History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 30

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

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

uses of the household, but of late years it has found a more valuable market in cakes and as sirup.

A survey of this branch of Stark County's agriculture would hardly be complete without some reference to the late frosts of 1559 and 1845. The frost of 1859 came on a Saturday night in June. The previous night had brought a fall of rain, and on Saturday it cleared off with a cool atmosphere. which grew colder as night approached. In the morning, the " killing frost " had left scarcely a vestige of the growing crops alive. Corn was about eight or ten inches high, and pota- toes had reached the growth that made the effect of frost most damaging. All grain was ruined, and the people found themselves face to face with " perilous times," if not starva- tion. The frost had been general over the State, and the situation was considered alarm- ing. Some time was lost in unavailing re grets, and some crops that might have been saved by prompt cutting off even with the ground were lost by delay. Fortunately. there were some late crops that had not come forward enough to become involved in the general disaster, and others were saved by favorable locations. The less fortunate farm- ers set at once to repair the misfortune so far as possible. The corn and potatoes were re- planted, buckwheat was sowed in the place of wheat. and. thanks to an unusually long sea- son, these crops were fairly matured. There was a large proportion of soft corn, hundreds of bushels of which proved almost a complete loss.

Fruit culture has, from the first, occupied a prominent place in the care and attention of the farmers, so that Stark is now the leading county for fruit in the State. As early as 1806, orchards were set out and con- siderable care given to their culture. In this year, Rev. Mr. Gans, of Lexington, had an orchard; Valentine Weaver. in Plain, had an orchard raised from seed at the same time: James Gaff. two miles north of Canton, fol- lowed in 1808, as well as Simon Essig and Frederick Stump: Jacob Shanabager started an orchard on the farm of JJ. Harmer in 1806 and 1507. Considerable care was exercised in the selection of varieties and in cultivating

the trees, and among some of the early varie- ties were some which still find a large number of cultivators. Among these may be men- tioned the Pennock, Blair. New Town Pippin. Vandever, Romanite, Roman Stem, Spitzen- berg, Bell Flower, French Pippin. etc. Dur ing the first years, apples were a great Inxury, and found a ready sale when brought into the settlements from the older communi- ties. They were brought in from Steubenville as early as 1509, and were among the regular order of things on training days. On these occasions, the wagon-loads of apples were hailed with as much enthusiasm as the loads of water-melons at a fair in these later days, and were rapidly sold at a shilling a dozen. Among the early varieties, the Blair, though a small apple, was a prime favorite, and was readily sold at $1 per barrel. The Romanite was especially marked as an excellent keeper. and was in good demand.

Stark is well situated for a fruit country. It is particularly free from frost-killing, and. with a little more of the iron element in the soil, would be the ideal location for fruit- growing. The natural hindrances to this branch of farm industry, by intelligent exper- iment and careful husbandry, have been so far overcome that much of the best fruit of the country is produced here in excellent qual ity and profitable quantity. Among the lead- ing modern varieties may be mentioned the Baldwin, Bell Flower, Vandover. Red Canada. Wells Apple, Ohio Nonpareil, and King. The last-named, known by many as "King of Tompkins County," is a great favorite. It is a fine, large apple, some of the fruit measur- ing fourteen and a half inches in circumfer- ence, and at the same time retaining a fine favor and smooth texture. The demand here is not, however, for a large apple. They are found more liable to rot, with a consequent greater loss, than in the case of a smaller apple: fruit-growers find the loss from drop- ping from the tree greater, and, as the larger part of the picked fruit is marketed in the county, the various demands of the domestic economy are better served with fruit of medi- um size. The apple is the hardiest fruit in this locality, and there are probably more acres in apple orchards than in all other fruits

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

combined. The extensive cultivation of ap- ples in orchards, however, has been of com- paratively recent effort. Most of the surplus crop finds a market in Germany, and is dried for shipment. The recently improved evap- orators are used on most of the farms, which save time and give a better color to the fruit, enhancing the market value of the dried prod- net 100 per cent.

