The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-02-03

tory of
THE CHARITY ROTCH SCHOOL.
This meeting of the Stark County
Horticultural Society is the first believe
held at the Charity Rotch School, and
thought it would not be out of place TO
give little sketch of the good woman
who left her property for so laudable an
object.
We are in Perry towship which was
organized in 1874 and named Perry in
honor of Olive Hazard Perry the hero OF
the victory on lake Erie in September
1873. The board of CountyCommission-
ers of Stark county on December 9TH
1873 ordered that the tenth township of
the ninth range be known as Perry and
the inhabitants Of said township meet at
the house Of Samuel Patton, in Kendall
on the last saturday in February and elect
township officers. No record exists of
those elected, nor in deed is there a rec
ord of township officials until 1925. Daily
papers were not then published here
abouts, nor weeklics either to chronicle
what tranpired and official matters do
not seem to have been recorded in blank
books for preservation. At least if so,
these have not been preserved.
Prominent among the settlers in 1912
were Thomas Rotch and his wife Charity.
Their church connection was that Of
Friends, or Quakers, and they were ma
tlves of New Bedford Massachusetts, but
settled in Hartford Conn. and came from
there to Kendall Kendall was laid out
by Mr., RotCh in 1871. He soon built a
wooden factory and saw mill, the power
being the Sippo stream, still flowing but
not utilized as formerly.
Mr Rotch died in 1923 at Mount Pleas
ant, Jefferson county where he was at
tending a Quaker yearly meeting. His
age was So. Charity Rotch the widow
died August 9th 1924 and never having
been blessed with offspring she left the
bulk of her property by will for the
founding of benevolent institution for
the education of destitute orphans and
INDECENT children, that they may be
trained in habits of industry and econ
omy; it is my will that my executors
convert the remainder of my property,
both real and personal into money as
soon as practicable, and place the same
in permanent funds, the interest of
which to be solely applied to said insti-
tuition.
She also suggested farm, if the same
should prove sufficient and common
English education. Esquire Folger in
his full and interesting sketch of Perry
township says "the testatrix had no idea
what tn amount would be-" The execu-
tors Arvine Wales and Mathew Macy,
after settling the estate and paying the
legacies found they had 10000 for the
school project of this noble Quaker wo-
man who in her life never forgot the
poor and needy The fund was carefully
managed and Mr.. Wales bought this farm
of IS5 acres and the main building was
commenced in 1912 aud the school was
opened with ten scholars in 1914 with
Philander Dawley as Superintendent.
The plan adopted was that when full
there should be 20 boys and as many girls
that they should be over II and under IS
years of agelandIshould be indentured for
4 years, the boys to be taught farming
and the girls hause-work and plain sew
ing; and the arrangements should be, as
far as possible on the plan of the family.
And this continues to be carried out.
Mr.. Dawley resigned in 1854 and was
succeeded by Ira NJ. Allen, lately deceased.
MIR. Allen resigned in 1864.
Soon after the death of Charity Rotch
the Ohio canal was begun and in 1926
Massillon was laid out. The WORK on the
canal put money in circulation, and the
caual was opened from Akron to Massil-
Ion August 25th 1928. After this there
was chauce to get produce to market
and goods here and thus trade and pros.
perity reached this region. Mr.. Folger
relates that in 1926 his father Capt. May
hew Foiger sold 100 barrels of -four at $2
a barrel. Massillon soon became, after
the opening of the canal the great bus
ness place for a great distance round
about.
These lines were written to remind us
all of the noble, thoughtful and generous
woman who left her means for so noble
purpose. Much credit is due to Arvine
Wales for the care and fidelity with which
he carried out the wishes of the testator.
For seven years this institution has
been under the supervision of Mr.. and
Mrs, A. R. Hanna by whose kind invita-
ton the Society was permitted to hold
its first meeting for the year 1898 within
the walls dedicated to so noble purpose
by so noble woman.
And if the Spirits of the departed are
cognizant of the things of Earth, then
may Charity Rotch from her Angel home
rejoice that her earthly bequests have not
fallen into unworthy hands. For from
the 20 mild eyed Jersey cows, every one
eligible to registration, up to the IS ro-
bust intelligent, happy children, comes
evidences of the masterful management
of the institution.
One room of the building has been set
apart as a sick room or hospital, but so
healthy have the children all been that
during Mr.. Hanna's seven years of ad-
ministration il has never been used.
Some one remarki zinc hovy nice the chill