History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 60

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

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Another item of interest denoting progress is furnished by the census reports, and these will show a most remarkable increase in the city of Canton within the limits of the present generation. Before railroading, and with Mas- sillon, by means of her canal facilities, in the ascendant, the total population of Canton City in 1850 was 2,603 ; this was also previous to the removal of the mower and reaper works from Greentown to Canton. The population ten years later, in 1860, was 4,041, an increase of 55 per cent. In 1870, the population had gone up to 8,660, an increase in ten years of 134 per cent. By the census of 1880, just completed, the population is 12,258, an increase in the past ten years of 413 per cent, which, if Canton authorities had done as many other towns in the State, similarly situated, had done, would have been much greater than the data show to be the fact. There are in all directions

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outlying additions sufficient to increase the figures on population at least 1,000 more, which for all business purposes are part and parcel of the city, and ought in justice to be brought within the municipal corporation. The popula- tion of Canton Township, exclusive of the city, for the same periods, stands as follows : in 1850, 1.719; in 1860, 1,764; in 1870, 1,952: and in 1880, 2,615. We have not the figures at hand to give the population of the city and township anterior to 1850.

Previous to the year 1869, some action had been taken by the City Council to utilize the water of Meyer's Lake, as a permanent water supply for Canton, both for domestic and manu- facturing use, and for protection against fire. The committee of the former City Council had decided, on examination, to adopt the Holly system, and J. L. Pillsbury, an experienced civil engineer, had made surveys and estimates which clearly indicated the practicability of the work. In the organization of the City Council in 1869, Messrs Louis Schaefer, Jacob Hawk and Daniel Worley became the Water-Works Committee, and, at a later day, were, under the law, elected the tirst Board of Trustees of Water-Works. Under their management, aided by the wise and experienced counsel of Mr. Pillsbury. the work was pressed forward rap- idly : the citizens of Canton, by vote, authorized measures for raising the necessary funds: and by February, 1870, the works were in success- ful operation. On the first public trial of the new water-works Feb. 22. 1870, the District Court was in session, and the Judges were specially invited to witness their working. Up- on the recommendation of the civil engineer. a majority of the committee on water-works had adopted the cement pipe for mains through the city. These had hardly dried long enough for any test. The day was cold and windy.

Everything, however, went off well, until engi- neer and trustees became infatuated and con- sented to an undue increase of the pressure. which blew out a waste at the West Creek. There was a hurrying and a flurrying among Trustees and engineer until the exact locality of the trouble had been discovered. This was on a Saturday, and by the following Sunday evening, everything had been put again into good running order. The cement pipes in this soil did not prove a success. and they have been gradually replaced by iron pipe, which with the extensions made from year to year, gives Canton to-day one of the best systems of protection against fire to be found anywhere. The larger manufacturing establishments have not only introduced the water for ordinary use, but have also connections for emergencies from fire by which they can almost entirely save them- selves from the ravages of this king of terrors. With regard to the next great want of Canton, a system of complete sewerage, not so much can be said favorably. The following remarks of another in this connection are very much to the point, and in the hope that the early future history of the city may record the suggestions therein contained as an accomplished fact. they are introduced at this place.

While Canton is well located there is no doubt as to the susceptibility of its improve- ments in a sanitary sense. Its vital statistics go to prove that malaria infects its atmosphere. What it needs is a thorough system of drain- age. . The project is quite feasible, by reason of the favorable topography of the city. 1. fall of four inches to the hundred feet is ample. and Canton, because of her magnificent loca- tion, is capable of this advantage. An ineline of three inches is better than many places enjoy.

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

CHAPTER XI .*

THE CITY OF CANTON -- EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES- THE PRESS -JOHN SAXTON AND JOHN MCGREGOR, THE VETERAN EDITORS -PRESENT NEWSPAPERS -CANTON SCHOOLS

-CHURCH HISTORY - SECRET AND BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS.