Peaches are not so successful in this county. They were grown here as early as 1809, and were at first as prosperous, perhaps, as apples, but succeeding years have wronght such cli- matic changes that there is a good crop hardly more than once in five years. There is an exception, perhaps, to this rule, in the case of Sandy and Pike Townships, where the great

success in the enitivation of this fruit. The various kinds of English Morellos are the only kinds grown to any extent, and, though need- ing considerable attention, they produce a fair return. They are seldom injured by frost, and are planted in considerable num- bers. The history of the plum-tree here is that of this fruit in most parts of the State. It is a natural phim country, and, until about 1845, it was the surest fruit in this section, but abont this time, the cureulio came in, and has taken the fruit regularly ever since, Oe- casionally a fair product is got from a single tree, by a lavish outlay of time and pains. but the result does not warrant the expense needed to secure it.

The number of large towns, with their large bulk of the peach crop of this county is pro- proportion of mechanic population, found in duced. The peach-tree is found to mature too early, and consequently to rapidly decline. the average life of a tree not reaching more than ten years. The leading varieties are the early and late Crawfords, which, in the par- ticular localities mentioned, produce reasona- ble results. There is, however, no disposi- tion to surrender the enltivation of this fruit entirely. Fresh trees are being planted, care- ful investigations are being made, and it is hoped that the present obstacles will be over come. the county, has of late years given a marked im- petus to the cultivation of small fruits and vegetables. Strawberries, raspberries and blackberries of the improved varieties are largely cultivated. and find a ready sale at fair prices in the different towns. There is 10 surplus for exportation or for wine-making, and little of either is done in Stark. Grapes are found to flourish here scarcely second to any other place in the State. The Concord, Delaware. Lady and Agawain are the leading varieties. The Isabella is not grown. and the Ionia and Catawba are unsuited to this loca- tion, the early frost of autumn preventing their maturing. These also find a ready mar- ket in the various towns, and are not made into wine at all.

Of late years, the interest and profit in the cultivation of vegetables for the home market has shown a marked increase. Last year, a considerable " annex " was built by the agri- cultural society to accommodate the display of exhibits in this class.

This success in fruit-growing is doubtless to be referred not less to the intelligence with which the subject has been studied, than to the natural advantages of the soil. An out- growth of the interest in this subject was the organization of the Horticultural Society, October 11, 1878, by such gentlemen as J. K. Neisz, Levi Stump, Andrew Pontius, Lewis Essig, H. W. Firestone, J. F. Neisz. W. W. Reed and others. This society has its meet-

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Pears were found in this county at an early date, the first being cultivated on Adam Ober- lin's place, on the Fulton road. Stark takes the third place in the State in the growth of this fruit, and many orchards of consider- able size are devoted to it. The Bartlett, Flemish Beanty, Siecle, White Doyeu, etc., are the leading varieties. The tendency to blight, which the pear-tree shows here as else- where in Ohio, has caused considerable loss in the culture of this fruit, but a remedy has been found which, it is thought. will effectu- ally prevent it. This is the application of salt to the ground about the tree. The theory of this remedy has not been explained. but. so far as experiments have been made, its suc- cess seems to be demonstrated.

Cherries of the hardier sort are found to do pretty well, though. as it is a fruit into which iron enters more than any other, the soil here is found the best adapted to the highest

HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

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ings mouthly, at the residences of its various members, and has accomplished a great deal for the fruit-growers of the county. Experi- ments are constantly being made, which are fully discussed at their meetings, and the value of these discussions is being felt and acted upon by the mass of farmers.

In the matter of stock-breeding. there is a very general interest, though the number of those who make it a specialty, or a leading feature of their farm industry, is small. Prob- ably less than one-tenth can be placed in this class, though among these may be included many of the wealthier farmers. Among this portion of the farming community, a perse- vering. patient. investigating spirit has been manifested. that has accomplished large re- sults for the stock of the cour ty. No class of stock has been slighted in this respect, though perhaps horses and sheep have profited most.

