USA > Ohio > Stark County > History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio > Part 101
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horseback, when, as he was passing through the deep woods, he saw a large bear reared upon its hind legs by the foot of a large tree, as if it anticipated an encounter with the trav- eler. Mr. Warstler, being without a gun, eon- eluded that a retreat was the best policy. This was done with greater expedition than skill. All the settlers had their experiences with wild animals. It is stated that, on one occasion, Mr. Gruwell, the second settler in the township, while hunting in the woods, came very nearly being devoured by a bear. The circumstances are traditional, and may not be altogether true. He was walking along, so runneth tradition. with his rifle in his hand and his eyes bent on the ground, when, upon suddenly turning around a few large trees which stood close together, he came within four feet of an enormous bear that had just killed some small game and was eating it. The bear instantly gave a ferocious growl, that chilled the blood of the settler and caused his hair to stand straight up on his head, and, rearing up on its hind legs, it extended its powerful paws to clasp the settler in deadly embrace. But the settler was not anxious for an embrace, for, at the tirst glimpse of the bear, he leaped back several yards and cocked his rifle. The bear, with angry growls from its bloody mouth, began to make movements as if about to approach the settler, and the latter, taking quick aim, sent a bullet erashing through its head. Without waiting to ascer. tain the effect of the shot, the settler ran from the spot with all his speed, and, when at a considerable distance, paused to load his rifle, look back, and listen. He could hear nothing, so, after his rifle had been carefully loaded, he returned to the spot, and, when there, found the bear thrashing around upon the ground with a mortal wound. A second shot finished the huge creature.
Timothy Gruwell was the second settler in Marlborough. He reached the township with his family during the spring of 1807, and lo- cated on Section 24. He erected a small log cabin, with the assistance of the Wilemans, into which his family was immediately moved. Mahlon Wileman was his nearest neighbor. In the month of August, 1807, the Gruwell family were visited by a little stranger, a
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daughter, which was named Elizabeth. This was the first birth in the township. Mahlon Wileman was sent to Columbiana County for a doctor, who alone could perform the core- mony of introducing the little stranger. who came, without bag or baggage, to the family. Mahlon afterward related that, as he was pass- ing through the dark forests on his horse. the wolves came all around him, and began howl ing dismally. He could see their sharp noses and tiery eyes from the clumps of bushes, but none were bold enough to attack him.
Prior to the appearance of Mr. Gruwell. and immediately afterward a considerable portion of the best land in the township was purchased by various parties. who did not come to the township until several years later. During the war of 1812, and immediately afterward, the settlers came in rapidly, and soon all the best land in the township had been entered. It was the custom in all the neigh borhoods, in early years, when a new settler came in to turn out and assist him in erecting his cabin. It is stated by old settlers that this was done owing to the kindly feelings which each settler entertained for his follows: yet, while this is partly true, it is not wholly true. The truth was, the settler was unable, without an immense amount of hard work. to raise the heavy logs to their positions on the slowly rising building. This led to a demand for assistance on all occasions of the kind. until at last it became unfashionable to remain away when your services woro needed. Of course, the settlers were social. and all were at par as far as sociability was concerned. Persons with similar inclinations, desires. joys or dangers. are drawn together by the laws of sympathy: or. in other words. "birds of a feather flock together." On the occasion of a house-raising, it was customary not only for the men to turn ont, but the women also, to do the cooking. This was more noticeably the case on the occasion of large log-rollings. It is stated that. at certain seasons of the year. several consecutive weeks were often spent in going from rolling to rolling. Of course, the occasion was as dry as Sahara without whisky. A rebellion was sure to ensue if this " neces- sity" was withheld from the workinen. That was something not to be tolerated for a mo-
ment. The man who was so stingy that he would not furnish whisky at his rolling did not deserve the assistance of his neighbors. Thus the men thought in that day, but that day, thank goodness. is gone. It was no im- usnal thing to see the men, some of them, so drunk that they were unable to work, in which case their bodies were deposited in some se- cure place, that the spirit might return when the alcohol had gone. The logs were rolled together in several heaps, some of which were very large, and those were afterward burned by the settler. Fifty or sixty men were often present at these rollings. Lond shouts rang across the field. and the merry joke or hearty oath were passed about. The women in the cabin, as busy as bees preparing an abund- ance of food for the hungry men, were not less jovial. One thing in this connection should be noticed: From the fact that about one- third of the earliest settlers were Quakers, liquor-drinking and swearing wore, to a great extent, avoided. The eastern part was the Quaker neighborhood, and here it was that this remarkable and quiet people labored for their subsistence and worshiped God in their peculiar way.
