History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 49

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 49

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E. 1. Walker was born in Knox County, Ohio ; attended first course of lectures at Ann Arbor, Mich., and graduated in Cleveland in 1869 ; practiced several years in Holmes County, and located in Canton in 1872. lle is now Ilealth Officer of the city.

A. H. Gans is a native of Stark County ; was born in 1847. He studied medicine with Dr. D. L. Gans, of Sparta, and graduated at Cleveland in 1870. He commenced the prac- tice of medicine in Navarre the same year, and has continued there since, steadily increasing in professional reputation and business.

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

William P. Preston was born in Virginia, and came with his father's family in 1825. to Columbiana County. He read medicine with his brother, Dr. C. Il. Preston, and began prac- tice in 1839 at Malvern. Carroll County. Ile remained here but a short time, and removed to Bolivar, forming a partnership with Dr. Bennett. On the death of his brother. t. H. he moved to Paris, and continued there ten vears : then to Alliance, where he resided until 1857 : then to Mendota, Ill .. where he remained until 1868. when he returned to Alliance, his present residence. Dr. Preston obtained a di- ploma from a Cincinnati College. He was in the war of the rebellion as Contract Surgeon. He was married. in 1843. to Miss Cynthia E. Tinker. of Randolph. Portage County.

Milton M. Catlin was born in New York State in 18-46. After receiving a good educa- tion at the common schools and at West Green- field Academy. he. in the fall of 1865. began studying medicine with Dr. Nathan Spencer. of Greenfield. In 1866-68. he attended lectures at the llomropathie Hospital College. Cleve- land, receiving his diploma in February. 1868. and immediately located at Brookfieldl. N. Y .. where he continued to practice for three years. at the end of which time he moved to Massillon. Ohio, and four years later, to Canton, where he has since resided and practiced. In January. 1869, he married Miss Rozella D .. daughter of Anson T. Clark. of Brookfield. N. Y.

A. C. Brandt was born in Ashland County in July. 1852. He was educated at the schools of Haysville, and at Lebanon College, and read medicine in 1873 with Dr. T. S. Hunter, of Ashland. Ile attended lectures at the Bellevnc Hospital Medical College, New York City. from which institution he graduated in 1877. He " hung out his shingle " in Canton in Janu ary. 1878, and has since remained there in active practice. For a young man, he has met with marked success. In 1878 and 1879, he was a member of the Board of Health of Can- ton, and, since his location in the city, has been Secretary of the Stark County Medical Society.

Judson H. Day (deceased) was born in Deer- field, Portage Co., Ohio. September 2. 180-1 He read medicine under Dr. Menary, of Deer- field, and finished under Dr. Shreve, of Mas- sillon. Soon after this, he began practicing. a portion of the time at Lima and for a short

period at Marlboro, Stark County. He was a successful practitioner during his long carcer.

Leon B. Santee is a native of Mahoning County. Ohio, his birth occurring in June, 1853. llis early education was received from the common schools. He attended the Mount Union College, and graduated in July, 1875. After reading medicine with Dr. Miller, of Alli- anee, for a short time, he entered the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania, and graduated in medicine March, 1878. In April. 1878. he went to Marlboro and formed a partnership with Dr. Harper, and has since re- mained there in active practice.

W. O. Baker was born in Northampton County. Penn., December 12. 1827. He began the study of medicine at the age of twenty in opposition to the wishes of his parents. He finally attended the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia in 1852. but, owing to a lack of means. did not graduate. He began practicing in Nimishillen Township in 1855, and located in Louisville in 1858 ; here he has since resided and practiced In September, 1873, he re- ceived a diploma from Cleveland Medical t'ol- lege. He has an extensive practice.

John Schilling was born near Frankfort on the Main, in Germany, October 10, 1794. After receiving a fine classical education at the Euro- pean schools, he, at the age of twenty-five years, began studying medicine, and finally, in about 1836, graduated at the Wurtsburg Medi- cal College. In 1837, he came to the United States, practicing first at Bolivar, Ohio, and later, at Louisville and Osnaburg. In 1852, he opened a drug store at Crestline, Ohio, but at the end of eighteen months returned to Louisville and again began practicing. Here he remained at work until 1876, when advane- ing years and failing vigor compelled him to cease active practice. He has had a long and eventful experience in the practice of medicine. Died the present year.