It is quite natural that the early history of the horse in Stark County should be somewhat obscure. In the early settlement, the nature of farm work called for the steady strength, the freedom from accident and the easy keep- ing of the ox, and horses found no general demand until the pioneers could afford the luxury of speed in travel. It was not long before this demand made a marked change in the character of the teams, which has contin- ned until now one would scarcely meet with an ox team in a month's travel through the county. The early stock of horses were such as could be bought in the older settlements. and were marked by no particular character- istic of breed or quality. The only demand was for the ordinary purposes of the farm, and the people were not only not in a position to " look a gift horse in the mouth." but were quite as powerless to be fastidious in regard to any horse. Among the earliest efforts to improve 'upon this stock was the importation of a horse known as "Merry Andrew," from Virginia, and which was reputed to be a thor- oughbred animal. The old settlers, who re- member his appearance, agree that his equal has not since been in the county. He was imported in 1825, by Dr. Simmonds. Henry Barber, who was a devoted lover of fine horses, had at this time a fine imported mare, of good blood, and from these two animals some

excellent stock was raised, which gave the first impetus to an effort to improve the grade of horses. About 1832, John Meyers brought into the county a fine chestnut-sorrel stallion. called " Windflower." He was a good-blooded horse, of tine parts and splendid action, and left a marked impress upon the stock of the county. He sired a great many colts, and his blood can be traced in the fine appearance and action of many of the best horses yet to be Tound in the county. In 1849. " Napoleon Morgan" was brought from the East, and first introduced this strain in the county. His trotting qualities, fine action and splendid appearance gave him a popularity, and for several years the Morgan strain was in high

favor. "Green Mountain." a dark brown horse, was brought here in 1859. and was the sire of a number of valuable horses. The nat- ural tastes of the people who settled this county, however, did not lead them to prefer this class of horses, and in a few years the demand veered around to those of heavier pro- portions. This led to the introduction of the English draft horses. "Scotch Clyde" and "Plow Boy." This class of horses are of Scottish descent. of the largest size, averaging from sixteen to eighteen hands high, with ponderons bodies, stont limbs, hairy at the fetlocks, of high and noble carriage, and un- surpassed in weight and strength. They occasionally reached a weight of seventeen and even eighteen hundred pounds. Of late years, the Norman. though not bred here, has been brought in from neighboring counties. and are largely used in the extensive teaming business which the mining and manufacturing interests support. They are natives of France, and embody more speed in action than the ordinary draft horse, together with great strength of limb and power of locomotion. Their average size is from sixteen to seventeen hands high, compact in body, symmetrical in shape, clean in limb and enduring in labor. Their color is a fine silver gray, the best adapted to withstand the burning rays of the sun in the field or on the highway. Other horses that have contributed to the present stat- us of the horses in Stark County are "Chil- ton." "Timoleon." " Tuckahoe." and the Mes- senger strain. Both carriage and draft horses

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are well represented in the county, and a marked improvement has been going on for the past twenty years,

The introduction of cattle into the county was as early as the coming of the first settler. Cows were a necessary part of the pioneer's outfit, without which his chances for obtaining a reasonably comfortable existence were very poor indeed, and few families were without them. But, once here, it required all the care and diligence of the settler to protect them against the ravages of wild beasts and disease. Wolves were not so dangerous to cattle as in many places, but now and then a yearling or calf was sacrificed to their vora- cious appetites. The murrain, a little later, took off scores of these animals, entailing con- siderable privation before they could be re- placed. Then the marshes and the rank veg- etation took their quota, so that, in spite of the employment of all the available children in the settlement as herders, and the dosing of cattle with alum, soot and soft soap, hun- dreds fell victims to the snares of a new coun- try. Under such circumstances, the effort was narrowed down to a struggle to maintain. rather than improve, the breed. The short- horn Durhams were probably the first intro- duced. These cattle were introduced into Ohio from Kentucky at first, but, in 1834, the "Ohio Importing Company " was formed to import short-horn Durhams from England. Seven bulls and twelve cows, nineteen in all, were imported, and exhibited the following year at the State Fair. This company subse- quently increased the number of their impor- tation to thirty head. In 1852, the "Scioto Importing Company " imported sixteen head, and. in the following year, a similar company formed in Madison County, imported twenty- two head. In 1854, similar companies wore formed in Clinton and Clark Counties, by which some forty more animals were brought to the State. Amid all this activity in the improvement of stock, it is not to be expected that the enterprising people of this county should fail to profit by it. The Devons are also held in high esteem here. This is a strik- ingly distinct breed in form and quality, me- dium in size, uniformly red in color, and comely in appearance. This blood, or that

