History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 103

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1060

USA > Ohio > Stark County > History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio > Part 103

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About the year 1821, two small children, a brother and sister, the former six, and the lat- ter eight years of age, belonging to a family in the southern part of Portage County, be- came lost while out after the cows. The chil- dren tried to drive the cattle toward what they thought was home, but which, in reality, was a different direction, and as the animals

refused to go as desired, they were abandoned by the children. Had they been wise enough to have followed the cows, they would have had no trouble in reaching home. The cows went home, and the children wandered farther off in the tangled wilderness. As night and the cows came without the children, the par- ents became alarmed, and immediately sur- mised that they had become lost. The coun- try was new and thinly settled, but the parents hurried about and roused what few neighbors they could. Guns were fired, horns were blown, but no tidings came of the wanderers. The morning dawned, and by this time quite a collection of neighbors, near and far, had assembled to begin the search in a systematic manner. A few traces of where the children had been were discovered, and a long line was formed to begin the march southward. If slight but sure signs of the children were discovered, the horn was to be blown once; if good signs, twice; and if the children them- selves, three times, when all the searchers were to gather together. The search was given in charge of an old hunter, who had attained a wide reputation for his ability to track game from very slight signs. All day long the search continued. During the after- noon, the old hunter saw a footprint made by one of the children. The horn sounded the news along the line. The track was near a large tree that had been cut for a bear, and after a few minutes, the old hunter held up a bit of calico that had been torn from the dress of the little girl. The horn again carried the tidings along the line. The excitement be- came intense, but none were permitted to leave the line. The parents were excluded from the line and left at home, for fear that when a few signs were discovered, they would rush forward in their eagerness, and obliter- ate them. The line was ordered not to break until the horn sounded thrice in succession for the same reason. The old hunter, and a few competent assistants, took the advance, and announced their success to the others, who were beating the bushes for a mile or more on each side. Darkness again came, and the search had to be abandoned, save continned soundings of the horns and reports of the guns. The line of march was taken up at

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daylight in the morning, and continued, with an occasional sign, until nearly night. The searchers passed southward, through Lexing- ton Township, and thence into Washington, advancing as far as Section 14, very near where Mr. Tinsman lived. Here the old hunter picked up a piece of spice wood that bore the marks of teeth upon it. One sng- gested that the branch had been bitten by a deer; but the old hunter proved that to be impossible, as on the limb were the marks of npper teeth. The horn again rang out its welcome note. The line moved on, and shortly came upon a "slashing." of some five aeres. Here the old hunter saw plainly where the children had walked in. They had fol- lowed an old deer path that led to the center of the slashing. This was a splendid retreat for the animals when they were attacked by swarms of flies, as the place was thickly cov- ered with weeds and undergrowth. " What shall be done." was the question. The old hunter was told to enter, which he did: as he passed along the path, he saw an object bound off a log and rush toward him. It was the little girl: she was utterly wild, paying no heed to his questions and seeming to fear him, although she had run into his arms. He asked her where her brother was, but she did not understand him, and made an effort to leave and run off in the undergrowth. The search was continued in the slashing, by the hunter and his assistants, and in a few min-

ntes the little boy was found. fast asleep. under the protecting side of a large log. He was roused np. but was as wild as his sister. The horns rang out three times in succession, and the overjoyed settlers gathered together in a few minutes. The children were taken to Mr. Tinsman's house, but they refused to eat, and made continual efforts to rush out in the woods. A little nonrishing food was forced down their throats, and then they were conveyed rapidly toward home. The parents heard the horus and shouts, and were over- whelmed with joy when their children were placed in their arms. The little boy and girl

did not recognize them. nor their home, but stared wildly around. They were pnt to bed and were soon asleep. Early the next morn- ing. the little boy ealled out, " Where's my

little ax?" The little girl awoke, and called for her calieo dress (the one that had been torn in pieces in her rambles). The children were all right, but, strange to say, could not remember anything of being lost. Other in- cidents of a similar nature are related.

