History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 93

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

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SUGAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.

when suddenly, like a clap of thunder in a clear sky, the sad news flashed abroad that the enterprise had collapsed. Eastern creditors camne forward. and the two elerks, with well- filled purses and eyes no doubt undergoing a series of chronic winks, pushed with greater haste and secresy for the West than accorded with their usual demure movements. Assign- ces were appointed by the court, the stock- hoklers were called on for an additional sum of money, and in a short space of time the " stock. store " was a sorrowful remembrance of the past. Getty & Converse, with a portion of the same goods. about $1,500 worth, carried on a store for a short time, and then sold to Col. Hiram Reed. who continued a few years. securing, in the meantime, a post office at the village. lle finally closed his goods out at quetion. Welty & Weitmer opened a store eight or ten years ago, but soon afterward failed and made an assignment. About this time Eli Ax built a brick building at a cost of some $2,500, placing in one apartment about $4,000 worth of goods, consisting of groceries and provisions. Drs. Ayers, Robinett and David Crise opened a drug-store some six years ago. William Raff has a $2,000 clothing store. Hiram Brown has a $5,000 drug-store. John Hoss opened a hardware store two years ago. Hay & Fetro have a fine dry goods store. Henry Rose built a large tavern about nine years ago. It has changed owners many times since. William Agler is at present keeping hotel in another building. Thus the village has two hotels. George Crise owns a plaining mill, which was built and started seven years ago by four men. Mr. Linn is a saddler. Fel- lows Brothers have a wagon-shop. Kyle Brothers built a large grist-mill last summer, placing therein three sets of stone. They have already quite a custom trade. The motor is steam. J. M. Shetler built a warehouse about eight years ago. He buys and ships consider- able grain. Mr. Bell. also, in his time. carried on the warehouse business. Beach City was not properly laid out and recorded until the presence of the railroad rendered this necessary. At this time, J. M. Shetler, who owned the land where the business portion of the village now stands, secured the services of Amos Woodling, Stark County Surveyor, and in March, 1872, laid out thirty-eight lots of the usual size. Two additions have since been made by Mr.

Shetler, one of forty-one lots and the other of seventy-three, making a total of 152 lots. The lots were sold for prices ranging from $100 to $200. The town was named in honor of an engineer on the Valley Railroad. The name Streatorville, for a railroad official, eame very nearly being bestowed upon the village. It is a lively little place, and has a population, according to the census of 1880, of 282.

Wilmot is a much older town than Beach City. It was laid out by Jacob and Henry Wyant, owners and proprietors, in April, 1836. Fifty-seven lots were laid out by John Whit- acre, County Surveyor, to which additions were afterward made. George Pfouts opened the first store there, near the time the village was laid out. He started with a few hundred dollars' worth of goods, but at the expiration of a few years sold out, or at least removed his goods, and was succeeded by George Frease. John Frease owned the store soon after this, and finally it passed into the control of J. & J. Frease, who conducted it until near 1850, when the old stock was purchased by Weimer & Hurrah, who increased it, and three years later sold to Welty & Jarvis. Samuel Jarvis owned the store about 1856, and then sold to Sager & Gilmore. A year later, Mr. Wyant took Mr. Gilmore's place, and the partnership continued thus until some time during the last war, when Sager abandoned the enterprise and Wyant continues it yet. Shunk & Bash owned a store in Wilmot, beginning about 1865. Last year their stock was closed out at auction. Putnam & Wyant own a store in the village at present. A post office was located at the village about the time it was first laid out. George Pfouts being the first Postmaster. Wyant & Putnam began conducting a foundry and repair-shop not far from 1830, manufacturing plows, stoves, hollow-ware, and various other useful articles and implements. Motion for the machinery was secured by means of a large tread-wheel, upon which cattle or horses were obliged to walk-a sorry life for the dumb brutes. These partners continued the business until the death of Mr. Wyant, when the ownership passed to Putnam. Johnson & Co. These men extended the scope of the enterprise. and altered it in many essential respects. This was about 1846, and at this time they began manufacturing threshing machines. The machine was not a separator. as it simply beat the grain from the

