The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Part 56

Author: Warner, Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1017

USA > Ohio > Tuscarawas County > The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio > Part 56

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In pursuance of the act passed February 21, 1849, to provide "for the better regulations of the public schools in cities, towns. etc.," a public notice, signed by Christian Deardorff, John Hildt, Sr .. Wright Warner, Harmon V. Beeson, Thomas J. Frazier, John Hildt, Jr., Felix D. MeMeal and L. F. Kampman was given April 9, 1849, requesting the electors of School District No. 1, of Dover Township, to assemble on the 20th of April, instant, to vote for or against the adoption of the public school system. The election re- sulted in a unanimous vote in favor of the adoption of provisions of the act. May 5, following, a board of six Directors was elected, as follows: Benjamin Miller and Cristopher Hormel for one year; Dr. William Winnull and G. F. A. Wassman for two years; N. Hayden and John Hildt, Jr., for three years. At the first meeting of the board, Dr. Winnull was made President, and occu- pied that position continuously till 1858. He resigned in 1859, and died February 9, 1860. The following text books were adopted: Mandeville's Readers, Green's Grammar, Parker's Philosophy, Davies' Arithmetics, Olney's Geographies, Mrs. Willard's History, Webster's Spelling Book, Winchester's Copy Book and Colburn's Mental Arithmetic. Dr. Joseph Slingluff, Dr. F. D. McMeal and Rev. Kampman constituted the first board of examiners.

April 8, 1850, a resolution was passed authorizing the levy of a tax of $500 for the purpose of building a new schoolhouse. In 1866, steps were taken to enlarge the old or build a new schoolhouse. The latter proposition prevailed and a commodious building was erected on the old Crater home- stead, at the head of Second street, and was first occupied in 1868. In 1878 a large residence, built by Nathaniel Hayden and surrounded by a beautiful grove, was purchased for $6,000, and the high school and two primary depart- ments located there.

In the fall of 1849, Julius Lee, Rev. Kampman, Miss Lucy Horn and Mrs. Sarah Otis were elected the teachers for the ensuing year. In 1850, Rev. Francis Holland became principal, but remained only one year., He was suc- ceeded by Mr. Quantrill, who remained in charge as Superintendent until 1854, in which year he died. Thomas McCartney was elected Superintendent in 1854, and served two years. James E. Cummings was his successor, and continued in charge four years. In 1860, O. B. Walling was elected, remain- ing two years. J. L. McIlvaine, present editor of the Tuscarawas Advocate, was chosen Superintendent in 1862, and had charge of the schools for two years. Sheridan Cox followed him, remaining one year. In 1865, William Hill became Superintendent, and filled the office until 1869, when E. D. Whitlock was appointed, remaining one year. L. B. Eberley assumed man- agement in 1870, and in 1872 James L. Wright, who remained until 1879. His successors have been Hamilton Wallace, I. M. Clemens and T. N. John- son, now serving his second year.

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CHURCHES.

The earliest preaching and quarterly meetings of the Dover Methodist so- ciety were held at the house of William Butt in winter, and at his barn in summer, for eight or nine years. The appointment was then changed to Jacob Welty's farm, where it was continued until the citizens built a schoolhouse in Dover. Different denominations worshiped here. The first Methodist sermon in this building was preached by Rev. Billings O'Plympton. In 1832, the in- itiatory steps were taken to erect a Methodist Church edifice. John Hildt, Jr., John Wiprott, Richard Burrell, Reuben Gardner, Thomas Spach, Michael Swagler and Edward Wolf were elected Trustees and the work was commenced. The building was dedicated January 19, 1834, by Rev. Wesley Browning. The Dover Circuit was struck off from the Canton Circuit in 1532. Wesley Browning was Presiding Elder that year, and Revs. John Johnson and G. D. Kinnear ministers in charge; Elijah Hawk and Francis Hildt were local preachers; John Emerson, Edward Wolf and John Kenestrick, Class Leaders; and John Hildt, Jr., Rezin Pritchard, Michael Swagler, S. C. Wright and John Kenestrick, Stewards. From 1833 to 1850, the ministers at Dover were Revs. William Knox, Daniel M. Stearns, John McLean, Thomas Thompson, William Deviney, Henry Wharton, Henry Whiteman, Thomas Barkdull, James Kellam, D. Gray and H. E. Pilcher. Rev. S. R. Squier is the present pastor, taking charge in 1881 and succeeding Rev. L. W. Phillips. The church building is a commodious brick structure, adjoining which a new parsonage was erected in 1882. The present membership is about one hundred and fifty.