Ezekiel Marsh built the first grist-mill in the township. It was located on one of the small streams, at a point where the natural surroundings favored a limited though strong and constant water-power ; a dam of stone, brush, earth and logs, was built across the stream, and from this a race conducted water to the strong breast-wheel that communicated motion to the machinery of the mill. Two sets of stone were placed in the mill, one for grinding wheat, and the other for corn. The exact date of its erection is not known, but it was probably before 1820. He also built a saw-mill on the same dam, and operated it in connection with his grist-mill. Both mills were well patronized, and were a great aceom- modation to the settlers. Sawing was ordi- marily done on shares, the sawyer taking half the lumber for his work. Settlers from a great distance around eame to the mills for their Inmber and flour. Marsh, with the assistance of his sons, conducted both mills until his tragic death, after which they went to his son, Ed. who, after a few years, por- mitted them to run down. Soon after the village of Mt. Union was laid out, Hale Brothers, of Steubenville, erected a large woolen factory. They had talked the matter over with the eitizens, and had at first con- cluded not to build, thinking, doubtless, that they might have an elephant on their hands; but when the citizens had come forward, and had promised to erect the building for them, they furnishing the lumber, etc., the brothers conelnded to undertake the enterprise. No sooner was the building erected and ready for occupaney, than it took fire and burned to the ground, consuming all the apparatus, machin ory, etc. The brothers went to work and orectel another in its place. This was ope- rated for a time, and then sold to Solomon Teegarden, who did quite an extensive work at carding, fulling, etc .. for a few years, when the establishment was again destroyed by fire and was not afterward rebuilt. The enter

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prise was scarcely a success at the village. No cloth was manufactured.

Henry Schooley, of Salem, at quite an early day, came to the village, looking for a site for the establishment of a flonring mill. The citizens desired such an industry at the village, and agreed to build the mill for Mr. Schooley, and have it ready for operation within thirty days. This was agreed to, and accordingly done. Two sets of stone were placed in the juill. and a small steam engine furnished the motion. Good flour was furnished, and the mill grew in favor and soon obtained a flat- tering patronage. Finally, four good sets of stone took the place of the two old ones, and the owners began doing a combined merchant and custom work, which has continued until the present time. Mr. Schooley, at last, sold out to Mr. Bard, who yet owns and operates the mill. A grist-mill was also built at Strasburg soon after the location of the rail- road station at that point. It is a large frame building, and, under a change of owners, has done good work from the start. It is yet in operation.

Distilleries and temperance movements, to check their effect, have played a prominent part in the history of the township. George Goodman condneted a distillery, about two miles southwest of Mt. Union, at quite an early day. While in operation, his distillery turned out some twenty gallons of good whisky per day. He owned but one still. The most of his liquor was sold at the still. and the balance probably found its way into some of the neighboring tavern bar-rooms. Michael Miller also built one, about five miles south of Mt. Union. His still was a little Jarger, and he is said to have manufactured about a barrel of excellent whisky per day. Ezekiel Marsh probably conducted the most extensive distillery ever in the township. It was built at a spring, near his house, and the surroundings and apparatus were such that Marsh found no difficulty in distilling over a barrel of whisky per day. In order to insure the excellence of his liquor, he was in the habit of re-distilling it, and for this reason it gained repute for excellence and concentration. These three distilleries were erected prior to 1838. Everybody drank liquor in early years;

