History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 34

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.

upon his undertaking, and, when he asked for an assistant to help him in his outward con- cerns, and who might, during the same time, learn the language of the Delaware Indians, they (the Brethren) made it known to the con gregation of Bethlehem, whereupon Brother John Heckewelder concluded, of his own choice, to assist him." And then, to explain the above somewhat, he goes on to say: "We know of Post that he was an active and zealous missionary. but had married an Indian squaw, contrary to the wishes and advice of the Directory that had the oversight of the Mora- vian missions; and this act had forfeited so much of his standing that he would not be ac- knowledged as one of our missionaries in any other manner than under the guidance of another missionary. Whenever he went fur- ther and acted of his own accord. he was not opposed, but had the good-will of the society of which he continued a member. and of its Directory, and even their assistance so far as to make known his wants to the congregation; and they threw no obstacles in the way of any person inclined of his own choice to assist him. But he was not then acknowledged as their missionary. nor entitled to any further or po- cuniary assistance."

Rev. David Zeisberger, who afterward formed a permanent mission a few miles down the river. also refers to Post's mission. Maj. Robert Rogers, sent on an expedition to the Western country from Montreal, crossed the river at the fording place at Tuscarora- town in the year 1761. and afterward stated that there were at that time some 3,000 acres of land, cleared and under cultivation, at the Indian village. The chief of the Delawares at this time was Beaver, and their principal war chief was Shingess, who is supposed to have been the same as Buekongahelas. This noted warrior was living in 1804. In 1761. when Col. Bouquet marched to this village with his army of 1,500 men, it was found de- serted. It will thus be seen that the only im portant result of the Post mission was the founding of a series of missions on the Tus- carawas. Did not Heckewelder do even more than Post to insure a continuance of the work founded by this mission ? And yet Post lod the way, even against the wishes of the

Directory of the Association. and was in reality instrumental in laying the foundation of the sneeeeding missions.

It is not the design in this chapter to enter into the details of the first settlements made in the different townships in the county. That task falls upon the township writers. It is proper, however, at this point. to give a sum- mary view of the general early settlement, for the purpose of giving a connected account of the growth of the county. The earliest settlers throughout Ohio, and, in general. throughout all new countries, were a courageous class of men, known as squatters, whose occupation wa- hunting and trapping, upon which they almost or quite wholly depended for subsistence. These men usually thought the country was becoming too thickly settled when a dozen families lived within as many miles, and, in such cases, ordinarily moved farther out into the unexplored wilderness. In their places came the advance guard of the grand army of settlement and progress. It is always the case that the enterprising, the energetic and ambi - tions are the ones who first brave the hard- ships of a new country, and who thereby write their names on the most prominent page of the history of their country. It is always the ven- turesome, the daring spirit, that swings off from the great army and strikes in a new and surprisingly effective manner at the object to be attained. Such men are not imitators: they are imitated. They do not follow; they lead. They do not wait like Micawher for something to turn up: they turn something np. They are the initiators of genuine prog- ress. Stark County had its share of these men. Their faces are vet familiar to the old set- tlers. although their rifles and traps have been laid aside long ago. Every stream knew them ; every hill and dale had felt the pressure of their feet: every grove had re-echoed with their shouts, and with the reports of their rifles. Their rude dug-out canoes swept silently across the lakes beneath the strength of their sturdy arms. All this is now gone. Waving fields of grain stand upon the hills and line the sloping dales; the stealthy foot- fall of the hunter is no more: the busy hum of human life has taken the place of silence and shadow. As nearly as can be ascertainod,