The Evangelical English Lutheran Church of Dover was organized a few years prior to 1835-the exact date not being known-by Rev. J. B. Reck. He remained some time, and succeeded in building up a large congregation. Early services were held in the old Presbyterian Church, which stood near the corner of Walnut and Third streets, and in 1838 this congregation and the German Lutheran, or Evangelical, society erected a house of worship jointly on Lot 212, corner of Market and Fourth streets, each congregation holding sep- arate service. Rev. Reck was at this time pastor of the English Church. About 1851, during the pastorate of Rev. G. F. Stelling, the English Luther- an congregation sold its interest in the property to their German copartners, and purchased from the United Brethren Society the old Baptist Church lo- cated on Lots 115 and 116, corner of Third and Market streets, where they still worship. The present parsonage, which adjoins the house of worship, was erected in 1880. The following list of ministers is believed to be nearly complete, though there may be several omissions: Revs. J. B. Reck, Solomon Ritz, J. B. Miller, Dr. Hamilton, A. H. Aughe. Rev. Bickel, Rev. Liter, Dr. Stelling, J. H. Watkins, George Scholl, Thomas Hill, J. W. Breitenbangh and H. H. Hall. The last-named is the pastor at this writing, having assumed charge in January, 1877. The present membership is about one hundred and twenty- five. There have been several periods of vacancy in the ministerial supply of this charge. Formerly the charge was very strong, but emigrations weakened it, and for a time it was associated with the New Philadelphia Church. Its condition is now prosperous.

The Moravian Church at Dover was organized in 1843, with about sixteen members, mainly through the efforts of Judge Jacob Blickensderfer. Besides him other leading original members were Israel Ricksecker. William Rickert, Christian Lichty, John Kreiter, and Christian Ellenberger. The church building and parsonage combined was erected in 1843-44, the ded- ication of the church occurring in May, 1844. It is located on Lot 184, Wal- nut street. The first minister was Lewis F. Kampman, who held services in

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the old schoolhouse until the completion of the church. His successors have been Edmund De Schweinitz, now a bishop at Bethlehem, Penn., F. R. Hol- land, Peter Wolle, H. G. Clauder, A. L. Oerter, S. M. Smith, C. B. Shultz, C. C. Lanius, W. Jordan and E. A. Oerter, who came in 1881. The communi- cant members now number more than seventy.

A Presbyterian congregation was organized by Rev. Morrow of New Phil- adelphia, and a building erected in 1835 or 1836. Among early prominent members were Oliver Rosenbury, Wright Warner, Abram Blickensderfer, the Stephensons, Brainerds and Spooners. The society flourished for a time, but by removals and deaths its membership was depleted, without compensating accessions, and the organization at last became extinct.

A Baptist minister, Rev. Miles, began a series of revival meetings in the old schoolhouse in 1840, which resulted in the organization of a society of this denomination and the erection of a church in 1843. Rev. Warren was the first minister. Benjamin Miller, William Graham, George Crites, Will- iam Karns and others were original members. The congregation finally perished from an insufficient membership.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church was organized by Rev. Luhrs, at Dover, Ohio, in 1849, with a membership of twenty-five or thirty families. The same year the spacious church edifice, located on Lot 368, at the north end of Factory street, was erected. The building, including the altar and church furniture, is now valued at $25,000. The principal members at the organization were Bal- thaser Niedenthal, Valentine Montag, Adam Seikel, Conrad Franz, John Bam- beck, Joseph Kranz, Sr., Dr. McMeal, and Louis Breitenstein. St. Joseph's was the second Catholic Church organized in the county. St. Peter's, near Strasburg, was formed in 1840 as a mission from Canton, but after the organ- ization of St. Joseph's, became an affiliation of it. Rev. Luhrs was succeeded in 1849 by Rev. Muckerheide, who was the first resident priest at Dover. In 1851, Rev. Wienands became rector and his successors from 1855 to 1865 were Revs. Constantine Hergenroether, Fehling, Gerst, Andres, Berger, Heimo and Getz, respectively. Rev. B. Wisman attained to the pastorate in 1865, and under his direction, about two years later. St. Joseph's School, a frame building, was erected on the lot adjoining the church on the northwest. It contains two rooms and now has eighty pupils. The present teacher and organist, John J. Jurgens, has had charge of the school since the year of its erection. Rev. B. Wisman labored in the congregation twelve years, and was succeeded in 1877 by the present rector, Rev. H. B. Dues. Under his care, besides St. Joseph's Church, are St. Peter's of the " Hessian Hills," St. Stephen's, of Bolivar, St. Patrick's, of Mineral City, and several in adjoining counties. In the whole circuit there are more than two hundred families and over a thousand souls. Among the leading members at present in St. Joseph's congregation are Balthaser Niedenthal, Peter Gross, S. A. Hess, Joseph Beiter, Peter Karl, A. C. Kramer, Henry Weckman, Joseph Kranz, Joseph Streb, Nicholas Montag, John G. Neuman and others-the total number of families exceeding one hundred and fifty. The rector's parsonage, a substantial brick building adjoining the church, was erected by Father Wienands. Rev. P. J. Weisenberger, in January, 1883, became assistant rector at St. Joseph's, and was succeeded by Rev. Walter Ross in November, 1883.