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

straw. Five or six years later they began man- ufacturing the well-known " Pitt Separator," then looked upon as a model of ingenious in- vention and execution. The company did a lively manufacturing business, and abont the beginning of the last war, added the - Excelsior Reaper and Mower " to their catalogue of man- nfactures. It is said that more than a hundred were constructed annually, and sent for sale to various parts of the country. Departments of the undertaking have been abandoned during the years since 1830. About five years ago, the construction of reapers, mowers and thresh- ers was discontinued, and the enterprise is at present limited to the manufacture of hay rakes. hay loaders, a few threshers, a few plows. and perhaps a small quantity of hollow ware. Be- tween twenty and thirty workman have been employed by this company at one time. In about the year 1850. James Allen established a cabinet-shop at Wilmot, and began manufact- uring considerable furniture, and also a clover- huller of his own patent, which sold in large numbers readily at $65 each. Thus the ocen- pation was continued until about 1832. when under a patented improvement, Mr. Allen be- gan preparing his "huller and separator." He ceased the construction of this machine about the beginning of the last war, and after con- tinuing an exclusive cabinet business a few years, sold his machinery to the planing-mill company. Lentz & Co. established a woolen factory in the village about the year 1856. They erected a large, two-storied frame build- ing, and began carding, filling, spinning, weav- ing. dressing and dyeing cloth. Charges were made for so much per yard. A small stock of varns, flannels, satinets. blankets, cassimeres. etc .. was kept in store for sale. In about 1853. Samuel Toomey began a general blacksmithing and carriage-making business in Wilmot. Ile constructed large numbers of light carriages and buggies for ten or twelve years, and then removed to Dover, since which his business has assumed gigantic proportions. When he first began the industry, he charged parties to whom he sold his buggies, not to permit more than two persons to ride in one at a time. It is said that these identical buggies. yet in run- ning order, are capable of carrying 1,500 pounds. ITeminger, Bash & Co. owned and conducted a large plaining-mill a number of years ago. This was disposed of a few years later. and

finally, some years ago, D. Rust & Co. creeted a mill of the same kind. This was afterward destroyed by fire. but immediately rebuilt. Hurrah & Co. built a grist-mill in 1873, begin- ning a fair custom trade with three sets of stone. Since 1879, merchant work has been done. Putnam Brothers bought the mill a few years ago. and greatly improved it. The motor is steam ; and the flour is shipped by wagon to Beach City, whence it is conveyed to market by rail. Wilinot was laid out and recorded as Milton. A change in name was finally effected, but the exact date when this was accomplished is not given. Much more might be said to the credit of the little village of Wilmot.

The schools of Sugar Creek did not spring into life and activity as early as those in other portions of the county. obviously from the fact of the township's later settlement. There is much doubt and speculation concerning the first school taught, and it is not pretended that its location or date of commencement will be given with mathematical accuracy. A log schoolhouse, with huge fire-place and chimney, rough clapboard seats and desks, and heavy puncheon floor, stood in Wilmot in 1825. It was probably erected as early as 1820. as sev- eral large families were living in that immedi- ate vicinity at that date. Some eight or ten years later. the old house was replaced by a neat frame building. This was used, if recol- leetion is correct, until about the year 1838 or 1840. when a small briek schoolhouse usurped the rights of the old one. This brick house cost about 82,000, and was used continuously until some ten or twelve years ago. at which time the present house was constructed at a cost of abont 87,000. The house is a fine brick structure, and three teachers are employed to teach the youth who assemble there to learn the way of the wise.

The schoolhouse at Beach City is a large, square frame building two stories in height, and was constructed at a cost of $2,500. It was erected a few years ago. A maximum price of $2.50 per day is paid teachers, and about Ito scholars are enrolled. It is thought by several, and this view is probably cor- rect, that the first school in the township was taught in the Grounds' neighborhood by Jacob Grounds. Mr. Grounds is known to have taught school, and it is not probable that he would allow his children to grow up about him