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

the townships were first settled as follows: Canton. March, 1805: Plain, summer, 1805; Nimishillen, autumn, 1805; Sandy, autumn, 1805: Osnaburg, autumn, 1805; Paris, au- tumn, 1805: Marlborough, autumn, 1805: Washington, autumn, 1805; Lexington, spring. 1506: Lake, summer, 1806; Perry, summer. 1806; Pike, summer, 1808; Jackson, 1807; Bethlehem, 1807; Tuscarawas, 1808; Lawrence, 1808: Sugar Creek, 18OS. These clates are not far from correct. The settlers were largely from the Keystone State, though many were from the Old Dominion, and from the Empire State, and a few were Yankees. Perhaps four-fifths of the early population were of German descent. Localities in the county were colonized by Yankees and by French Catholies. Later years have served to reduce, greatly. the German characteristics. The En glish language is principally spoken, though there are places where the German prevails, or where the vivacious French may be heard. Settlers were careful to locate on the outskirts of the settlements. as in that ease they eould have choice of land, and could also be near sehools, churches, stores. mills, etc. These were important items to be taken into con- sideration, as many a settler who disregarded them learned to his sorrow. It was important. also, to locate near some good highway. Mill- ing was a fashionable and profitable employ- ment. The extensive immigration prior to 1820 created an enormous demand for native lumber. Houses, barns and other buildings were erected by the thousands; but, as the demand for building humber increased, the number of saw-mills to supply that demand increased. The early saw-mills were, of course, operated by water-power, and henee the selection of farms having excellent mill sites occupied the attention of many an early settler. Grist-mills sprang into existence to supply the demand for bread. Every township had one distillery or more. There was an enormous demand in early years for liquor. Whisky was upon every sideboard, and chil- dren and adults daily took a pull at the bot- tle. It was the custom, just before eating, to take a horn, as the liquor was thought not only to aid digestion, but to furnish a positive nourishment to the system. Workmen really

thought they could not get along without it, and frequently left the field when it was not furnished. The best of whisky could be bought for from 12 eents to 30 cents per gallon. It is said that every house was a public house in early years. The latch-string hung out to all, and no one was turned away without a bed or a meal, such as they were. Little villages sprang up like mushrooms, from all quarters. Every owner hoped that his village would be favorably smiled upon by fortune. Some hopes were realized, some were blaste.l. Stores were opened with small stocks of goods, that were slowly increased as the patronage ex- tended, or was auctioned off as the owner saw that his effort was abortive. People were with- out money. yet extensive eommerce was car- ried on by means of exchanges, with some temporary measure of value. There arose two prices-the "trade priee " and the "cash priee." This state of things often wrought great hard- ships, but was finally outgrown. Schools and religious meetings were first held in the set- tlers' houses. Finally, the old log schoolhouse was erected. Here the meetings were also held, until at last log churches were built. These old schoolhouses and churches have been replaced by many others, eaeh an improvement on the one preceding it. Thus settlements and improvements have multiplied, with their attendant blessings.

A few years after Columbiana County had been created, and after a number of the first settlers had located in what is now Stark County, the territory embraced within the limits of the latter county, and other territory of about the same extent, were ineluded in the former county for election purposes. It must be understood that, when speaking of Stark County in early years, not only the present territory embraced within the county limits is meant, but also Franklin and Green Town- ships in Summit County, and Brown, Rose and Harrison Townships in Carroll County. These townships, at the early organization of Stark County, were a part of the latter. While under the jurisdiction of Columbiana County, the Stark County of early years was divided into two townships by a line passing east and west through the county, on the northern line of the present Canton Township. The territory

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

north of this line was called Lake Township. and that south of the line. Canton Township. These two townships included the whole of Stark County. Soon after the Indians' title to the land west of the Tuscarawas was extin- guished, the present Wayne County, and por tions of the townships of Lawrence, Tuscara- was and Sugar Creek, lying west of the river, were attached to Lake and Canton for election and judicial purposes. As soon as the last two townships were created by Columbiana County. which was done in 1806, an election of the necessary township officers was ordered. Who these officers were is not now known; but JJacob Loutzenheiser was commissioned Justice of the Peace of Lake Township. and James F. Leonard the same of Sandy Township. No other important alterations were made until the county was created. The following is the full text of the creating act. passed by the Sixth General Assembly of the State of Ohio. begun and held in the town of Chillicothe. on the 7th of December. 1807:

SECTION 1. B. it enacted by the General, .Isseur vy of the State of Ohio, That the following tract of country he and the same is hereby erected into a separate county by the name of Stark, viz .: Begin- ning on the southern boundary of the Connectiont Reserve, at the northeast corner of township num- ber nineteen in the sixth range: thener running south between the fifth and sixth ranges, to the southeast corner of the fifteenth township of said sixth range: thener west with the township line until it intersects the eastern boundary line of the United States Military District: thence with the said eastern boundary line north to the northeast corner of the tenth township, in the first range of said military district: thence west with the town- ship lines until they intersect the Indian boundary ine; thence with said Indian boundary line to the northwest corner of fractional township mumber ten of the tenth range, in the new purchase. south of the Connecticut Reserve: thence north, with the line running between the tenth and eleventh ranges. to the northwest corner of township number two of the tenth range: thence east with the southern boundary line of the Connecticut Reserve to the place of beginning.

