The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-03-18
gaItsee11
[For the DEMOCRAT
ANNALS OF PARIS TOWNSHIP

ship was Rudolph Bair. He was born
in York county, Pennsylvania, and. when
grown removed to Columbiana county,
then part of Jefferson, and Ohio, yet
Territory. At the call for Convention
in 1902 to frame State. Constitution,
Bair was chosen as one of the delegates.
That convention completed the work for
which they had assembled in tlCeaty'ntne
days, an example of industry and faith
fulness contrasted with the disposition
of many of our officials at the present
day. 1t has been subject Of frequent
remark in these latter days, that the race
of men who can dispatch public busi-
ness as expeditiously as did the men,
bers of our first Constitutional Conven-
ton, are extinct. Mr.. Bair was q men,
Der Of the first Legislature after the ad-
option of the Constitution, which met in
Chillicothe on March 18th, 1903. Stories
are told of several remarkable speeches
he is said to have delivered while a
member of that body but diligeDt inves-
tigation, in connection with what is
known by parties still living of the char
aCter of Bair, refute the truthfulness of
these stories. They may be considered
as apocryphal as the hatChet story of
George Washington.
Rudolph Bair Sr, generally called
"Rudy" Bair, was man of moro than
ordinary ability. Though his education
was limited, his natural endowments
were above the average. He had lib
eral share of good common sense, a
qualification not acquired at college, Such
confidence had the community in his
judgment, and disposition to do right be-
tween man and man, that he was very
general referee to settle questions of diff
ference, that will occur between individ-
ais, and from his decision no appeal
was taken. He was a member of the
German Reformed Church, and his daily
life was consistent with his religious pro-
fession. Though known as farmer, his
business was more particularly that of a
land speculator. To accommodate emf.
grants of limited means he often sold
land on longtime payments; and though
these were not always met when due, he
was never known to oppress delinquents.
Rudolph Bair died in 1920, and is buried
in the grounds he gave to the town of
Paris for cemetery. The walnut slab
erected to mark his grave has long since
gone to decay, and there is now nothing
by which stranger could identify his
grave. The citizens of Paris, of which
village he was the founder, owe it to
themselves, to erect q suitable monu-
ment over his resting place.
In the summer of 1906 Rudolph Bair
and his brother Christopher made trip
on horseback through the eastern por-
ton of Stark county, with the view of
selecting land to enter. They confined
their explorations along each side of
what is now known as the state road, at
that time a mere bride path. They SO.
lected number of quarter sections in
Paris and 0snaburgh township, which
they entered in the land Office at Steu.
benville. Among the number was the
south half of section five, now owned by
the Mayer heirs On this place Rudolph !
Bair Jr settled in the fall of the same
year. He built log cabin into which he |
moved with all his household goods be- |
fore the floor was laid or a door hung. |
As a substitute for the latter quilt was
suspended from wooden pins, In this !
rude shanty the wife was left alone with |
her young babe several days and nights,
while her husband returned to Colum-
biana for supplies. There were Indians
Camped on the creek a short distance
below, just where the state road crosses
the creek; but there were no white per.
sons nearer than Osnaburgh, five miles
distant. Atnight the wolves came howl
ing around the cabin, and in order to
frighten them off she would throw out
chunks of fire, which had the effect to
keep the wolves at respectful distance.
In 1903 George Thoman, of Bucks Co.,
Penn, obtained patent for the n. W. or.
of sec. 10, upon which he settled the
same year. Deweese opened
farm on Sec. 16 and lived there
number of years. His son Samuel
has frequently told of going to Slusser's
mill, on Nimishilen creek, with bush.
ell of corn Oh bull, and to Yellow creek
for bushel of salt, for which he paid
So. This same son was drafted in the
war Of 1912. Thomas Dewee5e was born
in the township Feb'y 1908. The cabin
in which the family then lived was not
chinked, nor had it any floor except
the native earth.
In 1903 Thomas Deweese Jasper
Daniels, John Byers and John August
inc settled in the township. The latter
was a prominent citizen, we'll known
over the county, and will receive an ex.
tended notice when the facts of his
early history are obtained from the
surviving relatives. His son Jacob,
who now owns the place, was
drafted in the war of 1872 and sent
to Detroit. While there, there was call
for volunteers to 90 on perilous eXpedi.
ton to MaCkinaw, and he was among
the first TO offer his services. He assist.
ed in building the fort at that place, and
was with the English forces in an en-.
gagement Aug, IA, 1914, under Col. Col.
grove. His immediate commander was
Major Roller of COlumbiana county, who
bll lives, jacob lnOman now draws
pension from the Government,
In the spring Of 1911 Conrad Henning
originally from Lancaster, but subse.
quently from Beaver county, Pa, settled
in the township. He purchased of Rudy
Bair 100 acres Of the 8. W. Or, sec 4, for
5000. He was the first blacksmith, and
for several years did all the work for the
settlers, at the same time opened up
farm. Mrs. Henning having proven
herself efficient in assisting married wo-
men upon interesting occasions, was con.
strained to take upon herself the duties
Of midwife; and it is related that she
was remarkably successful, as she had,
in practice of thirty.fve years, attend.
ed between five and six hundred cases,
without ever calling assistance or haying
a death, from which circumstance the
Aceoncheur of the present day would
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