At an early day, it was thought that there was lead in the township. How this report came to be in circulation is not known to the writer. Squirrels became so thick in about [825 that numerous hunts were instituted to destroy the pests. In one of these hunts, 1,700 were killed, and a man named Thomas Grant, of Lexington Township, showed the scalps of nearly two hundred. He received the prize. The first road in the township was the Diag- onal road. This was surveyed and improved at a very early day. Many incidents are re- Iated concerning the hard times the early set- tlers experienced. Mills and stores were dis- tant, and the paths (not roads) through the woods were in such a plight, during a portion of the year, at least, that driving a team through them was ont of the question. The settlers did not care to visit China by the un- derground route, notwithstanding the fact that it was the shortest. They wanted flour and meal. not pigtails or trinkets. " Washoe, washoe," was then unknown, and even toa was not much thought of in connection with the
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empire of China So, when four was wanted, as did also Joseph Taylor and Charles Shinn. a bag of wheat was taken on horseback to the | Mr. Keiser owned and operated one in the neurosb mill, which sometimos ground the grain western part in a later day. John Eby also owned and operated one in the western part. Perhaps the best saw mill over in the town ship, aside from the present ones, was built in the town of Marlborough in about the year ISI3, by Allman & Ellison. It was operated by stoam, and did a great deal of work. Some of the prosent mills are owned by Lowis Warst- lor, at New Baltimore; Ponnock & Mason, D. Harmony, and others. Tho township has, from the earliest, settlement, been supplied with numerous and good saw mills. as course as popper, and here, after perhaps two or three days, and sometimes a work, the grinding was done. In the meantime, perhaps the family was without broad. Indeed, it was no neommon thing for families to live on meat alone for several wooks. Sometimes they had bread and no meat. It was raro to have an abundance of both. Often, the wife took the rido and killed a doer, or did other things requiring manly skill, strength and courage.
At last, mills were erected in the township. The first was built in about the year 1816, by Abraham Wiloman, and was located on the old Wileman farm, A strong dam was built across the erook, which was then quito large, and an old fashioned undorshot wheel com- munieated motion to the machinery which propelled the saw. The mill was operated for a number of years, and, although it ran slowly, still a great many logs were sawed. The rato at which sawing was done is not ro- memberod. It is related, however, that Mr. Hoacock offered a bushel of wheat for 100 feet of oak lumber, and a bushel of corn for 100 food of poplar lumber, but Mr. Wileman ro jected the offer. The next saw-mill was built Hoon afterward, by William Pennock. This also was a good mill in its day. Indeed, these two early mille were Godsends to the settlers. Benjamin Elliott orocted a saw mill about the your 1825. It was on a small stroam that is now dry, west of the town of Marlborough. About the same time, Exum Johnson built another, which was located about a milo and a half northwest of town. Elisha Butler built ono on the old Whittaker farm soon afforward, and about the same time ( 1830), Jacob Wirtz erected another, one and a half miles north of Marlborongh. Of course, all these mills were operated by water-power, as steam had not. yot. beon "harnessed." Strong dams were built across the stroams, and water obtained in the ordinary way by means of a race. Soveral of those mills ran for many years, and did long and faithful service. The others woro abandoned after a few years, Jacob Wood owned a mill north of town at an early day,
There has been but ono grist-mill of any consequence in the township. This was erected some thirty-five years ago, in Marl- borough, by Pote, Barlow & Co. The build ing was two and a half stories in height, was about forty by sixty foot, and for a number of years the mill was operated both day and night, two sets of hands being employed. The mill was an excellent one, and, during the period of its continuance, which was some twenty yours, furnished an excellent quality of flour. It did both merchant and custom work. Another small grist mill was started up in Marlborough, but it did not amount to much.