SEC. 2. That the said county of Stark shall. from and after the first day of January, one thou sand eight hundred and nine, be and the same is hereby declared to be a separate and distinct coun- ty, and entitled to all the rights and privileges appertaining to the same Provided. That all actions and suits which may be pending in the ounty of Columbiana on the first day of January. one thousand eight hundred and nine shall be pros routed and carried on to final judgment and extru tion, and all taxes, fines and forfeitures, which

shall be then due, shall be collected in the same manner as if this act had not passed.

SEC. 3. That all that tract of country lying west of the tenth range and cast of the sixteenth range in the said new purchase, and south of the Connect icut Reserve, and north of the United States Mili- tary District, shall be a separate and distinct county by the name of Wayne; but, with the county of Stark, shall be attached to and made a part of Columbiana County, until the said county of Stark shall be organized, and shall thereafter be and remain a part of the said county of Stark until otherwise directed by law.

SEC. 4. That there shall be appointed by a joint resolution of both houses of the present Gen- eral Assembly. three commissioners to fix the seat of justice in the said county of Stark, agreeable to the art establishing seats of justice, who shall make report of their proceedings to the Court of Common Pleas of Columbiana County, and who shall be governed by the provisions of the aforesaid act.

SEC. 5. That the commissioners aforesaid shall be paid for their services ont of the treasury of Columbiana County.

This act shall take effect and be in force. from and after the passage thereof.

PHILEMON BEECHER. Speaker of the House of Representatives. THOMAS KIRKER. Speaker of the Senate.

February 13, 1808.

The three Commissioners appointed by a joint resolution of both Houses of the Sixth General Assembly to locate the county seat of Stark County were Elijah Wadsworth. Eli Baldwin, and another, whose name does not appear upon the Columbiana County records. On the 14th of June, 1508. Daniel Harbaugh, Joseph Richardson and George Alterholt, Com- missioners of Columbiana County, issued an order, in accordance with Section 5 of the above enactment, upon the Treasurer of that county, paying to each of the constituted Com missioners appointed to locate the county seat of Stark County the sum of $13 for his serv- ices. These Commissioners, after carefully considering the claims of the three villages, Canton, Osnaburg and Nimishillentown, for the location of the county seat. unanimously selected the former. An election of county officers was ordered, and, on the Hith day of March. 1809, the first Commissioners of Stark County met at C'anton for the transaction of business. These men were John Bower, James Latimer and John Nichols. They met at the residence of James Campbell. and appointed William Reynolds Clerk of the Board. The first thing done was the division of the county

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

into townships, or, as some then called them, "election distriets." This was effected as fol- lows:

Ordered by the Board, That the county of Stark be divided into townships or election districts as follows, to wit: Canton Township (election to be held at the residence of Samuel Coulton, in Canton) beginning at the southeast corner of the ninth township in the eighth range: thence north with the line between the seventh and eighth ranges to the northeast corner of the tenth township in the said eighth range; thence west with the township line to the west boundary of the county: thence south and east with the county line to the place of beginning. Plain Township (election to be held at the residence of George Harter), beginning at the northeast corner of the twelfth township in the righth range: thence south to the southeast corner of the eleventh township in the eighth range: thence west with the township line to the west boundary of the county ; thence north and east with the county line to the place of beginning. Nimi- shillen Township (election to be held at the resi- dence of llenry Loutzenheiser), to include the eighteenth and nineteenth townships in the sixth range, and the nineteenth and twentieth townships in the seventh range. Osnaburg Township (election to be held at the residence of William Naylor), to include the seventeenth township in the sixth range and the eighteenth township in the seventh range. Sandy Township (election at the residence of Isaac Van Meter). to include the fifteenth and sixteenth townships in the sixth range, and the sixteenth and seventeenth townships in the seventh range. Further ordered. That the clerk do ascertain of the Associate Judges of Stark County. how many Justices of the Peace will be necessary in each of the townships in the county, and that he, having got the certificate of said Associate Judges, do pro- ceed to advertise an election in each of the said townships, to be held on the first Monday in April next (1809). for the election of the number of Jus- tices agreed on by the Associate Judges, and for all other necessary township officers.