which was closely allied to it, seems to have been imported into New England in the sev- enteenth century, and the native stock of that section has for many generations borne strong resemblances to this stock. The stock of the county has been greatly improved by the inter- mixture of these breeds, and it is estimated that at least three-fourths of the stock of cat- tle are more or less mixed with these breeds. Among those who have been identified with this movement are Edward Brook & Son, of Marlboro Township, John Shock, of Canton, and Thomas Chapman, of Bethlehem, with Durham stock; Benjamin Thompson, of Lake, Jonas Brougher, of Jackson, and H. Raynolds, of Canton, with Devon. The value of this stock over the native breed is plainly apparent in their keeping qualities, size, form, early maturity, increase of milk, and superior beef. It is claimed by the friends of these improved cattle that there has been an increase of one- third, at least, in the value of the cattle of the county by their introduction.

Sheep were introduced into Stark County almost as early as any stock. The first set- thers seemed to have looked the ground all over, and to have prepared for an isolated existence in the woods. In these plans, sheep formed a conspicuous item, as the production of wool for the various articles of clothing seemed nearly indispensable. But the num- ber and boldness of the wolves made sheep- raising a burden upon the frontier farmer, taxed as he was with the cares and anxieties of a " elearing," that he could ill afford, and many soon gave up the experiment. Others, however, persevered in spite of discourage- ments, and the county has probably not been without sheep since their first introduction. though the number has been very small at times. After the wolf had been exterminated under the influence of liberal bounties paid for their scalps, the dogs caused serions havoc among them, a farmer sometimes finding as many as twenty or thirty killed and wounded in a single night. It did not need any out- side encouragement to wage a war of exter- mination upon these animals, and many a sheep-killing dog was summarily disposed of.

It is difficult to determine the characteristics of the early sheep. In 1816, Wells & Dick-

. Toutes

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

inson, large woolen manufacturers at Steuben- ville, had large flocks of Spanish merino sheep, derived from the ilumphrey importa- tions. These were pastured at this time on the Stark County plains, and were the talk of stock admirers of the State. In 1824, the failure of this firm caused these sheep to be scattered in small parcels all over the State, and they fell into the hands of many who cared more to improve on the common stock than to breed full-blooded animals. These sheep were characterized by a light carcass and fleece, though the latter was of fine text- ure and good fiber. American cultivation has done much to improve these original and sub- sequent importations, so that at this day no fine-wooled sheep in the world excel, and few equal. the American merinos in the heavy product of their fleeces. or the size and stami- na of their bodies.

Previous to the Wells & Dickinson flock. about 1809. " Mr. Thomas Rotch, a member of the Society of Friends, emigrated from Connecticut to this county, and brought with him a small flock of merino sheep. They were good, and a few of them were of the flock imported by Col. Humphrey. At that early day he hoped, in twenty years' time, to see every farm in the county stocked with me- rinos. In this he partially succeeded, but a prejudice against the breed prevented them from becoming so general as he had antici- pated."> To this statement Secretary Klip- part adds a note to the effect " that his wife, Charity," frequently solicited from him a fund which might be invested for charitable or benevolent purposes. But he hesitated. until, one spring morning. he gave her two sick merino lambs, and told her that she might take them as "capital" for benevolent pur- poses: the noble-hearted wife thankfully ac cepted them, nursed them and cured them. With this. as foundation of a flock, she acen- mulated a suum which, in course of time, became sufficient to build and endow the " Kendall Charity School."