it was a rare thing to find a house where it was not used. and that, too, by every member of the family. It was kept on the side-board or mantel-piece of almost every house, and when visitors called it was customary to take a horn to kindle friendship and hospitality into a flame. Many an old settler has said to the writer. "Why, I was raised on the whisky bottle." It was given to children to quiet them, or to make them noisy, as the case de- manded. Women took it to steady their nerves, and to give them courage. Everybody nsed it in warm weather to secure cooling effects, and in cold weather to secure warm- ing effects. It was used by all in sickness and in health, and was looked upon like the Montebank's "Grand. Elliptical, Asiatical, Panticurical, Nervous Cordial," as a panacea for all diseases incident to humanity. In about the year 1828, a movement was inaugu- rated in the Eastern States, which asserted that whisky was not a "necessity." that its use as a beverage was degrading and shame- ful, and that it became all lovers of morality and sobriety to discourage its use in every proper way. Such theories were, at first, boldly and confidently contradicted: but soon thoughtful people saw truth and good advice in the theory, and all over the country tem- perance societies sprang into life. The wave of revolution swept over Ohio, meeting, every- where, strong opposition, but slowly and surely outriding it all. Ellis N. Johnson was a gifted speaker. He had that happy faculty of being able to turn everything which tran- spired while he was on the stage to his own advantage. He never hesitated for a word, but, "talked right on." with the eloquence of conviction and the force of reason. He in- stantly took the lead in the temperance re- form. His first temperance speech in the old schoolhouse, near his farm, attracted wide attention. and roused thoughtful, moral peo- ple into action. People discussed the subject at their firesides and at public places. All the better class of citizens spoke boldly in favor of the reform; but dram-drinkers and owners of distilleries discouraged the move- ment, and continued their practices. Mr. Johnson received abundant encouragement, and was invited to speak in all the adjoining

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schoolhouses and townships. People were, at first, surprised at his views regarding liquor drinking, and flocked forward by the hun- dreds to listen to him. A strong temperance society was immediately organized at Mt. Union. The following is the preamble and constitution prepared and adopted:

WHEREAS, The use of ardent spirits is not only un- necessary and injurious to the social, civil and moral interests of men : but tends to promote pauperism, erime and wretchedness, and to hinder all efforts for the intellectual and moral benefit of society; and. as one of the best means to counteract its deleterions effects is the influence of united example;

Therefore. We, the subscribers, inhabitants of Mount Union and vicinity, recognizing the prin- ciples of abstinence from the use of ardent spirits and from its traffic. do hereby, as the basis of our union, agree to form ourselves into a society. and for this purpose adopt the following constitution:

SECTION 1. This society shall be called the " Mount Union Temperance Society," auxiliary to the Stark County Temperance Society.

SEC. 2. The object of the society shall be by ex- ample and kind moral influence to discountenance the use of ardent spirits and the traffic in the same. except as a medicine or for mechanical purposes.

SEC. 3. Any person who practically adopts the important principles of this society may become a member by signing the constitution, or by request- ing the Secretary to do so for him.

SEC. 4. The officers of the society shall be a Pres- ident, two Vice Presidents, a Recording Secretary. and a Corresponding Secretary, each of whom shall be chosen annually, shall continue in office until his successor is elected, and shall perform the duties customarily assigned to such office.

SEC. 5. The society shall annually appoint five members, who, together with the officers, shall con- stitute an executive committee, three of whom shall form a quorum, for the adoption of such measures as shall be best calculated to render the society the most useful.

SEC. 6. There shall be an annual meeting of the society, at which time the officers shall be elected.

SEC. 7. The society at any time may strike the name of any member from its lists, on being satis- tied that such member has violated the principles of the society.

SEC. 8. This constitution may be amended by a majority of the members present at any annual meeting of the society, providing that such amend- ment does not materially alter the principles declared above.

SEC. 9. The President for either of the Vice Pres idents in cases of the sickness or absence of the President) is authorized to call a meeting of the so- ciety at any time he may deem proper.

This constitution was read at every place where Mr. Johnson spoke, and at every meet- ing scores appended their names to the rap- idly increasing lists. The Quakers were the

