The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-03-23
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THE EARLY SETTLEMENT
osNABURGH TOWNSHIP

Iore Cne organization OF STARK county.
The township was first surveyed in No
vember, 1901, by John Bever, in,seCtions
of four miles square-subdivide in
1906 by James G. Mcfarland. 1t was
originally part of Columbiana county,
and its jurisdiction Extended over all
that part Of Stark county now lying east
of Canton township and extending to
the present western boundary line of
Columbiana county.
AS near as can be ascertained from Co
temporaneous events, the township was
organized in the year 1906. The records
of Columbiana county of that date are
lost or destroyed; at all events, nothing
has been discovered that would enlighten
us from any researches made among the
archives of that county.
On beautiful morning in the fall of
1905, five horsemen might have been
seen emerging from New Lisbon, then a.
frontier settlement of less than a dozen
log cabins, vending their way westward.
They were party made up to select land
for future homes. Of the number were
Jacob Kit, John Sluss, John Thomas,
another whose name has been forgotten
and surveyor engaged to accompany
them as guide, and who had field notes
and knew what quarter sections were yet
open to entry. The land Office was then
in Steubenville, called at that time for
short, Seuben, with an accent on the last
syllable.
As there was no settlement between
New Lisbon and the Tuscarawas river,
the extent of the land Office district, it
was necessary for the explorers 10 pro-
vide themselves with rations-bread aud
cold meat-in sufficient quantity to last
several days. which could easily be
packed in their saddle-bags, and a
blanket strapped to the saddles, consti-
tuted the outfit. The horses could OBJ
tain subsistence by feeding upon grass
and the wild pea vine, a succ1lent
growth, with which the woods then
abounded.
The party moved along in single file,
following the section line as indicated by
blaze marks on the trees, until they
reached range 7, when they turned south.
Pursuing southwesterly course they
came to spring Here they all dis
mounted to take drink, and allow their
horses to Craze. While resting and view
ing the surroundings, Kit was the first
to say, "Fll take this quarter" This was
the southeast qnarter of section Is, the
same now owned by David Bowman. At
that day, for obvious reasons, land that
had on it good spring of water was pre-
ferred. At the time Mr.. Kit announced
his decision to take the piece, the rest of
the company with the exception of one,
agreed by an audible assent that he
should have it, and memorandum was
made accordingly. The member of the
but was silent, is the one whose name we
could not procure. Continuing their ex-
plorations the next piece they found that
had spring, was the southwest quarter
of section II, the same now owned by
j. Cellars, and this was first claimed by
John Sluss. Again the balance of the
company said agreed" except the one
who was before silent This strange con-
duct on his part excited the suspicion of
Mr.. Kit. Illuminating over the. matter
during the night he was satisfied the
stranger intended to enter the same quar-
ter, and to Illustrate him, Mr.. Kit con-
cluded to make an excuse in the morn
ing and return home, which he did with
all haste. Providing himself with the
necessary funds to make the first pay
ment, he proCe nded to the land Office in
Steubenville, secured the land, and as he
was about leaving the town, whom should
he meet but the very man whose omin-
GUS silence had so disturbed him. His
suspicious were true, as the man acknowl-
edged that he was after the same tract
Mr.. Kilt had just entered.
Mr.. Sluss on his return, secured the
place he had selected. Both he and Kit
were married, and were living upon land
in the neighborhoodo of New Lisbon. They
remained there duringthe winter of 1906,
and came outtogether in thespring. Each
had two horses-Mr Kilt wagon. They
Joined teams, and in the wagon both
couple packed all their worldly goods.
Their route was by the Thomas road,
then being laid out-the same that passes
through Freeburgh and Louisville, the
first legal highway in the county. They
came to the improvement of Philip
Slusser, who was then building grist
and saw mill on the Nimishillen, the
same site now known as Roland's. With
the help obtained here, and the assist
ance of James F. Leonard, surveyor,
who had camp on the west side of the
creek, the two emigrants cut way to
their new homes IN Osnaburgh township.
Mr.. Kit brought "hireling" with him.
With his help, poles were cut, clapboards
rived out, and in few days a comforta-
BILE cabin was erected. The door was
hung with wooden hinges, and the latch
so constructed as to open with string
from the outside-a style of building
quite popular in the Presidential cam
paign of 1910, as many of our readers
will remember. A small opening was
made on one side of the cabin; this, COW
cred with oiled paper, answered the pur-
pose of a window. A fire place, connect
ed with chimney outside, made ofsticks
and clay mortar, occupied one end. There
was no floor, other than the ground. A
bedstead was constructed in one corner
of the cabin by framing in a side and foot
board. The bed tick was filled with
leaves. Their cooking utensils consisted
of tea kettle, frying pan and Dutch
oven. A chest answered the purpose of
II IdDl6, anu IuO ldDlO WAC u lON
knives and forks, cups and saucers ofyel-
low earthen ware, and several pewter
plates. For some time Mrs. Kit kneaded
her dough in bucket, afterward in a
sugar trough.
They brought with them a SOW and
a COW. In a short time the SOW
had a litter of eight pigs, and the COW
calf. Although rejoiced at this acces-
sion, it increased their perplexities. The
wolves were attracted by the smell of
cooking, and to save the young offspring
at night, it was necessary to take them
into the cabin.
About six weeks after Mr.. Kit was
settled in his new home, he was in the
woods one morning, when he heard chop
nino at q distance Susnantino tbara wara