History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 51

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 51

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

and of the city of Canton. Andrew Meyer was born in Bonn, Prussia, in the year 1762. He served nine years as a soldier in the allied ar- mies of Europe against Napoleon, in the latter part of the last century, but. in 1802, be emi- grated to America. and settled in Baltimore City. Md. Here he pursued the business of a brass founder a number of years, and being successful in business. he soon became sole owner of two vessels engaged in the ocean trade, and. at the same time. part owner in several others. He served personally in the war with England in 1812. as a volunteer. giv- ing the faithful services of an old soldier against the enemies of his adopted country. He took an active part in the battles of Balti- more and Bladensburg. against Lord Ross, the British commander. In that war. it will be re- membered. Great Britain was fighting to secure a mastery of the sea and the right of im- pressing American seamen of British birth into her service wherever found. Our Government found it necessary to adopt measures that would have a tendency to render British com- merce insecure. and. as her navy (which. how- ever. did most brilliant service during the war), was entirely inadequate for the purpose. the Government accepted. and authorized to engage in the service of the United States against Great Britain. a number of vessels belonging to private parties, and hence these ships took the name of privateers. Two such vessels the " Joseph" and the " Mary"-were armed and equipped at his own expense by the sub- ject of this sketch. put into the Government service, and they did a good share in the busi- ness of privateering. Several of the ships, also, in which Mr. Meyer was only a part owner, were in the same service, and all met with good success except one, which. attempting to run the blockade of Baltimore by night. came un- fortunately right up by the side of a British frigate, and. by a broadside from the latter, was so riddled that the crew were forced to take to the boats. when in a few minutes the privateer sunk. and the vessel. with a rich cargo con- tributed by British merchantmen, went to the the bottom a total loss. The crew escaped and made a safe landing. without the loss of a man. Andrew Meyer was the father of three sons and two daughters. After his death in 1849. his vast property was divided among these children. and, as it was entailed property to the

deceased's grandchildren, nearly the whole of it is yet in the possession of his heirs, most of them to-day useful and honored members of society among us. Mr. Meyer's age was be- yond the ordinary period allotted to human life when he died in 1849, at the age of eighty- seven years. In him. as in many others of the older settlers of Stark County, the destinies of two centuries and of two continents were closely united. The first buikling for the ac- commodation of the public at Meyer's Lake was erected by Meyer & Cross in 1866, and served its purpose well until the increasing de- mands of the place as a popular resort induced the present owner, our esteemed fellow citizen, Mr. Joseph A. Meyer, a grandson of Andrew Meyer, to build during the winter of 1879-80, the new "Lake Park Hotel." on the north bluff-bank of the lake. The building is two stories high, and is well adapted to accommo- date a large number of guests, with all the comforts at hand to make their stay at this pleasant place agreeable aad beneficial. A twelve-foot veranda extends on both floors entirely around the building, and it is sur- mounted with a tower in the center of the front, eighty feet high. The whole is neat, and indicates good taste on the part of the pro- jectors. The architecture is a combination of the Gothic and Swiss styles, and does credit to the ability of Mr. F. O. Weary, architect, by whom the design was furnished. The eon- struction of the building was under the care of Mr. D. C. Miller. With the increased accom- modations both for invalids and pleasure-seck- ers now furnished, the popularity of Meyer's Lake as a place of public resort, is constantly increasing. By care on the part of the pro- prietors, and the observance of strict rules of propriety and order on the part of visitors. there is no good reason why the " Lake Park Ilotel " may not be as popular a place of resort as many of the older watering-places of the East. The first boat-house at the lake was erected by the Eclipse Boat Club. of Canton, in 1873. This club held their first regular re- gatta August 12, 1876. and have held one each year sinee. They have been well sustained, and are becoming each year more and more popular with the staid citizens of the solid old Pennsylvania Dutch city of Canton and the surrounding towns.