In accordance with Section 3 of the above , creating enactment, attaching the county of Wayne to the county of Stark, the Commis- sioners, on the 10th day of April, 1809, or- dered that the county of Wayne be considered attached to Canton Township, and that the residents of that county vote at the usual place where the citizens of Canton Township do. The Commissioners soon saw that they must levy a tax to secure a revenue for carrying on the expenses of the county. Not a road, with perhaps one or two exceptions. had been laid out in the county; and, as the settlers began to come in very rapidly at this time, repeated demands were made for bridges and for better roads. It is said that, during the winter of

1805-6, there were not to exceed twelve fami lies in the entire county. The next winter, there were about three times as many, and at the time the county was organized, in 1809, some localities were quite well settled. To meet the current expenses of the county in the construction of roads and bridges, and the pay- ment of county officers, the Commissioners, on the 10th day of April, 1809, ordered the fol lowing assessments: Taverns in Canton, a license of $9 per annum; in all other parts of the county, $5 per annuum. Ferrymen on the Tuscarawas River, $6 per annum: and the same on all other streams of the county Ferrymen were allowed to charge as follows On footmen, 6} cents each; man and horse, 123 cents: team and loaded wagon, 50 cents; all other vehicles, 373 cents; team and empty cart, sled or sleigh, 82 cents: cattle and horses, each, 61 cents; sheep and hogs, each, 2 cents. The following additional assessments were made by the Commissioners in June, 1809. On all ordinary horses, 25 cents annually: on horses of the masenline persuasion, the season price per annum: cattle, 10 cents; on all other taxable property, a levy of 3 per cent .. For the scalps of wolves and panthers, a bounty of 50 cents was offered, provided the animals were under six months old: if over that age, $1. The following year, this bounty was doubled. At the April session of the board, James Campbell was appointed County Treas- urer, whereupon he gave bond for $3,000, with George Bair and Philip Slusser. bondsmen. At the June session. Joseph McGuigan was ap- pointed Sheriff. His bond of $4,000 was signed by Thomas Giason, Hugh Cunningham, Samuel Coulter, Andrew Suckey and James Williams. In September, 1809, the Commis- sioners ordered the county of Wayne to be de tached from Canton Township, and to be or- ganized as an independent township by the name of "Kilbnek." The citizens of that county were directed to assemble at the resi- dence of Benjamin Miller, in Wooster, to elect the necessary township officers, which was ac cordingly done. This order of the Commis- sioners was issued in accordance with the prayer of the citizens of Wayne County, who had petitioned for a separate organization, The first road ordered viewed was a branch of

HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

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the Steubenville & Bethlehem road, and was to extend from Jacob Oswalt's to the town of Canton, thence toward the portage of the Tus- carawas River. The second road was to ex tend from the northeast corner of the county to Lexington, theure to Raleigh Day's Mills, thence to C'anton. An application was made for a road extending from Canton to the con- fluence of Sandy Creek and Tuscarawas River. This was at first refused, but in December the application was granted. In December. 1509, the first Court of Common Pleas was convened by Judge Calvin Pease. More of this court will be learned in the chapter on the county bar. In the autumn of 1809. Samuel Coulter took the place of John Bower as one of the Commissioners, the latter probably having left the county. It was decided by ballot that James Latimer's term of office should be one year, Samuel Coulter's two years, and John Nichols' three years. The Court of Common Pleas met in the upper story of S. W. Coulter's building, and, as ordered by the Commission ers, the Judge " will be entitled to receive $3 for each court." The following are the dates at which subsequent townships of Stark County were created: Tuscarawas. 1810; Green. 1811; Perry. 18I3; Brown, 1815: Jackson, 1815: Pike, IS15: Lawrence, ISI5; Lexing ton. 1816, and again in 1821; Sugar Creek, 1816; Lake. 1816: Franklin, 1816; Bethle- hem, IS16 : Harrison, 1817: Paris, 1818: Rose, 1$18; Washington. ISIS; Marlborough, 1821. During the year IS10, the Township Collectors reported and paid into the county treasury about $200. Of this, John Campbell, Treasurer, turned over to his successor $45.55. In 1811, James Drennan was appointed by the board to " keep the county measure." It was