1. S. Sheets was born in Columbiana County in 18244. When he was six months okd, his father was accidentally killed. and the boy was thrown among strangers. lle studied medi- eine with Dr. Dillenbaugh. and. in 1846, went to Fremont. Ohio, where he practiced three years, and then removed to Huntington, Ind. After practicing there for some time he lost health, and his practice languished. In 1857, be located at Harrisburg. Stark County. where

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

he has since remained. practicing and farming to some extent.

J. P. Schilling was born in Louisville in September. 1840. In 1857, he began read- ing medicine under his father's supervision, and in 1860, attended lectures at the Western Reserve College, the medical department being located at Cleveland. llis medical education was completed by his graduation from the Star- ling Medical College of Columbus, during the winter of 1863-64. He immediately hung out his shingle in Louisville, where he has since remained in active practice.

J. S. Boucler was born in Switzerland in 1829. Ile received a good education, and taught several terms of school in his native land. llis medical studies were begun in 1853. Two years later, he came to Louisville, Ohio, and began practicing his profession. With the exception of three years spent in Wayne County, he has since remained in practice at Lonisville.

J. P. Callahan was born in Mahoning County in 1835 and, when about nineteen years of age. began reading medicine with Dr. J. M. Hole, of Greenford, and. in 1869, graduated at the Ec- leetic Medical College of Pennsylvania. lle practiced ten years at Berlin Center, and, in 1870, located at Alliance, where he has since resided, practicing his profession.

John V. Lewis was born in Greenford. Ma- honing Co .. in 1836, and read medicine with Dr. A. Wiekart, of his native town, after which he attended lectures at the Eclectie Medical Institute of Cincinnati. Hle practiced at East Berlin. Fl .. for a time. but at length returned to Ohio and formed a partnership with his pre- ceptor. In 1869, he graduated from the above- mentioned institution. and. in 1871, located at Alliance. Here he has since remained.

Joseph Dilworth, a native of Columbiana County, studied medicine in Mount Union, and afterward attended lectures at the Cleveland Medical College, but did not graduate. lle lo- cated in Mount Union, where he enjoyed a lucrative practice until the time of his death, which event occurred in November, 1878. 1Je was elected to the State Legislature in 1868. A. H. Day was born in Deerfield, Ohio, No- vember. 1815. He began the study of medicine in 1840 with his brother. J. H. Day. He studied thus for three years and then began practicing in Columbiana County. and after six months

went to New Baltimore where he has been the greater portion of the time since. Through his long practice he has had reasonable sue- cess.

J. H. Rogers was born in Wayne County, Ohio, in November, 1847. ITis medical studies were begun in the fall of 1873, under Dr. Barnes, of Fredericksburg, Ohio. I 1875-76, he attended medical lectures at the I'niversity of Wooster. Cleveland. from which institution he graduated. Soon after this he began prac- ticing at Beech City, where he remained until the fall of 1878, and then went to Louisville. where he has enjoyed a lucrative practice since.

A. B Campbell was born in Canada, where he first began the study of medicine. He after- ward attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, graduating from the medical de- partment in April, 1871. He practiced for two years in Summit County, and then removed to Canal Fulton, where he has since remained. During the winter of 1880-81, he attended the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia to | further perfeet himself in his profession.

H. Dissinger is a native of Summit County. Ohio. He began the study of medicine in 1875, under Dr. D. Rowe. of Manchester. In 1878. he graduated at the Medical College of Ohio, Cincinnati ; he is also a graduate of the Long Island Hospital College of Brooklyn, New York. In December, 1878. he located at Canal Fulton and has secured a large practice.

C. M. Dickson is also a native of Summit County. He began the study of medicine with his father. Dr. M. M. Diekson. under whose di- rection he remained one year. He then entered the Medical College at Ann Arbor, Mich .. and graduated in 1880. He practiced seven months in Port Clinton, Summit County, and then removed to Canal Fulton, where he has since been in active practice.

4. T. Goucher is a native of the Keystone State. Ile studied medicine with his father, Dr. (. W. Honcher, and at last, after a collegiate course, graduated at the l'niversity of Michi- gan. Ann Arbor. in 1873. He then practiced at Inwood, Ind., three years, and also three years at Lester's Ford, Indiana. He removed to Ohio and practiced two years at Orrville, and then located in North Lawrence, where he has since resided and practiced.