Readers of Russian history and adventure

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have often been regaled by highly vivid and ex- citing stories of the attacks and pursuit of travelers by wolves. We doubt if anything more trying ever occurred there than was ex- ! perieneed here among the earlier settlers in Ohio. As a sample of these, a friend fur- nishes us the following authentie serap of our early history : In 1802, Messrs. Slingluff and Deardorff, in their Western trip, arrived at a point near Canton, on their way to Tuscarawas County, and encamped on the banks of Meyer's Lake. They were weary and much exhausted from the want of rest and sustaining food. But with all their fatigue and suffering, they were charmed and refreshed by the prospect presented before and all about them. The lake lay immediately before them, and on its rip pling surface, fanned by the gentle breezes of the evening, the rays of the setting sun were reflected in a thousand forms of beauty and splendor. The banks were decked with flowers of different colors and of the fairest hues, while evergreens of the deepest green. enlivened the scene. Wild fowl, in countless numbers. were sailing gayly over the water, or feeding along the banks. Their bright plumage and grace- ful movements gave a sense of peace and seenr- ity to our weary travelers, and they went on cheerfully. and with the prospect of quiet slumbers and an undisturbed rest before them. to prepare their frugal meal and an encamp- ment for the night. It was a beautiful picture. guaranteeing secure repose, and the travelers laid themselves down confidently to sleep. and to dream of home or the great work to be wrought out by their hands in these Western wilds in the near future. They did sleep a little while. but, suddenly awakening. they heard the dismal howls of scores of barking wolves about their camp. The glaring. fiery eyes of the fierce, bloodthirsty animals, seemed pressing toward them from all directions. There was no safety but in precipitate flight. Their horses. fortunately. as weary but now excited as their riders, were near at hand. and were quickly saddled and mounted. It was several miles to the cabin of the nearest pioneer settler, and it soon became a race for life. For a short distance, they rode along the lake, the wolves falling back before them. then, suddenly turning their horses, they rode rapidly in an opposite direction. both horses and riders, by this time. fully alive to the

horrors of the situation. The wolves. for a few minutes foiled, became even more furious than before, and soon followed on their track. in constantly increasing numbers. until. in the rapidity and excitement of the chase, their hot breath could almost be felt, as it came from the hungry, furious throats of the now mad- dened animals. Soon they reached an opening in the woods; the light from the log fires of the pioneer settler was seen in the distance. Ten minutes more, and they would be saved from every danger for the night. Suddenly, a huge, black wolf sprang at the flank of Dear dorff's horse, and was only compelled to relin- quish his hold by the free application of Dear- dorff's heavy whip, but at the very moment of deliverance. his horse stumbled. fell. and threw him over his head in the very midst of the excited animals. But for his companion. Slingluff, he would with his horse, have been torn in pieces and devoured within a very few minutes. Seeing the situation, and appreciating the danger of his friend and companion. Sling- luff, with remarkable presence of mind. quick ly wheeled his horse round, and commenced uttering a series of yells and serveches, even more unearthly than those of the infuriated beasts themselves ; they were momentarily checked in the very moment of their triumph. Deardorff, in the meantime, quickly remount- ed. and before the wolves recovered from their astonishment and confusion from Slingluff- ruse, both reached the settler's clearing, and were safe.

In these earlier days the schoolinaster was also abroad to help in the opening up of both the material and the intellectual capabilities of this then frontier country. The first schoolhouse in Stark County was erected in the year 1807. on the Aultman place. Section 12. of Canton Town- ship. The schoolhouse was made of round logs, and was seven feet high, with a clapboard roof and puncheon floor. As a substitute for windows. small square holes were cut out in the logs, small sticks were set in. and the holes were then covered with greased paper. Logs with feet set in and covered with boards, were the writing desks, and slabs from the saw-mill of Mr. Slusser, with logs attached, furnished the seats of this and many other primitive school- houses, John Harris, who afterward attained considerable celebrity as a lawyer in Canton was the first teacher. The school books then

