History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 98

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 98

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555

BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP.

II. Allman, IFill & Co., Chapman & Raffensperger, Poe & Co .. Wirt & Burgent. The leading export was wheat. Before the opening of the Ohio Canal it did not bring thirty cents in cash, but now commanded remunerative prices. For some years this sudden impulse in trade went on in a torrent, results quite satisfactory were realized. and handsome fortunes made. Its influence upon the country was seen and felt in the enhanced value of real estate, the taste of buiklings and all kinds of improvements. This season of prosperity was followed by the strin- geney and reverses of 1837 to 1840. Fortunes that had been gathered in the years of prosper- ity. were more quickly swept away. The fail- ures in mercantile circles were as common then as at the present. Trade, like the ocean. seems to be subject to ebbs and flows. Much of the money made in wheat raising remained in the hands of the purchaser. All the original firnis largely engaged in the produce trade failed. but the farmers did not. They jogged on, slowly and surely, some wiser than before. Every generation learns this truth-that dealing in large sums begets recklessness and extrava- gance. Quickly made is quickly spent. A post office was established at Bethlehem, February 8, 1828. Thomas Hurford being the first Post- master. On the 14th of August, 1843, the name of the office was changed to Navarre, and George W. Sweringen became Postmaster. Soon after Navarre was laid out, James Duncan built a mill. and connected with it a store. The Ohio Canal supplied the water-power pro- cured from the State. The mill did a prosper- ous business, and was a great advantage to the place and the surrounding country. It is now owned by James Corl, and is doing a good cus- tom business. Soon after Rochester was laid out, James Sproul built the steam-mill. After changing hands several times, it is now owned and successfully operated by the Coup brothers. The prospective importance of Navarre, as a business point. soon began to decline. The superior advantages and enterprise of Massillon drew capitalists to that point. The Fort Wayne & Pittsburgh Railroad, the iron works, machine shops and car works located at that point and successfully carried on, have largely directed trade from Navarre. The latter is still a place of considerable business. Projected railroad facilities, shoukl they be realized, may add to its present value."

The village of Bethlehem was laid out while Stark was yet a part of Columbiana County. The original village plat may be seen at the county seat of that county. Calcutta was laid out as stated above. in 1819. though the plat thereof does not appear on the records at C'an- ton. One of two things must be true : either the record of the plat has been lost or destroyed. or the plat was not properly recorded. When the Ohio Canal was built through the township and opened, Bethlehem was re-enforced by popu- lation and prosperity. By 1830. there were some twenty dwellings. H. & D. Allman opened a store there in about the year 1828, and had a stock of goods worth probably $4.000. In October, 1833. Nathan MeGrew laid out thirty- six lots on fractional Section 5, about three hundred yards west of Bethlehem, along the bank of the river, and named the village thus begun Rochester. Ile immediately offered the lots for sale, but Bethlehem proved a formid- able rival, and he did not succeed very well. In March. 1834, James Duncan laid out nine- teen lots on the bank of the canal between Rochester and Bethlehem, and named this vil- lage Navarre. The reason for the projection of new villages so near together and so near Beth- Ichem is not very clear. The latter village was so situated that quite a steep bluff was between it and the canal. This rendered the shipment of all kinds of productions a troublesome mat- ter, as buildings could not be located on the bank, and, even if they could, teams could not approach to unload grain. And besides this, there was considerable fun thrown at the vil- lage on account of its inactivity in the manage- ment of the grain trade. People seemed afraid to locate there, and men with capital moved on to localities which pleased them better. This state of things continued until a few years after the opening of the canal, or until the other villages were laid out. Mr. MeGrew laid out Rochester on the bank of the eanal. but there the approaches were unfavorable to the rapid handling of grain. These facts Jed Mr. Duncan to lay out Navarre. The Massillon Rolling Mill Company was in existence at that time, and had considerable capital at its command. This was partly invested in land. Mr. Duncan was a member of the company. and was author- ized to purchase the land upon which the vil- lage of Navarre now stands. This he did. He also laid out the vitlage with the intention of building