M AN is composed of mind and matter. In his individual development, and in the developments of civilization and progress, both factors deserve careful recognition. Mind con- trols matter, while, on the other hand, material influences have great weight in directing the operations of the mind. It is not, of course, the province of the historian so much to discuss philosophical problems as to make a fair pre- sentation of facts in a somewhat logical manner, so that the philosopher may afterward, from the study of the facts, be prepared the better to speculate on the probabilities of the future. We have thus far presented almost exclusively the material aspects of the growth and develop- ment of this city and township ; but we have not lost sight, by any means, of the most im- portant of all facts that mental culture is of the highest importance in every true and real prog- ress of any people or community. To his credit, it may be truthfully said, that the founder of Canton, Mr. Bezaleel Wells, recognized this fact in the beginning, and donated in the plat- ting of the original town of Canton, one lot for school purposes and one for church purposes. The old Union School building on West Tus- carawas street, and the Presbyterian Church directly opposite, are now upon the sites of the donor, a living proof of his high estimate of education and religion as essential factors in the prosperity of any town. And imbibing the spirit of the founder, the great body of the people of Canton, from the beginning until now, have always been the friends of liberal education, and of the moral influences of the Christian Church. In modern times, also, the press has become a very potent lever in the same direction. Ad- mitting that its influence has not always been used to promote the best interests of the people, it is nevertheless true that the press does much for the education of any community, whether, * Contributed by Prof. Daniel Worley.

"on the whole, it be for good or evil. though we may here express our own private opinion that it is generally for good rather than evil. In discussing the educational agencies of Canton, we shall, therefore, first present a brief history of journalism in this city, and some reminis- cences of the pioneer newspaper men of the earlier times. The following general history of the Canton press was prepared by one in the business for many years, and may be accepted as accurate :

The newspapers of Canton represent the so- cial, moral and material interests of the city and county with unusual journalistic enterprise and ability. Moreover, the gentlemen who give dignity to the noble calling of journalism here, are genial, whole-souled men, whom it is a pleasure to meet, and to whose good qualities of heart and brain we bear cheerful testi. mony.

The Canton Repository was the first news- paper in Canton or Stark County, and one of the first five or six in Ohio, the first number of which was printed March 30, 1815, by John Saxton. The paper is still in existence as the Canton Repository, and until 1871, the time of his death, the original proprietor was connected with the paper in the capacity of owner or ed- itor. The files of the Repository have been carefully preserved. The veteran editor, in his inaugural sheet, pledges that "truth shall be his guide, the public good his aim," and lays before his readers the latest foreign news ; the report of A. J. Dallas, Secretary of the Treas- ury, to the Committee of Ways and Means, upon the state of the public credit, the circulating medium, etc .; the proceedings of the Thir- teenth Congress, among whose acts was one fixing the army list at 10,000 men ; news from the war with Algiers, and local intelli- gence.

In 1831, Joshua Saxton, John's brother, en-

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tered the business and remained several years. , ship, until John Raeber came here in August, Hle then removed to U'rbana, and began the pub- 1858, with a printing office from Holmes Coun- ty, and established the Doutela in Ohio, in place of which the Ohio Staats-Zeitung appeared on the 15th of September, 1873 : this was sold to the Ohio Volks-Zeitung Company. on the 8th of November, 1879. lication of the Citizen and Gazette, where he still lives. His retirement from active news- paper work took place only a few months ago, having been proprietor and editor of one jour- nal for forty-two years. In 1851, Thomas W., John Saxton's son, was taken in as partner, and To give sufficient room for increased reading matter and advertisements, the Ohio Folkes- Zeitung was enlarged to its present size, 31x 15, December 1, 1879, and is now one of the lead- ing German Democratie papers in the north- eastern part of Ohio. The paper is very ably edited and conducted, and reflects credit upon the enterprising community in which it is pub- lished. in 1871, the Repository, with Thomas as sole proprietor, was consolidated with the Repub- lican, published by Josiah llartzell. In 1874, W. T. Bascom purchased Hartzell's interest, and the paper took the name of the Canton Re- pository. Mr. Bascom died in 1877. In Feb- ruary, 1878. a daily edition of the Repository was begun, and is still continued. It is the only daily in Stark County, and is an almost indispensable medium of intelligence to the people of Canton. It is conducted with ability and energy by Mr. Thomas W. Saxton, the sole proprietor, assisted by a competent corps of writers and reporters. The job printing department is one of the most complete in Northern Ohio, and turns out large quan- tities of work for the great manufactories of Canton.

