History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 39

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 39

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).

In addition to the railroads of the county now in active operation. or in process of actual construction. there are quite a number, that as vet have only been constructed on paper. The Steubenville, Canton & Lake Erie is one of the latter kind. It is the object of the company advocating this line to run a road up Wills Creek. and tap the Island Creek road, a few miles from Steubenville. Thence to Salineville where it will tap the Cleveland & Pittsburgh. and also a new road coming down from New Lisbon. Thence it is to go to Minerva and Can ton, connecting at the latter place with the Pitts- burgh. Fort Wayne & Chicago road. From C'anton it will have direct communication with Cleveland. It is in the hands of practical and energetic men, and no doubt but it will sooner or later be built. It will be a valuable accession to the Stark County system when completed.

HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

228

The Cleveland, Canton. Coshoeton & Straits- ville Railroad. is an enterprise that was organ- ized some years ago. and at one time seemed likely to develop into a reality. A company was formed, a charter granted for a standard gange, to connect with the Valley Railway at Canton, considerable stoek subscribed, and work actually begun on the line of road, and a good deal of grading was done. But from some cause it languished and work finally ceased. Recent- ly (May, 1881) it was purchased by the Connot- ton Valley Railway, and will be finished imme- diately as a narrow-gauge road. It is to be ex- tended 105 miles in a southwesterly direction from Canton, passing through Massillon, Co- shocton, Straitsville and the Hocking Valley coal district, reaching many important towns, notably Zanesville and Coshocton, and termi- nating at a central point in the Hoeking Valley coal-field. It will be a valuable feeder to the Connotton Valley system. and of the greatest advantage to Canton, in bringing immense quan- tities of coal and other freight to its doors for transfer and re-shipment.

The property acquired by the Connotton in this purchase, involves the right of way through the central part of Ohio for 50 miles, and an amount of grading, upon which was expended some $400,000. Work was begun on this ex- tension under the auspices of the new manage- ment, and it is believed that much of it will be finished during the present summer.

The Baltimore, Pittsburgh & Chicago Rail- way, which we believe is also a narrow gauge,

is another paper railroad, at least so far. From the agitation of the project, however. it is alto- gether possible to build such a road, especially if it is sufficiently pushed forward in the pres- ent great railroad boom now passing over the entire country. The surveyors of this projected road have just surveyed a route through Min- erva, in this county, and down the Sandy Val- ley, and of this route they speak in high favor.

The Canton & Canal Dover Railroad is an- other of the prospective roads of Stark County. It has been incorporated and a company formed with a capital of $750.000. It will be 23 miles in length and will connect the Valley Railway with the Pittsburgh roads, and will also forin the connecting link between Marietta on the Ohio River and Cleveland. This road, though short. will be an important one to Canton and to the county at large.

How many more railroad irons Stark County has in the fire it is impossible to say, but doubt- less there are a number of projected roads that have not yet come to the surface. We have noticed all the roads of the county that have been completed, as well as those contemplated. so far as we have been able to obtain facts re- garding them. If any have been omitted it is an oversight and occurred through the multi- plicity of roads to be looked after and written up. The railroads form an important part of county's history. but space allows but a brief sketch of them in a work of this character, and we leave the subjeet without further remark.

HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

229

CHAPTER V .*

WAR HISTORY-THE REVOLUTION-CAPT. STIDGER'S COMPANY OF 1812-STARK COUNTY DURING THE MEXICAN WAR-OPENING SCENES OF THE GREAT REBELLION-SKETCHES OF THE REGIMENTS THE DRAFT-AID AND OTHER SOCIETIES -GREAT RE-UNION OF 1880-OBSERVANCE OF DECORATION DAY.

When the long years have rolled slowly away. E'en to the dawn of earth's funeral day : When at the Archangel's trumpet and tread. Rise up the faces and forms of the dead: *

Then the glad cars of each war-martyred son Proudly shall hear the glad tidings " well done." Blessings for garlands shall cover them over. Parent and husband and brother and lover. God will reward those dead heroes of ours. And cover them over with beautiful flowers. -C'arleton.

