The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1889-06-20
oLp TIME TOPICS,

ing Ia Canton
The game and tho arms of our early
settlers were quite different from what
we have them to-day, Then deer were
to be found m many localities In stark
county, oeoaaonally wolf or bear WIS
20 be found, for these there was boun,
ty offered for each scalp, the last record
of such q bounty being paid, was about
atty years ago,
IL ia generally believed among the old
hunters that Jacob Shanaberger VINO
lived ON the Harrisburg road killed tho
last bear, and that my father killed the
last wolf. This occurred on the Arm
strong farm, uear where Cyrus collars
now resides in Perry township, Among
lhe men best known TO me as success
ful hunters Of deor, were DE-, George
lIreysackeE Adam A, shorb, Phlllp
Danner aud Henry slusser OF Canton
My father Jacob Danner, who was q
gun smith by trade, was also quite u
hunter
George Krelohbaum Of Lake town
ship, Samuel stoyer OF Lawrence town
ship, and David Baehtel u few miles
east on tho Osnabuyg road, There were
others who were troquentera to my
lathers shop, They would como there
TO have their rifles repaired and teated'
Often | would be Interested for hours
hearing the exploits and adventures
of the N!mrods Of that day David
Baehtel attracted my attention rs u
bow more than any Of the others, the
reason Of this was That he was In the
habit OF wearing an lrdian hunting
shirt with gaudy fringe around the
skirt aud edges, which together WIN
shot pouch swung across MS shoulder
and the butcher kuite and tomahawk
and his ponder0us rifle, made HIM
Hook like a formidable character TO me-
| lie never went away from homo With
out this complete 0ullt'
These deer hunters seldom carried u
Bh0t.gun, that was beneath their dlglll'
| w. the nlla wNa their ever reliable
| Wsapon, ana the game or fOe that came
within range Of Their drawn bight, was
generally sure 20 get MT ,,
| wild geese, turkeys, ducks, loNes anu
black aud gray squirrels were Nv eeflllh
seasOns quite plenty; but aiter the mp
pearance of the little red squirrels the
| hne black and gray squirrels began 10
dignppear, ana now | know not lnht
| they are 10 be found anywhere In the
country. In the fall OF 1872 or 1883,
large black and gray squirrels were 30
plenty that ug boys were able WIN
clubs and stones TO capture some III
shorbs woods, which was the tract
now known ~ Shanaielts addition 70
tbe city of Canton. The blocks OF lots
where Louis Englo now resides, on
South Plum street, and that occupied
by Mrs. Isaac llNrter on South Market
street, we're filled with snpllnga ahu
small timber, and often squirrels at
that time were found there. IL was no
uncommon thing NJ such seasons u
have gauirrels come into town, and get
M on the roofs Of houses. For tht
capture OF these nice and frisk little
animals all classes Of hunters would
turn out
The fox chase Of those early days wai
one of great interest; among th0Se pas
sionateIy fond Of this sport were DaYio
Ia, Starkweather an able lawyer OF
that day aud afterward elected u
Congress- from this district, and
also Minister TO Chili under govern
ment appointment, aud Dr, Peter liol
lihan, who was the first dentist thai
ever located IN Canton, and Henry
Troup, who kept u tavern on the site ol
the llnrlord Hotel, aud Dr. H0rmat
Stidqer, who was aitelward u member
OF the constitutional convention, II
/ 1851. g.,
These fox hunters generally KEEP
, trained hounds TO assist them IN theil
sports, aud WHEN they were lefG loos,
the woods for quite u distance arount
would become quite musical, The ehur
rahing of the men and the bowling ant
barking Of the dogs made the welkii
Q ring, but the excitement ana enJoylneh
D of the chase were all the greater. 10
The greatest fisher IN Canton lifty O
sixty years ago, think, was Valentino
Bocltiua, grandfather OF i. V. Bocliu
of our city. lie dearly loved the sport
! even when he got 70 De quito an ole
man. In the early days large llsl
(mostly suckers) were caught by hun
a | dreds In the outlet Of Meyers Lake, 4
y fish house built of logs stood near th
o outlet. Here the fishers would stay al
= night, and visit their nets during th
d night aud take out the fish
q Spearing fish at night, o
I egigglng, as II was called, was much fol
A lowed by our fathers, This was dom
by laying boards across the boat anI
> putting several inches OF earth upol
& them, upon which was built u brlgh
8 fire, then GlowlY rowing their way Il
. the shallow water, the lish could b
!, clearly seen and readily picked up b
; those skilled In the practice. The II
{ strument used consisted Of n four O
4 five prOnged barbed spear or gig fast
d ened TO n pole or handle about ten Fee
long, which was well aimed NJ th
choicest fish, which usually lay In u kin
of n da2ed condition.
y This is the identical gig owned an
l. used by Christian Palmer, who lived o
North Market street, where Mrs. Dt
II muth now has her millinery Bt0r
"a Jacob Palmer brother Of Christian
/ waB also quite q hunter and Usher II
" lived In frame house, standing on th
p identical spot where jacob Miller
beautiful manslon now stands, on Yves
ruscarawps street. ] well remembC
one night being with John 9. BOcRiu
father Of Louis, and my father W III
" upper end Of Meyers lake, now know
as Lakoyiew when they had got abot
as many fish 08 they cared to carry, the
captured the largest turtle ever say
Mr.. Bockius thought 1t quite Il pril
and often afterwards referred TO II.
Fifty years ago wild pigeons wei
very plenty every season aud larg
llocks could DO seen passing over u
town, sometimes almost making VI
II. sgtlh ghaV