History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 92

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

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CHAPTER XXV .*

SUGAR CREEK TOWNSHIP=PHYSICAL FEATURES-LANDHOLDERS OF 182S FIRST SETTLEMENT AND ACCOMPANYING INCIDENTS INDUSTRIAL GROWTH PLATTING OF VILLAGES - EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS GROWTH AND INFLUENCES.

THE people of to-day cannot realize the ex- treme hardships encountered by the early settler. It is no trouble, while enjoying a sumptuous repast, or while occupying at full length the sofa in a palace parlor. to bring the picture of early trials before the gaze ; but the mental and physical sufferings of the pioneers are beyond conjecture, and can only be realized by participation. To be with but little food. and that of the coarsest and meanest quality ; to suffer continually from exposure to the in- element weather ; to be half-clothed : to be de- nied all the ennobling influences of refined society ; to be compelled by the relentless foree of necessity to work beyond your strength - all these were the common lot of the pioneer. It is a peenliar paradox in human conduct. to note that the old settler loves to recall the trials of early years. Should he not rather love to banish from his mind the recollection of events which occasioned him so much suffering ? No.

he loves to dream of the past : loves to live over again his early experiences. Ask an old settler, and. strange as it may seem. he will tell you he enjoyed life amid the dangers and pri- vations of the backwoods. This can only be accounted for by saying that the mobile char- acteristic of human nature to adapt itself to any and all surroundings, rendered the life of the pioneer contented and happy.

Sugar Creek Township, which takes its name from the stream which drains the greater por- tion, is one of the best in the county. This is true not only of the natural features, but of the character of the people within its limits. From its earliest years. the township has been full of push and pluiek and precocity. During the early stages of the last war. it furnished more volunteers than any other country portion of the county of the same limit. The character of the citizens for intelligence, morality. indus- try and enterprise, is second to no other part of Stark County. When the county was first

* Contributed by W A Goodspeed.

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

organized. in 1809, Sugar Creek was attached to Canton Township, and remained thus until March 4. 1816. when the following action was taken by the County Commissioners : "Ordered, That that part of Range 10 in Stark County which lies south of Township 12 in said range, be and the same is hereby erected into a sep- arate township by the name of Sugar Creek." The election of the first officers was announced to be held at the residence of Adam Grounds, 0 1 the first Monday in April. and notices of this election were posted up at Adam Grounds'. Joseph Poyser's and Fisher's Mill. The follow- ing is a list of the land-holders in 1827, the greater number of whom resided in the town- ship :

Christian Ackerman, William Agler, William Baker. George Baker, Jedediah Brewster. James Benford. John Balterley. Michael Rose. Peter Beck. John Byall, Abraham Beals, John Bash, Benjamin Carr, Joshua Carr. Eman- uel Crossland. George Crossland. Jacob Cron- inger, Benjamin Croninger, Henry Croninger. J. W. Condy, James Clark. George Canfield, Isaac Charlton, Thomas Collins, John Charl- ton. Abraham Davis. John Doll, Israel Doty. Gotleib Dogaley. John Everly, Susanna Everett. John Everett. Andrew Fetro, Preserved Fish .. Henry Fisher, Jacob Fisher, Adam Fisher, John Freese. Abraham Friebley. Jacob Grounds. James Gaff. George Gilbert, Michael Hoffacre, William Hall. William Hunter, John Hammond, John Hollinger, John Hager, Henry Hess. Wil- liam Jones. Jacob Kyle, George Klingle. James Kilgore. James Kerr. Benjamin Kerr, Jacob Kline, Jacob Klinefelter. Jolm Mason. Jacob Miller. Samuel Miller. William Nichols. Patrick Nelson. John Oberlin, George Pfouter, Gabriel Putnam. John Putnam. John Poyster, Richard Pinkerton. John Parker. Jehiel Rose. Jacob Reed. Henry Ritter. Daniel Ritter, Thomas Rotch, Charity Rotch, Jacob Rider, Peter Reed. George Robinson. Robert Reed, Henry Ragnet. Charles Slutz, George Sleighter, Christian Smith. Christian Shrock, Jacob Shetler. John Shetler, Frederick Stump. Adam Spohr. Christopher Sees, JJacob Swaley. John Shaeffer, William Smoyer, Peter Stroyer. Jacob Stover, George Shott. Isaac Teeple. Christopher Teeple, Abra- ham Troxal. Peter Weimer. Gabriel Weimer, John Walter. Arvine Wales, Jonathan Winter, David Weimer, Jacob Warshler, George Welty, John Weimer. Peter Weimer, Phillip Welty,

Valentine Wagoner, Jacob Wyant, Henry Wy- ant, Lewis Willard, Henry Willard and Abra- ham Walter.

