The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-02-26

Along from 1910 to 1872 the Indians
were quite troublesome along our
northwestern borders, and our piol-
GERS were in constant jeopardy from
them, and Great Britain showed her
sympathy with the Indians, SO that in
June, 1872, war was declared against
Great Britain and before this time an
act of congress authorized an increase
in our regular army of 5000, and many
volunteers came forward.
Under this act Governor r. J. Meigs
then governor Of Ohio, raised three
regiments of troops to serve twelve
months; their headquarters were at
Dayton; Duncan Macarthur was the coll
onel of the first; James Findlay of the
second, Lewis Cass of the third regi-
ment. And a fourth regiment came
from Urbana, under the command of
Col. Miller, who had been in the battle
of Tippecanoe.
About the middle of June this little
army of about $500 men under the
command of Governor w. Hull, of Mich
gan, started towards the northwestern
part of the state, landing on the Maui
NEE river, having on their march erect
ed Forts Macarthur, Necessity and
Findlay. BY carelessness on the part
of the government no official word had
been sent to the frontier regarding
the war. while the British had taken
advantage Of this oversight, to be ready
to take our men by storm. While on the
borders of the Maumee the personal
effects OF our army fell into the hands
of the enemy: and that campaign ended
in demoralizing the army and ig-
nominous defeat, greatly dis
couraging further efforts for a
while. AS near as can be
ascertained Canton at that time was
headquarters for the third regiment of
the second brigade, of the fourth divi-
sion of Ohio militia. When a call for
troops was issued George Stidger,
who had seen military service in the
east, and had been honored with the
title of general, was made captain Of
the Canton company. There were not
enough volunteers so a draft was made,
and 500 was the standard price for
substitutes, which enabled the company
to be brought up to about seventy-five
men. After some research the follow
ing list of the names of members of
this company was obtained by the third
auditor of the United States Treasury:
George Stidger, captain; Robert Cam
eron, lieutenant Daniel Mcclure, en-
sign; John Miller, John Shorb, William
V. Chamberlain, Christian Flickinger,
sargeants; John Rowland, George
Cribbs, Jacob Essig, Moses Andrews,
corporals; Thomas Nelly, bugler; and
the following privates: Ezekial Alex
ander, William Andrews, Thomas Alex
ander, William Brouse, John Gutshall
0ikely GottshalD, John Clinger.
George Crasimore, John Carper, Benja-
min Croninger, Garret Crusen, Alex
ander Cameron, Samuel Duck, George
Dewalt, Adam Essig, John Elder.
Daniel Farber, James Graf
Thomas Graft, Thomas Hurford, John
Kroft, John Koontz, George
fitzpatrick, Henry Livingston, Samuel
McClelland, George Monroe, Jacob
Myers, James Moore, John Potts, Sam.
uel Patton, John Rogers, Abraham
Roose, James Riddle, John Risey
Jacob Swigert, John Slusser. William
Smith, Daniel Stephens, Thomas
Shields, John Shineberger, Jacob Slus-
ser, Robert Sorrels, and Bazabeel
Thompson. It is not known whether
this was the list when they enlisted OF
Captain Stidger's company camped
for several weeks at Wooster, where
there was q block house; finally the
company received orders to go forward
toward the Maumee, near where Perrys'
burg is now located. They remained
there for some time, but saw no active
service, and were finally mustered out
For sometime after this. they otter
met for drill and parade feeling tha
there might still be sudden call fol
them to defend their homes and coun
try, but that time did not come to then
as an organization.
After the war of 1872, militia training,
or musters were much in vogue and oacl
season, until about the middle OF las
century, they were given up. These an
nual gatherings brought good many
people gathered from all parts of tn,
county; the place Of meeting was mos
frequently In Canton. although quit,
often they met In Osnaburg, and few
other towns in the county. When the,
met in Canton the Stidger ten-acr,
field was the usual place for meeting ant
drilling; this tract then consisted of .
field beginning at the south
west corner of South and Wells streets
running south to South street. west t
Marion, then north to seventh stree
and east to Wells street. No building
were then on this large tract Of beauti
ful land except barn that stood 10