556

HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

his up at the expense of the other two. llis plan, owing to the imperfect location of the other villages as regards the canal, and the jealousy that had sprung up between them, was in a measure successful. The Allman Brothers, who were then keeping store in Bethlehem and doing a general warehouse business, were in- duced to transfer their interests to the new village of Rochester. This movement met with opposition from the Bethlehemites who at first endeavored to persuade them to remain, but finding this course unavailing they made efforts to kill out Rochester. Duncan built a store building in Navarre. and J. & W. Chapman. who were selling goods in Bethlehem, moved to the former place. The withdrawal of the Chap- mans and the Allmans from Bethlehem was a serious blow to the expectations of that village. MeGrew who had been in business there had left and laid out Rochester. These men saw that, in view of the growing trade at that point, a better location was not only desirable but, if extensive business on the canal was to be done, it was necessary. This, among other things, led them to break away from Bethlehem. After they left, George Pfoutz opened a store where they had been, and bought grain at the old ware- house they had occupied and deserted. This was about the year 1835. Duncan built at Navarre a grist-mill and a saw-mill, besides other buildings, including several dwellings. In short, he did his best to build up the village he had founded. The saw-mill was soon afterward burned down, but was immediately rebuilt. After a few years, it was again burned down, and was then permitted to remain down. Stump & Fisher opened a store at Bethlehem in about the year 1838. The Allman Brothers, when they went to Rochester, built a storehouse and also a large warehouse. From this time forward there was constant rivalry between the three villages. In each there were merchants who were buying large quantities of grain and pro- duce. and as a necessary consequence each was envious of the prosperity of the others. Close margins were made in consequence, the mer- chants endeavoring to undersell each other in store goods and over pay each other in the trade in grain. The results are easily guessed. Their business soon languished under this pressure, and when the financial troubles of 1837 came on, the merchants failed and made an assignment of their property. From this

time onward almost every man who en- gaged in buying grain at the villages failed in business. As soon as a man opened a store in either of the villages he must dabble in the speculation in wheat. These men did not profit hy the experience of those who had failed before them. They, forsooth, were shrewd enough to foresee the future condition of the markets. And another thing : they would not permit the other buyers to do a more extensive business than themselves ; that would not do. The facts are curious, yet this was about the condition of affairs for a number of years. Failure after failure succeeded each other, and still a fresh supply of daring capital- ists crowded their way to the front. Among the men who have been in business in the vil- lages are the following : Isaac Hawk, Charles Poe (a descendant of the renowned borderer of that name), Enos Raffensperger, who with Chapman, in 1845, laid out a large addition to Rochester, Hill & Waldron, Martin & Harris, Brobts & Rudey, R. & J. Sprankle, Davidson & Company, Mr. Wertenbergert, D. Mentzer, Bash, Minor & Company, Goodman, Chapman & Company, J. & M. Bash, Goshorn & Rose, Goshorn & Eckrode. Dennius & Draoenstrod, Zerby & Gorgas, H. V. Beeson & Company, HIall & Company, Lontzenheiser & Company, Hetzler & Company, Thompson & Baxter, J. & J. W. Raffensberger, G. H. Cross, and others. Among the present business enterprises are, G. H. Cross, John Weidman, Daniel Metzer, Alexander Garver, G. W. Henline, Grossklaus & Ricksecker, Guau & Moog, A. Schmidt, .I. Loud, Mrs. Donovan. milliner, and others.

In about the year 1850, there was formed what was called the " Farmers'and Mechanics' Association." This company of perhaps fifty men was not incorporated, but it had a paid- up capital of nearly $20,000. which was divided into shares of $25 each. The business was con- trolled by a board of directors. A large ware- house and a large dry goods store were built, and the company began buying grain and deal- ing in goods. It owned one or more canal- boats and a large hardware store. As high as 3,000 bushels of grain were bought in one day, and, during the years of the company's greatest activity, nearly 100,000 bushels of wheat and other grains were purchased and shipped to Cleveland on the canal. The company had un- bounded credit, and soon went beyond its means.

357

BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP.

Within about six years after its promising start. the company found that almost its entire capital was swallowed up in book accounts and stock in store. From the fact that the company was conducting a similar business in other villages. and had come to about the same strait in those places, it was found impossible to continne. An assignment of the property was made, and the individual members were required to make up what the assets lacked of meeting the lia- bilities.

Inabout the year 1814. W. Wann erceteda snit- able building, and began manufacturing plows. stoves, steam engines, hollow-ware, etc. Ho em- ployed a few assistants, and. after continuing a few years, admitted a partner named Widgeon. These men then extended the scope of the eu- terprise somewhat. and after the lapse of a few years, sold to C. & J. Snyder. Finally. Yant, App & Company purchased the foundry. and. in addition to what had been manufactured before, began making wheat drills. After this. under other owners, the business was changed to that of wagon and carriage making. At present, under R. Hug. the building is a plan- ing-mill, where doors, windows, blinds, etc .. are manufactured.