In addition to these, there were a number of prominent early settlers whose names do not appear in the above list. A few of the earliest settlers who first came in, became dissatisfied with their surroundings, and like a certain class of politicians, wanted a " change." These men added their mite to the early improvement of Sugar Creek. and were undoubtedly the means of attracting settlers to their vicinity. accord- ing to the rule that " birds of a feather flock together." It is said upon authority not to be doubted, that Jacob Grounds, who arrived in the township in 1808, was the first permanent settler. This well known settler had an un- usual education for a back-woodsman, and dur- ing his long and eventful life was prominently connected with all publie improvements. He came to the township immediately after it was surveyed, and, selecting a fine tract of land covered with a magnificent growth of sugar- maple trees (the Truby farm) cut and prepared logs for a rude dwelling. The next thing was to secure assistance to raise the building. Families at Kendal, Canton and New Philadel- phia were notified, two men responding from the former place, five from the next and three from the latter, the man from Canton being the County Treasurer and the one from New Phila- delphia being a lawyer. Here in this rude log dwelling. surrounded by the untouched forest and a great variety of wild and savage animals, the Grounds family lived in solitude for eighteen long months. They were dreary ones to the famity. who were accustomed to better things in the Eastern States ; but they bore the trials and dangers without complaint, though many times they pressed upon them like the sphere of Atlas. At that time bears were quite nu- merous, occasionally dangerous, and often troublesome. They were not troubled with conscientious scruples, like a certain ecclesias- tical sect, as regards the eating of swine's flesh. On the contrary they lost no opportunity of filling themselves to the muzzle with flesh of the genus Nus. Even as early as 1808, quite a number of swine ran wild in the woods, and ten years later they had become very numerous. They required no care from the settlers, as they could sustain themselves the year round on the enormous quantities of "mast " that strewed

SUGAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.

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the ground at all seasons. They became very fat during the fall of the year, often attaining a weight of 500 pounds. They were very wild and were about as difficult to kill as deer. Disputes about the ownership of swine were of frequent occurrence. Litters of pigs were raised in the depths of the woods, and were very likely not seen by the owners until they were half-grown. Extensive systems of ear- marking were devised and adopted, though this did not wholly avoid angry contentions and occasional primitive law-suits. Stories told about the swine and vouched for by the early settlers are hard to believe. It is related by Mr. Agler, of Beach ('ity, whose father was one of the earliest settlers, that William Smoyer, an eccentric old bachelor, who owned a large num- ber of swine, assisted one day by Henry Wyant, another carly settler, went into the woods to shoot several of his fattest swine. Perhaps Mr. Agler's father accompanied them. As they approached, quite a large herd of swine, with bristles erect and mouths open, made for the settlers, who immediately took to their heels. After running around until they were tired out, and finding that the swine were more deter- mined than ever to tear them in pieces, they finally treed to escape the savage animals. This had to be done quickly and the guns were necessarily dropped. llere the men were eom- pelled to remain, perched in the trees like owls, and no doubt looking owlish and feeling the same, until the morning, not daring to venture i down amid the surging animals, that seemed possessed of the same spirit that once took refuge in ancestral swine in ancient times. " The hog is an animal that is all appetite," says Josh Billings ; and this fact no doubt prompted them to leave the settlers for their feeding grounds about breakfast time. The guns were found tramped and bitten and con- siderably injured. The sequel does not show whether the settlers obtained the desired swine on that occasion. Probably not. as soon after- ward a large pen was built and a bait of corn placed therein, so that, by means of a trap, the pen could be closed at will. In this manner, after a little patient waiting. swine were caged and then shot. It is said that the tusks of many swine of the masculine gender were six inches long, and the snouts, when thus armed. were frightful looking implements of destruc- tion (if the figure may be allowed).