The Ohio Volks-Zeitung, eight pages. 15x22, was established by the Ohio Volks-Zeitung Com- pany, January 23. 1879, and is the only German paper printed in Stark County. It has a large circulation in Stark and the neighboring coun- ties as well as throughout Ohio and the adjoin- ing States. As early as 1820. the German pop- ulation of Canton and Stark County had largely increased by emigration from Pennsylvania, Maryland and Europe, so that in October, 1821, Edward Schaefer. a German printer from Frank- furt-on-the-Main, established in Canton the Westliche Beobachter and Stark and Wayne County Anzeiger. being the second oldest Ger- man newspaper published in the State of Ohio. In 1826, Shaefer moved to Germantown, Ohio, when John Sala continued the paper here and afterward took Solomon Sala and D. C. Lehmus into partnership. In August. 1831, Peter Kaufmann came from Philadelphia and bought out the paper, which by that time had taken the patriotic name of Vaterlands freund und Grist der Zeit.

In company with Franz Ilawerecht and Carl C. Fink. Kaufmann published, in 1838, the first German almanae in Canton. In the course of time several changes were made in the owner-

The Stark County Democrat was established in June. 1833. by a gentleman named Bernard. who died of cholera after running it about six months. It was then taken charge of by Will- iam Dunbar, who carried it on successfully un- til about 1836 or 1837. when he sold out to Daniel Gotshall, who published the paper until April, 1847, when he sold to Messrs. Carney and Leiter. These gentlemen published it until May, 1848. when it was sold to John and A. McGregor. The former dying in September of that year, Mr. A. McGregor has continued as editor ever since, with the exception of about eighteen months in 1858 and 1859, when it was edited by Thomas Beer. The Democrat is ably conducted and has a large circulation. It has been and continues to be the organ of the party in this county; it being, in fact, the only English Democratic paper in Stark County.

John Saxton, as the pioneer printer and edi- tor of Canton, a resident of this city for fifty- six years, a good eitizen and a Christian man. has been so closely identified with the progress of the town, that more than a passing notice is due his memory. He was born at lhuntingdon, Penn., on the 28th of September. 1792, and was the eldest of a large family. It is well known that in April, 1815, he started the Ohio Repository, on which he labored without inter- ruption for fifty-six consecutive years. In 1815. he wrote and published an account of the bat- tle of Waterloo, and the arrest of the first Napoleon. In 1870. he wrote and published an account of the battle of Sedan, and the arrest of Napoleon the third. It is believed that not another man in the United States bas

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labored so long at one place on one newspaper. benefit of his sunny smile, and perhaps pray with them. Never obtrusively, but always so gently and kindly was this done, that in the circle of his acquaintance he was always gladly weleomed, and many a one would have felt as much disappointed if they had missed his visit as they would that of their physician. Nor was this practice ephemeral or spasmodic. It was a life duty with him. Not only duty, but he loved to do it. His church was the object of his special regard. He arranged his busi- ness and the day of publication of his paper with a view to being always present at the prayer meeting. At one time, he changed his publication day so that the issue of his paper should never interfere with his attendance at. the prayer meeting. There was a time, many years ago, in which a season of spiritual de- clension had reduced the number of attendants to only four or five. Then it was unfashiona- ble to be a Christian, and it was almost as well known before meeting as after, who would be there. llis faith never flagged, his punctuality never remitted, he was always there. It is he- What an amount of work he has performed ! What volumes of truths he has laid before his readers! His selections were always useful, always interesting, always inculcating pure principles. Nothing licentious or unelean ever found a place in his columns. No matter what party. school or creed to which a man might belong, he could always find either in editorial or selection, something which would afford pleasure and instruction. In his political views he was always sincere, and earnestly advocated what he honestly believed. Those views are so well known that in these brief notes we forbear to speak further. In matters of religion, he was a devout Presbyterian. In the winter of . 1833-34, he united with the church then under the pastoral care of the Rev. T. M. Hopkins. Ile at once became an active, zealous laborer in the cause of his divine Master. There was no half way work about him. No looks of solemn sourness, and more Sunday perform- ance. His was a cheerful, happy, conscien- tious, loving, performance of religious duty. Hle was a Christian all over, in daily work, in ' lieved that in thirty-five years. unless absent heart and in purse. It was not a religion of constraint, but of freedom. He chose the true all right way because he loved it. He said of wisdom.