D IFFERENCE'S of opinion have been ad- justed from time immemorial by the ar- bitrament of war. Individuals, dissatisfied with existing relations, have invoked the god of battles, and turned the red hand of slaugh- ter against their brethren. Others, instigated by passion, ambition or caprice, have, by the powers of will or genius. strewn the earth with human clay, and filled the heavens with woful lamentations. Nations, delighting in conquest. and, seemingly, in slaughter, have shaken the earth with their elephantine tread, and scat- tered the hard-earned products of civilization with infinite disregard. Others have united in hideous schemes to deluge the world with blood. until the name of civilization has seemed a synonym for unlimited reproach. Enlight- ened man converts into an art the barbarous plans of human destruction, and establishes institutions of learning wherein are taught the most gigantic and expeditious modes of termi- nating life. The world witnesses a strange paradox when man, after thousands of years of moral and intellectual advancement, still resorts to his physical nature to secure sub- sorvience to his desires. Might, not right, still rules the world with despotic sway. War, as a result of dissimilar views, necessarily fol lows from conflicting enlightenment in all do- partments of human thought. So long as

minds refuse to see alike, conflicts will occur, storms of war will trouble the earth, and the reign of peace will be clouded. The first war with which Stark County had any con nection was the Revolution. Although at that time no white men lived within the present limits of the county, except, perhaps, a few missionaries, whose object was peace, yet so many of the settlers who afterward came to the county were in the struggle for independ- ence, that reference, though brief, must be made to that war. The causes of the Revolution and the terms by which the colonies became free and independent, are too familiar to be de- tailed here. It is thought that the hardest times the country has ever seen immediately succeeded the establishment of peace. The colonies were no less than bankrupt, and priva- tions and hardships in the most direful degree were willingly borne when victory and peace were secured. The paper money, by means of which the war was carried on. was worthless. and the harvests, of necessity, had been so nearly neglected that starvation stared the colo nies in the face. Time alone, and at last. re- trieved the havoc of war. When the country had in a measure recovered from the stroke, enterprising men and women began to push Westward. The Government offered extra in- ducements to settlers, and finally the rush for the West became so great that the settlers be- gan to unlawfully invade the territory of the Western Indians. This brought down upon them numerous and bloody wars with the sav ages. Soon after Ohio, as a State, was created. settlers began to boldly appear, regardless of the rights of their red neighbors It has been estimated that 10 per cent of the white men who located in the county prior to 1515 had been engaged in the war for independence. The names of many of them will be found in

"Contributed by W A Goodspeed

230

HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

the biographical department of this volume.

At last another war with Great Britain cast its dark shadow over the land. When it be- came known in the West that war was inevita- ble, and had really been declared, the settle- ments were filled with distrustful forebodings. A coalition between the British and the In- dians was anticipated, and, as soon as it be came certain that this dreaded alliance had been effected. the pioneers throughout Eastern Ohio made hasty preparations for defense. Block-houses were erected in the more exposed localities, and in all places the militia mus- tered and equipped themselves with the imple- ments of war. In almost every settlement in the eastern part of the State, companies were organized for a determined resistance against any for that might appear. A large block- house, about eighty feet square, was built at. Wooster, but Canton, being an older settlement. in a less-exposed situation, and well supplied with brave men, coneluded to forego the lux- ury of such a building. As nearly as can be ascertained, Canton, at that time, was the head- quarters of the Third Regiment of the Second Brigade of the Fourth Division of Ohio Mili- tia. Several companies belonging to this regi- ment had been accustomed, for a number of years, to muster in different portions of the county, principaly at the county seat. At last a call for troops was issued. and a movement was instituted to effect the organization of a company at Canton from the militia. George Stidger, who had seen active service in former years in the Eastern States, and who, it is said. had been honored with a General's commis- sion, was elected. or appointed. Captain. The company was yet incomplete. when a draft was ordered, and enough men were secured to form a respectable company of about seventy. Sev- oral men were drafted, who, from the fact that they had families dependent upon them for support, found it extremely inconvenient to leave home, and substitutes were called for. One hundred dollars became the prevailing price for a substitute, and a sufficient number to meet the demand were secured at this figure. The following is a complete list of the mem- hers of this company, secured after a great deal of trouble, from the Third Auditor of the United States Treasury, where the rosters of

