The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1873-12-11

WILD GAME IN STARK CoUNTY.-Veui-
son, procured from Michigan, and for sale
by several Of our provision stores, during
the past week, has, on several occasions,
suggested as a topic Of conversation,
hunting deer and other wild game in
Stark county.
There are but few now living who know
anything from personal knowledge OF the
extent to which wild game. such as deer,
bear, wolves and wild cats abounded in
this locality. Uncle Dan. Dewalt and
Jerry Land, ale the only persons at pres
ent IN our minds eye, who are left TO US
OF a former generation. Uncle Dan was
never much Of a hunter Of OHd game,
THE game he pursued IN his younger days
was known by a different name) but he
was here, and can speak from personal
knowledge OF the skill ard success of 9th
ers. Jerry, although not among the early
hunters Of the county, has nevertheless, a
fund of Evolutionary lore, and claims to be
the last of the Deer Slayers.
The greatest hunter of early times IN
this locality was William Ewing, who
lived about two miles east of town. He
came to the county in 1906, and during
source of reVenue was hunting. We
LGhC 1 U nun A4o AAlls- 4OJLCI .
now q resident of Wooster) that he killed
from seventy to eighty deer in the season,
besides many bear and wild cats. From
the sale of the carcass and pelts he real
lied considerable money; in fact it was
about the only traffic at that time from
which money could be ~obtaIued, The
country being new, there was no beef
cattle, and II was impossible to keep
hogs or sheep on account of the d%epreda-
tlons of wolves and bear. Mr.. Ewing
wore buckskin pants, hnsey-woolsy hunt
ing shirt; coon skin cap and moccaslns.
While hunting, IN addition to his trusty
rifle, he always carried a butcher knife
and tomahawk. In fact this was the
custom with all the early hunters.
As the country began TO fill up Mr..
Ewing, like Daniel Boone, longed for a
more extended range, and where he would
be less interrupted. N 1911 he started
West. prospecting, and finally settled in
hlllbuck bottom, Wayne county. where
he improved the opportunity Of hunting
for many years.
Davi! Bschtel who entered and settled
upon the quarter section now owned by
his son Martin, two miles east of town,
was a hunter of some renown. He killed
many deer, bear and wild cats. His style
of dress was much like that of EwIng's.
There are many still living who remem-
Der his coming to town dressed in q
hunting shirt, edged with fringe, a belt
with knife and tomahawk, and his riLe.
In fact, he never went from home, not
wen to funerals, without his rife. He
had once an encounter with a buck, and
but for his knife might have been killed.
At the discharge of his gun the animal
fell, apparently dead. MIR. Bachtel came
up, drew his knife, and was just in the
act of cutting the animals throat, when
he suddenly sprang TO his feet. made a
lunge at Mr.. B., pinned him 10 a tree,
running a prong of his antlers through
his left hand, when, Just as he was about
gathering himself for another plunge, Mr..
B. by the dextrous use of his knife plung-
ed it into the chest Of the animal which
caused him to relax when he was soon
dispatched. II appeared the bullet had
struck the scalp and glanced, merely
stunning the animal. On enc occasion
Mr.. BIS dogs freed three bear near the
house, all Of which he shot in the morn
ing.
Coming down to a later period, we
have the Reams, Jacob and Philip Dun
ner, Adam Sh- 70, Henry Slusser AMI 9TH
C4og hA4NGN LGLAANo W NV az lANGNLS ONSA-
to US
The plains west of town were quite a
resort for deer-hence the name of Buck
Hill. The last deer killed in this vicinity
was in the winter Of 1839-40. 1t was a
doe and had evidently been driven from
the northwest, as no deer had been seen in
the n~elghborhood for several years. Adam
Shorb, Jerry Lind and Philip Banner got
track Of it in the plains. Danner drew
the first sight, but a defect in his gun
lock prevented a fire. Shorb was next.
and his was q flesh wound. Jerry was
more successful, and brought down the
last Of the deer.
1t may be said, that at the present
time, game of all kinds is about played
out. There are still a few squirrel, Iab-
bit and quail, but it don't pay to hunt
them. S.