" ffer ways are ways of pleasantness, And all'her pattis are peace."

from town, he never missed a prayer meeting. His deafness was a sore trial to him. He could only hear by means of a trumpet. That he always carried with him. The time came when even that did not enable him to hear, but his attention was not even then remitted. He would oeenpy his place. His minister gave him a memorandum of the hymns and lent him his sermon in manuscript to read. One great desire of his life was to see a new and eommo- cious house of worship erected on the spot where the oldl inconvenient building stood ; he lived to see it done, and hoped to hear the Gos- pel there. His son James, in order to enable his father to hear, visited certain churches in the East, where speaking tubes were con- structed in such manner as to come to the ear by a flexible tube, and had one constructed for him in the new church ; he was delighted with the prospect now before him, but as Moses on Pisgah's top could see the land of promise, but did not enter, so father Saxton saw the work complete, and just one week before the dedieation, passed away without enjoying it.

He preached .religion in his daily life. He lit- erally went about doing good. No one doubted his piety, for. like the Apostle James, he be- lieved that pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this : to visit the father- less and widow in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. He had the wisdom which was from above. first pure. then peaceable. gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. His every-day work was planned for the good of others. lle be- gan and ended it with a careful reading of the Scriptures and with prayer. Ile ascertained who was sick and who needy, and had about as many patients for his daily visits as a physi- cian in a moderate practice. It might be sup- posed that his inereasing deafness would inca- His evenness of temper was remarkable. The writer has known him intimately for thirty- three years, for more than twenty of them pacitate him for such a work, but if he conkl not hear the voice of the patients he would go and see them. feel their pulse, give them the lived side by side with him, had daily inter-

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course with him, and yet remembers only one occasion in which that temper was ruffled. For a man of so much decision of character. such clear and well defined views, and such earnestness in maintaining them. it furnishes a remarkable illustration of the power of his judgment over his passions. He had a great fondness for children. He recognized them, know who they were. remembered their names, talked to them, often gave them his advice. His genial ways and loving smile so attracted their attention and won their regard. that they loved him.

In times when printing facilities bore no com- parison to those of the present day. when in- formation in regard to current events could only be procured by great labor. when mails were few and far between. when post-riders had to convey them over the mountains by painful and tedious work, often fording swollen streams and struggling through the mire in primitive roads and primeval forests, when the rude hand-lever press was the best printing machine in use. and when the ink was distrib- uted by a ball-pad instead of a roller, it was no trifling task to get out a weekly newspaper with regularity. In an editorial written by him fifty-five years later. he thus alludes to his early labors :

It would be difficult for a person of this genera tion to imagine the forbidding aspect of this region in the year 1815. It was the year which was signal. ized by the conclusion of the second war with the mother country, and which firmly established our complete independence as a nation. The business allairs of the country, which had been prostrated. were made yet worse by the impoverished and worse than worthless currency of the period.

C'anton was a village of three hundred inhabit ants, and no paper was printed west of it. From 181 to 1819, the Repository was printed in the build ing. and in the very room now occupied by Fessler's grocery. It was then removed to the Kauffman building, still standing. on South Market street. where it remained until 1822, when I removed it again to my own premises near by, where it had a home until the consolidation of the Repository and Republican, in 1868. My first article in my first paper. printed March 30. 1815. was a prospectus. which read as follows :

"'TO THE PUBLICK.

"In a government where the blessing of Freedom is enjoyed and justly estimated. it is acknowledged by all that the dissemination of correct practical knowledge is of the first importance. The continu ance of that freedom, the inestimable birthright of every American, must depend upon the Intelligence.