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used were Dilworth's Speller, the Old and New Testament of the Bible as readers, and Gough's Arithmetic, with its money calculations all in the old English currency of pounds, shillings and pence. Geography and grammar were not then taught, nor indeed for many years after. Some descendants of the early pioneers are yet occasionally found, so conservative are the people in this locality, who doubt the expe- cieney or the necessity of these studies in our public schools. We are glad, however, to say, that their number is very small. Christopher Bair succeeded Harris as teacher in this school. In the early days, as before and since in Penn- sylvania, the " barring " out of teachers was very common here in Ohio. On public days, such as Christmas and New Year's, pupils in schools deemed it the duty of the teacher not only to give them a holiday but also to treat the crowd. In the primitive days a treat of this kind meant whisky for the larger boys and something pleasing for the smaller children. and the few girls who had time to go to school. As a rule, teachers demurred to the demand and a struggle between teacher and pupils was generally the result ; the " barring " process was the usnal tactics of the pupils to bring the teacher to terms, when it became a contest partly of physical endurance and partly of tact and skill on the part of the teacher in outwitting his pupils. The parents, having themselves in their younger days been participants in similar contests. either sided with the youngsters or approvingly winked at their doings ; and many teachers of the times were rather anxious to in- vite the struggle. One of these, in connection with this first school in Canton Township. is on record, and its relation here may be not without interest, even though there is not much instruc- tion in it. John Criswell, a tall, raw-boned man. who prided himself greatly on his disciplinary powers in governing a school, was teacher a few years after Bair. The day before Christmas the larger boys determined that they must have a treat and that the master should furnish the liquor. According to previous arrangement op- erations were delayed until noon, when, accord. ing to his usual custom, it was known that the teacher would be away for awhile : the young- er children were sent home, and then com- menced the operation of barring out. Among the boys prominent-some of them still living -- were the Reams. Aultmans. Latimers, Bairs

Sherricks and Trumps. When the teacher ro- turned he found the door effectually " barred." The opening's in the logs for windows would not admit the body of any ordinary man, and when Criswell found the doors closed against him he at once became angry and excited. He. of course, demanded. in a peremptory tone. the opening of the door. When told that the con- ditions of surrender were a bottle of whisky and a dismissal of the school for the next day, he refused at once and threatened dire ven- geance upon the heads (or backs) of the perpe- trators. His threats did not amount to mueh, and when he attempted to get in by tearing off the clapboards of the roof, the boys so pounded his fingers that he was glad to desist ; when he tried to come down the chimney they smoked him back ; and he was at his wits end. Neces- sity is said, however, to be the mother of inven- tion and Criswell improvising a battering-ram from a heavy fence rail, succeeded at last in breaking in the door and became himself mas- ter of the situation. Ile did not act generously under the circumstances and could only be placated by a severe bodily chastisement of the offenders. The boys got it, but they never for- gave the teacher : many of them no longer at- tended school, and the teacher soon lost bis in- fluence for good in that locality.

William Ewing was one of the pioneer settlers already mentioned. Coming from Allegheny County. Pennsylvania, he erected a cabin in Section 2 of Canton Township, in the fall of 1805, and in the spring of 1806. came with his wife and five children to occupy it. His goods and some articles of furniture, purchased at Beaver, were brought to his new home on horseback. For several years, in the begin- ning, it was difficult for him, as for many others of the older settlers, to raise money enough to pay taxes and meet the urgent necessities of their families. People then had often to de- prive themselves of what now would be con- sidered absolute necessities, and were to a great extent thrown upon their own resources. Ew- ing has the credit of being one of the most successful hunters, perhaps absolutely the most successful, that ever lived in the township or county. Ile killed, on an average, from seventy to eiglity deer during the season, in addition to many bears, wolves and wild-cats. This, also, he made a source of revenue. When he had more meat than the needs of his own family

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required. he sold to needy emigrants. while he tanned the skins for clothing and moccasins for himself and his family. He and his boys wore buckskin clothes and shoes for many years. and until sheep could be successfully raised. which. on account of the wolves, was at first impossible. But these were the fashions of the day. The women wore " linsey." and were not much concerned with spring and fall changes of fashion.

In June. 1811, an eclipse of the sun occurred. The settlers at this period were almost entirely ent off from intercourse with the East, and had had no word of the coming phenomenon. Ew- ing and his sons were out hoeing corn at the time. It became so dark that the stars were visible in the heavens, and. what was even more remarkable. the chickens went home to roost. Mr. Sowers. afterward Judge Sowers. of l'anton, with others. was engaged in shing- ling a roof on the Kauffman House. corner of Ninth and Market streets. Canton. Every per- son looked for the immediate coming of the day of judgment. but were much relieved when the celipse was over. that the sun occupied his old place in the heavens, and that nothing terrible had occurred.