In about the year 1820, Jacob Noes built a small distillery in the southwestern part of the township. It was a rude affair, and was built in a hurry, to supply a sudden and strong demand for the drink which inobriates, Mr. Noos had one small copper still, but it is uncertain where his grain was ground. The liquor, a rather poor article, disappeared about as fast as it was made. People in those days were judges of whisky. It did not take them long to decide upon the merits of a drink, as constant use in their families made them familiar with the taste, smell, and general characteristics. Mr. Noos manufactured whisky at the rato of some twenty gallons por day while the distillery was running. At cor- tain seasons of the year, it was discontinued. After being conducted for a period of about Twelve years, the enterprise was abandoned. Between thirty and forty years ago, Jacob Haag built a distillery, which was constructed on a little more extensive seale, as about a
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barrel of whisky was made per day. This is siud to have been mun inferior article, and yet. it was wed quite extensively at rollings and raisings. It way discontinued nt. the end of some ten years. So far as remembered, they were the only distilleries over in the township. About the time they ran down, temporanee revivals had begun to swoop over the town ship, and, indeed, over all the country. Pro pla upon opening their eyes and locking nbout, discovered that liquor was not one of the " necessities of hfo." They saw that it drained the pocket, muddened the brain, and sont desolation into many a happy household. A fow farmers who were not timorons at last roso Intely expelled all lignor from their raisingsand rollings. This, of course, met with bitter op position, as all reformy must at first, but grad nally the act became universal, and soon it. became unfashionable to offer liquor at public gatherings.
It is well known that the Quakers through ont Ohio were prominently connected with the Underground Railroad in early years. For many years before the last war, and especially after the enactment of the fugitive slave law, Ohio way continually traversed by runaway Alaves, who had found their former life 100 irkevine to bear. With but little to out, and the same to wear, with a constant fear of be ing captured by their owners, and of the dreadful punishment sure to follow, hunted like wild beasts through the forests and Awiunp4, the poor slaves bravely faced the sit untion and turned their eyes toward the polar star. They son learned that the Quakers we're not only willing to assist them in esemp ing, but often went to considerable trouble find expense to necomplish this result. One day, a powerful negro muned Tom (perhaps he was the veritable I'nele Tom of Mrs. Stowe), who was closely purened, came to Maldon Wileman and bruger for food and help. There were immediately furnished, and the negro sent. on his way. A few hours later, A4 Mr. Wileman was burning brick near his house, a man ente riding rapidly up, on a tired horse, and asked hurriedly if himself and animal could be fed, at the same time inquiring if Mr. Wileman had Been a large negro named Tom. Mr. Wildman quietly answered " You" to all these
questions, telling the stranger, at the HIuno time, among other things, that he could have the remainder of the pie Tom had been eating n few hours before. This made the stranger wild with rage, and ho sternly demanded whore Tom was, at the same time making a hostile movement toward Mr. Wiloman. This net roused the quiet Quaker, and, taking up his honvy poker, ho throntoned that if the man did not inunediately leave the place, he would be inkon astride the poker und thrown into the fire. The Virginian saw that there was no fooling about the matter with the powerful Quaker, so he mounted his fired horse and rode slowly away. Benjamin Marshall and Janiny Austin were both prominently connected with this branch of the Underground Railroad. They helped food and secreta many a dusky Alave en route for the dominion of the British Queen Joseph Lakens, Edward Brooke, Ab rahan Brooke, and many others, throughout the township, were engaged as conductors, on gineers or train dispatchers on this rond. It in Hafo to say that scoren of slaves were helped on their way North by the Quakers of Marl- borough.
The village of Now Baltimore was laid out. on the 26th day of August, 1831, by John Winthere, Stark County Surveyor, and Levi Haines, owner and proprietor. Eighteen lots were laid out on the west, half of the northeast quarter of Section 1, to which one or more suldations have Hines been made. Samuel Hatcher opened the first store during the year 1832. The goods were received from Phila delphia, were placed in the half finished build ing, and Janne Pontock, then a young man of nbout twenty years, assisted in unpacking the goods, which comprised n few hundred dollars' worth.