J. W. MeCort began the study of medicine with Dr. Carter, of Carrollton ; attended lee-

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tures in Cincinnati. and finally graduated in medicine at the Bellevue Medical Hospital, New York. Hle located in Waynesburg in 1872. and has since remained there with a flourishing practice.

B. S. Dibble has been located in Minerva in the practice of medicine over thirty years.

Dr. Sanor. of the same place, has been a resi- dent of Stark county a number of years.

A biographical sketch of Dr. George Holtz of New Berlin. and Dr. JJ. Steese of I'niontown, will appear in another part of the work.

J. M. Bye is a native of Columbiana County. and a graduate of the Medical Department of the University of Michigan. Ann Arbor, Mich- igan. He has, enjoyed an active practice at Waynesburg since 1865.

Alexander F. Atwell was born in Columbiana County ; read medicine with Drs. Frease & Graham. of Hanover, and has been practieing at Waynesburg more than twenty years.

As dentistry may be considered an adjunct of medicine, it is proper to mention that the first dentist in Stark county was S. P Hulliban.

He was a self-made man- had learned the sil- versmith trade, and afterward took up dentis- try, and followed it some tive years in Canton. then removed to Wheeling, Va., where he ae- quired a high reputation, not only as an expert dentist. but as a surgeon in special operations.

As early as 1836. a Medical Society was formed. composed of the most reputable and prosperous members of the profession. located in different parts of the county. They contin- ued to meet regularly semi-annually and for a time quarterly, until internal dissensions arose, created by the introduction of personal quarrels, based on alleged violations of the code of ethics. For a time the society would be dissolved. and again convoked under a new regime -flour- ish temporarily, only to again wane. At pres- ent it has only a siekly existence. Most of the members belong to the Union Medical Associa- tion, of North eastern Ohio, which meets quar- terly, having a representation from a number of counties. is a much larger body. and the meel- ings always interesting and profitable, which contributes to cripple the county organization.

CHAPTER VIII .*

CANTON TOWNSHIP-ITS GENERAL AND PHYSICAL FEATURES-MEYER'S LAKE-SETTLEMENT BY WHITES AN INCIDENT-ORIGINAL PLAT OF CANTON- SLUSSER'S MILL -INDIANS-SCHOOLS-A RETROSPECTION.

" See Nature clothed in smiles. With joy repays the laborer for his toils." Migs.

C YANTON TOWNSHIP was one of the first townships organized in the county. It is bounded on the north by Plain ; east by Osna- burg ; south by Pike ; and west by Perry Town- ship. It is six miles square, and covers. there- fore, an area of thirty-six square miles, or thirty-six complete sections of land. Situated but a few miles south of the summit that divides the valley of the Ohio from that of the great lakes, it has some geographical features com- mon to both : but the predominating ones are those of the Ohio River basin. to which it properly belongs. The surface features are varied -rolling and inclined to be hilly. in the northeastern portion : in the northwestern. Contributed by Prof. Daniel Worley.

it is almost a level plain ; south of the cen- tral section line. it becomes more and more hilly, until in the southeastern and southwest- ern portions it is very rough and hilly ; and this is particularly the case along the Nimi- shillen Creek just before it leaves the town- ship. where steep, precipitous banks rise on both sides to an elevation of 150 to 200 feet, and extend baek in each direction. east and west, for a considerable distance. The Nimi shillen is hemmed in by ridges of moderate dlevation through its whole extent. inclosing bottom land of great fertility from half a mile to a mile in width. Hurford's Hill. a little west of south from Canton. and Buek Hill. about two miles southwest. not more than one and a half miles distant from each other, are remark- able from the fact that. while each of them is of about the height of 125 feet. they differ