first to enter the reform, heart and soul, and finally the church societies in the vicinity did likewise. The list of names is yet in exist ence, but is too long to be inserted here. Soon the work of the society began to be felt by the liquor sellers and manufacturers. Job Johnson was engaged, at the time, in keeping store and tavern in the village of Mt. Union, and like all other tavern-keepers kept and sold liquor in his bar-room. His brother, Ellis N., continued to lecture, and he to sell, until at last he was converted to the temperance faith by a lady living in the neighborhood. In conversation with her. he had said, by way of excuse, that he no longer sold to drunkards, whereupon she proceeded. with cutting lan- guage, to tell him that course was the worst he could pursue, for he sold to young men and boys all the time, and was continually creating a new stock of drunkards. The thought went to his heart like an arrow, and he soon afterward stopped selling. and became a standard bearer of temperance. In conse- quence of his conversion, as above stated, he published his change of opinion under the caption. "My Last Excuse Gone." If the writer is correctly informed. Robert Hilton was. at this time, selling liquor at Mt. Union. He attended one of Ellis N. Johnson's strong- est meetings, and the vivid colorings of the subject by the speaker went home to his heart: for the next day, meeting Johnson, he said: "I can't stand everything: what shall I do?" He was told to stop selling, and, with that sudden resolution which takes possession of all true converts, he went to his desk drawer, and taking therefrom $400 worth of notes that had been given him for liquor, advanced to the fire with the intention of burning them. Johnson told him to wait. Hilton replied: "If it's wrong to sell, it's wrong to collect." Johnson then told him to postpone the destruction of the notes until the morrow. when it could be done publicly to a large assemblage. The day was an important one, and over four hundred people were pres- ent. Hilton had on hand $14 worth of whisky: the hat was passed, and $13 were raised and given him. The liquor was then taken and placed on a heap of fagots, and the whole was set on fire. While it was burning.

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Hilton went forward, and, in the presence of the audience, cast his $400 worth of notes in the fire. It was a day of great rejoicing, success and enthusiasm. Ellis N. was, at that | early day, called the " Old Pioneer." Michael Miller, who owned the distillery in the south- ern part, invited the " Old Pioneer" down to his neighborhood to hold a temperance meet- ing, saying that he "wanted to see the ele- phant." The result was that Miller was com- pletely converted. A few days before he had made a contract with a man from Deerfield, named Hartzell. to furnish 400 gallons of whisky, and part of the consideration had passed. He made up his mind to annul the contract, and not furnish the liquor. The malt was fed to the hogs, and when Hartzell appeared for his liquor, he received no satis- faction, nor whisky. He immediately insti- tuted suit before Ellis N. Johnson, Justice of the Peace, for damages sustained. and ob- tained judgment for $27.50, much to the cha- grin of the Justice, who. though bound by duty to apply the law as he understood it, did so reluctantly. saying in conclusion, as he decided the case: "The money is yours. legal- ly, but morally you have no right to touch it." The moral aspect of the case did not trouble Mr. Hartzell, for he coolly pocketed his dam- ages and walked off. The temperance organ- ization saw the sale of liquor in the towuship almost or wholly cease; saw every distillery close its doors, and saw confirmed drunkards reform and lead sober lives.

Mt. Union was the first village properly laid out and platted in the township. Four men owned the land at the corner where the lots were laid out. Richard Fawcett owned on the northeast; John Hare on the southeast; E. N. Johnson on the southwest, and Job Johnson on the northwest. Forty lots were laid out, twenty in Washington Township and twenty in Lexington, ten being on the land of each of the above men. The lots were located on Sections 1 and 2, in Washington, and on Sections 35 and 36, in Lexington, and all were laid out under the directions of the own- ers, in August, 1833. At this time, there was but one house standing on the site of the vil- lage. This was the residence of Job Johnson, and was located on the corner of Main and

Mt. Union streets. Job Johnson, immediately after the village was laid out, erected some three or four other residences, on some of the lots, which, with the buildings, were offered for sale. In a short time several buyers ap- peared, and soon the town had all the appear- ance as such. Job Johnson opened his store and tavern; carpenters, blacksmiths and arti- ficers of various sorts appeared; industries sprang up and business multiplied rapidly. The old settlers say that Mt. Union was an unusually promising place in early years. A more detailed account of the improvement will be found in the chapter on Lexington Township.

Freeburg was laid out on the southeast quarter of Section 28, in February, 1842. The land was owned by Isidon Carrillon. and thirty-two lots were surveyed and offered for sale by the owner. The growth of the village was quite slow, and nothing but the presence of a railroad or an important industry could alter its fate of comparative obscurity. Stores have come and gone like spring blossoms, and have been about as numerous. though not as sweet. There have been times in the history of the village, when Goldsmith's lines were peculiarly appropriate:

"Sweet smiling village, loveliest of the lawn, Thy sports are fled and all thy eharms withdrawn; Amidst thy howers the tyrant's hand is seen. And desolation saddens all the green."