William Hatcher one day trood a bear. A man named Stevens, from Randolph, owned # large, savage dog, and, As a matter of course, Mr. Stevens declared that his dog could whip the biggest bear that ran in the forest. As soon As the bear wastreed, Mr. Hatcher said, " Now's the time to try your dog " Accordingly, the dog was got in readiness, and the mon began cutting the tree down. When this was about. half necomplished, his bearship concluded to come down, which he did backward. As he
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reached the ground, the dog, which had been set on by its master, seized the bear by the hind leg. Mr. Bear turned quickly. and, with one blow, knocked the dog about a rod, at the same time making off through the woods at its best gait. Mr. Stevens' do(r)g had received its quietus, and refused any further introduc- tion to the bear. Some half a dozen other dogs nipped around the animal as it ran off, and the settlers were so afraid of hitting. them that they withheld their fire until the bear had made good its escape. Mr. Stevens' opinion regard- ing the ability of his dog to thrash bears was hopelessly shaken. But to go back to the vil- lage. In connection with his store, Mr. Hatcher conducted a tavern, the first in the village. Other merchants at Baltimore have been Taylor & Warner. Asa Rawson, a Jus- tice of the l'eace, kept store there for a number of years also. Among others have been Hatcher & Ellison, John Criss. Ellison & Shaw, Baird & Capple, Jacob Bair, and the present merchants, Abner Taylor & Son. A firm known as Pronty & Co. built an ashery at the village in about the year 1846. It was located where A. R. Damon now resides, and, for a period of some four years, considerable potash was manufactured and shipped away to mar- ket. Not far from 1840. Thomas Burns erected a suitable building and began hatting. He obtained lamb's wool from the surround- ing farms, and this was manufactured into a good, serviceable hat. Benjamin Curstetter conducted a harness and saddle shop in early years. A foundry was built at an early day, but by whom has been forgotten. After a minber of years, W. T. Cole purchased the property, with whose family it has remained since. Charles Cole, son of W. T., is conduct- ing it at present. There have been manufact- ured at this foundry plow-shares, grates, and a variety of other articles. Two tanneries were built at Baltimore in early years. The one that started first is yet in operation. and is owned by Mr. Snyder. Several other in- dustries have flourished at different times in the village. Notices of some of these will be found in other portions of this chapter. New Baltimore's population is 160.
Four men owned the land upon which the village of Marlborough was at first laid out.
Moses Pennock owned the land on the north- west corner: William Pennock that on the southwest; Samnel Ellison on the southeast, and Denny Johnson on the northeast. In November, 1827, these proprietors secured the services of a surveyor, and had laid out at the corners twenty-four lots, six of which were on the land of each. An open space at the cor- ners was left for a public square. Since the above date, several additions have been made to the village, until the lots now number nearly two hundred and fifty. William Pen- nock's residence was the first in Marlborough. It was built before the place was thought of as a village. William Paxon built the second house in town: John Gruwell built the third; Israel White probably the fourth: James Shinn probably the fifth. Mr. Paxon opened the first store. It is said he began with some $1,500 worth, and continued, with a paying patronage eight or ten years. During this period, a post office was secured, and James Shinn received the appointment as Postmaster. The terminal points of the route were Warren and Canton, and at this time the mail was carried on horseback. Caleb Atwater, with $2,000 worth of a general assortment of goods, opened the second store. This was not far from 1834. A few years later, he sold to James Shinn, who, in about 1844, failed in business, and the goods, which had been in- creased until worth some $5,000, were auc- tioned off' at Canton. Since this time. the following men, among others, have spent a portion of their time over the counter in Marl- borough: Cook & Hamilton, Jacob Stroud, Hamilton & Irish, Jonathan Shaw. Brooke, Scott & Leek. Hutton & Coates, Stevens & Chapple. Abram Wileman, William Hateher, Daniel Gaskill and Israel Gaskill, very early; T. C. MeElroy, Jesse Johnson. Henry W. Penock, McCluin & Son. Werner & Gaskill, at present. Henry Pennock, France & Ban- croft, Dellenberger & Warstler, at present; J. A. Quay, Edward Mendelhall. F. L. Camp- bell. F. B. Spellman, Andrew Holibaugh, Isaac Lynde. and E. J. Morris. In about the year 1850, Amos Walton & Co. built a foundry in the village. This kind of an enterprise seems to have been epidemic about that time. There was scarcely a township in the county that
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did not have something to do with this busi ness. The main portion of the building re- ferred to above, was a two-story frame, thirty by fifty feet, and, beside this, there were ad- ditional molding rooms, etc. An average of about twelve men were employed. The com- pany began manufacturing steam engines, and for eight or ten years furnished. perhaps. twelve or fifteen a year. These engines were designed to be used in saw-mills, grist-mills, etc.