So far as known. the second settler in the township was Joshua Carr. who located in the northern part in 1810. He built a rough cabin, which was ereeted by settlers in neigh- boring townships, and into which his family immediately moved. Until about the year 1815, the settlers came in very slowly ; but by about 1823 almost or quite all the land in the township had been entered, largely by the men whose names appear above. Samuel Hale arrived in the township soon after Carr. the same year, and within the next four or five years, there appeared Andrew Fetro, David. Peter and John Weimer, John and Gabriel Putnam, Joseph Payser, Jedediab and Calvin Brewster, John Mason, Jacob Reed, Michael Hoffaere. Abraham Beals, John Byall. Ben- jamin and Aquila Carr, Michael Douds, Patrick l'elson, and several others, whose names are unfortunately forgotten. Calvin Brewster was eleeted Justice of the Peace at the first town- ship election. and Joseph Payser, Sr .. Constable. Soon the township was dotted with log cabins, set in small clearings in the woods. Roads were mere paths through the thickets and forests, and during the wet seasons of the year were bottomless, or nearly so ; they wound around from cabin to cabin on the higher ridges, and rude log bridges were built across the smaller streams. At last, county roads were surveyed and fitted up for publie travel, and after many years the township was erossed with a network of highways that served the purpose of veins and arteries in commercial life. Barbara Poyser, daughter of Joseph, died during the summer of 1812, and was buried on the Poyser farm. This was the first death in the township. The first marriage was that of John Reed, son of Jacob, to Mary Poyser, on the 13th of April, 1813, William Henry, Esq., performing the ceremony. The newly wedded couple a short time afterward moved to Can ton, where their lives were passed. The husband died in 1871, aged eighty-three years. The first birth was that of Jacob Poyser. in 1813. The first military training was that of a com- pany of militia, of which John Byall was Cap- tain. The parade or muster was at the residence of Jacob Roed, and being the first was greatly enjoyed by the settlers.

Many tales are told of the schemes and con trivances to get along in early years. Henry Wyant and William Agler each owned an ox.

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

A yoke was made by the two men, and the oxen were hitched together, and for a number of years this team answered all purposes for both families. A large tree was eut down. and ont of this were sawed four large solid wheels. These were furnished with openings in the eenter. through which the heavy axles passed, and tires of strong bark were fastened on the outer edge. The front axle was provided with a strong tongue : the hind wheels and fore wheels were coupled together ; and upon this rude structure was placed a rough wagon bed. This was the wagon owned in partnership by the two men. This is only one of many in- stances of a similar kind. Often the families suffered extremely on account of insufficient food or clothing. Sometimes they were com- pelled to live on a solitary artiele of food for weeks together. This seems a dreadful hard- ship. in view of the fact that the system re- quires a change of diet comparatively often. Physiologists teach that three kinds of food are necessary to sustain life; i. e., albuminoids, fats and sugars. If either of these three be withheld from the diet, suffering, or even death, may follow. There is seen a gradual wasting away of the system, although the appetite con- tinues good. This truth can be realized by attempting to make one or more meals on one artiele of food. It is why we don't relish bread without butter, or something answering the same purpose in the system. Potatoes are almost impalatable without grease. The latter alone would be worse. The system. through the medium of the appetite, demands these primary food elements in some form or other. The settlers would often have no bread of any kind for weeks at a time. and. when it did come. so great was the hunger of the family for it. that the whole grist was devoured within a few days, and the semi-starving process was re- peated. If your boy cries and says : " Ma. I want some butter on my bread," do not repel him, and at the same time tell him that the bread is all right without the butter. His appe- tite and system contradict yon in language easily read, and not easily mistaken. It may be seen from this that the settlers were con- stantly violating physiological laws. that in time would result disastrously to their systems. Mr. Agler says he has seen his mother time and again pound the corn that furnished the eake that was baked in the ashes of the fire-

place, and that was their only article of food for the meal. This was often rendered neces- sary. especially at certain seasons of the year, on account of the inability of reaching some mill. where flour or meal could be obtained. The streams were different in early years from what they are at present. The water was twice as slow in running off then, having the effect of doubling the size of all streams. There were no bridges, as the floods swept away these frail structures of the pioneers. On tliese occasions the roads through the woods apparently draine all the land within several rods of them on either side. A new track could not be made without cutting down many trees and clearing away large quantities of underbrush. Thus it was that settlers were obliged to do without flour, meal and other supplies until the roads beeame passable. which was often after months had elapsed, during which time the families subsisted as best they could. But little diffi- culty was experienced in getting an abundance of meat. Venison could be obtained in abund- ( ance as late as 1820. and. to some extent. ten or fifteen years later. But the flesh of the deer was too dry without additional grease. This was obtained from the swine. Every family usually had on hand an ample supply of bacon and smoked hams. Indeed. it is said that the settlers' diet consisted chiefly of pork, potatoes and eorn-bread. No danger of starv- ing on that diet. Judging from the physical appearance of the settlers. the conclusion is in- evitable that enormous quantities of the above articles were consumed by the pioneers of Sugar Creek Township. The earliest settlers frequently enjoyed the privilege of eating a delicious piece of bear steak. Although this meat is said to have a peculiar flavor. it is also said to be excellent. Adventures with bears and other wild animals are narrated. Among the noted hunters were Henry Willard and Daniel Truby. These men are said to have killed large numbers of bears. It is stated that Truby. on one occasion, killed four bears in almost as many minutes. He was a " dead shot," and was able to cock his rifle. raise it to his eye. take aim, and fire, in one motion. lle apparently used his mouth for a bullet-pouch, as whenever he wanted a bullet it was obtained from that locality. It is stated that he was hunting one day on Sugar Creek, and, while walking along with ear and eye on the alert to