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

radically and materially from each other, and represent quite closely the difference of the sections in which they are situated. The former is composed of shales of slate, several coal veins. fire clay and limestone. and it is characteristic of the whole, or nearly the whole, eastern and southern parts of the township. The latter is a mound of gravel-drift forma- tion, and characterizes the northwestern part. The eastern and southern sections, including all parts of the township east of the Nimi- shillen and its west branch, belong to the forest region of North America. A small branch, rising from springs in swamp land. a little south of the middle section line of the town- ship, and emptying into the Nimishillen three- eighths of a mile below the junction of its east-and-west branches, is the southern bound- ary. as the West Nimishillen is the eastern. of a sandy-soil region extending in a northwesterly direction to the Tusearawas River. The south- ern portion of this region in Canton Township had some small timber : but eighty years ago, the greater part of it was without trees and covered with long grass, and was the first of a series of prairies west of the Alleghanies. which, gradually growing larger. at last eulmi- nated in the great prairies of the Northwest. The lands here are fertile gravel lands of drift formation, and are at this time in a high state of cultivation. ranking among the first lands in the county for the raising of all kinds of grain. Most of the hilly portions of the town- ship. and the valleys inelosed by them. are clay lands, though gravel and sand hills are by no means uncommon among them. They are mostly underlaid with coal strata of suthieient thickness to be profitably worked. The soil is generally fertile on these hills and in the val- leys, and yields a rich return to the labor of the husbandman, while the coal beneath, readily mined from the hillsides, gives a double souree of income. and makes the land very valuable. From the northeastern part of the township a branch of the Nimisbillen Creek. flowing sonth- westerly and in a westerly direction, meets the Middle Branch of the same creek coming from the north, just northeast of Canton. and they there form what is familiarly known as the East Creek. which, flowing in a southwesterly direc- tion two and a half miles, forms a junction with the West Creek, south of Canton, and makes. with this. the Nimishillen t'reek. From this

point the Nimishillen flows in a southwesterly course through the township. The West Creek comes from the northwestern part of the town. ship, and on its way it receives the outlet from Meyer's Lake. Besides the tributary from the west, already mentioned above as dividing the gravel from the clay lands, the Nimishillen, far- ther down, has another small tributary from the east. Springs and small rivulets are very nu- merous, and these, with the crecks, render the soil well watered.

Meyer's Lake is in the northwestern part of the township, and is a beautiful sheet of clear water, supplied partly by the natural rainfall, and partly by numerous springs in its bottom coming from the gravel formation of the section and its northwestern extension, described above. This lake is one of a number of similar bodies of fresh water found in this part of the State of Ohio. It is now from a half to three-fourths of a mile long, with perhaps an average width of one-fourth of a mile. Formerly the lake undoubt- edly was of much greater extent, as evidenced from the swamp lands at its northwestern, and more particularly at its southern and south- eastern extremities. Its ontlet has its origin in the last-named place. Its northern shore is a precipitous bluff. back of which is heavy tim- ber land, mostly yet standing. The lake has long been a favorite resort for the boys fond of tishing, and when we say boys we mean many of larger growth as well as the smaller ones. It is well supplied with the fish common to this part of the country. and it seems that the supply is mexhaustible. To those skilled in Sir Isaac Walton's favorite art. it scarcely ever refuses to give a favorable response.

This lake is also the natural supply for the water consumption of Canton City, though, on account of deficiencies of one kind and the other, the city has to depend to a considerable extent on the West Nimishillen Creek for its water supply, for fire protection and even for ordinary demands.

With the exception of swamp lands about Meyer's Lake and along the Nimishillen Creek, the lands of Canton Township are profitable for cultivation ; the swamp lands will, one day or other. also be turned to good account; and, as this township is on the direct line of the wheat- growing section of the State, and its bottom landsare almost or quite equal to those of the Lower Muskingum, Scioto and Miami Valleys

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for the growth of Indian corn. it is fairly pre- sumable that no other portion of Ohio has greater agricultural advantages ; and. that these, with its mineral resources, render the township rich among the richest in the means of supporting comfortably a large population. induce other settlers to come here. and showed them lands suitable for location : and, when re- quired, surveyed and measured them. Leonard. as a land surveyor, made frequent trips to Stou benville : and. on one of these trips, he induced one of his personal friends named James Cul- Though the western portion of the township is said to be on the line of the great storms from the Northwest. with a few exceptions. it has as yet escaped their fury ; and the times they did come they were of very limited extent in width, and not nearly as destructive as in most other parts of the country subject to their direful visitations. The climate is generally good. and tends to long life and happiness : neither too excessively cold in winter nor too hot in sum- mer ; neither. on the average, too wet nor too dry. bertson, to come back with him. Soon after coming here. however. the latter was attacked with inflamation of the lungs, and died on the 5th of October. 1805. his being the first death among the white people in the county. Others from Pennsylvania and Maryland came during the fall of 1805. who located lands, and did some clearing ; but returned to their Eastern homes before winter. Soon after the establishment of Leonard's Station, another was established by Butler Wells and Daniel MeClure, who were also surveyors from Steubenville, upon lands The prevailing type in the population of the township is Pennsylvania German, noted for its industry. frugality and slow but steady progress. The Yankee spirit of radical progression has not been wanting ; the versatile Frenchman, the sprightly Irishman and the solid German from Fatherland have all made their influence felt ; located and owned by Bezaleel Wells, about two miles northwest of Canton. near what was then called the Large Spring. now well known as Meyer's Lake, so named from Andrew Meyers, who afterward owned a large body of land around it. Wells and Meflure brought work- men with them to build upon the lands and to and these have, with the prevailing Pennsylva- | cultivate them, their effort being most likely