Patriotism and virtue of the people. The estab- lishment of Newspapers are the most easy and con venient means of gaining that correct information, respecting their political concerns, which will enable them to judge, with accuracy, the wisdom or folly of their rulers. Strongly impressed with these son timents, the editor pledges himself to his patrons, that 'truth shall be his guide, the public good his aim.' In avowing his attachment to one of the two political parties which at present so unhappily di vide our country, he is free in declaring that his is an attachment. not of party, but from principle ; the result, not of interest, prejudice or passion, but founded on impartial investigation. It is an attach. ment to the principles avowed by the immortal Sages who declared our Independence-to the form of Government guaranteed by the Federal constitu- tion, and a disciple of the school of Washington. A candid and fair investigation of political subjects is, undoubtedly, the sweet palladium of National Freedom ; liberal and well informed men. of all par. ties, are invited to make it a Repository of their sen- timents-the editor reserving on all occasions, the right of exercising a decided control over everything offered for insertion. He will reject everything which he niay deem illiberal, unjust or impolitick, everything calculated unnecessarily to excite party prejudice or animosity, or to wound the feelings of individual -. Actuated by such motives, and guided by such tenets, he submits, cheerfully, the merits of his labors and his cause to an enightened publick."

Such were the sentiments that gave birth to the Ohio Repository, and these were my promises made fifty five years ago. But where are the then living witnesses who can testify in regard to my fulfillment of them ? Alas! they have all gone before me 10 their final account. Their children and their chil. dren's children, one after another, have risen up. The few familiar names of that day are multiplied over and over again. The few rude traces of the improvements that then sufficed. disappear day by day. The village of three hundred is now a city of twelve thousand, and the wilderness about now "blossoms as the rose" with fruits and fickls and homes that exhibit the highest efforts of modern civilization. During all this period, a merciful Provi- dence has spared my life, and enabled me to par ticipate in the working out of these wonderful changes. It has been my pleasure every week to witness the regular appearance of my paper, and to know that as an instrumentality of usefulness and power it has kept pace with the growth and expan sion of the institutions of which it has been an index.

His newspaper longevity is strikingly illus- trated by the fact that he recorded the final battles of both Napoleons-Waterloo and Se- dan. The article in the Repository and Repub- lican of September 9. 1870. setting forth this fact, was commented upon by editors all over the country. We reproduce this very extraor- dinary example here :

In turning over the leaves of the Repository files. back fifty five years ago, we find in some pages

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striking points of similarity to those that we print to-day. Take the following examples :

From the Repository of August From the Respoitory and Repub- 24, 1815. lican of September 9, 1870. FROM FRANCE. THE WAR.

DEFEAT OF BONAPARTE.

SURRENDER OF NAPOLEON IIL.

GREAT BATTLE IN BELGIUM.

BATTLE OF SEDAN.

LORD WELLINGTON WITHIN TWO DAYE' MAROH OF PARIS.

NAPOLEON SENT TO A GERMAN PRISON.

ABDICATION OF BONAPARTE.

REPUBLIC PROCLAIMED IN PARIS

Boston, August 5, 1815, The brig Abelline, Capt. Wyer, has just arrived from France, and brings Paris papere to June 23. They contain

POLITICAL ACCOUNTS OF THE GREAT OVERTHROW OF THE WHOLE FRENCH ARMY,

on the 18th of June, with the loss gan at 6 o'clock on the morning of all its cannon, baggage and of Septem er 1. Two Prussian storee;

The rapid flight of Booaparte; His abdication of the throne; corps were in position on the west of Sedan, having got there by long-forced marches to cut off The choice of a provisional gov- the French retreat to Mezieres. ernment of five persons ; South of Sedan was the first Ba- The Declaration of the Em- FRENCHMEN ! In commencing the war to support the independ- ence of the French nation I had calculated upon the co-operation of all. I had renson to hope for success, and I have braved all the denunciations of the powers Against me, Circumstances are changed. I offer myself a sacrifice peror, to wit : varian Corps, and Past, across the Mouse, the Second Bavarian corps. The Saxona were on the northeast with the Guards. I was with the King throughout the day, on the hill above St. Meuse, commanding a splendid view of the valley of the Mense and of the field. After a tremendons battle, the Prus- eians, having completely snr. rounded Sedan, and the Bavarians to the hatred of the enemies of , having entered the fortifications, France.

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History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 60

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