The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-02-15

he same county Daniel Shaefier, Peter
Shaefer. Valentine Rnehart, Henry CID
Ter, Thomas Filson and Daniel Bone
break .,,,,
was built on the Knots farm in the iail
Of 1908. II was rude log structure, WIN
a fire place at one end large enough Tor
an ordinary sawlog, creased paper WIN
dows, split logs for seats--ln short, IN
outward adornmeuts, and internal ar,
rangements the counterpart OF the school
house of that day in this region OF COUNT
ry. William Lee taught the tirst school
and John Laughlin the second.
The first couple married in the town
ship was Hugh Downing and Mary HID
bit. NAV l3, 1918. They came to Can
ton and had the marriage ceremony per-
formed by Samuel Coulter, a justice OF
the Peace. The first death was Mrs. van
Emmon, mother of VIM. Knots. She
was buried on the farm in Nov. lSOS,-,-
The place has continued to be a public
burvinp ground ever since, and is known
as "Knotts's Grave Yard" The first
preaching in the settlement was conduct
ed by Joshua Beers Presbyterian, min
lister, who came in 1918, and held wor-
shin at the house of James Downing, Sr'
Waynesburgh was laid out by Joseph
HandIan in 1914. The year previous
John Laughin had built a cabin on the
site. little north of the railroad water
tank. in which Handlan kept tavern
The same year Handlan sold out to Dan,
iel Shaeher, who became proprietor OF
tbe town. Handan must have been OF
a sneculating turn of mind, for the next
wear in company with John G. Wright
and John M. .Goodenow, he laid out Ham
burph, adjoining Waynesburgh on the
onposite side of the creek. The plat num-
bered 10S lots, but was never recorded
and as corner lots we're not in demand,
the project was soon abandoned.
Handlan built sawmill in 1915, the
first in the township; but as the founda-
ton was sandy, it gave way before com,
nleting the first Through" in the first
Iop, Handlan removed to Wheeling in
1919. 49,,
The first school taught in the town of
Waynesburgh was by John Alexander,
in the winters of 1920, in log cabin
built by Robert Alexander. The first
store was kept by Joseph Handlan and
Barnhart Mahon in 1915; first blacksmith
Job Alerton; 1916; first tailor Frederick
A, BoegeI, 1919; first shoemaker, Henry
Pickard. The first grist mill in the town
ship was built by John Brown.
Enoch Ross and his wife Margaret,
with family of eight boys and three
girls came from Pa, in 1915 and bought
the Hewitt farm. Ross died in 1924,
leaving large family to be provided for,
and a balance yet due on the farm. Mrs.
Ross was remarkable woman and pro-
we'd equal to the emergency. She raised
her children in the way they should go,
respected and esteemed by all. Several
of the girls became popular teachers
two of the boys studied law, and are now
practicing in the west. The youngest
graduated at college, intending to enter
the ministry, but died before completing
his studies.
Richard Elson was an early settler-a
jolly, rollicking sort of a fellow, fond OF
fun, and leader at fights and frolics.
He was asuccessful lusiness man, became
a large land owner, built grist and saw
mill, gave considerable attention to rails
ing fine wool sheep-was a strong partl-
san of the whig stripe, and hated a
democrat as the devil does holy water.
A somewhat noted character at an
early day, was John Marks; as was also
his wife, whose maiden name was Mary
Shultz. He, for his skill and industry in
telling timber and splitting more rails in
a day than any other man in the valley
and she, for her fecundity having had
10 children in 20 years Too much
'usufruct" for Marks, so he decamped
for parts unknown, and has never been
heard of since. All the regret Mrs. NJ.
expressed in her grass-widowhood was,
that her husband Lad left before she had
he twentieth. Women W ere more pro-
ific in those days than the present, either
hat or they knew less of the art how to
,void fulfilling the scrlptnral injunction
% multiply and repIenish."
Of the later prominent citizens of the
ownship, may be mentioned DR., James
Welsh, highly esteemed as a physician.
Tehu Brown, millwright and Baptist
Robert Mccall, all of these
men represented the county in the State
legislature. Alpheus Brown, who served
i've terms as County Auditor, Robert N.
Mccall, County Treasurer, and Thomas
Mccall, Auditor. Adding James DOVE
ng, who was Commissioner, Sandy,
hough least in voting population, has
lad the largest share of county offices of
my other rural township in the county,
which fact may be regarded as a compli-
nent to the township.
Robert K. Gray was one of the nota-
lie men of Waynesburgh. There is a
,it of romance connected with his
dvent into the township, that is
worth mentioning. Mr.. and Mrs
fray came from Ireland and, as the |
tory runs, Mrs. G. was the wife of
tiled gentleman-a Lord or Duke, or
omething else, and Gray their coach
nan. The blind god who oft times played |
uch strange pranks, worked his sticks
,etween them, and the consequence was
hey eloped apd came to America. When
le first came into the township he un-
ertook to farm and raise sheep; but in
his he was not successful, and in few |
ears after, removed to Waynesburgh |
MI engaged in mercantile business. He
DON became popular, and did an extern
i've business; For years he was the
eading merchant of the place, did an
xtensive business, and accumulated con-
iderable wealth. Mrs. Gray kept her
elf secluded from society, for the reason,
/ was said that she did not wish to be
uestioned in reference to her antece-
ents She was regarded as woman of
nore than ordinary intelligence, possess
ng many fine accomplishments. She
lad no children. Several years after thu
cath of Gray, she married John Whit.
ere. The union was not congenial, and
fter year or two, they separated by
nutual consent.
We close our present history by giving
he
RECoLLECTIoNs OF ANDREW FAULK, JE.
NV father came from New Jersey and