nians, succeeded in giving a spirit of progressive conservatism which has made Canton Township people successful, prosperous and safe against all ordinary reverses in business. Her farmers are noted for solidity. intelligence, industry, thrift : her capital city for rapid growth. great and even world-renowned manufactures, and a citizenship which, for general safety in business and for public virtue, stands among the fairest in this or any other land.

The early pioneers in the settlement of Stark County commenced near the present site of the city of Canton. Previous to the year 1805, the land office for all this part of the country was at Steubenville, in Jefferson County, of which origi- nally this county was a part. Connected with the land office was James F. Leonard. He seems to have been the first one who came into Canton Township with the purpose of remain- ing and making a permanent settlement. lu March. 1805. in company with James and Henry Barber, he established a station just northeast of the present city. and near the county fair grounds, on the well known Reed farm. This farm has the reputation. therefore, of being the first settled in the township and in the county. Leonard and the Barber brothers took pains to

the first one for a systematic occupancy and cultivation in the township. These stations of Leonard and Wells were chosen with good judgment and discrimination ; the one being in the undulating forest region almost at the very entrance of the less rugged and hilly lands between the branches of the Nimishillon Creek. as compared with the lands east and south of Canton, which, though good lands for farming and rich in mineral resources, were not. at this early period, so well adapted to please the eyes of migrants from the older settlements seeking a new location ; the other. upon the plains west of the Nimishillen, offering a tempting bait to settlers desirous of finding land already cleared. and waiting for the farmer to come in. possess and bring out its rich re- sources. As a consequence of this foresight on their part, these stations soon became. at this early period, the points to which emigrants came in their search for new homes. The wood- less lands of the prairie, however. did not. for a long time at first, receive from the early settlers the attention which from their agricultural worth. they should have had. Most of them preferred the wooded lands northward from Canton. and hence. the early settlement of Plain

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

Township is almost coincident with that of Canton Township.

In July, 1806. Leonard united in marriage with a daughter of James Barber, one of his associates, which is worthy of special note as the first marriage in Stark County.

In the autumn of 1805, Leonard surveyed and platted the original Canton, and at the first sale of lots by public outery, in 1806, he pur- chased the lot on the southwest corner of Seventh and Market streets, and erected thereon a brick building, so long and so well known as the Oberly corner, which stood a relic of the olden times until the year 1879, when it was torn away to give place for Sherriek & Mil- ler's large and imposing hardware store and building. Later, he removed to Plain Town- ship. thence to Jackson Township. afterward to Summit County, and finally to Cleveland, where he died at an advanced age. Meeting as he did, at that early period, all classes of per- sons, who had come West to look up new loca- tions for themselves and families, he had many adventures, and in after years. took great pleasure in relating these and stories of the pioneer times. One of these may give a better insight into the then condition of things by being given here. A stranger from the East came to the station, during Leonard's absence on a trip to Steubenville, to register lands for various persons in the land office there, which he had measured for them. It was on a Satur- day, in the spring of the year 1805 ; the Bar- ber Brothers and Culbertson, who were in charge of the station, were engaged by the stranger to show him the lands as far from the station as it was safe to venture, on the following day. Sunday. The stranger had brought with him $338 in silver, in a heavy cloth sack. in which he also carried his provisions for the journey ; for greater security, before starting out to look at land. he placed this in the trunk of a hollow tree. and carefully covered the opening with moss, so that it might not be discovered by any one during his absence. Returning to the station late on Sunday evening, he concluded to let it remain in the tree until the next morn- ing. But what were his terror and astonish- ment when, on Monday morning, he could find no trace of sack, or money. or the very neces- sary, in those days. bread and meat. The man was inconsolable, and as there was an encamp- ment of Indians in the neighborhood. he natu-

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History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 49

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