History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 119

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 119


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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EDWARD KACHLER. retired. Massillon. Among the retired business men of this city is Mr. Kachler, who was born March 30. 1824, in Wurtemberg, the second son born to Fred- criek Kachler, who was an officer in the King's domain. His wife was Louisa Bendel, dangh- ter of a merchant. Mr. Kaehler, when a lad of 14. entered a drug store and studied chem- istry and pharmacy, and remained continu- ously in the business until his coming to this country. He came to Canton in October, 1844. and to Massillon in the spring of 1845; first clerked for Bigger & Baldwin, and after- ward went into business with Mr. Bigger, which continued until 1853. when he pur- chased his partner's interest, and conducted the business himself until 1577. when he sold


his drug store to P. Morganthaler, his former clerk. Mr. Kachler is now living a retired life, having secured to himself a handsome competence, and a nice home for his enjoy- ment in his declining years. In May, 1544. he married Susan Deitrick, a lady of culture and refinement: she was born in the kingdom of Bavaria, daughter of Joseph Valentine Deitrick. To them have been born four chil- dren, all of whom are now deceased. Charles attained to man's estate, and died in the serv- iee of his country: he enlisted in May, 1563. in Company A. 162d O. V. I., and died in August of the same year. Mr. Kachler has never taken an active part in the political issues of the day. but has always been true to the principles embraced by the Republican party: he is a member of Clinton Lodge, No. 47. A .. F. & A. ML.


S. M. KNAPP. plumber and gas-fitter. Mas- sillon: was born March 23, 1835, in the city of Massillon; son of William and Harriet (Austin) Knapp. William Knapp was a native of Cuminington, Hampshire Co., Mass , and was born in 1804: son of William, whose wife's maiden name was Whitmarsh. To this couple was born William, the father of S. MI. The Knapp family trace their origin to En- glish stock, for, according to the tradition, three brothers came from England to this country shortly after the arrival of the Pil- grim fathers. and settled, and from them have sprung the Knapps of Massillon. Harriet, mother of our subject, was born in 1814. in Vermont, and was a daughter of Isaac and Theodore ( Chandler) Austin. William Knapp, the father of our subject, was a carpenter by trade. Coming West, in 1830, to this county, he pursued his vocation for several years, but afterward turned his attention to the manu- facture of threshing machines, of which he was probably the first builder in the county. In 1843. he went to Michigan, where he re- mained until the fall of ISIS: in the spring of 1549, he. in company with others, started for California, but he died on his way out, at Fort Independence, in Missouri, the same year. Five children were left his widow. whose names are: Helen. now Mrs. David Atwater: Shepherd M .: Jane E .. now Mrs. John R. Dangler. of this city: William A.,


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who was for several years Adjutant General, and now is in Washington, D. C., Chief Clerk in the Post Office Department; the youngest child, Francis l'., remains at home. Our sub- jeet, Shepherd M., learned the machinist's trade, commencing in Norwich, Mass., and completing the same in the Cuyahoga works at Cleveland. After he had completed his trade, he worked one year in Wooster, then engaged with Russell & Co., of this eity, with whom he remained till Ang. 9, 1862, when he enlisted as private in Company E. 104th O. V. I .: before leaving camp, was elected 2d Lieutenant by the company, serving in that capacity about two years, when he was pro- moted to Ist Lieutenant: six months after- ward he was promoted to a Captaincy, which position he filled until the close of the war, participating in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged. Upon his return home after the war, he worked in the Excel- sior works three years, and then went with Russell & Co., where he remained until Feb- rmary, 1881. On Feb. 9, he associated with Thomas J. Dillon, under the firm name of Knapp & Dillon, making a specialty of plumbing and gas-fitting. In August, 1862, he married Barbara S. Anderson, a native of Scotland, daughter of John and Helen Ander- son. Mr. Knapp has two daughters, Hattie McL. and Annie B.