A United Brethren Church was organized in the spring of 1883, with a membership of thirty-one, by Rev. George F. Deal, of New Philadelphia, and Rev. B. F. Booth, of Sugar Creek Circuit. They still supply the congregation, which has increased in membership. Services are held in the town hall. Many years ago a flourishing society of this denomination owned the church which the Lutherans now occupy, and for a long time prospered. Becoming

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somewhat involved, however, their church, by an unfortunate procedure, was sold and the society soon after disbanded.

The date of the organization of the German Lutheran, or Evangelical, Church is unknown, but it was prior to 1838. Rev. Colerado was the organ. izer. The early families included the Shaffers, Weavers, Lindts, Deises, Reikers, Mohrs, Huegles, Notters, Bippus and many others. In 1838, they built a church editice conjointly with the English Lutherans at the northwest end of Market street, and afterward acquired the sole ownership. In 1880. the church was rebuilt. The present edifice is a spacious, handsome brick building, erected at a cost of $14,000. The present membership is composed of more than 150 families. Rev. Henry Eppens, the present pastor, has had charge since 1870. He succeeded his father, Rev. H. A. Eppens, who labored here for about four years, and was then obliged to resign on account of ill health.

The German Methodist society is of comparatively recent date. It met and worshiped in the town hall until 1880, when a neat little frame church was built on Third street. The congregation comprises about thirty souls. Rev. William Andree is the pastor now in charge. His circuit embraces this congregation; a church at Chili, Coshocton County, and one at Berlin, Holmes County.

ORDERS.

Tuscarawas Lodge, No. 59, F. & A. M., was chartered October 24, 1845, with the following membership: Wright Warner, Mathias Collier, T. M. Sim- mons, Walter M. Blake, Isaac Hartman, Sebastian Brainerd, James B. Parrish and John Wilkinson. The first officers were Wright Warner, W. M .; G. F. Holsten, S. W .; J. M. Simmerel, J. W. The present officers are James A. Slingluff, M .; C. H. Slingluff, S. W .; C. F. Rhodes, J. W. The lodge meets the first and third Saturdays of each month in their hall in the Ricksecker Block, corner of Factory and Second streets. The present membership is forty-three.

Goshen Lodge, No. 82, I. O. O. F., was instituted March 18, 1847. Its present officers are John R. Rees, N. G .; Emanuel Forney, V. G .; John Han- son, Treas .; L. W. Miller, Per. Sec .; John A. Hostetler. Rec. Sec. The hall is on the third floor of the Deis Block, corner of Factory and Third streets. where the lodge meets every Monday evening. The membership is about seventy.

Dover Lodge, No. 168, K. of P., was instituted at Dover August 10, 1883. with thirty-two charter members. Its first and present officers are Jacob A. Horn, P. C .; J. H. Mitchell, C. C .; Charles F. Baker, V. C .; George H. Urp- man, K. of R. & S .; Samuel M. McClean, Prelate; Philip H. Miller, M. of Ex .; Frederick Bernhard, M. of F .; James A. Rosenbury, M. at A.

The German Workingmen's Beneficial Association, a local organization, was started in 1869. A year's residence at Dover and a knowledge of the Ger- man language are requisites for admission. The object of the society is bene- ficiary. From the funds, a member is paid during sickness $3 per week. In case of death, his family receives $1 for each membership, and the decease of a wife entitles a member to one-half that amount. Christian Titus was the first President; William Vorheer acts in that capacity at present. The an ciation has a membership of one hundred and eighteen, and meets in the R sosecker Block.

PHYSICIANS.