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detect the presence of any desired game. his attention was arrested by an unusual noise in a ravine near him. Something seemed to be rustling the dead leaves, and. as cautiously as an Indian. the hunter approached the spot to ascertain the cause. He reached the brink of the ravine. and peered over. and saw a large mother bear and two balf-grown cubs. The mother was pawing up the leaves, and appar- ently covering some object with them. while the cubs rolled idly on the autumn leaves. The hunter coolly took deliberate aim. and. as the sharp report rang out on the air. the mother fell to the ground. with a bullet through her head. in the agonies of death. The cubs ran to their dead mother for that protection never before denied them. but the hunter quickly dispatched them in turn by rapid shots from his unerring rifle. Mr. Truby was ho novice at hear-hunting. and he well knew that Mr. Bear could not be far distant. He. therefore. con- cealed himself and patiently awaited the ap pearance of the bear whose family had been ruthlessly murdered. After two or more hour -. and just before dark. he heard a shuffling in the leaves below bim in the ravine, and a few moments later saw a large bear approaching. It came slowly on. and. when within about fifteen rods of the spot where its family had been left. it placed its fore-feet on a fallen tree. and. after snitfing the air a few times, uttered a peculiar whine. Not receiving the expected answer from its mate. it moved on rapidly toward the scene of the tragedy. It reached the spot, and moved around among its kindred dead. and. as Mr. Truby thought it might start off suddenly and elude bim. he fired, giving it a mortal wound, and, walking up. gave it a sec- ond shot that stretched it dead on the leaves beside its family.

It is related of Henry Willard that. on one occasion, he killed a mother bear and two cubs under the following circumstances : He owned a fine heifer, which ran in the woods with other cattle. and was the pride of its owner. While at his mill, on Sugar Creek. one day. he heard his heifer bawling as if in the greatest distress. He snatched up his ritle and ammunition in a hurry. and ran out through the woods toward the spot. rightly surmising the cause of the dis- turbance. As he approached the spot on the run. he saw that a large bear had thrown his heifer to the ground. and was busy tearing it

with teeth and claws, despite the continued bawlings of the unfortunate animal. Mr. Willard did not hesitate long what to do. Hle took quick aim, and sent a bullet through the bear's head. The cubs were also immediately shot. The poor heifer. to the great sorrow of its owner. was so terribly torn and lacerated that it was found necessary to shoot it. It was a long time before Mr. Willard recovered from his wrath.

With the inuitiplication of settlers. industries began to spring up in various parts of the town- ship. to supply much-needed articles nearer home. As early as 1-16. Henry Willard built a grist-mill on Sugar Creek. It was a frame building. about thirty feet square. and two sto- ries in height. A big dam was built across the creek. and the mill was supplied with water by means of a race. in the usual manner. A large breast-wheel communicated motion to the ma- chinery. by means of rude wooden shafting. Two sets of " nigger-head " stones were placed in the mill. one for wheat and the other for corn. A paying patronage was early obtained. which steadily increased as time advanced. This mill was of great value to the settlers in the township; it saved troublesome journeys to distant places, and added to the attractiveness of the township as a place in which to reside. After it had continue l in operation some fifteen or twenty Years. a Mr. Bell assumed ownership and con- trol of the mill, which was enlarged and im- proved. and a saw-m Il. to be run by water from the same dam. was erected. Mr. Bell also built an extension to the grist-mill. in which was placed machinery necessary for carding, spinning. weaving and dressing cloth. This occupation was followed quite extensively. in connection with the running of the grist-mill and saw-mill. for some half dozen years. when Mr. Bell's mysterious death caused it to stop. It is said that Mr. Bell was in the habit of thinking to excess : and one day he was found dead on the road leading to a neighboring dis- tillery. His head was found immersed in a small creek, and it was surmised that he had become drunk. and. having fallen into the creek. was drowned. Some whisper of foul play, but this view is probably erroneous. The carding mill was not abandoned. but Mr. Bell's two sons. Phillip and George, continued the three mills many years. At last the factory was abandoned. and some ten years ago the saw-