JONAS LUTZ, grocer, Massillon; was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., Jan. 31, 1846; his parents were Abraham and Elizabeth (Kit- tinger) Lutz, both of German ancestry. Jonas came West, with his parents, in 1852; they located in Greenville, this county, and the father being a carpenter, and of limited means, our subject was early in life thrown upon his own resources. At the age of 15, he found employment for a time upon the canal; afterward, worked with his father at the car- penter's trade, and subsequently engaged as clerk for Henry Beatty, where he remained through the fall and winter of 1864-65. In March, 1865, he enlisted for one year in Com- pany B, 191st O. V. I., remaining in the serv- ice until the close of the war, when he re- ceived an honorable discharge. Returning home, he entered the shops of Russell & Co., where he remained three years, learning the


molder's trade, after which he went to Port- age County, and worked three years in the shops of the Atlantic & Great Western Rail- road. June 1, 1873, he went to Canal Ful- ton, where he embarked in the grocery and provision trade, remaining there six years; in the fall of 1879, he came to this city, and pur- chased the interest of F. Loeffler in the gro- cery business, in which he engaged, under the firm name of Lutz & Preyer, his partner dy- ing three months afterward. The business was carried on as before until Jan. 3, 1881, since which time Mr. Lutz has controlled the entire interest and is doing an excellent busi- ness, his store being constantly stocked with a full line of staple and fancy groceries; his long acquaintance with the people, knowledge of the business and his fidelity to his custom- ers have merited him the success he has at- tained. In May, 1871, he married Flora Loeffler, daughter of Frederick Loeffler. This union has been crowned by the birth of five children, viz .: Clarence, Arthur, Lillie, Hattie and Stella: Arthur died in 1876. Politically, he has always been a Republican. While at Canal Fulton, he was elected City Treasurer, serving two years, and was hon- ored by a re-election to the same office; is a member of the City Council.


GEORGE W. MERWIN, cabinet-maker, Massillon; is the third son of John and Mary (Freese) Merwin. Our subject was born in New Lisbon, Columbiana Co., the same year his parents eame to Stark County; he learned the cabinet-maker's trade in this city, which he followed for some time; in the fall of IS61, he volunteered his services to defend his Nation's honor, enlisting in Company I, 76th O. V. I., where he remained until after the battle of Arkansas Post, where he received wounds of such a nature as to render him unserviceable, and he was discharged, having participated in the battles of Forts Donelson and Henry, Shiloh, Corinth, Vicksburg and Jackson, Miss. Since his return home, he has been engaged in the wood-work depart- ment at Russell & Co.'s shops; since 1879, has had charge of that department. Was married to Miss Ellen Willison, of this city, and by her has two children-Edward and Bertha. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal


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Church, and of the Masonic fraternity, and a good Republican.


JOHN P. MERWIN, retired mechanic, Massillon: son of Nicholas and Mary Merwin; was born in Chester Co., Penn., March 25. 1SOS: at the proper age, he was apprenticed to the wagon-making business. He was mar- ried, in Angust. 1830, to Mary A. Freese, who was born in Chester Co., Penn .. Oct. 28. 1809, and was the daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Freese. They have had eight chil dren, of whom William M. was born in Schuylkill Co., Penn., and Joseph K., Hannah F. and Mary E. in Montgomery Co., Penn; George W. in New Lisbon, Ohio: David P., Cynthia A. and Charles O., in Massillon, Ohio. Of these children, Hannah F. and Mary E. died in early childhood; William M. removed to Indiana in 1852: he there filled many positions of trust, and after occupying subor- dinate clerkships, during several sessions of the Legislature, he was elected Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives, in 1868. He was accidentally killed Jan. 5, 1873. The remaining children reside in the city of Mas- sillon. Mr. John P. Merwin removed with his family to New Lisbon, Ohio, in April, 1839, and in the following spring took up his residence in Massillon, where he has since resided. He was foreman, for over thirty years, in the wood department of the foundry and machine-shops of Partridge & Kessler, and Messrs. Killinger & Co. He was a man of strong moral convictions, and in early man- hood united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which church his wife and living children are also members. He became iden- tified with the anti-slavery canse in the early years of that agitation. When the war of the rebellion broke ont, in 1861, his sons, William M., Joseph K., George W. and David P. enlisted in the army of the Union. They constituted the entire "fighting force" of the family, as Father Merwin was too old, and Charles O. too young, for military service.