Dr. Ranney was the first resident physician of Dover. He located in the vil - lage about 1818, and had practiced for only a few years when death overtook him, and left the as yet almost unpeopled town without a doctor. Dr. Charles

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Jacob Mouky

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Fraley was the next physician. He hailed from Baltimore, Md., and began practice about 1824, which continued not longer than two years, for he was then elected County Clerk, and removed to New Philadelphia. At the expi- ration of his term, he removed to Steubenville, there read law, afterward held the position of Surgeon in the United States Army, and after a life of vicissi- tudas, ended his earthly career in the city of Washington. Dr. Joseph Sling- luff, from Carroll County, Md., in 1828, began at Dover, Ohio, a medical practice, which continued until his death a few years ago. About 1829, Dr. Felix D. McMeal opened an office, and very soon after Dr. Hoyt from the State of New York was ministering to the sick in this locality. In 1831, however, the latter fell a victim to that dread scourge, cholera, which swept away so many people of Dover and vicinity. The names and numbers of practitioners changed frequently in subsequent years. At present there are six physicians in the village, five of whom are members of the allopathic school, and one a homeopathist.

PRESS.

The pioneer newspaper of Dover was called the Commercial Adver- tiser. It was started by F. G. W. Kapp, of Hagerstown, Md., in 1835, and survived for two or three years. The next venture was made by Moorehead & Litchenberger, soon after which the Buckeye was launched into existence by Solomon Sala, and after a brief career expired. In 1839, the Ohio Demo- crat was started by Mitchener & Hill. It suspended in the following year, but in 1841 was revived and removed to New Philadelphia, where it still flour- ishes. The publication of the Dover Citizen was commenced in 1852, by Bo- denhammer, Sage & Hall, but lasted only two or three years. The same year the Deutsche in Ohio was inaugurated with Hugh McClintick, publisher, and J. J. Robinson, editor. It also lived only for a few years. The next attempt at Dover in a newspaper way, was made by Porter Wilson in the publication of the Iron Valley Times. It enjoyed a comparatively brief existence, and came to the untimely end that awaits most newspaper enterprises. In 1878, Wallace H. Phelps removed the Alliance Leader to Dover, and commenced the publication of a Greenback paper, styled the National Leader. The proper support was lacking, and the village was soon without the Leader.

The first number of the Iron Valley Reporter was issued May 10, 1872, by R. E. Watson and R. E. Hull. After a year or two Mr. Hull returned to Youngstown, his former place of residence, and Mr. Watson assumed entire control of the paper, continuing until 1879, when W. W. Scott was associated with him. Since the death of Mr. Watson, Mr. Scott has had sole possession of the paper. It is a bright, newsy sheet, remarkably successful, independent in politics, and blessed with a lengthy subscription roll.

INDUSTRIES.

The Pennsylvania Iron & Coal Company of Dover, Ohio, was incorporated November 19, 1881, with a capital stock of $200,000, and immediately took possession of the Dover blast furnace. J. P. Burton, of Massillon, is President; George H. Hopkins, of Dover, Secretary; S. W. Croxton, Treasurer and General Manager. The furnace was built in 1854 or 1855 by the people of Dover. A stock of $75,000 was subscribed. Edmund Burnett was elected President and H. T. Stockwell, Secretary. The furnace was completed and put in operation as speedily as possible, but, though it proved of value to the town, to the subscribers it was an unsuccessful venture. Several years later, it was sold to the Green Brothers, Eastern capitalists, and remained under their management until 1864, when the owners sold the furnace to D. P. Rhodes and J. F. Card, of Cleveland, who organized and incorporated the

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Tuscarawas Iron & Coal Company. Since that time the operation of the fur- nace has proved a success financially. In the autumn of 1878, it was rebuilt, and the capacity increased threefold. It remained under the management of the Tuscarawas Iron & Coal Company until purchased by the present company in 1881. About one-half the stock is owned by citizens of Dover, the re- mainder by Pennsylvanians. The present capacity of the furnace is about fifty tons daily. About three-fourths of the ore used is obtained in this coun- ty; it is the black band ore usually, though some kidney ore is used, and is mined by the company chiefly in Fairfield, Jefferson and Auburn Townships. The remaining one-fourth is Lake Superior ore, used to impart a greater strength to the iron. The necessary limestone is quined by the company largely in Franklin and Lawrence Townships. The iron produced is a soft- fluid metal, superior for foundry purposes. It finds a market principally in Chicago and the Northwest, though some is shipped to Pittsburgh and Wheel- ing. About forty five men are employed at the furnace, and a large number at the mines and limestone quarries.

The flour mills of Dover are unequaled in the county in the amount and quality of flour produced. As stated above, Christian Deardorff, about 1830, built the Dover Mill, in consequence of losing his water power at the old mill site on Sugar Creek. At Jesse Slingluff's death in 1836, the common property of Deardorff & Slingluff was divided, and the mill fell to Deardorff. He operated it successfully until his death in 1851, and a few years later his heirs sold it to E. Burnett. In 1870, Burnett disposed of the property to Gintz & Parr, and they in turn sold it to the Hardesty Brothers in 1872, who changed its name to the Cascade Mill, and have since operated it continuously and in conjunction with their other mills.