the Ohio volunteers of the war of 1812 are on file: George Stidger. Captain; Robert Cam- eron, Lieutenant; Daniel McClure, Ensign: John Miller. John Shorb. William V. Cham- berlain. Christian Flickinger. Sergeants: George Cribs. Jacob Essig. John Rowland. Moses Andrews, Corporals: Thomas Neily, Bugler; and the following privates: Ezekiel Alexander. William Andrews. James Andrews, Thomas Alexander, William Brouse. James Black, Phillip Brouse. John Bronse, John Cutshall (perhaps Gotshall). John Clinger, George Crasimore, John Carper. Benjamin Croninger, Garret Cruson. Alexander Cam- eron. Samnel Duck. George Dewalt. Adam Es- sig, John Elder, Daniel Farber, James Gaff, Robert Gaff, Thomas Hoffard, John Kroft. Jolin Koontz, George Kirkpatrick. Henry Liv- ingston, Samuel MeClellin, George Monroe, Jacob Myers. James Moore, John Potts. Sam- uel Patton. John Rogers, Abraham Roose, James Riddle, John Rise, Jacob Swigert, John Shusser. William Smith, Daniel Stephens, Thomas Shields, John Shineberger. Jacob Slus- ser, Robert Sorrels and Bezaleel Thompson. It is not known whether this is the roster at the time of muster in or muster ont. It is prob able that others than those mentioned above served in this company, in which case their names would appear on the roll, as made out by the officers of the company at the time such men served. Such rolls are probably long ago destroyed. It is probable that the company was ordered into the service of the Govern- ment during the summer of 1812. The period of enlistment was six months. The British and the Indians were congregating at or near Detroit, and to hold them in check, several companies, organized in the eastern part of the State, and in Pennsylvania and Virginia, were ordered to the Mamnee River, where they were to mass and unite on a means of attack or de- fense. Capt. Stidger's company was first or- dered to Wooster, where the troops remained a month or more, doing guard duty and enjoy- ing themselves in a multitude of ways. Their base of supplies was at Canton. where beef, corn-meal. flour and other provisions were pre- pared and forwarded by wagon. Scouts were dispatched to inspect the neighboring Indian villages, and to notify the troops and the set-

231

HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

tlements of impending danger. Finally. the company received orders to proceed westward to Perrysburg, on the Manumnce River, and to report there to the commanding General. The Stark County boys remained in this vicinity. enjoying themselves in every manner except encountering the enemy. until a short time be- fore their period of enlistment had expired, when they were discharged and sent home. They had seen no active service. much to their declared disappointment. After this, although they were not in the service, yet. knowing that the war was not over, and that attacks from Indians might be expected at any moment, they did not disband, but mustered regularly one or more times a week. to be in readiness for a possible attack. or for another call from the Goverment. However, they were not called out again.

During the carly stages of the war, a regi- ment of soldiers from Pennsylvania, passing through C'anton with some thirty pieces of ord nance, stopped for the night. It is related by Daniel Dewalt. whose father kept a tavern. that one of the men in charge of a cannon traded both his horses, which were good ones, but used up by the journey. for one horse le- longing to the former. giving at the same time sso to boot. "As I soll one of the horses soon afterward for $100, that." says Mr. De- walt. " was the best horse trade I ever made." Many interesting incidents are related of cir- cumstances growing ont of the war. On one occasion. it was reported by several men who had just arrived from the North, that the Brit ish were coming. that they had been seen dis- embarking from vessels on the lake, and that their appearance might be expected at any moment. This was sufficient to rouse the citi- zens to the utmost, and immediate preparations were made to receive the enemy in a fitting manner. Dwellings were barricaded. scouts were sent ont to reconnoiter. and. amidst great excitement, an informal organization of militia was effected. Finally. a few ragged, half- clothed men appeared, who annonneed that they and their comrades were the parties that had landed at the lake. They were a portion of Gen. Hull's paroled sokliers. The citizens slowly relaxed their vigilance, though they con- timed to gnard all points against an unex-

pected attack. While an attack from the Brit ish was possible, it was not regarded as proba ble, and the settlers in Stark County were not ap prehensive ou that score; but the Indians wore looked upon in a different light. Large muu bers were not far distant during the war, and reports were often in swift circulation that they meditated an attack on the whites. Two companies of militia were mustered in the county, one under Capt. Downing and the other under Capt. Sloane. While these companies were not in the service of the Government, they mnstered regularly, and were kept in readi ness to be called out at any moment, for the protection of the neighboring settlements, in case of an attack from the redskins. Compara- tively nothing is remembered of these militia companies. It is quite certain that they took one or more excursions with a view of holding bands of Indians in check, who were thought to be contemplating an attack.

Stark County took a prominent part in the war with Mexico. All are familiar with the circumstances resulting in this war. Briefly. the causes grow ont of the admission of Texas into the Union. The "Lone Star State " had been a province of Mexico, but. a few years previous to its annexation to the United States, had thrown off the burdensome Spanish yoke, and organized an independent govern ment. War followed between Texas and Mexico, and. at the battle of San Jacinto. which occurred in 1836, the Texans captured Santa Anna, Dictator of Mexico, together with a large part of his army, and succeeded in com- pelling him to acknowledge their independ- ence, which he did very much after the fash ion of the man referred to in Buthe's Hudi bras:

" He that complies against his will. ts of his own opinion still."

