days, other than the mills was conducted by H. C. Dutton, he having agency and selling commercial fertilizers in addition. It was only maintained for a year or so.
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Secret Societies of Hanover.
F. AND A. M.
Free and Accepted Masons was organized Oct. 21, 1868, with ten charter members; at this time (1908) has a membership of 69.
Eastern Star, ladies' auxiliary of the Masonic lodge, organized Oct. 25, 1905, with 25 charter members, at the present time (1908) has 55 members.
JUNIOR ORDER AMERICAN MECHANICS
A lodge of this society was instituted in Hanover in April of 1889 and for a time flourished to a remarkable degree, having about 80 names at one time upon its membership roll. It passed into history the latter part of 1894. It was known as Garfield Council and was organized with 46 charter members, A. E. Winder being its first coun- cillor, A. V. Johnson recording secretary and F. M. Milbourn financial secretary.
DENNISON POST NO. 251, G. A. R.
The institution of the order of the Grand Army of the Republic in Hanover dates back to November of 1864, following the return or home-coming of the boys of Company C, 143d O. V. I., of which A. R Arter was captain. All became charter members of the lodge. It con- tinued up to the spring of 1866, when it disbanded. In 1868 it was reorganized, among its list of charter members being J. B. Taylor, J. B. Ray, Samuel Rhodes, Daniel Burt, Job Reeder, B. T. Norris, Henry Weaver and J. G. Carrothers. It has held its charter from that day to the present, it now having a membership of fifteen; the officers being as follows:
Commander-T. C. Milbourn.
Vice Commander-G. F. Copeland.
Junior Vice Commander-Henry Weaver.
Officer of the Day-Elwood Miller.
Quartermaster-J. M. Hotchkiss.
Adjutant-Webster Welsh.
Sentinel-John Stambaugh.
At one time this lodge had a membership of about 60, but a with- drawal of a number in 1878 or 1879 to organize a new lodge at Lynchburg materially weakened the order.
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KNIGHTS OF THE MACCABEES.
The order of the Knights of the Maccabees was instituted April 19, 1889 with the following officers:
Past Commander, G. A. Sheets; Commander, Charles Wernet; Record Keeper, D. H. Speidel.
L. O. T. M.
The order of Lady Maccabees came into being January 29, 1902, the following being its first officers:
Past Commander-Alice Martin.
Commander-Josephine Aspey.
Lieutenant Commander-Alvaretta Swearingen.
Record Keeper-Rosa E. Anthony.
Finance Keeper-Eliza McCleery.
Chaplain-Emma E. Winder.
Sergeant at Arms-Catherine Hanselman.
Master at Arms-Maria Sinclair.
Sentinel-Rosetta F. Reeder.
Picket-Georgia Henderson.
The order today has a membership of 33, Mrs. Lizzie Wernet being commander and Mrs. Alice Martin record keeper.
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS.
A lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows was instituted in Hanover in 1876.
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Hanover is about 597 feet above Lake Erie, and is 1180 feet above sea level.
Mr. Jack Henry has a genuine Martin Luther Bible, two hundred and eighty-eight years old.
Herod Pearce, the first undertaker that we can learn of, followed this business for many years, the price then paid for a coffin was $1.00 a foot.
David Miller, Ellwood Miller's grandfather, wanted some pepper to put in sausage, and had to go to Lisbon to get it. It took one bushel of wheat to get one pound of pepper.
Thomas Richards built the house where James Linn, harnessmaker, lived. Before his buying, it was used by Lawrence Ling as a hotel and bar.
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NO SECTS IN HEAVEN
Talking of sects till late one eve, Of the various doctrines the saints believe, That night I stood in a troubled dream, By the side of a darkly flowing stream.
And a "Churchman" down to the river came, When I heard a strange voice call his name. "Good father, stop; when you cross this tide, You must leave your robes on the other side."
But the aged father did not mind; And his long gown floated out behind, As down the stream his way he took, His pale hand clasping his gilt-edged book.
"I'm bound for heaven; and when I'm there, I shall want my book of Common Prayer; And though I put on a starry crown, I shall feel quite lost without my gown."
Then he fixed his eyes on the shining track, But his gown was heavy and held him back, And the poor old father tried in vain A single step in the flood to gain.
I saw him again on the other side, But his silk gown floated on the tide; And no one asked, in that blissful spot, Whether he belonged to "the Church" or not.
Then down to the river a Quaker strayed; His dress of a somber hue was made; "My coat and hat must be all of gray; I cannot go any other way."
Then he buttoned his coat straight up to his chin, And staidly, solemnly waded in, And his broad-brimmed hat he pulled down tight Over his forehead so cold and white.
But a strong wind carried away his hat; A moment he silently sighed over that; And then as he gazed to the further shore, The coat slipped off and was seen no more.
As he entered heaven, his suit of gray Went quietly sailing away, away; And none of the angels questioned him About the width of his beaver's brim.
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Next came Dr. Watts with a bundle of Psalms Tied nicely up in his aged arms,
And hymns, as many, a very wise thing, That the people in heaven "all round" might sing.
But I thought that he heaved an anxious sigh, As he saw that the river ran broad and high, And looked rather surprised as one by one The Psalms and Hymns in the wave went down.
And after him with his MSS., Came Wesley, the pattern of godliness,
But he cried, "Dear me, what shall I do? The water has soaked them through and through."
And there on the river, far and wide, Away they went down the swollen tide;
And the saint, astonished, passed through alone,
Without his manuscripts, up to the throne.
Then gravely walking, two saints by name, Down to the stream together came; But as they stopped at the river's brink, I saw one saint from the other shrink.
"Sprinkled or plunged, may I ask you, friend, How you attained to life's great end ?" "Thus, with a few drops on my brow." "But I have been dipped, as you'll see me now, And I really think it will hardly do, As I'm 'close communion,' to cross with you; You're bound, I know, to the realms of bliss, But you must go that way and I'll go this."
Then straightway plunging with all his might, Away to the left-his friend to the right, Apart they went from this world of sin, But at last together they entered in.
And now, when the river was rolling on, A Presbyterian church went down; Of women there seemed an innumerable throng, But the men I could count as they passed along.
And concerning the road they could never agree, The old or the new way, which. it should be, Nor even a moment paused to think That both would lead to the river's brink.
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And sound of murmuring long and loud, Came ever up from the moving crowd: "You're in the old way and I'm in the new; That is the false and this is the true;"- Or, "I'm in the old way, and you're in the new; That is the false and this is the true."
But the brethren only seemed to speak; Modest the sisters walked, and meek, And if ever one of them chanced to say What troubles she met with on the way, How she longed to pass to the other side, Nor feared to cross over the swelling tide,
A voice arose from the brethren then, "Let no one speak but the 'holy men;' For have ye not heard the words of Paul, 'Oh, let the women keep silence all?'"
I watched them long in my curious dream, Till they stood by the borders of the stream;
Then, just as I thought, the two ways met; But all the brethren were talking yet, And would talk on till the heaving tide Carried them over, side by side- Side by side, for the way was one;
The toilsome journey of life was done;
And all who in Christ the Saviour died Came out alike on the other side.
No forms or crosses or books had they; No gowns of silk or suits of gray; No creeds to guide them or MSS .; For all had put on Christ's righteousness .- Selected.
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