The first public house of entertainment was kept by John Shalter, ou the southwest corner of Third and Market streets. The first one in Navarre was opened by J. Yant. oppo- site Mr. Sisterhen's shoestore, and was known as " Yant's Hotel" The building is yet standing. He was succeeded by a Mr. Horton. The " Reed House" known first as the " Navarre House." was built by Richard Goe. The pres- ent landlord is B. F. Reed. whose good looks are proverbial. and whose knowledge of horse-flesh is almost infinite. Men named Wingert and Sprankle kept tavern in Bethle- hem at an early day. Since the earliest times. as might have been expected. rivalry and jealousy have marked all commercial relations between the villages. Nothing serious has transpired. the rivalry usually confining itself to bitter thoughts.

On the 29th of August. 187l. a petition. signed by over tifty qualified voters, residing in the combined villages, was presented to the Commissioners of Stark County. praying for the incorporation of Bethlehem. Navarre and Roch- ester, under the name of Navarre. The subject was laid upon the table until the September

session, when all things. pro and con, having been duly considered. it was ordered that the prayer of the petitioners be granted. The boundaries were fixed. but were afterward amended. In April. 1872. the first municipal election of the incorporated village of Navarre was held. As soon as the officers were quali- fied, the necessary ordinances were drafted and adopted. and a small tax levied for municipal purposes. A small. strong. wooden jail was built at a cost of about $150. The following is a list of the city officers up to the present time, with the dates of the commencement of their terms of office :

Mayor-1822. Jacob E. Mentzer: 1876, Mathias Sisterhen.

Clerk-1872, Alfred J. Rider: 1876. Charles Died- ler.

Treasurer- 1872, Henry R. Bennet: 1876. Alex ander Garver.

Marshal-1872, JJames Linn: 1876, Seraphim Shively: 1878, Edward R Sterl.

Street Commissioner-1872, John N. Koplinger: 1874. Michael Ungeshick: 1875, JJacob Wolf: 1875, Seraphim Shively: 1876. John J. Biddle: 1878, John Linn.

Councilmen-1872, Samuel Miller, two years; Mathias Sisterhen, two years; Peter Theobald. two years; John Baltzer, one year: Gotlich Winter, one year: William O. Siffert, one year, 1873. Peter B. Welsh, George W. Swarengen, Enos Raffensberger, Edward J. Hug: 1874, A. S Duley. John Leow: 1825. David Ricksocker: 1876, J. M. Corl. I. C. Krit zinger. J. E. Loud: 1877. A. W. Goshorn: 1878. T. F. Lerch. A. Henderson; 1879, 1. W. Roam: 1880. William Donnovan: 1981. Korn Ackerman.

The first school in the township was taught at Bethlehem by Jacob Grounds. When this oc- curred is not known. The village was laid out as early as 1806 : but the school was not probably taught until eight or ten years later. when a log schoolhouse was erected. This house. or log buikling which succeeded it, was yet standing in 1835 Soon after this date the old school- house was abandoned, and a large, two-story structure erected in its place. Navarre and Bethlemen could not agree on school privileges. and the former and Rochester united means and erected a small brick schoolhouse, to which a large addition was made some time afterward. This building is yet standing, and is used as a dwelling. In 1871, the three vil- lages, or rather the one village of Navarre, cou- tracted with M. V. Leeper and A. W. Goshorn for the ercetion of a large, briek union school' buikling. It was completed during the summer of 1872, and cost, including the furniture. etc ..

558

IHISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

about $11,000. It is two stories in height, and contains four rooms. R. S. Page was the first principal in this building, and received $70 per month for his services. His assistants were Misses M. E. Adams and R. E. Poe, the one receiving $35. and the other $25 per month. The present enumeration of scholars in this union district is about 325, with an average at- tendance of some 70 per cent. The school year begins in September and ends the following May. The early country schools were slow in start- ing. In 1820. there were but two or three schoolhouses in the township outside of Beth- lehem. By 1830, there were five or six and in 1840, nearly as many as there are at present. Log schoolhouses were usually first built, and afterward, as time passed and settlers be -! came numerous, better ones took their place. The following is the condition of the township's school funds :

Balance on hand September 1. 1879 $1,828 55

State tax. ... 630 00

Irredeemable fund. . 119 42

Local tax. for school and schoolhouse pur-

poses 5.07% 93

Fines, etc. 33 44

Total $7.720 34

EXPENDITURES.

Amount paid teachers $1,737 00

Nites and buildings. 525 (

Amount of interest on redemption bonds 1,515 65

Fuel and other contingent expense 434 58

Total $4.242 23

Balance on hand September 1, 1880 $3.478 11

Value of school property. $9,000 00

Average paid male teachers, per month ..

$33 00 .

