The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-03-09

OF SucceSs IN almost any business u
which lac might engage, Such a dis
cipline and such habits will make a MAJ
prosperous, and with proper frugality
such as he always exercised, must rails
him TO Independence. Here, then, w
have the whole secret of his prosperlt.
asa business man revealed to us, Others
mag succeed in glinint wealth by the us
Ofdlilerent means, means less honorable
and just--means that will embitter tn,
recoIleclions of a dying hour, and plan
the pillow ON which the head leans witt
thorns-but those which be employed
will be sure Of success, and bring only
! pleasant memories TO the couch of death
Some men may stand very high in one
relation, bat sink very low when consid
cred outside OF that particular relation
A man may be successful in business anC
make an independent fortune fol-
himself and yet be a very poor citi
zen, only communicating with his touch
! the morals of society, and standing M
barrier in the way of its elevation. But
it was very different with him whose life
is now passing under this review When
his character as a citizen is placed in
comparison with his reputation as a bust
ness man, he stands before us on the
same high plane of honor and integrity
and real worth.
The name of Isaac Harter stands very
intimately associated with the growth
and prosperity of our city.
When he came here over half a cen
tury ago, Canton was but small village,
and for many years afterward he knew
every house and every family in the
place. Aud only a short time before his
death, he entertained his family through
an evening by naming over all the fam
lilies in the old original town, fixing the
particular location of their respective
dwellings. From an insignificant coun-
try village he saw it grow to its present
proportions. and watched this develop
ment with no small degree of interest
and pride. Indeed he contributed to
this in very large measure and in vari-
ous WAYS. His words of encouragement
and proflers of assistance induced many
persons to locate here and engage in
business. He gave large encouragement
to the manufacturing interests of the city,
and always reipiced in their success. OF
course he was watchful of his own inter-
ests as we'll and sometimes to save him.
self from heavy losses, he found it neces-
sary to pursue a course which to those
unacquainted with the circumstances
might seem severe; but when this be-
came necessary it was always done with
sad heart
1t is not to be supposed that Mr.. Har-
ter was wholly unselfsh, in the interest
which he took in the growth and pros
perity of the place where he was perma-
nently settled and engaged in business.
He knew that by encouraging these he
advanced his own personal interests also.
And this consideration no doubt operated
as a motive power with him, just as it
does with YOU, and should with every
body-but it would be Just as far from
the truth to say that he was wholly sell
fish in this interest. He was citizen of
public spirit, and felt just pride in the
welfare of his city, and labored for this
in many directions where he had no Pc
cunary interests to serve.
As a citizen, he was also interested in
the intellectual and moral elevation of
the community. A man of uneXception-
able morals himself, he was ever ready
to lend a helping hand to any enterprise
which contemplated the moral improve
ment of society. He was early awake to
the importance and necessity Of educa-
ton. He felt the loss which he had sus-
tained in this regard by the want Of edu-
cational facilities in his early years, and
was anxously solicitous that the young
people of that day should enjoy higher
advantages. With this view he joined
with other citizens about the year 1910
in the purchase of lot and the erection
of building, to be used as an academy,
where better education might be Sc
cured than was furnished by the very in
ferior common schools of that day. In
this enterprise there were so few to take
an interest, and these all men of limited
means, so that in 1916 debt of $500 still
remained on the building, which could
not be met, and it was offered for sale.
A few individuals, of whom Mr.. Harter
was one, associated themselves together,
and agreed to pay this Indebtedness, on
the condition that they be allowed the
use of the building for school and church
purposes, during the term Of fifteen years
This being the most favorable offer made,
it was accepted, and the association at
once arranged for the reopening of the
academy, by the election of board Of
directors, of which Isaac Harter, by
unanimous consent. was made President.
The school was soon organized, with Rev.
Mr.. Cowles as teacher and the building
also used as a place of worship by the
then newly organized Lutheran Church.
Three years later, when the unionschool
system was introduced, the lease of this
building was sold to the newly elected
board, and since that time it has been
used for public school purposes, and is
known to-day as the "West tSChool Build
ing" l have referred to this here, as it
is an interesting item in the early history
of our educational interests; and espe-
cially as it serves to show the prominent
position occupied by Mr.. Harter at that
early day, and the advanced ideas which
he had of the importance of superior
educational advantages.
AS ClJlzen, MT. I1arler was 60CiuC In
his disposition, and by his genial warmth
of manner, drew around him a very large
circle of friends, in whose society he
loved to spend his leisure hours, when
he would throw off the narrowing cares
of business and enter with much zest
into the enjoyments of the evening.
Many of the older citizens will call up
the pleasant hours which they spent in
his company. He was always so kind
and considerate of the feelings of others,
and in his friendships so true and abb
ding. He never betrayed friendship
nor turned away from friend in need.
He acted upon the principle suggested
by the poet:
This above ALL to thine own self be true,
And it must follow as the night, the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man."
His home was the abode of hospitality,
where sure welcome always awaited
the coming of his friends. Many will re-
call the pleasant greetings which they
..aoaiv,al md tl,a l., l., Af