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

mill was also permitted to run down. Some twenty-five or thirty years ago, the entire prop- erty passed to Jonathan Barr, who has owned it ever sinee. The grist-mill has been greatly improved in every way during the long years of its continuance. It has the reputation of having no superior in the county. Custom work was abandoned some years since, and the mill at present has an enormous merchant trade. The quality of flour produced has no superior in the market. Henry Croninger built a distil- lery at an early day, about half a mile north of the mill. lle owned two copper stills, each having a capacity of about twenty-five gallons. Whisky was distilled on shares, at the rate of from one to three barrels per day, and. after probably ten or twelve years, the enterprise was permitted to die. This was, probably, the most extensive distillery ever in the township. It was not the only one by several odds.

A Mr. King built a saw-mill near the center of the township, at an early day. It was located on a small stream called King's Run, and, for a number of years, did good work. John Edgar also built and operated one a few years later. This was located on Sugar Creek, above the King's Mill. It was an excellent mill in its time, and ran until a few years ago. There were a few other saw-mills in the township in early years. A man named Kilgore owned and operated a grist-mill in the township many years ago. It is said that at one time in early years, there were no less than seven distilleries in the township, the owners being Henry Cronin- ger, Jacob Gronnds, Joseph Bechtel, and four others whose names are forgotten. Several of them did quite a lively business in honor of Bacchus.

Four villages have sprung up in the town- ship. Justus Station dates its beginning from the time the Tuscarawas Valley & Wheeling Rail- road was completed, some nine or ten years ago. There are four or five dwellings, a large frame United Brethren Church, and one or two stores in the village. George Wilhelm has quite a respectable store there. In time, the village will seeure a population of several hundred. Plainsburg was first known as Stam- baughtown, named for Henry Stambaugh, a Justice of the Peace and pettifogger, who re sided there with several of his grown sons. He owned a farm, and in time a tailor named Conrad opened a shop there and began work in

his line, as did also a cabinet-maker named Sprankle. The little village. if such it can be properly termed, has been known by a variety of names, some of which it has refused point- edly to recognize. In the estimation of the residents there, some villian of the darkest dye bestowed npon the unpretentious village the peculiarly suggestive cognomen "Slabtown." This met with stern and uncompromising op- position on the part of the villagers, who looked upon the man as an impostor, and his conduct as a delusion and a snare. Latterly. to the joy of the villagers, the name Plainsburg has pre- vailed. Within the last few years, Plainsburg has attained considerable prominence as a berry producing locality. Large quantities of rasp- berries, strawberries, blackberries and grapes are produced annually, and shipped from the railroad station at Beach City to distant points. Beach City had its origin with the erection of the Willard grist-mill in 1816. This. together with Mr. Willard's residence, and the residence and distillery of Henry Croninger, constituted what was then known as Willard's Mills, until 1830, approximately, when Mr. Bell, who then assumed ownership of the mill, opened a small store, in which was placed a stock of goods valued at perhaps $300. After this, largely through the influence of the Bell family, several families located at what then became known as a little village by the name of Bell's Mills. P. V. Bell became a prominent man largely on account of his pecuniary influence. As has been said, he greatly improved the old Willard grist-mill, and began doing merchant work, hauling the flour in a six-horse wagon to the canal, whence it was conveyed to market. He was respected and trusted by the people, who loaned their money to him without a doubt that it would be forthcoming according to agreement. The store was conducted on an extensive scale from a fine general assortment of goods valued at about $8,000. But, notwithstanding Mr. Bell's honest intention. he finally failed in business, and his creditors received little or nothing for their pains to accommodate. But the farmers in the neighborhood did not relish the idea of having no store at the mills ; so they formed a sort of stock company, with a paid-up capital of some .$7,000, and invested this amount in goods, placing in the store two men. who came well recommended. to dispose of the goods. Things progressed smoothly for a few years,

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History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 92

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