The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-03-23

With daughter Of Gephart and found it
healthy to leave the country. The firm
If Updegraif & McGuggin kept halter
shop at an early day,
The first grist millin the township was
erected by Peter Boyer, about 1914. The
next was by Daniel Laird, on Little Sandy.
Previous TO this settlers had their grind
ing done at Slussers q Nichols on MIN
The first saw mill was erected
by Abram Bair.
The first death in the township was
Mrs. Milligin, who died in childbed. AS
there was no minister at the funeral,
VIM. Hutchinson, a school teacher Off"
ciated in that capacity.
There was comparatively but little sick
ness among the pioneer settlers of the
township, nor has it ever given much
to physicians. Ira Wood
was the first known doctor who hung out
a shingle, but the year of his advent has
not been ascertained.
The first school in the township Of
which we have, any account, was taught
by John Augustine, in 1918. Previous to
that time, scholars went to school build
ing on the Aultman place, in Canton
township. 1t was during the winter OF
the school taught by Augustine, that there
was fall of over three feet of snow in
one day and the children had to be taken
home on horseback. A few days after, it
rained and froze forming hard crust
upon the snow. Many deer were caught
by the larger boys, among them a large
stout buck, which they kept in a pen
near the school house. He afforded sport
for them during recess, but as he refused
food they turned him loose again.
The Bairs-Rudolph, Stophel and
Acknowledged prominently among
the first settlers. Rudolph, or Rudy as
he was commonly called, was member
ofthe first convention that formed State
Constitution, and afterwards represented
Columbiana, then including Stark in the
legislature. Rudy and Stophel were
brothers, both entered land in 0snaburgh
township, but Rudy settled in what is
now Paris township, (Which before was
under the jurisdiction of Osnaburgh) J,
and was an acting Justice of the Peace.
The first lawsuit in the county was tried
before him. The particulars as handed
down through several generations are az
follows: Thomas and Bosserman traded
horses and as Thomas considered him
self cheated in the swop, brought suit
against Bosserman for damages. Hockin-
smith, of Pike, was constable, and sub
pGned three witnesses. The parties
and the witnesses were present on the
day set for trial. When the parties met,
Rudy brought out a jug Of whisky and
proposed drink all round. At the close
of this preliminary indulgence, he sug-
gested that they settle the case without
going to trial-that each one make his
statement, and he would give judgement.
To this, Thomas objected, but after con-
siderable talk, and another horn, he
agreed. Each told his story, when the
court, after due deliberatien, decided
that Bosserman should pay Thomas So 90
and the constable's fees, whereupon all
drank again and expressed themselves
satisfied The Squire was rejoiced at
his success in settling the case, as his
docket which he kept between the raft
ers ofhis cabin had been carried away by
the squirrels and he had nothing in
which to make the entry.
The first Justice of the Peace elected in
the township was William Nailor; com
missioned May l, 1909 The next was
Jacob Fulton, whose commission dates Il
few days later. John Sluss and John
Augustine were the next succeeding.
Indians frequently made their appear
anCe among the settlers, but never excl
ted any disturbance or did any harm.
They would often call for something to
eat, especially if they were unsuccessful
in their hunts, and never failed to carry
off whatever of the food was left. Their
camping grounds were west of the Tus-
CaraWas river.
In the evening frolics that followed
the corn huskings, fax pullings and log
rollings of that day, music on the fiddle
was furnished by Henry Camp.
Adam Bair, son Of Stophel, had the
reputation of being the stontest man in
the township; though Jacob Shirley, a
Tunkard, from Bedford county, Pennsyl-
vania, was reputed a man of great Gus.
cular form. He was large man, and as
the story went he was once beset by a
crowd of seven men, was slapped on the
cheek, when he turned the other and
was struck again. This he said was ac-
cording to scripture, and he would now
defend himself He turned upon the
crowd and vanquished the seven, piling
them upon top Of each other.
The first marriage Of which we have
any account, was mixed with bit of ro.
nance. There was a Mr.. and Mrs. An
derson living in Osnaburgh, who had two
children. Anderson was drunken loaf
er, and would do nothing for the support
of his family. Mrs. Anderson was com.
PEELED to work out. She was a good
spinner, and went from house to house
taking her children with her, earning
about dollar week, besides board for
herself and children. A man by the
name Of lhry, German, proposed to
marry her and was accepted, although she
was not divorced from Anderson. Mr. Kit
brought the couple to Canton, and they
were married by Esquire Coulter. They
lived together three years, when lhry
died, leaving his wife a comfortable
homestead.
1t was the custom after the close of the
war of 1912, under a law of the State, to
hold annual military trainings, or gener-
al muster, as it was called, for the pur-
pose of drill and inspection. Those were
in the days of the old fiint-lock and the
The usual places for the
troops to assemble were Canton, Ken
dali NOW Fourth ward of Massillon),
Loutzenheisers (now Louisville) and
0snaburgh. 1t was an occasion that drew
together young and old, male and female,
for many miles around. The scenes and
incidents of the day-the parade, sham
battle, personal encounters, the evening
STRAUSS" furnished subject matter tor
freside talk long afterward, By common
consent, sectional disputes were then re-
vived Each party had their friends on
hand, or hackers and fight was gener-
ally the result. Very often others be-
came involved, and more fights followed,
1t was on an occasion of this kind, over
fifty years age, at an "Osnaburgh mus
ter" that the most noted hand-to-hand