The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-03-18

across q hear that had been wounded Dy
a rifle shot. Armed with an axe, and
his courage stimulated with whisky he
had drank at the raising he concluded
to have the bear as trophy for his wife.
Advancing upon bruin with the axe up
lifted, intending to cleave the skull, his
arm was rather unsteady, and the blow
Intellectual. The bear grappIed hlm,and
before he could extricate himself, was
severely wounded. He concluded to
play quits, and left the bear TO depart i'll
peace.
The fret saw mill in the township was
built by Rudy BAir in 1918, one-half a
mile southwest of Paris, on Black creek,
80 named from the dark appearance Of
the water caused by the swamp in which
it rose. This mill was destroyed by fire,
but rebuilt and since abandoned. The
first grist mill was erected by the same
party two years later on the same stream
about a mile up. 1t was two story
frame with two run of stone. On the
death of Bair the mill passed into the
possession of his son Daniel, and at his
death to Benz. Roop, and from him to
John P. Myers. The water supply fill
ing, this mill was abandoned, and a
steam mill erected near by. A few years
after, Myers sold the mill to Greiner,
who removed it to Strasburgh.
A town site was located on the north.
east quarter of sec. by Rudolph BAir,
Dec. %, 1918. In casting around for
name he concluded to call it Paris, as at
that time the city of Paris, France was
considered the metropolis Of the world
The town was surveyed by Dan'l L. Nc
Clure July l, 1885, and recorded in the
Clerks Office Sept. 10Th following. Bair
donated two acres of the ground to the
German Reformed and Lutheran Congre.
cations for church and burial purposes.
Upon this lot log building was soon af.
ter erected, and used both as a school
house and church. Among the first min.
listers who preached here were Revs,
Mahnesmith aud Hewett, They were
itinerants. Their first regular preaching
was by Wier and Foust from Canton.
John Augustine taught the first school
in the building. The first funeral was
child of Robert Stewart. There have
been several additions to the town since
Robert Alexander in 1886, and Dan'l
Phillips, 1851.
Its location on the state road at that
time, and for many years after, the main
thoroughfare of travel, gave it consider
able prominence. John Unkefer kept
the principal tavern, and as he belonged
to the bOnviUant class of landlords, and
could spin a good yarn and furnish a
square meal, it gave his house and the
town a widespread reputation. The
stages that ran the road changed horses
and the passengers took their meals
there, which contributed to give it great.
er notoriety abroad. They had like
wise an organized military company, and
we're out at all general musters. They
were much praised for their fine appear
ance and excellent discipline John Un.
kefer was Captain, David Unkefer Lieu.
tenant and John HenniDg Ensign. The
musicians were Peter Myers, drummer,
and Samuel Unkefer, fifer, The frat
village blacksmith was Michael Keisel-
man.
The first store in Paris was opened by
by Ssm'l Putnam. His stock of mer.
chandise was quite limited; but the
wants of the people of that day were
confined to few essential neCessaries of
life, as they had not the means to in
dulge in luxuries, had they been attain
able. Putnam sold his stock and good
will to Rob't Alexander. Dan' Burgert
soon after engaged in the business, aud
carried on large trade, dealing exten.
sively in horses and cattle. About 1888,
having business in SteubenVille, he star.
ted for that place on horseback. The
following morning he was found dead !
in saw-mill race in Jefferson county |
The supposition of some was, that during
the night, which was very dark, he had |
mistaken the mill for the bridge, and |
was killed in falling off. By others it |
was believed be was robbed and MUIR
dered, as it was known he frequently
carried large sums of money on his per-
son. The mystery was never solved
A postoftiCe WAS established in the
the'town Aug. 12, 1872, and Daniel Bur
CERT was the first postmaster appointed. |
The town hip Of Paris was organized |
April |, 1873 meeting of the County |
Commissioners John Sluss, VIM. Alban |
and John Saxton), on that day, it is en-.
tered as part of their proceedings, that |
Rudolph Bair presented petition for
the incorporation of new township, by |
the name of Paris" now part of Osna- |
burgh, signed by himself and others;and |
that the election of township officers be |
held on the 1lth inst, at the town of
Paris in said township"
Previous to this time, citizens of the |
tnmnubip uotad ak Diana h,,r,b
were under the jurisdiction Of that town
ship. AT the first election Thomas De-
weese and Sam'l Bosseman were elected |
Justices, Deweese declined serving.
Bosseman accepted his commission with |
some distrust of his ability to discharge |
the duties. His first case 80 "ferhuddled"
him he refused to act, and threw up his |
commission. AS no one could be found |
willing to accept the Office, Dan'l Bur
gert resident of 0snaburgh township,
agreed to move into Paris on condition
they would elect, him which agreement
was complied with. AS the early rec
ords of the township are lost, 1t is impos-
sible to ascertain who the other officers
were.
The day of the pioneer is gone. We
may now regard him as soldier in the
cause of human advancement, whose
battles have been fought ami won, and
he may we'll look back in surprise at the
wonderful social and material results
that have followed in his wake. The
shifting sands of time have covered his
footsteps, but the solid and substantial
foundation laid by the pioneer for the
social structure Of the west, will endure
until time shall be no more.
A very singular circumstance occurred
in the township many years ago, that
should be mentioned. Mr.. Carr and
wife, of Wayne county, we're travelling in
one-horse buggy, east, on the State
road. 1t was in the summer, and on a
still day, not breath of air stirring. A
short distance beyond the town of Paris,
as they we're passing dead tree stand
ing beside the road, It fell directly across
the buggy, crushing the vehicle and both