Speaking of the habits of these earlier days. we know of no better way of closing this chap- ter than by giving here the statement of one of the old settlers himself: " Times ain't as they used to be." he remarked to a friend of fewer years. while sitting together on a store box in front of one of our stores only a few years ago. It was between sundown and dark : the weather was pleasant and the pavement crowded with ladies and gentlemen promenading. Evidently the remark was made by the suggestion of what the old gentleman saw transpiring before him ; the younger man feeling some interest in the matter and desirous of drawing his old friend out in the way of a more modern - inter- view." asked. " How was it in earlier times ?" " Quite different. Fifty years ago. Canton had a population of 400 or 500. 1 suppose there was as much pride then as now. and young people were just as anxious to make a fine appearance : but the fashions were somewhat different and were not changed so often. Cal- jeo was then the prevailing material for ladies fine dresses, such as were worn in making calls, attending religions meetings or evening parties. The more elderly wore bombazet or bombazine.

Six yards were amply sufficient for a pattern. An article called homespun wool, of cotton and wool, was usually worn about the house, when engaged in ordinary domestic duties. The bonnets were straw or leghorn, with large crowns and extensive fronts. The style worn by the older women was not much unlike those worn by the Quakers. It was made of black or dark colored silk, with a large crown and points in front. The calash, made of berage and to fold back like a buggy top, was the rage for a long time. There were no milliners in town at that time. but there were those who were handy with the needle, ingenious and tasty, who did the work for those who could not do it themselves. High-top combs were fashionable and the hair was worn in puffs. Little or no jewelry was worn; a ring or a breast pin was coveted by many, but owned by few.

" Fashionable young men wore tight-bodied swallow-tailed coats. with large high collars, buff or white vests. stockinet pants, high-top boots, wrinkled or fair, with a tassel in front, high shirt collars reaching to the ears, and a few wore ruffles. Gold watches were ' few and far between, but a . bull's eye, with a metallic fob chain. seal and key was usnally sported. The fashions didn't change then as often as they do now. The same bonnet or hat was worn for years. Men wore their hats eight or ten years, and yet. not half worn out, would barter them to the hatter in part pay for a new one of later style. The same bonnet was worn as long. the trimming perhaps changed every two or three years. There were social parties in those days, but there was some regard paid to proper hours for meeting and dispersing. The company assembled at early candle-lighting and went home at reasonable bedtime, and had no ice cream or oyster suppers or lager. The extent of our indulgence was in small beer and gingerbread. The mode of conveyance was mostly on horseback. Every young man as- pired to have his own horse, and they were good horsemen in those days. Part of every lady's outfit was a side-saddle. There were but few vehicles and they were rude compared with those of the present day. Buggies were un- known : what was called a . dearborn - a body adjusted upon wooden springs was all I re- member seeing. except Dr. Hartford's gig which he brought from the East. There were

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other characteristics of that day-some that it would be well for our people yet to practice, I could tell you. but the court house clock has struck 9 and it is time to be in bed. so good night.'

Our old friend's history of the olden fashions and modes of life was intended more to apply to the people of the town of Canton of sixty years ago. than to the people of the country ; , but with but little change it may be applied to the latter also. Those were the days of log-

rollings for the men, and merry spinning-wheels for the girls and women ; of hard work during the day, an early going to bed at night. and sound, refreshing slumbers until the early hours of new morning called to renewal of work. A simpler and more natural life than that led by most people of the present day ; fewer indulgences in eating and drinking. and greater freedom from the aches and pains and sufferings which indulgence canses.

CHAPTER IX .*

THE CITY OF CANTON-ITS FIRST SALE OF LOTS-ORIGINAL BOUNDARIES-THE LAND OFFICE- EARLY INDUSTRIES-FARMERS BANK -TEMPERANCE REFORM-PIONEER SPORTS - FIRST POST OFFICE-OBERLY CORNER.