The Dover City Mills were erected on the canal in 1842, by Nathaniel Hay- den and Elija Welty. They were burned in 1859, but were rebuilt the following year by Hayden and Simpson Harmount and afterward sold to Thomas Hardesty. At his death in 1869, the mill passed into the hands of his sons, Alonza H. and William A., the present proprietors. In 1876, a large brick steam mill was erected adjoining this mill. In the three mills now owned by this firm, there are thirteen run of buhrs, having a capacity of 400 barrels daily. In 1879, a Corliss engine of 180 horse power, was added and other improved machinery. About 100,000 barrels of flour are annully shipped principally to distant mar- kets. The "New Process Flour " is extensively manufactured.

The Dover Fire Brick Company was established by David Miller & Co., in 1869. Its operations were attended with only partial success at first. In Jan- uary, 1871, Mr. Barrett and James F. Rhodes purchased a half interest and subsequently became sole owners. The capital stock was $40,000. The old works were remodeled, and since that time have been operated almost con- stantly. Ponderous rollers press and pulverize the clay which is then tem- pered, molded into various shapes and burned similar to other brick. About thirty hands are employed and 8,000 bricks produced daily. The bricks have es- tablished a wide reputation and sell readily throughout the West.

The Dover Rolling Mills were built in 1866. A company, consisting mostly of citizens of Dover, with a capital stock of $80,000 was formed and incorporated with Edmund Burnett as the first President. The mill em- ploys a large number of workmen, and has been operated with fair regularity since. It has changed hands several times and has recently suspended opera- tions.

Several other industrial enterprises have existed at Dover and assisted ma- terially in the advancement of its interests. The planing mill was erected in 1868 by a stock company of citizens. Soon after, A. Deis & Co. pur-

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chased the mill and it has been running successfully since. An entensive fur- niture manufactory is another active industry of the town. The Dover Boiler Works were built in 1862, by B. D. Downey, John Slacker and J. H. Barn hill. It changed hands a few years later, and has been one of the notable es- tablishments of Dover.

The Iron City Hotel was originally a dwelling house. About 1860, or per- baps earlier, it was rebuilt. by James Walton, who kept hotel in it for some years. After passing through the hands of several proprietors, it came into the possession of David King in 1863, who has recently enlarged and refitted the building and is still the proprietor.

CHAPTER VI. FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP.

LOCATION - FORMATION - STREAMS - MINERALS - FURNACE- EARLY SETTLERS- FIRST PREACHING-CHURCHES -FAIRFIELD-VALLEY CITY-SAVANA -MOUNT TABOR-LOCAL MAGISTRATES.

AIRFIELD TOWNSHIP is five miles in length north and south, and four and a half miles in width. It includes all of Township 9, Range 1, except a strip one-half mile in width off the east side, which belongs to War- ren Township. It is Congress land, excepting the third or southwest quarter. This is a Western Reserve school quarter, consisting of twenty-five lots, each one-half mile square. Fairfield was formed by the County Commissioners June 2, 1817, from Township 9, Range 1. The citizens were notified to meet at the house of George Kollar June 17, 1817, and then and there proceed to the selection of township officers. The only subsequent change in the terri- torial limits of the township was the loss of the land annexed to Warren.

The Tuscarawas River crosses the northwestern corner of the township, separating 600 or 700 acres from the main portion of the township. One Leg Creek flows easterly through the northern portion of Fairfield, and enters the river in this township. These are the only noticeable streams. The hills rise to a considerable altitude, and are somewhat rugged in places, yet most of the land is tillable. The thickly grouped hills are underlaid with splendid deposits of coal and iron ore. A good quality of sandstone is also found. The iron ore was known to exist here at an early day. A furnace was built in the northwestern part of the township in early days, and operated by Christ- mas & Hazlett. It was subsequently purchased by the separatists of Zoar and operated by them extensively for many years. It was a charcoal furnace, and offered the neighboring settlers a market for the forest trees, which would otherwise have been wasted, rolled in heaps and burned. Mountain ore was first discovered, black-band afterward. Some of the black-band ore yields 70 per cent iron. The mineral wealth of the township is still being developed, and considerable quantities of ore are now shipped. One of the principal mines is that of Hugh Kelley, located in School Lot 8. Agriculture, however, receives the attention of the citizens generally. Fruit is abundant, and the finest peaches in the county are here raised in abundance.

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The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Part 56

Author: Warner, Beers & Co. Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1017

Author: Warner, Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1017