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unlettered. He very likely taught either in his own cabin, or in one that had been abandoned by some pioneer family. The schoolhouse at Paddy Nelson's Corners was built as early as 1830. or. perhaps, it was only partially built. In the process of construction, when the house was about two-thirds completed, the settlers in that neighborhood who were interested, dis- obeyed the behest of Dr. Watts. They quar- reled. and the house was neglected. What tronbled them was its location. All could not be suited. and disappointed ones were mad as March hares in consequence. It is said the god Momus was so addicted to fault-finding that. when the first man, Prometheus, was created. the god objected to him because there was not a window in his breast. through which his thoughts miglit he seen. At last, when Aphro- dite was created, so perfect was she that the god Momus vexed himself to death because there was nothing with which to find fault. It is said that some of the quarrelsome settlers above mentioned were almost equally as troubled. The house was completed, but when a new one was to be built some six or eight years later, the same opinions and desires clashed as they had before. At last. Mr. Fisher arose in the school-meeting, and. by a happy thought. proposed in extended and ap- propriate remarks, that a portable house be built, and made a motion, amidst great laugh- ter to that effeet. This had the effect of clear- ing the clouded minds of the settlers, removing their selfish prejudices, and quiekening into life their fund of reason and common sense. The result was that a house was speedily built. but it was not portable. Another house was built a number of years later, but was shortly after- ward destroyed by fire. Another was built. and it was also burned to the ground. Then the present house was erected. Take it all in all, the district has had quite a time with its school. has it not ? From 1815 to 1830, the various school districts were created and pro- vided with schoolhouses. It may be truly said, in conclusion. that the township is well supplied with good schools.

The church history of the township is fully as indefinite as the school history. The I'nited Brethren and the Methodist Episcopal denomi- nations each have a line brick church at Beach City. They were both built in 1875 at a cost, each, of about 84.500. The two buildings

look very much alike. Each has a fair congre- gation, and both are doing well. The Weimer Church ( I'nited Brethren) is said to have been built as early as 1825. It was a log building at first, and was used as a combined church. schoolhouse. town-hall, etc .; but at last, in about 1835. it was burned. The present house has been used since. The Bose Church (Lutheran) was constructed at an early day of logs. It had a strong congregation at first, but after a time the membership became so small that the meetings were irregular, or per- haps were totally discontinued for a time. The present frame house was built about thirty- three years ago. The Welty Church (United Brethren) was built nearly thirty years ago. It began with a membership that was in carn- est, and soon the society was in fine financial condition. It has been one of the best churches in the township. The Baptist Church, toward the northern part, was built at least forty years ago, but did not continue longer than .about twenty years. On still farther north is the Bun- ker Hill Church (Methodist Episcopal), which is said to have been built first some fifty years ago. It has not been used for the last thirty years. The Lutheran Church, at the cross-roads, was first built of logs about fifty-five years ago. This was afterward replaced by a frame church. The Evangelical Church was built some forty years ago, and has been used until the present. It is yet a good church. The Methodists used to hold services in this house, but now they have one of their own. The U'nited Brethren built a church in 1870 which cost about $3.000. The Albrights also built a church some twenty years ago. No country township in the county has a greater opportunity for religious privileges than Sugar Creek. Churches are found numer- ons as people are found moral. They are never built until the need of them is felt. Before a church was built in the township, various religions societies were instituted, and meetings were conducted in the settlers' cabins. It is sand that in carly years, a revival was held at the cabin of John Weimer for six conseen- tive weeks, the most intense religious enthusi- asm prevailing throughout the neighborhood at the time. Similar revivals were held in other residences. Surrounded with such influences. and directed by such teachers. it is no wonder that the children grew up with love in their hearts for God and mankind.

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXVI .*

PIKE TOWNSHIP-TOPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES- BOUNDARIES AND ORGANIZATION-SETTLEMENT BY THE WHITES-HARD TIMES-PIONEER INCIDENTS -SCHOOLS

AND CHURCHES-VILLAGE, ETC, ETC.

" So centuries passed by, and still the woods Blossomed in Spring, and reddened when the year Grew chill, and glistened in the frozen rains Of Winter, till the white man swung the ax Within them-signal of a mighty change." -Bryant.