At other times the prospect has seemed as bright as a May morning, and the hearts of the citizens have throbbed in anticipation of the future. Why cannot Freeburg have a railroad as well as any other town? If it "shells ont" enough the road will be built. Money will buy in this case as it has in others. That fact may be relied on.

Strasburg was laid out in August, 1842, by Gregory Gross and Jacob Sardier. owners and proprietors, on the south half of Section 8, Township 18, Range 6. Thirty lots were laid off by the surveyor, and these were imme- diately thrown into market by the owners. They were sold slowly, as there was no great inducement for capitalists to invest money. Stores were opened one by one, industries flourished in succession, and hopes were kin- dled into flame in the breast of the owners

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that their names might be sung by unborn millions, like those of Romulus and Remns. But they. like others of earth's children, were doomed to disappointment.

"Their hopes, like lilies of the morn. First blossomed into life, and then By bitter winds And icy rains Were scattered to the earth again."

They saw other villages around them repeat the multiplication table; but they, with all their striving. could never reach addition. They became familiar with the rules of sub- traction, much to the division of their inter- est. The village is subject to fluctuations in population and prosperity. It has lost all probability of fame and renown, though its ambition is mountainons and measureless. It received its greatest impetus when the rail- road station was located there. At that time improvements advanced quite rapidly. Some grain and stoek are shipped on the railroad from this point.

It is a known fact that the first schools in the township were taught in the settlers' cab- in. though dates and distinctions cannot be given with certainty. It is said that Marsh permitted his eabin to be used as a school- house, and that a young man just f om the East, passing through the township, was em- ployed to teach a term or more there. which he did, receiving his pay by subscription. and boarding around. It is also stated that be yond a doubt several terms were taught in the township prior to 1820. If possible, when the settlers living in a neighborhood wished a school. a double log cabin was selected, the school being taught in one room, while the owner's family resided in the other. Or. it was quite common to find a cabin that had been deserted by the owner. and this was taken and supplied with rude desks and seats, and devoted to the canse of education. One of the first schoolhouses built, if not the first. was the old log building at Mount Union, which was erected in about the year 1825. It was constructed of hewn logs. and was quite a large building. having been built with the design, as all early schoolhouses were, of being used for a variety of purposes. Job Johnson was one of the first teachers in

this house. The management of schools sixty years ago differed essentially from that at present. The discipline was different, and so were the modes of imparting instruction. There was what were known as " loud schools " which may be understood as those where the scholars studied at any pitch of voice they chose. They usually chose to be heard, and the din and confusion in the room in such a ease ean be imagined. It was probably some teacher of these schools who wrote the fol- lowing lines:

"Since when the devil tempted Job With all the troubles on the globe, And strove to put him in a passion, School-keeping was not then in fashion; For, had he tied him to a school, Job bad not kept his temper cool."

Before 1830, several schoolhouses were erected in the township. It is thought that the township was first divided into school dis- triets in about the year 1824, and that imme- diately afterward, two or more schoolhouses were erected. As timo passed on and the township became more thickly populated, the distriets were divided and subdivided until the present number-ten were created. It was the case in almost every distriet, that log buildings were at first erected, and, when these had served their day, frames or bricks took their places. In some districts three or more schoolhouses have been built.

*The Fairmount Children's Home for the district of Stark and Columbiana Counties of Ohio, is located in the eastern portion of Washington Township, on Section 13. four miles south of Alliance and one mile west of the Columbiana County line. The farm con- tains 154 aeres and is very favorably located, in a good neighborhood and easy of access. The object of the institution is to furnish a home and "home-training" for indigent chil- dren under sixteen years of age, of the two counties, where they can be supported and provided with physical, mental and moral training until snitable homes can be provided for them, or until they become capable of earning and providing for themselves, or their parents or guardians for them.

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History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 103

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1060

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1060