J. WALTER MeCLYMONDS, manufactur- er, Massillon; born September, 1812. in New Lisbon, Ohio; son of John McClymonds, of Scotch-Irish extraction: a resident of Pennsyl- vania, and was a soldier in the war of 1812, and for several years was Postmaster at Darling-


ton, Beaver Co., Penn .; he came to New Lis bon, where he married Elizabeth Kincaid, and engaged for several years in mercantile business and banking; he came to Massillon in 1860, and engaged in banking for nine years; in 1869, he moved to Cleveland, where he was one of the principal organizers of the Ohio National Bank, and since has been President of the same; also, of the Cleveland Rubber Company, of which he was prominent in its formation. J. Walter graduated at the New Lisbon High School. April, 1861, and entered the service of the Government, enlisting as a private in Com- pany E, 19th O. V. I., in three months' serv- ice; afterward re-enlisted in same regiment, Company A, and was promoted to Sergeant Major, where he served until the spring of 1563. when he was transferred to the 104th O. V. I., serving as Adjutant until the close of the war; he served also as Assistant Adjutant General of the brigade and division, and was tendered a commission for the same, but declined. During this time, he participated in all the general engagements in which his command took part: at the close of the war, received an appointment in the 14th Regular Infantry as Ist Lieutenant, which position he resigned, after several months, and returned to civil life. During the latter part of 1865, was employed in the office of Gen. Poe, Chief Engineer on Gen. Sherman's staff, in Washington, D. C. In December, 1865, he came to Massillon, where, for three years, he was engaged as clerk, with Russell & Co., and as Teller in the Union National Bank. In the spring of 1869, he moved to Cleveland, where he was Assistant Cashier in the Ohio National Bank for three years; spring of 1873, came to Mas- sillon, and became book-keeper for Russell & Co .: in January, 1876, became a partner and placed in charge of the financial department of the business: in January, 1875, the firm was incorporated as Russell & Co., with Mr. MeClymonds as Secretary and Treasurer. which position he still holds. Nov. 9, 1870, he married Flora A., daughter of N. S. Rus- sell: has one child living.


DAVID P. MERWIN, printer and Deputy Postmaster, Massillon; born Dec. 11, 1512, in this city; is the fourth son of John P.


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Merwin and Mary Freese: at the age of 16 entered the office of The Journal of the Times to learn the printer's art, remaining here until October, 1861, when he enlisted in Company I, 16th O. V. I., and served in the same during the war, receiving his dis- charge. July 26, 1865. During this time, he ' was engaged in the following battles: Forts Donelson and Henry, Shiloh, Corinth, Vicks- burg, Jackson, Miss., Arkansas Post, Lookout Mountain. Ringgold, Mission Ridge, and in all the battles of the Atlanta campaign: during this time was in twelve of the South- ern States; never missed but two engagements in the whole time of service, returning home without a wound or scratch: upon his return home, resumed his trade, working in the Inde- pendent office one year: afterward assisted in establishing the Massillon American, and con- tinned in that office three years: since 1872, has served as Deputy Postmaster, under C. F. Ricks. He is unmarried and resides with his parents, who are aged and infirm: much credit is due him for the filial caro he mani- fests toward them. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and of the A. O. U. W.


PHILIP MORGANTHALER, druggist. Massillon; was born Jan. 29, 1845, in the town of Massillon, the eldest of a family of four children, born to Peter and Christina (Bummerlin) Morganthaler. both natives of (fermany; was raised in the town, and at the age of 19, entered the drug store of Bucher & Kachler, and remained with them six months, but continned with Mr. Kachler, who conducted the business alone after the with- drawal of his partner, for thirteen years. Sept. 13, 1877, Mr. Morganthaler parchased the interest of his employer, and has since run the business; keeps a full line of drugs, books, stationery and fancy goods. He was married, in February, 1881, to Frances E. Young, born in Lawrence Township, the third child of Cyrus and Margaret Young, who were among the prominent and wealthy families of this county.