About five years after this company started up, another company, known as Mitchner & Dutton, erected the necessary buildings, and engaged in precisely the same ocenpation. Why this was done is not known to the writer. It is possible that the demand for engines was sufficiently strong to support both companies : on the other hand, it may be that intentions of a personal nature may have caused the new company to start up. At least, the latter be- gan manufacturing engines, but at the expira- tion of a year the property was destroyed by fire, and was not afterward rebuilt. The former company abandoned the pursuit eight or ten years after starting. A short time be- fore the last war, Doering Bros. erected a woodenware factory. A portion of the old foundry building was used. The company manufactured large quantities of shovel-han- dles, fork-handles, hoe-handles, etc., etc., which were shipped away to market. The enterprise was discontinued at the expiration of some three or four years.
A. C. Shriver started a carriage factory about ten years ago. He employed about eight men. and, it is said, manufactured as high as 100 carriages a year. A few years after the village was laid ont. Moses Pennock began a general wool-carding and cloth-dress- ing business in the village. This was contin- ued by him, to a greater or less extent, for twenty or twenty-five years. He finally sold to Peter and George Wise, and they sold to Eli Hoover, upon whose hands it ran down. A few years ago, George Begs built a distil- lery a short distance from town. He mann- factured grape wine and apple-jack. G. W. Carr made nearly 3,000 barrels of cider last year. The village has no saloon, and no liquor is sold except for medicinal purposes.
The town is one of the most enviable in this respect of any in the entire county, and the villagers rejoice that it is so. In 1874, Bai ley, Taylor & Crocker began a general fruit packing business in Marlborough. They manufacture their own cans, and during the busy season of the year, employ as high as 200 assistants, a great portion of whom are women. At other seasons, their help is re- duced to about ten persons. Two thousand four hundred cans of fruit were packed the first year, since which the business has been steadily increased, until 250,000 cans were packed the last year. When this vast number is considered. and also the fact that the tin cans are made by the company, the impor- tance and extent of the industry can be real- ized. The company begin to can maple syrup early in the spring, and then, as the season advances, string beans, peaches, tomatoes, pumpkins and apples are handled. This is one of the most extensive and important in- dustries ever in the township. The company have a branch factory at New Baltimore. This was begun last year, and 60,000 cans were packed. The packed fruit is conveyed to Limaville, where the company have a branch factory and a warehouse, and whence the goods are finally shipped to market. Many other interesting things might be said regarding Marlborough. The population of the village is about 300. Of course, some claim it is greater.
Much regarding the carly schools is lost in the reservoir of the past. From the fact that the township was comparatively late in being settled, and from the fact that, in the older settlements in neighboring townships, schools were started earlier, and afforded the children of Marlborough a seat of learning, terms were not taught until after the township had be- come quite thickly populated. The Quakers were not backward in appreciating the value and advantage of education, and, while they did not send their children to imperfect and hastily organized schools in the township, still, schooling must be had, and the children, when they were large enough to traverse the distance, were sent to adjacent townships. The first schoolhouse in the township was un- doubtedly built in the Quaker neighborhood,
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east of Marlborough; but when this occurred is a mystery. It could not have been later than 1820, and was very probably as early as 1815. This is remembered as an old log affair, which was yet standing in 1826. If the recollection of old settlers is correct, there were but two, or perhaps three, other school- houses standing at that time (1826). One of these was known as the Lilly Schoolhouse. Another was standing about one-fourth of a mile south of Baltimore; another possible one was standing in the southeast corner. The early log houses were ereeted by every one turning out and assisting, and these buildings were also "God's first temples." Or perhaps private dwellings preceded them in this par- ticular. The first schoolhouses were used from five to fifteen years, and then were suc- ceeded by better ones, and these have been sneceeded by one or two others in each dis- trict. At first one school district started up. and then, as the settlement became larger, it was divided, and at last each of these was divided, and so the division, or creation. has gone on until the limit of the present number was reached but a few years ago. The first schoolhouse in the village of Marlborough was ereeted in about the year 1832. The Methodist society assisted, as a body, in the construction, with the understanding that they were to have the use of the house for religious purposes. After some eight or ten years, this building was replaced by a frame structure, which, after many years of use, was abandoned, and the present house, a large, low, frame affair. was built. This oc- curred a few years before 1850. The second house is now used as a cooper-shop. Machin- ery for grinding grain was placed in it for a short time. There is some talk of building a new house, although the old is yet servicea- ble. It has three rooms, three teachers being employed during the winter, and two during the sumner.
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