The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-07-24
The LEGEND OF OLD
BLACK HORSE TAVERN.
(New York Telegraph.)

The crumbling remnants of Black
Horse tavern are traceable today on the
southwest quarter of Section 26, Union
township, Tuscarawas county, Ohio,
where there are yet living numerous
pioneers who remember the famous old
inn.
Between the years of 1S19 when II
was built, and 1925, the famous old
Black Horse tavern did a fourishing
business. Its hospitality was known to
every teamster who drove his two" or
-four" along the overland freight route
between Cadiz and New Philadelphia,
and it was often said in the pioneer
days of eastern Ohio that freighter
would push his horses eighteen hours
out Of the twenty-four IL thereby he
could spend the night at the BLACK
Horse" Today the broad foundations
of what was once a massive chimney,
surrounded by a slight elevation Of
earth, accumulated by rotted timbers
and woodwork, are all that remain Of
the old hostelry, and they are relics
of an uncanny legend.
The Black Horse tavern has always
been associated with the strange dis
appearance Of one man and the deaths
of two others, the circumstances Of
which have, for almost a century, been
shrouded with mystery, and with the
passage of years the solution of the
curious story Is less likely to be un-
ravelled.
James Boyd, when he built the Black
Horse tavern, built a monument unto
himself. For many years he was its
genial proprietor, and only left for new
fields when weird and unpleasant
things began to be whispered about his
hostelry. Boyd came from County Ty-
rome, Ireland, and drifted westward to
the Ohio border, where he was quick
TO see the need of stopping place for
travellers on the Cadiz-New Philadel-
phia route. The Indian wars were at
an end, and the rich lands of the Tus-
carawas valley were fast being taken
up by pioneers.
Boyd was a quaint character, who
developed along with the growth Of
Eastern Ohio. His hospitality and his
quick Irish wit were things talked
about by those who stopped with him.
He was as well known in the squatter
days as a senator or CONGRESSMAN IL
known nowadays.
We &c Atii III IOOl, uc Wdb WOTt
to say to belated travellers asking for
lodging. but theys alwas room fer
wan more"
He would put three in a bed, IL nec-
essary, or give his guests temporary
pallets in the Railways OF office. but
he would not turn away traveller.
Boyd's patronage consisted mainly of
transient trade, but after the tavern
began to do thriving business two
permanent guests made their
headquarters with him. They were
dark-eyed strangers who said they
hailed from Philadelphia, Pa. This
much information the two men
volunteered but In the many months
they stopped at the Black Horse tavern
little more was known Of their life OF
history. They were gamblers and
thereby made their living. Night after
night, week af.er week, and month
after month, Sound them at the gam.
ing table at the tavern bar. where they
played the coming and going teamsteri
and other travellers for the highes'
stakes that could be made. rsf
The gamblers dressed well. talked
well and played well, but drank little
At first Boyd rather looked upon then
with disfavor, but AZ they paid theiI