T. CLARKE MILLER, physician, Mas- sillon: was born in Butler Co., Penn., July 17, 1842; son of James and Margaret G. Miller: he was born in the North of Ireland.


in 1796, and was the oldest of a family of twelve who came to maturity. James came to Maryland in 1798: settled afterward in Franklin and then in Westmoreland Co., Penn., but after marriage settled in Butler County. and engaged in farming; his wife died in September. 1847. The Doctor was the last of the children born; the Doctor was raised to farming, and remained on the farm until 15 years of age; received common- school education, and took part of an academic course: in the spring of 1861. he enlisted in Company F. 9th Penn. V. I., and served three years: was in the seven days' fighting at Mechaniesville, Gaines' Mill, Charles City Cross Roads, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill. Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg and Williamsport, serving as private and non- commissioned officer: was discharged in June, 1864; after return from service, resumed his studies and taught school until spring of 1865; graduated at Charity Hospital, at Cleveland University in 1867; entered Charity Hospital as Surgeon for one year; he began general practice of his profession at Newburg, where he stayed two years, and then moved to Cleveland. until he came here to Massillon, in the spring of 1876, where he has since continned. In May, 1869, he married Mary A. Culbertson, born in Blairsville, Penn., daughter of Isaac and Mary (MeChesney) Culbertson. They have four children, Clarke C., Rush, Thomas and Clara. He is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and an active worker in the Sunday school, hav- ing been Superintendent of the Sunday school at this place.


P. MORGANTHALER, warehouse and grain merchant, Massillon; was born in Feb- ruary, 1808, in Bavaria; son of Nicholas and Elizabeth (Miller) Morganthaler. Nicholas was a farmer, and died when our subject was but 3 years old. who was afterward reared to farming. He came to Ohio in 1838, and located in this city; coming here poor, he worked at tending in the warehouse of Mr. Wellman, and returned to the old country in 1837, but came back in 1841, and was em- ployed for about fifteen years by L. & S. Rawson, in the grain business. In 1857, he



CITY OF MASSILLON.


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engaged for himself in the grain. plaster. lime, cement and salt trade, and has continued since. In March. 1843, he married Christina Bummerlin, born in Baden, Germany, dangh- ter of Charles Bummerlin. He has four chil- dren-Philip, in drug business; Flora, Sher- iff's wife, Canton: Angusta and Albert L. He and his wife are members of the Reformed Church.


JOHN MEINHART. contractor, Massillon; was born Aug. 15, 1848, in Hesse-Darmstadt; son of John and Maggie (Shuman) Meinhart: he was a son of John Meinhart, she a daugh- ter of John Shuman. The father, John, died in 1851. Our subject left home when he was 17 years of age, having begun the trade of stone cutter when 14; he emigrated to this country in 1865. coming to New York, where he worked several months, and then came to Warren. Ohio, and worked at his trade until the spring of 1866: then went to Wooster and several other places. finally coming here to stay, in 1874; began contracting in 1876: put up the Union Schoolhouse: furnished the stone for and put up the court house. at Wooster: was of the firm of Powell & Mein- hart, which lasted some time: since 1877, he has conducted the business alone. In 1871. he married Amelia Banghart: they have five children-Sophia. Charles, Henry, John and Frank. He is a member of the Catholic Church.


NICHOLAS MINICH, hatter, furrier and millinery, Massillon: was born in Rhine-Prus- sia, Dec. 6. 1821, the youngest of a family of four children, two sons and two daughters. born to Adam and Margaret (Ault) Minich, both of whom died when our subject was young. 23 years when his mother died, 9 when his fa- ther died. May 12, 1816; left Europe May 27, setting sail from Havre, and arriving in New York July 3; stayed there two years; his brother came several years previous; he was two years in Texas fighting Indians; after- ward joined the regular army: was cleven years a United States soldier, and was killed at the storming of Vera Cruz. Our subject learned the furrier's trade before leaving the old country: when he arrived in the United States he only had $3; tirst worked at the cap business, and then at the furrier's trade. In