Average paid female teachers, per month 20 00

Number of male pupils enrolled. 248

Number of female pupils enrolled. 924

Total t79

Average daily attendance, males 171

Average daily attendance, females 156

Total 327

Number of school districts 8

Number of schoolhouses. 8

Population of Township, 1880 2,303

The following is taken from the sketches of Mr. Yant :

" The first house of worship in the township was the German Lutheran log church in the northeast part of the village. This was built about 1810. Jacob Grounds was employed to erect the building, which he did in a creditable

manner. The next was the Salem Church. known as the Sherman Church, built and occu- pied jointly by the Lutheran and German Re- formed denominations. Rev. Anthony Weyer, of Canton, was the Lutheran Pastor of both these churches. Rev. Benjamin Foust was the Pastor of the German Reformed society. Salem Church was built in 1818. Rev. Weyer served the congregation for many years. Late- ly the house, a large two-story log building, was sold and torn down. The Lutherans built a neat frame church in 1871. Previous to the building of Salem Church, Mr. Weyer held re- ligious services at the house of John Sherman, who donated the ground for the church and burying ground.

" The Catholics have a good church building and school. Their first church was a log build- ing that had been intended for a wag n shop. It was taken and altered, provided with neces- sary furniture, and occupied by the congrega- tion. After a time they built a brick church, which, not many years ago, was enlarged and is their present church. The Catholics have the strongest church society in the township. They have also a separate school building. This is a frame building, and was constructed in 1872, at a cost of $1,800. Between 70 and 80 scholars are in attendance. though but one teacher is employed. who usually is a female, and receives about $30 per month for her serv- ices. The German Lutheran, the English Re- formed and Lutheran. the Methodist Episcopal and the United Brethren in Christ, have each good houses of worship, flourishing Sabbath schools and fair congregations.

" The first Methodist society was organized by Revs. Walter Athey and Curtiss Goddard. at the house of Ebenezer Allman in 1815. Mr. Allman was leader of the class. The members of the society were Ebenezer Allman, Agnes Allman, Abraham and Mary Phillips, Mrs. Elizabeth Sheplar, wife of Mathias Shep- lar. Elizabeth Sheplar, Abraham Sheplar. Sam- uel and Sophia Miller, Capt. John and Ellen Brown, John Alexander and Ilenry Coder. Regular preaching was continued at the house of Mr. Allman until 1835. when the church was built in Bethlehem. Jolm Brown was not satisfied as a member of the Methodist Church, and in after years he connected himself with the Catholics, and died in that faith. He is buried in the Catholic burying ground at Navarre.

559

LAKE TOWNSHIP

CHAPTER XXIX .*

LAKE TOWNSHIP-SURFACE FEATURES AND CLIMATIC CONDITION -FIRST SETTLERS AND EARLY ORGANIZATION-INDUSTRIAL AND SOCIAL GROWTH VARIOUS MANUFACTURING

ESTABLISHMENTS -VILLAGES. CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.

" Ye say they all have passed away. That noble race and brave:

That their light canoes have vanished From off the crested wave:

That 'mid the forest where they roamed There rings no hunter's shout:

But their name is on your water -.

Ye may not wash it out."

M -Mrx. Sigourney.

ANY of the more valuable portions of the history of Lake Township have been carelessly permitted to pass into forget- fulness. and the truth of the old saying. " What is everybody's business is nobody's business " has thus been verified. This is to be deplored. as not only are the early inci- dents interesting and even fascinating. but they often furnish important information, without which endless disputes would arise and extreme bitterness be engendered among qnondam friends. The preservation of old records is often of great publie moment: yet. notwithstanding this fact, it is unfortunately too often the case that men, in whose keeping such records are contided. become negligent, whereby valuable material is lost or destroyed. thus entailing upon their successors and snc feeding generations an infinite amount of trouble and annoyance. It is as if some person should contract some troublesome and disgust- ing disease, and afterward transmit it in its most malignant type to his descendants through several successivo generations. Such proced- ure has a lasting effect, and guileless parties are made to suffer the consequences, that should have fallen like the curse of JJove upon the offender. While township records are not usually of general public vale, they occasionally are so, and should be preserved with that prospect in view.