A SECOND and a third generation are now enjoying the fruits that resulted from the toils and perils of their industrious and frugal ancestors. And what a contrast between cir- cumstances and appearances then and now ! The tangled forest is gone ; the beasts of prey that were wont to prowl through its gloomy depths, have disappeared ; the war-whoop of the savage is no longer heard-his wigwams have wasted away by the rot of time, and his council-fires were long since extinguished by the light of civilization. The white man eame and waved his wand over the landscape, and all was changed, as if by a touch of Aladdin's wonderful lamp. Fertile fields bloomed in the glory of bountiful harvests, smiling gardens sprang up, commodious dwellings arose, school- houses were built, edifices were erected and dedicated to the worship of Almighty God. "There is a divinity that shapes our ends, " etc., Indeed, science and culture have wronght a grand transformation. Had these multitudi- and that is the reason that Hannah continues to smoke, and follow in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother, and Jacob to plow among the hills. The hills of Pike are under- laid with wealth, however, such. as their outer surface have never yielded. In the language nous changes been foreshadowed to the simple pioneer seventy-five years ago, he would have been dumbfounded, and would not have believed, "though one had risen from the grave" to proclaim them to him. And in no part of Stark County has the march of civilization left plainer . of Col. Mulberry Sellers. "there's millions in them." Coal mining is already carried to a considerable extent, and though there is no means of transportation but wagons, yet all that is mined finds a ready market in Canton. With convenient railroad facilities, the wealth of Pike's black diamonds would prove immense.

or broader traces than in the section to which this chapter is devoted. The pioneer, with his rude habits and surroundings, have given place to all the modern inventions and improvements that go to make life pleasant and labor a pas- time ; and where, three-quarters of a century ago, our ancestors found an unbroken forest, we find to-day the most productive and fertile hills.

Pike Township lies in the extreme southern * Contributed by W. H. Perrin.

part of the county, and is bonnded on the north by Canton Township, on the east by Sandy Township, on the south by Tuscarawas County, on the west by Bethlehem Township, and, by the census of 1880, had 1,506 inhabitants. The surface of the township is very uneven, and much of it may even be termed hilly. Says a writer in the Canton Repository: "Pike Township is sometimes called the Switzerland of Stark County, from a fancied resemblance in minia- ture to that rough and mountainous country of which we read in geography. People who live in the more level portions of the country won- der, as they climb the steep hills of Pike, and descend into the low valleys, whatever possessed the carly settlers to select such land, when there was so much that was level to be had at Government price. And what is stranger still, that the present inhabitants should continue to slave themselves and horses plowing up and down and around the hills, among the stumps and stones, when the rich prairies of the West offer such an inducement to migrate ; but

The agricultural resources of the township lie principally in raising corn, wheat and grass, although some attention is paid to stoek-raising. The land is drained by the Nimishillen, Sandy and Limestone Creeks, and their numerous

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PIKE TOWNSHIP.

branches. The Nimishillen passes through the eastern part from north to south; the Limestone rises near the center, and flows south into the Sandy, which merely touches the southwest corner of the township. The timber consists principally of oak. hickory, sugar maple. beech, walnut. elm, etc. The township has no railroad. and but one small village.

The first permanent settlements made in what is known as Pike Township are credited to George Young, James Eakins, John Shutt and Jacob Kemery. Of Eakins, Shutt and Kemery, but little is remembered. Eakins settled on the farm occupied by James Evans, about 1808. Shutt lived to the age of ninety- two. and Kemery eighty-four years. Young was a native of Maryland, and when very young went to Somerset Co .. Penn., where he married at the early age of nineteen years. on the anthor- ity of the Bible. perhaps, that " it is not well for man to be alone." Residing for a few years in Pennsylvania. he emigrated to Ohio and stopped in Jefferson County. He remained here several years, and, having accumulated a sufficiency of worldly wealth to purchase a couple of horses and a few agricultural imple- ments and other actual necessities, he. in 1806, decided to come to Stark County. He leased a piece of land lying in Section 9 of Pike Town- ship, of the owner, who lived in Jefferson County. With provisions to last them on the journey. and their clothing packed on one of the horses, while his wife, who had a young baby, rode the other, he set ont for his new home. With his trusty rifle as a means of de- fense and of procuring food. he trudged on foot, leading the paek horse through the wilderness. and along Indian trails. Reaching his land. he at once proceeded to construct a shelter of poles and brush, to serve as a protection from storms and wild beasts, and as a lodging-place at nights. His nearest neighbors were John Nichols, then building a mill on the Nimishillen. four miles to the northwest, and John Farber. whose land was in Tuscarawas County, adjoin- ing the boundary line of Pike, distant tive miles.