the fall of 184S, he came to Massillon: was first with Hiram Wellman, in the cap busi- ness, and after six months bought him out, and started in the manufacture of hats, caps, furs and gloves, on Erie street, which lasted two years, when he removed to Main street. but his place was burned out the fall after he started. when he moved to No. 15 Main street, about 1851, where he has continued ever since. In 1868, he erected the building he now owns. 30x65 feet, which cost about $15,000. July 4, 1849, he was married to Elizabeth Cham- bers, born in Carroll Co., Ohio, in 1821, dangh- ter of James and Sarah (Berk) Chambers, ho of Maryland, she of Pennsylvania. Had six children: Flora, Mrs. David Hopkins, Grand Rapids: Mary, Mrs. William Perong, Clove- land: William James. Frank H., Charles O. and Charles, 2d. who died respectively at 5 years and 7 months and 11 months. Mr. Minich is a member of the English Christ's Church: wife of the Disciples' Church.


THOMAS MCCULLOUGH, banker. Mas sillon; was born near Steubenville, Jefferson Co .. Ohio, March 6. 1810; he is descended from Scotch-Irish Protestant ancestry on both sides; his grandfather, John McCullough, emigrated from Ireland to America in the year 1796. and after stopping for a few months in Lancaster Co., Penn., located in Fayette County, same State, and, in 1799. be- came a pioneer to Ohio, settling noar Sten- benville, Jefferson Co. Here. in the wilds of the Western wilderness, this sturdy pioneer erected a rude cabin of unhowed logs, chinked with mud, the chimney being made of sticks and cemented with the same material; the windows were made of paper, smeared with grease, while a quilt served the purpose of a door: the floor was made of split logs, and through the openings between their badly- fitted edges. rattlesnakes would crawl into the cabin at night. Mr. Mccullough died in December. 1827, on the farm which he had cleared, aged 75 years. The parents of our subject were John McCullough and Jane, daughter of Thomas Ritchie, an Irish omi- grant to America, and a pioneer to Jefferson County, about the year 1798. They were married near Steubenville, Ohio, and there resided for several years. In 1821, his father


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moved to Springfield, Ohio, where, for several years, he kept a hotel. He died, in 1852, at the age of 73. One of his brothers, David, was a soldier of the war of 1812. Our sub- ject is the third son of ten children; had a farmer's boyhood, and only a common-school education. At the age of 22, he went to Vir- ! ginia, where he was employed for four years superintending a plantation, near Wheeling; in February, 1836, he removed to Massillon, and engaged by the Massillon Rolling Mill Company to superintend the elearing and cul- tivation of their extensive farms; in 1840, this company failed, and in 1848 Mr. McCullough purchased a portion of the land. amounting to between 3,000 and 4,000 acres, of which he still retains three or four hundred; in 1851, he became connected as stockholder with the Massillon Branch of the State Bank of Ohio, and was subsequently made its President; in 1864. this company was merged into the Union National Bank of Massillon, of which Mr. Mccullough was President till 1873. He is a stockholder in the Cleveland & Massil. lon Railroad, and was, for several years, eon- nected with the City Council. In politics, he was formerly a Henry Clay Whig, and now a Republican; in religions faith, he is an Epis- copalian, as was his father, and has been for several years one of the Wardens of St. Tim- othy's Church, of Massillon. He has been thriee married: his first wife was Caroline Applegate, of Wheeling. W. Va., whom he married March 16, 1837; she died Feb. 3, 1838; on May 12, 1840, he married Nancy, daughter of John Melondy, of Vermont; she died May 8, 1877, having been the mother of two children, one son and one daughter, the former deceased; the daughter. Caroline, is : the wife of H. H. Everhard, of this eity: on | Dec. 30, 1879, he married Mrs. Mary C. Hurxthal, of Canal Dover.