P REVIOUS to the year 1805, Bezalcel Wells. of Steubenville, who was descended from | in Columbiana County. in the Clerk's office at the Quakers, and was a man of means and with a speculative turn of mind, entered in the land office at that place. a number of sections of land west of the Nimishillen Creek, including the portion now embraced within the limits of the city of Canton. and extending beyond and including Meyer's Lake, for many years called Wells' Lake. In 1805. as he anticipated the speedy organization of a new county, with an eye to speculation he determined to lay out a town on part of his purchase, and make a con- test to secure for it recognition as the new county seat. There were already two contest- ants in the field, a paper town named Nimishil- len town, not far from the present Louisville, in Nimshillen Township, which. for want of lot purchasers and buildings, never came to any- thing, and the already projected town of Osna- burg. five miles east of Canton, which, platted and entered a few months earlier than Canton. already contained several houses. West of the Nimishillen were, at that time, the plains or bar- rens, destitute alike of timber and stone suit- able for building. These disadvantages re- sulted in the choice of the site between the two branches of the Nimishillen. in preference to a location a little further west, which presented somewhat superior advantages in some respects. The town was surveyed and platted by James Contributed by Piot Daniel Worley.

F. Leonard, and the plat was regularly recorded

New Lisbon. At this time, this was a part of Columbiana County. A few lots were disposed of at private sale in the fall of 1805, and a few cabins were erected. In the spring of 1806. a publie sale of lots occurred. That a crowd might be brought together at this sale, a horse race. to come off the same day at Canton, was extensively advertised, and the result was that many people from Steubenville, New Lisbon and Beaver were present, more interested. how- I ever, it seems, in the races than in the sale of : lots. Some lots were sold, but at a merely nom- inal price. But a good beginning had been inade. The original plat had the boundaries of the streets at this time known as North street, Saxton street (formerly East), South street and Wells street (formerly West). At the sale of lots above mentioned. Leonard bought the lot on the corner of Market and Seventh streets for a trifle, with the understand- ing that he would immediately build a brick house upon it, with a view of inducing others to come in and help build up the new town. The house was built by Leonard. according to contract, and stood until the year 1879, and is yet well remembered by most of those residing in Canton as the old " Oberly Corner," where Sherrick & Miller's large and imposing hard- ware store at present stands. The first settler in Canton was Garret Crusen, who started a

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tavern on North Market street. between Fourth and Fifth streets. His house was a log cabin. with one room about eighteen feet square, which served amply all the purposes of the day. as bar, dining and sitting-room, and kitchen ; two small shed additions furnished comfortable sleeping apartments for the family and guests. and a storeroom for general purposes. John Matthews, a butcher, had a cabin on South Market street, where Dumont's grocery now is. with a pen at the rear of the lot used as a slaughter-house. John Bower. a blacksmith. built a cabin and blacksmith-shop on part of the lot now occupied by the court house, and on this lot the first well in town was dug. Bower did not find his trade sutheient to meet the demand for the support of his family, and he. too. went to keeping tavern. Having ex- posed himself a great deal at night in fishing. he soon after took siek and died. The families of the parties just named were the only ones in Canton in the year 1806. Several other cabins were erected, but were not occupied un- til later. Mrs. Matthews died in the spring of 1808. of child-bed fever ; hers was the first death in the town. and her child the first one born in Canton. I'p to the year 1807, there was no regularly established road east ward, and, west of the Tuscarawas River, the country was vet all a wilderness, and the sons of the forest. held undisputed sway. But in this year a road was laid out between New Lisbon and Canton. afterward, with some alterations, between Os- naburg and Canton, known as the State road. Being a more direct route, and affording a bet- ter accommodation to travelers. it soon be- came the favorite road for those seeking homes in the Far West. as Canton was then called, or coming here to speculate in lands. On this road were two noted places - noted for directly opposite reasons viz. : " Hahn's Bottom." dreaded because it was a very difficult matter to get over it with a heavy load. and " Shull's Tavern," a place of good cheer to every weary traveler when once it was reached. as every one on the road tried to do. who needed a stop- ping-place overnight. By means of this new road. Canton was brought into closer connec tion with the eastern counties and States ; par- ties who had been out prospecting gave flatter- ing accounts of the prospects of the new town. and the result was that a number of persons came here during the summer and fall of 1807.

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History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 51

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