The sneceeding treaty was wholly diste garded by the Mexicans, who continued their former policy toward the hostile province. From this time onward, petitions were fre- quently presented to the United States by the Texans, praying for admission into the Union. There was a strong political element in the country opposed to this: and, to strengthen the feeling, and prevent. if possible, the U'nited States from complying with the prayer, Mexico

200

HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

declared that the admission of Texas would be | ers, and from Lient. Col. Daniel Gotshall, of regarded as sufficient canse for a declaration of war with the States. In the Presidential can- vass of 1844. the annexation of Texas was one of the leading issues before the people, and Mr. Polk. whose party favored the admission of Texas, being elected, this was taken as a pub- lie declaration on the subject. After this. Congress had no hesitancy in granting the petition of Texas, and. on the Ist of March, 1845, formally received her into the sisterhood of States. Mexico at once broke off all diplo- matic relations with the United States, recall- ing her Minister and making immediate pre- parations for war. In May, 1846, Congress passed an act authorizing the President to ac- cept the services of 50.000 volunteers, and ap- propriating $10,000,000 for the prosecution of the war. Immediately following this was a requisition by the President on the Governor of Ohio for 2,400 volunteers, in three regi- ments, and the Secretary of War urged all pos sible expedition in their enlistment. The call was for infantry, or riflemen, who were to or- ganize and report at Camp Washington, Cin- cinnati.

At this time, the old militia law was in force throughout the State, requiring the enrollment of all able-bodied men between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, for military duty. Massillon was the headquarters of the Sixth Division of the Ohio Militia, the division com- mander being Maj. Gen. Dwight Jarvis, of that city. On the 25th of May, 1846, he is- sned an order to the several commandants of brigades in the Sixth Division, requiring them to muster their commands, to ascertain how many men could be got in readiness for war. ('anton was the headquarters of the Second Brigade of the Sixth Division, the brigade com- mander being Brig. Gen. Samuel Lahm, who immediately ordered the organized militia of Stark County to muster as follows: The First Battalion of Light Infantry, at Canton, on the 5th of June: the First Regiment of Infantry, at Osnaburg, on the 6th of June; the Second Regiment of Infantry, at Bethlehem, on the Sth of June: and the Third Regiment of In- fantry, at New Berlin, on the 9th of June. This order was followed by others to the same effect, from the various regimental command-

| the First Battalion. On Friday. the 5th of June, the First Battalion, consisting of one company from Canal Fulton, one from Bethle. hem, one from Greentown, one from Lonis- ville, one from Osnaburg and one from Canton -in all, six companies, of about 400 fine-look- ing men-mustered at Canton. and, as a body, offered their services for the war. A few weeks prior to this event, Capt. James Allen, who had commanded a company in Texas in 1836, opened an enlistment office at Canton and issned a call for volunteers. Men came promptly forward, and. by the 5th of June, the company was nearly half completed. The 5th was an animating day, for bands of martial music paraded the streets to fire the dormant spirits of the citizens with the glory of war. Thrilling speeches were made, and many were added to the company of Capt. Allen. In the afternoon, the splendid ceremony of forming a hollow square was executed by the militia, and a fine sword was presented to Capt. Allen, amidst the rattle of musketry and the roll of drums. The partially formed company were in full uniform, and kindled the admiration of all as they marched, with wonderful regularity and precision, through the crowded streets of the county seat. It required but a short time after this memorable day to complete the en- rollment of the necessary number of men, and Capt. Allen notified his superiors that his com- pany was ready for marching orders. The call of the Governor for 2,400 volunteers was so promptly filled that, on the 8th day of June, he announced that many more than the required number had enlisted, a portion of whom could not be accepted. It is said that, when the mil- itia throughout the State were called upon to muster and ascertain how many could be got in readiness for the war, 30 volunteered at Xenia; 36 in Warren County: 26 in Muskingum: 20 in Fairfield: 6 in Lorain: 63 in Ross; 9 in Darke; over 40 in Portage; 208 in Clermont; 19 in Seneca; 30 in Sandusky: 41 in Licking: and nearly 400 in Stark. Massillon was made a secondary depot, where companies raised and supplies obtained in this portion of the State were ordered to report for the inspection of Gen. Jarvis. Capt. Allen's company was ac- cepted by the Governor before the 10th of June.

HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

and, on the 13th, received orders to report at Camp Washington, Cincinnati. Before start- ing, the company received from the citizens of Massillon money and supplies to the value of about $200. The ladies of that city pre- pared a fine Hag, which was presented in their names to the company, in a fine speech by Gen. Jarvis, to which Capt. Alien responded in the following glowing and eloquent words:

"For the distinguished mark of respect and confidence just extended us by the ladies whom you represent, I would, in my own behalf, and in behalf of the company with whose com- mand I have been honored, endeavor to thank yon. were I gifted with fitting language to ex- press our common gratitude. This beautiful flag, an offering of generous and holy hearts. shall be to us a hallowed treasure. The gift of pure and lovely women. we shall look upon it as a consecrated emblem, and our hearts draw inspiration of goodness from its contem- plation. It is bequeathed to us from bosoms as pure and true as the unstained azure of its field, and from affections as bright as the stars in its mimic galaxy ; and it shall be our pride and duty to love and honor and protect it while life throbs in our pulses and strength lingers in our arms. Present our adieux to the ladies who have thus so highly honored ns. and say to them that we have sworn never to prove unworthy of their confidence meer to disgrace this flag."

The company "sailed" for Cincinnati on the 13th of June, followed by the tears and loving farewells of friends, and the well wishes of all. Soon after reaching Camp Washington. the "Stark Rangers," as they were called, were as- sigued to the Third Regiment. which comprised ten companies, as follows: Allen's, of Stark Connty: Woodruffs, of Norwalk: Ford's. of Mansfield; Patterson's, of St. Clairsville; Nole's, of Zanesville; Moore's, of Wooster; MeLaughlin's, of Manstiel; MeCook's, of Steubenville: Meredith's, of Coshocton; and Chapman's, of Seneca County. The organiza- tion and equipment of this regiment were soon effected, and, on the 3d of June, 1846. it was ordered, first to New Orleans, and thence across the gulf to Point Isabel. Texas. Capt. Allen's company consisted of eighty-four fine- looking men, as follows: James Allen, Captain; Sam-

uel Beatty. First Lieutenant: Jacob G. Frick. Second Lientenant: Abijah W. Baker, First Sergeant: William Hilbert. Second Sergeant; William S. Hartman. Third Sergeant; Lonis E. Clement. Fourth Sergeant: Ralph S. Court ney, First Corporal: William MeCurdy, Sec ond Corporal: Robert Clayton, Third Corporal; Alonzo Waters. Fourth Corporal; and the fol- lowing privates: Theodore Gibbons, James R. Stall, Findley MeGrew, John L. Cross. W. C. Torrence, John Shannon, Isaac Doxey. Philip Martin. William Yawkey, Louis Heminger. Charles Bradley, Myron Monroe. John Link. John Dickas, Jereboam Creighton. Frederic Kisner. Jacob W. Rex. John Ulam. Charles H. Coombs, Andrew P. Gallaher. Ferdinand W. Haack. Thomas Thompson. Jacob Sebohl, Jacob Eversole, Mathias Fox. John W. Way- ner. John Matson. John R. Walter. George Stitzel, Joel B. Martin, Ambrose Essner. Sam- uel Stall. Jacob Fontainheim. Peter Kroft. Michael Matter. John Stephens, John Mun- grew, Martin Bohrer, Mathias Hoover. Jacob Reed. George M. Bolinger. John B. Collins. Robert M. Shilling, George A. Klingel. John Cotwinkle. John Garret, Wm. Dobson. Abra- ham Metz. Jolm Fitzsimmons. Patrick Fitz- patrick. Isaiah Keltner, George Toffler, John Ankeney, Frederic Sonter. Frederic Hobel, William H. Christmas. James Elliott. Charles Floom. Dewitt C. Whiting, William W. Has- tings. Augustus Overtel. John Schlink, Fred eric Marsh, Ambrose Meeks. John C. Meloney. Frederic Vogelgesong. Alexander Shirer, John Brischt, Peter Finney. Thomas Barnd. Samuel C. Fry, Christian Ledig and John Cox. This company, as given, left Massillon, but all did not return. Some of the poor boys fell under the stroke of the deadhy diseases of the South, and their graves, like the tomb of Moses, are unknown. The company was designated K. and its position was on the extreme left wing of the Third Regiment. It was about ten days in going from Cincinnati by boat to New Or leans. After remaining encamped about ten days at Camp Jackson. near New Orleans, and on the site of Gen. Jackson's celebrated battle-field, the right wing of the regiment was ordered on board a schooner, and directed to report at Point Isabel. Texas. The left wing, of which the "Stark Rangers" formed a

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 39

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