about this time that the first land tax was col- lected. Thomas C. Shields being the County Collector. In December, 1811, the board came to the conclusion that the old court room in Samuel Coulter's house should be abandoned. and a better one entered in the second story of George Stidger's new brick. The contract he- tween the board and Mr. Stidger was as fol- lows: "Stidger is to give for the use of the county the south half of the upper story of said house, and to devote the same to the nses of a court room. The Commissioners engage

to put up in said house such accommodations as they think proper for the court, and to do it with as little injury as possible to the house, and to pay the said Stidger the sun of $3 for each and every court that may sit in said house, except called courts for transacting adminis trative business." The board also, at this time, rented the upper story of the house owned by Daniel Faron, the same to be used as a jail, and Mr. Faron to be paid $1 per month for the use of such story. Mr. Stidger's house was used as a court room under the above con- tract until 1814. when the contract was altered so that the owner was paid $40 per year, and the court continued to sit there as before. In 1814, the tax on personal property was raised somewhat, but that on real estate remained at 1 per cent. James Williams. County Col- lector for 1813, turned over to the Treasurer $789.45. less his commission, ete. Soon after this the tax on real estate was raised to 1 per cent. This was rendered necessary on account of the enormous pressure brought to bear upon the Commissioners for building bridges, view ing and constructing roads, and the general expenses of the county. The following is the report in fullof John Harris. County Collector, for 1814:

COLLECTOR'S REPORT. i.r.

To the amount of his duplicate. 961 02 1

By defalcations. × 14 40

By tax on lots donated to the county by Beraleel Wells.

By commission for collecting. . 9 61

By Treasurer's receipt dated Ort. 24, 1814. . 700 00

By Treasurer's receipt dated Jan. 3. 1815. 180 00

By Treasurer's receipt dated

March :, 1815.

51 26

$961 42

The Collector for 1812 reported $205. 50, and the one for 1815, $1,256.23. In 1815, the propriety of building a court house was disenssed: but the matter did not take shape until the sunumer session of IS16, when pro posals for the erection of a brick court house were received. On the 23d of Inly. 1516, the Commissioners entered into a contract with Thomas A. Drayton and John D. Henley for the erection of a brick court house, the same to cost $6.250, "exclusive of the bell, bell- frame, spire. ball and lightning rod." This

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

building, with some modifications of details and price, was completed in 1817, and was immediately occupied by the county officers. This court house, with various alterations and additions, was used until the present one was built. In December. 1829, the Commissioners authorized the Auditor to give notice that sealed proposals for the erection of a county jail would be received: and, at a special ses- sion in February. 1830. they caused to be re- corded: "After a careful examination of the several proposals laid in for the erection of a new jail. it is ordered that the contract be as- signed to Calvin Hobart, he having agreed to furnish materials and complete the work for the whole building for the sum of $3.600; and it is further ordered that the said contractor enter into bond with sufficient security for the faithful performance of the work." This building was completed in January, 1531, and a settlement made with the contractor. In August, 1833. the Commissioners considered the advisability of altering and remodeling the court house: whereupon, it was " ordered that Dwight Jarvis, Esq., be authorized to em- ploy W. W. Knapp, of Massillon, or some other competent mechanic, to go to Ravenna and take a plan of the court room at that place, and ascertain whether the court room at Can- ton can be so altered as to correspond with that, and to estimate the cost of such altera- tion." Nothing further seems to have been done regarding this order, for, in March, 1834. Eli Sowers was authorized to repair it in ac- cordance with a plan he had prepared, for which he was paid $844.81. In January, 1836, the Commissioners called for proposals for the erection of a new court house, to accord with a plan they had at their office; but, for some unknown reason, nothing further was done in this particular. In June, 1842. it was decided to build a large structure for the county offices. The contract was awarded Francis Warthorst in September, the cost to be $4,475. The work was fairly begun in March, 1843, when the Commissioners were petitioned as follows: " Your petitioners. citizens of Stark County, respect fully solicit your honorable body to sus- pend the building of the county offices until after the expression of the will of the tax-pay- ing citizens of this county, to be determined

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History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 34

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