The incidents in the life of this pioneer family would form a volume of interesting reading matter. They worked together for weeks, elearing ground and preparing it for a crop. At night, until the horses became suť- ficiently used to the place not to stray away.

they were tethered, and lived and grew fat on the wild pea vines which grew abundantly, and wild grass. After completing his sowing and planting, Mr. Young returned, with his wife, to Jefferson County, to harvest a wheat crop in which he had an interest. After the wheat was taken care of. he sold his share, thus securing means with which he purchased a cart, and a load of produce, such as corn, salt, whiskey, tobacco. etc. I'pon becoming the owner of all this property, a feeling of pride came over him. equal, perhaps, to a king who acquires a new province. While in Jefferson County. looking after his wheat crop, his wife found a home for herself and child with the settlers, and, by hiring to them to weave. not only supported herself and child, but made some money be- sides. When ready to return to Pike, Mr. Young put his horses to his cart, loaded in his stock of goods, made his way back to his new home, cutting his way through the forest after crossing the Sandy. Ile now built a log cabin of the usual pioneer style, constructed some rude furniture, which served for their wants. Persons were not choice then about their house- hold furnishings, and black walnut furniture and Brussels carpets were luxuries not yet in- vented. A puncheon served for a table, blocks for chairs, and a "sugar trough" for a cradle or a " bread tray," as circumstances required. The first winter spent by the Youngs in Pike was a long, dreary one. and little could be done out-doors, except to cut down trees and prepare firewood. They seldom saw the face of a white man -- indeed. Crusoe on his desert island was not more lonely, or more exiled from human aid or human inter- course. Indians were roaming over the country, and often called for something to eat. They were harmless, but would frequently frighten the women when alone. An incident is toll of Mrs. Farber, who, going out one evening about dusk, with a crock of milk, to put in some cool place to keep for their breakfast next morning, found herself, upon opening the door and step- ping out, face to face with a burly Indian. This so frightened the good woman that she dropped the crock of milk and fled into the cabin, screaming at the top of her voice. The savage enjoyed the joke intensely -much more than she did-walked into the cabin and made him- self quite at home, but harmed no one.

Mr. Young lived on this leased land until

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

1811, when, by the closest economy, he had than five years of age ; neighbors were " few and far between ;" rumors of Indian depreda- tions were thick and exciting, and the thoughts of being left alone under these trying circum- stances were too terrible to contemplate. Mrs. Cable, who seems to have been in this family not only " the power behind the throne, " but the "power that was greater than the throne itself," determined to try what could be done. accumulated enough to enter the northwest quarter of Section 21, and upon which he erected a cabin. Ile improved the place, and opened up a farm upon which he lived until his death, but a few years ago. at the age of nine- ty-seven years. During the war of 1812, he was drafted three times, each time furnishing a substitute. While sokliers were encamped at Canton and Wooster, be furnished them beer : She went to work, and finally succeeded in cattle. Ile kept a store at his residence for many years, from which he furnished the set- tlers such articles as were most needed -- such as salt, iron, nails, glass, leather, etc. Mr. Young was of German extraction, and, like many of the uneducated of that race, was a little disposed to believe in supernatural agen- cies. He believed firmly in witches and witch- craft, and, to the fact of his being " left-handed, " he attributed his power over them, and held firmly to the opinion that they were unable to gain an aseendeney over him. He bought a book from somebody in Canton which he de- elared told how to control witches and other evil spirits. He grew out of these views, how- ever, as civilization broadened and deepened, and he became more enlightened, and lived and died respected and regretted by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

Another of the prominent pioneer families of Pike Township was that of Jonathan Cable, who settled here in 1811. He was from Somer- set Co., Penn., and entered the southeast quar- ter of Section 27. which he commenced to im- prove. With the help of a hired man, he put up a cabin and cleared and plowed five acres of ground, which he sowed in wheat. He had lived in Jefferson Co. the year previous, and had brought provisions enough with him to last while buikdling his cabin, and during in- clement weather he spent the nights in Young's cabin. In the spring of 1812, he moved his family to his new possessions, but had scarcely become settled when a

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History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 93

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