As will be learned more fully elsewhere in this volume, Stark County, before its organ

ization as such. was for a time attached to Columbiana County, and in about the year 1506 was divided into two townships, Canton and Lake, which included all the presout county and more. The boundary between the two townships was the line running east and west between Canton and Plain Townships. How they came to be called Lake and Canton is a mystery more profound than that of Eleusis. Dr. Sluisser thinks that Lake, which included all the northern half of the county, was thus named because it was nearer Lake Erie, or because a portion of it was drained by streams which flowed to that lake. It is the opinion of the writer, however. after much inquiry, that the township derived its name from Congress Lake. The presence of that lake was undoubtedly known, as it must have been discovered by hunters, and by those who were looking at lands with a view of set- tling. The hunters in Columbiana County can be imagined as saying. " I'm going up in the lake country to hunt bears." so that the region became designated as " the lake coun try." At all events. that portion of the county was known as Lake Township while it re- mained attached to Columbiana. When Stark was organized. the present Lake Township was a part of Plain, and remained thus until the Sth of April. ISIL when all the northwestern portion of Plain, including the present Lake, was organized as Green Township. No other changes were made with Lake Township, as it now stands, until the following proceedings relative thereto were enacted in lume. IS16, by the County Commissioners: "Ordered, That the 12th Township. in the Sth Range, be, and it is herby, erected into a separate township by the name of Lake. Ordered also, That the qualified electors of said town- ship meet at the house of Joseph Moore in

* Contributed by W A. Goodsjwed.

560

HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

said township, on the 4th of June, IS16, for the election of township officers. Ordered further. That advertisements for said election in Lake Township be put up at the house of Peter Dickerhoof in the town of Union, and at the house of Joseph Moore. (Signed) James Latimer, John Kryder, and James Drennen. County Commissioners."

The name of the first settler in this town- ship is not known with certainty. Among the earliest, however, were Joseph Moore. Henry Schwartz. the Markleys. Jacob Brown. Mr. Camp. John Fryberger. George Machaner. John Morehart, Martin Bachtel. Peter Ream. Mr. Wise. Mr. Meyer. Mr. Pontius and sev- eral others. It seems. upon examining the county records, that while the first election of officers was ordered to be held at the house of Joseph Moore. on the 4th of June. IS16. the meeting was not thus held. which fact called out this further act from the commis- sioners: Ordered. that an election be held June 29, 1816, at the house of Joseph Moore to fill the necessary township offices. The names of the first officers cannot be recovered. The township soon became quite well popu lated. and the material condition of the set- tlers became more satisfactory. Land was rapidly taken up, and soon Government land became a thing of the past. The following were land-holders in the township in 1820: Christopher Auble, Jacob Bachtel, John Bush- ong, Jacob Baner, John A. Bauer. Jacob Brown, Conrad Broombaugh. John Creigh- baum, George Creighbaum. John Clay. Chris tian Christ, Jacob Critshal, Peter Dickerhoof. George Everhard. Peter Eby. George Frank. Jacob Fouse. John Fonse. George Nodle, Simon Harsh. William Holsinger, Anthony Housel. William Irwin. Jesse Johnson. John Ruder. George Myers. Joseph Moore, Jacob Mayer, Christian Balmer. Peter Pontius. Dan- iel Markley. George Markley. John Markley. John Morehart. John Muny. George Null. Benjamin Pontius. Solomon Pontius, Nicholas Pontius, John Raber. Thomas Raber. Abraham Reem, Peter Reem. Conrad Raber. Philip Roser, Jacob Ruff. John Shorb, William Stripe. Jacob Sell, Jacob Sholt. John Wise. John Weller, George Westerberger, Michael Sny- der. Henry Swartz. Jonas Smith, George Stut.

George Snyder, Jacob Schaffer. William Stad- don. George Stidger. Daniel Smith. John Thompson. Jacob Warstler, William Wise, Henry Wise. and John Wise. This list is taken from the tax duplicate of that year, at the county seat.

The township was an inviting locality for the settlers. The soil had every appearance of being very rich, and gave in its silent way ample promises to the prospective husband- man. An unusual member of small swamps abounded, but it was seen that the most of these could be drained in after years withont any very great cost. An abundance of lime- stone was to be found by removing a few feet of earth. and coal. also. was soon found to be abundant in the western part. The township is situated on the "Ohio Water Shed." as the waters of the southern part reach Nimishil- len Creek, a member of the Ohio River basin. while the waters of the northern part flow into the Little Cuyahoga, a member of the Lake Erie basin. In the northeastern part is a fine sheet of water called Congress Lake. How it came to receive this name is not stated. It is likely that for many years the lake remained the property of Congress, and finally became so designated. It is about a mile and a half long by half a mile wide, and is perhaps fifty or sixty feet deep. It is well supplied with fish. Since the Connotton Val- ley Railroad has been projected through the township, it is the design to make a pleasure resort of the lake. Suitable buildings are to be erected on the lake shore. for the comfort and accommodation of pleasure-seekers. This will add to the attractions of the township as a locality in which to live.

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History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 98

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