Many etforts have been subsequently made by farmers to improve the breeds, both native and those carly imported. The Vermont me- rino, Cotswold and Liecester, have been in

trodneed, but none have gained the suffrage of the whole county. The Dickinson merinos still hold their place with old wool-growers. while the younger portion of wool-growers prefer the Vermont sheep. There does not seem to be any middle ground on which the two classes can meet. It is claimed on the one part that the Vermont merinos require more care and attention than the Dickinson, and that the increased weight of the fleeces is caused entirely by a gummy grease peculiar to them. It is also claimed that they will not thrive in large flocks, and that, although the tiber may be longer, this advantage is more than counterbalanced by the other disadvan- tages. On the other hand, it is claimed for the Vermont sheep that they not only have a longer fiber, but finer wool, and that they will clip from half a pound to two pounds more clean wool. It has been suggested that a cross between the merino and Cotswold would make a better sheep for all purposes, but this experiment has not yet been fully tested.

Swine were the earliest and the most easily maintained of any stock on the frontier farms. No family was so poor as to be without them. and none were so rich as not to need them. In many parts of the county, they were allowed to run at large in the forest, gradu- ally taking on the nature of the wild hog, which was found here by the first settlers. This breed of hogs was of thin flesh. large bones, thick skin and formidable tusks. They were wholly unfit for food, though the exigen- cies of pioneer life often made them the only resource. Their skin was used for tanning purposes, and furnished a very desirable leather for horse collars and other parts of the harness. The woods breed of hogs, however. has long since become extinct in this county. and. where it used to take two years to make a 200-pound hog. a 300 and 100-pound hog ean be made in nine to twelve months. In these animals there are more evidences of im provement than in any other class of stock. The original breed was long in the body, long in the legs and long in the snout, famous for rooting and jmuping fences, and were dis- tinctly termed "land sharks." The "grass breed" and the Berkshires were introduced about the same time, and a cross between

*St te Agricultural Report. 1959.

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

these produced a hog before which the native swine fast disappeared. The principal breeds which have been more or less introduced here are the Suffolk, Chester White and Berkshire. The latter, when first introduced. were a rough, coarse-boned animal. and were crossed with the " grass breed" and soon abandoned in their purity. A fine-boned Suffolk followed. but they were found as much in the one ex- treme as the early Berkshires had been in the other. A cross between these and the Chester White has produced a favorite animal with many. A later Berkshire, which answers the demands of the critic, has been introduced to some extent. but the Chester Whites and Suf- folks are preferred, and a cross between these two are the great favorite in the county. They are noted for their rapid growth, fine form and fattening qualities.

In poultry, Stark County is perhaps second to no county in the State. About 1860, there was a marked interest taken in this branch of " farm stock." and several varieties of chick- ens were introduced, among which were the Game, Shanghai, Dorking, Brahma-Pootra and Black Spanish. The last-named is the only one that time has proved to be a consid- erable improvement. Many turkeys are raised. but no special effort has been made to improve the variety. The same may be said of geese and ducks. Guinea and pea fowls are found here and there, but they are raised more for appearance than for profit.

The Stark County Agricultural Society held its first fair on the 15th and 16th of October, 1850, and numbered at that time 235 mem- bers. The exhibition of stock was held on the south part of the grounds belonging to the Presbyterian Church, while the domestic and

fruit display was made in two rooms of the West Tuscarawas Street Schoolhouse. The State Report of that year says in regard to this fair: " More than enough to pay all the expenses for diplomas, arranging grounds, erecting pens, providing feed, preparing rooms, paying hands, and all the printing bills, were procured by the committee from the citizens of Canton. The streets of Canton, during the whole time, were thronged with the members of the society, and with anxious and admiring spec- tators." After using this ground two years, the society bought twelve acres on the "Young farm," now in the Fourth Ward of the city. Here the grounds were inclosed. permanent buildings erected, and a track built. In the course of some eight or ten years. this was found to be too small, and a tract of land ex- tending from Lawrence avenne to the Louis- ville road. in the north part of the city of Can- ton, was secured. Here a good half-mile track has been constructed, and good build- ings. In 1866, a magnificent hall was erected, at a cost of about $6,400. The center is octagonal, eighty feet in diameter, surmounted with a dome ninety feet high. Wings extend north and south, 56x22 feet, each having re- cesses and a dome. In capacity and architec- tural beauty, it exceeded, it is said, anything of the kind in the State at that time. The exhibitions of the society continue to increase in interest, and considerable inconvenience is being felt at the lack of room, though the grounds cover some forty acres.

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History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 30

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