J. H. MeLAIN, milling, Massillon: was born in this city: eldest son of J. E. MeLain. Om subjeet started the News Depot in this eity; he first commenced elerking in his fa- ther's store, at the age of 19 years, and stayed there one year, when he went in business, first, with Ricks & MeLain, which lasted five years. and afterward, with MeLain, Dangler & Co., which lasted six years. J. H. then withdrew


and went into the Exchange Bank, where he stayed three years. While there, he became interested in the White Sandstone Quarry, which he continned one year, afterward, in 1876, buying a half interest in the Crystal Spring Mill, which was run under the firm name of Justus & MeLain; he, however, in 1878, purchased the interest of Justus, and continued by himself; in 1879, he bought the Loeffler warehouse, and afterward bought the warehouse adjoining of the Kelly estate, and the same year, a third warehouse of the Jarvis estate, which he turned into an engine-house, the second being fitted up as a mill, contain- ing six run of buhrs, at which he does an ex- change business. The Crystal Spring Mill has also six run of buhrs, and one pair of rolls; this mill is four miles north of town; does merchant work only, the other one being on Exchange street. He has, also, a half in- terest in the planing-mill of MeLain & Brown, and deals in real estate. In 1865, he married Ellen Towner, who was born in Bellefonte, Penn., daughter of Rev. John Towner. They have four children- Frank, John, Percy and Helen. Mr. McLain is a member of the A., F. & A. M., Knight Temp- lar, of A. O. U. W. and Royal Areanum, and a member of the Council from the First Ward.


C. M. MeLAIN, merchant, Massillon; was born March 31, 1849, in Massillon, the young- est of a family of three sons, born to J. E. Mc- Lain. He was raised to the mercantile busi- ness; engaged, at the age of 16, clerking for MeLain & Dangler, and remained with them five years; then, in the spring of 1871, asso- eiated himself with the firm, under the name of MeLain, Dangler & Co., which lasted until 1876, when he and his brother, Charles L .. bought out Dangler and continued until the spring of 1878, when C. M. bought his brother's interest. Iu December, 1871, he married Mary T. Parsons, danghter of Samuel and Elizabeth Parsons; has had two children-Walter H., living, and Mabel, dead; is a member of the various Masonic societies in the city-A .. F. & A. M., R. A. M., and Knights Templar.


J. E. McLAIN, banker, Massillon; was born in Greene Co., Penn., July 15, 1814. His an- cestors emigrated from Scotland about the time of the American Revolution, and became


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settlers of the Keystone State. His parents were James and Eleanor (Evans) McLain: they came from Greene Co., Pen., and settled near New Lisbon, Columbiana Co., Ohio, about the year 1520; his father was a miller by oc- cupation. and had a family of eight children, of whom our subject was the third son. He suffered the loss of his father when he was about 7 years of age, and from the age of 10 made his own way in the world, earning his own livelihood and picking up, at intervals, such meager crumbs of education as the com mon schools of that day afforded; in this early disciplinary school, he learned the virtues of industry, self-denial and frugality, which have had much to do in shaping his subse- quent career, and in creating that success with which his business life has been so signally characterized. When about the age of IS, he came to Massillon, and in April. 1832, began learning the blacksmith's trade under Jacob Jacoby, and followed the same for about eight years: in 1836, he bought the interest of Mr. Everhart, of the firm of Knapp & Everhart. who were the first manufacturers of threshing machines in Stark County. and engaged in this manufacture, under the firm name of Knapp & McLain, and thus continued until 1840. when the whole business was soll ont to another firm, who, a few years subsequently, moved the business to Mansfield; Mr. MeLain thon purchased three boats on the Ohio Canal. and for some three years was engaged in run- ning a line from Cleveland to Portsmouth: for a few years subsequent. he was engaged. first in the livery business, then in the drug, and afterward in the dry goods trade; he was then employed to superintend the building of the car-shop at Massillon, of the firm of Daven- port, Russell & Co .. and still later by the Mas- sillon Iron Company, to superintend the build- ing of their furnaces and to purchase iron ore for the same, and to sell the goods manufact- ured. Finally, upon the failure of the com- pany, he conducted the business on his own account. for the purposeof realizing out of its profits certain sums of money for which he had previously become security. In the fall of 1851. he finished the building of two sec- tions east of Massillon of the Ohio & Penn sylvania, now the Pittsburgh. Ft. Wayne &




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