The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-01-05
"REMINISCENCES
In the History of the Early Days of stark
County.
sNYDER's SCHOOL DISTRICT, LAKE TIP.

The early history of Stark county, as
gathered from the public records and
other sources, affords fund of general
information of great value, and destin-
ed to pass into permanent history.
But if the thousand little incidents of
local interest, organization of the
schools, early teachers, progress of the
educational and social interests in every
school district, spiced with anecdotes
and personal incidents, were gathered
together, fund of matter could be pro-
cured which would revive recOllectiOns
of the past and awaken an interest in
the dOings of our fathers, the pTivatiOns
endured by them in carving from the
unbrOken forest the beautiful farms and
comfortable houses now enjoyed by
their children, which would not only
interest and amuse, but tend to perpet-
uate what would otherwise soon be en-
tiTely forgotten.
The recOllectiOns of the writer run
back over a period of nearly forty years:
and as inaccuracies are likely to occur
in drawing a sketch from memory, the
Interest would be heightened We're those
who discover them, to take pains to cor
rect and add such other items as might
be brought to mind.
At the time of building the first school
house, a description of which will be
given in another article, in what is
known as Snyder's district, compare
lively little land was cleared. Large
forests of heavy timber, such as poplar,
oak, hickory, ash and black walnut were
standing. The latter wood, which now
commands from $50 to $50 a thousand
feet, was regarded of so little value.
that it was not an unusual thing to see
log houses constructed largely out of
this valuable lumber, and thousands Of
black walnut rails made in 1920 and 80
may be found in the fences to-day as
solid as when placed there, fifty years
ago.
Nearly all who took up lands in what
afterwards became the Snyder district,
were men of small means who emigrat-
ed mostly from Pennsylvania with their
young families, in order to better their
condition, in covered wagons, travelling
hundreds of miles over roads that would
now be considered almost impossible,
carrying with them simply their bed
ding and such scanty articles of house
hold use as were absolutely indispensa-
BILE.
Their capital consisted mainly. in
sturdy hearts, brawny muscles and their
faithful wives-true helpmates-whO
cheerfully bore their share of hardships
incident to life in new country.
To call together their neighbOrs, ever
ready to aid the new conner with their
help, erect the log cabin, clear off, fence
ami crop a few acres of new ground,
were the first steps in the process of set
tling in the new country. Our mothers
had their daily household cares ana du-
ties to perform; and in addition the flax
must be pulled" the seed beaten out,
the bundles spread in the meadow to rot
the stalk, then rapidly dried on a frame
over fire; then broken handful by
handful on the "flaX-break." Then came
scutching and hatcheting, to be follow
ed by the busy hum of the spinning
wheel, with its ''wu, WI, wu," at all odd
moments through the day and the long
winter evenings, brings freshly to mind
the kindly hands now turned to dust,
that with unceaslng toll ministeTed to
our necessities, often denying themselves
comforts, that we might be warmed and
fed.
This sketch would be incomplete were
we to omit the names of some of those
who figured in the early history of the
district; and this would be but slight
tribute to the worth of those
sturdy, honest men who have
lives upon their children and grand
children. First then in the list we
mention Adam COcklin, who emigrated
from Pennsylvania, and settled on the
farm now owned by George Griley. As
genial kind hearted neighbOr, he had
but few equals. shoemaker by trade,
his warm, cOsey shop, with its smell of
the new leather, and eight or ten well
worn almanacs, the principal literature
of the day, with their thrilling stories Of
murders, rObberies, frontier adventures,
remembered by those whose business
ca led them to his ShOD.
The writer has reason to hold him i'll
kindly remembrance, for, when boy
like, he coveted a pair of boots, Mr.
COcklin kindly undertook to furnish
them, working with lasts, and he, him
self, produced the first pair of boys boots
in the neighbOhOOd, which were, alike
the pride of the owner, and the envy of
his school mates, except, perhaps, when
after testing their capacity to keep out
water by wading to the very verge of
their tops. thus thoroughly soaking
them. The whole household next morn
ING was aroused by the stamps, kicks
and expressions of impatience, as
doubled up like jack-knIfe, with
blistered heels, aching fingers and blood
shot eyes, an hour was spent in getting
into them, and. realizing for the first
time the truth of the adage "nO rose
without thorn"
lhls OuChllllS ny lllo tllbbl pllob anu
thrift, gained competence and passed
away in the prime of life lamented by
all who knew him.
John Carte, whose son Jacob was one
of the first teachers, and who now owns
the old farm upon which his father
settled, will be remembered as a kind
hearted neighbOT, ever ready to lend
helping hand to those in need; a good
citizen, living to good old age, passed
away, leaving a wife.WhQ survived. him
many years, aud attaiHed the great age
of nearly 100 years, retaining her facul-
ties in remarkable degree to the last.
Joseph Bishop. who died but recently.
was the father of "a large family, most
of whom are now living, respected, and
well-tO-dO citizens, hOnOring in their
upright lives a father whom to know
was to hold in the highest esteem.
John Smith, wagon maker by trade,
i'll early years, now living on a farm
southwest of Berlin, the oldest of whose
sons, member of Co. A., 10th 0. V. l.
during the late war, fell at his post of
duty in one of the many battles below
Chattanooga.
Simon Snyder, whose spring furnished
the water supply for the school, and
whose peach orchard, situated on a knoll
adjoining the school house, was well
patrOnized by the boys, who believed
that peaches, like water-melOns, were
better if plucked at night, and the darker
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