The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-05-10

nam ulllll q ollCltCl was oHotluINSN ASi
the family on the southeast quarter of
section a. In the fall of that year
daughter was born TO Mrs. Loutzenhei-
ser, named Sarah, who married John
Weaver. Father Loutzenheiser died in
1910, and the children have all followed
him with the exception of Peter, who still
lives to observe and enjoy the wonder
full Improvements that have been made
since his advent into the township.
The same year, Aberham Van Meter,
with means furnished by Wells, the
owner of the land, erected saw mill,
with chopping stones attached, on the
west branch Of the Nimishillen. There
was a sort of boiling arrangement con-
nected with it, which was turned by
hand. This was the first superstructure
of the kind in the county, The next
summer there came a great freshet and
swept it away, and it was not rebuilt
The tide OF emigration from Pennsyl-
vania to Ohio was quite strong in 1906.
During that year there settled in Plain
township beside those already mentioned,
Valentine Weaver, Peter Dickerhoof and
George Bossler, who were brother-in-
laws Jacob Shinnaberger, Geo. Hantz,
George Miller, Simon Essig, Henry
Warner, John and David Eby, Conrad
Ruhner, Christopher Palmer, George,
Jacob and Christian Wrestler, and
their father Henry Wrestler, who was
a widower and made his home with his
sons. He entered section I3 and IA,
and the patent deed bearing date Oct.
s, 1906, with the bold autograph of Tom
Jefferson, then President of the United
States, is still in the family The ques-
ton has often been asked why our
pioneer settlers made choice Of land in
the rolf, heavily timbered parts, rather
than in the plains. For many years
offer the land was in market, those in
search of homes, would pass the plains
and select in preference, timbered lands
west of the Tuscarawas river, 1t was on
account of springs or running water
these were considered great acquisi-
ton, and were much sought after; be-
sides, timber for rails, building and fuel,
were regarded a sine Qaa non; so much
So that an investment in prairie or plain
land, would have been considered very
foolish, When Andrew Meyer purchased
in 1916, the large tract of plain land
northwest of Canton, it was freely com.
mented upon as an injudicious invest
ment. Since under cultivation, the diff
ference in favor Of plains land in the
yield of our staple products is universally
The lands entered by Weaver and
Hantz in section 28 and Io were notori-
ously rough, heavily timbered and rocky
The work Of cleaning was very labor
ious. Weaver came with seven chill
dren, the three eldest, girls. They had
to do the work OF men, and they proved
equal to the emergency.
They fell trees, cut saw logs, split rails,
made fence, ploughed, sowed, reaped
and rhreshed. Nancy married Philip
Slusser; Elizabeth; Jacob Essig; and
Henry Miller. Nancy died |
early without offspring, but the other two |
lived to a good old age, and each raised
alarge family. Betsy Dickerhoof, daugh-
er Of Peter Dickerhoof, his eldest born,
was also one of the muscular women of
hat day. In opening the road now be-
ween Berlin and Greentown, it is said
ihe cut down more Of the trees than any
,ne man employed on the work. 1t is
laid she tooka contract to clear 10 acres
If ground for her brother-in-law, John
Wise, and completed the contract salts
actorily.
There was portion Of the Eby tract
n section "a sparsely timbered-had ev-
iently been swale. A large area was
oon made ready for planting, and after
crop of corn was sown inwheat. The
ield was large, and aa the influx ofemi-
created a demand for bread-stuff,
ne surplus was readily sold. 1t proved
} be what is called sick wheat. Every
ne who eat of the bread made of the
our of this wheat r1s taken immedi-
tely after with SICKNESS of the stomach
nd excessive yomiting. As soon as the
.omach was emplied they were relieved
nd no serious consequences followed.
took of no kind would eat the wheat,
or would dogs touch the bread. Sub
equent crops were alike tainted, but not
so great an extent, and finally it dis
ppeared, h
The Eby's came from Washington
ounty Pa, were both single, and kept
bachelors nail, spending their first win
RS at their home in Pennsylvania. One
right Sabbath morning David Eby
card distant sound of chopping. Sat.
fled that it was not an Indian, and Gu
GUS to know who was his next neighbor,
e started on the hunt, taking with HIM
n axe with which to blaze the trees, that
e might be able to find his way back.
lie had gone about mile when he came
pom Aberham Metz, father of DR., Metz,
ho had taken contract of clearing on
md owned by one of the Werstlers,
lie had rude shelter constructed and
as doing his own housekeeping. After
n exchange Of saIutations, Metz pro-
osed that they make a call upon their
ext nearest neighbor, Aberham Bair,
mother bachelor, who had commenced
clearing on the southeast quarter of
,ction 10, and who was living in the
lme style. To this Eby readily assented,
nd on ther arrival at the cabin of Bair,
ley found him in bed. They soon had
i'm out, and together these three men
1ent most Of the Sunday, seventy~one
ears ago. Imagine the subjects Of cons
ersation that interested those men at
lat time?
In few years after, Aberham Bair
.arried Elizabeth Harter, daughter of {
gorge Harter, of whom an incident is
lated worthy of being commemorated.
he was not yet IS when her father sent
er to Slusser's mill, located on the site
the present East Canton mill, with
list of two bags of wheat one. contains
g three bushels and the other two and
le-half. She rode. on the smaller bag
Id the larger was carried on a pack
.ddle on another horse which she led.
he prist was not done until late in the =,