The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-04-09
The Old Canals Of Stark
County Before
THE RAILROAD DAYS
interesting "Reminiscences by
Mr.. John Oanner--Rivairy
Between Canton and
Massjllon,

our pioneers nad no other means OF
transportation than the ordinary wagon
roads and those mostly in poor condi-
tion. with very few bridges PittSburg,
one hundred miles to the east was the
principal market Cleveland in those
days was in its infancy. Wheat had no
cash market at home, 1t was often used
rs barter or exchange for other articles
but for money it could not be sold In
1925. an act was passed by our state
legislature giving a charter for the
building of the Ohio canal, to run from
Cleveland. Ohio. to the Ohio river. In
December. 1925. the line was located
between Massillon and Akron; from
Akron to Cleveland il had been located
a short time before. The work was
contracted all along the line and was
very rapidly constructed, so that by
1890 the canal was opened from Cleve.
land TO Portsmouth This was looked
upon as a wonderful enterprise, and of
great Importance to all citizens. and
especially to farmers, who would now
have an outlet for their wheat and
other products.
When the canal was first built
through Massillon, there were but few
small houses or cabins in the place.
Kendall, which is now one of the wards
of Massillon, and is located just north
Of the electric power house, then was
an older and more populous place. But
very soon men of enterprise and bust
ness tact came to Massillon and at once
erected large warehouses and opened
stores, and were ready to buy all the
wheat for cash that was offered. Among
these men were l.. and S. Rawson, II. p.
and NJ. ID. Wellman, Jesse Rhodes. thn
Johnsons and others, so that many
others were soon attracted to Massillon
and it was not long, until throughout
this region, it was known as the Wheat
City"
The thrift and growth of Massillon
from 1880 to 1850 was wonderful. Very
soon after the merchants referred to,
G. M. Russell, the pioneer of the Rus
sells, who afterwards became the great
manufactuI ers of that town, located
there and the success of the Russell
works runs pa allel with the history
and prosperity of that city from that
day to this.
The Sandy and Beaver canal was
built few years after the Ohio canal.
southeast corner, Waynesburg and
Magnolia were on the line. 1t was in
tended as a feeder in the supply of
water as well as commerce, to the Ohio
canal. but for various causes, it was
abandoned nearly fifty years ago.
But the canal that interested the
people of Canton most in those days
was known as the Nimishillen and
Sandy Slack Water Navigation COM
pany.. 1t was the intention to build this
canal from Canton via the Nimishillen
and Sandy creeks to the Sandy and Bea-
yer canal, to few miles east of where
the latter Joined the Ohio canal. In
order to reach Cleveland by canal it
would have required to 60 about 80
miles around before they would have
reached Massillon, their competitor
which would have been much against
the trade Of Canton. But all the busi-
ness men of Canton took great deal
of interest in this project. When the
ground was first broken on Walnut
street for the construction of this canal
the largest plow that could be obtained
in the country. drawn by ten yoke of
oxen was used, making furrow large
enough to doat little,boat. The con-
tractor for building the canal in Canton
was the late Rodman Lovett, fatker
of Mrs. John III. Smith and Mrs. John A.
Hay, who yet live in the city. Mr..
Lovett performed his work well, so
that the canal running from North
street south or Walnut to the present
Pennsylvania rail road, thence directly
westward across the Aultman works
etr
at Navarro, and from there south on
the west side of Market street to the
south creek. was. all finished ready for
the water.
After all this work was done, 1t was
found that the Sandy and Beaver canal
was not success. and that for the want
of funds the project was likely to prove
failure. 1t was also discovered that
Shriyer's run from which it
was expected to supply the
canal with water down as far
as the south creek was not sufficient
and altogether with other difficulties
and complications, caused the work
to cease right there. Many thousands
of dollars were lost in this operation
and Walnut street for years stood as
q witness of the folly of those early
days. 1t was more frequently called
Canal street than Walnut. Finally
the old ditch was graded to a level Of
the ground, but not until after much
murmuring and complaint on the part
of the citizens who lived on Walnut
street. The canal was never filled with
water. much less was 1t ever used for
the purpose of floating wheat and other
products to market.
For many years after the above fail
ure to have canal In Canton. Massil-
Ion controlled the heavy produce, not
only of Stark county, but of quite a
number of counties, such as Wayne and
Holmes. and even Carroll, Columbiana
and Jefferson counties sent much of
their crops to the Massillon market.
From 1910 to 1850 the great tide OF
trade that went through Canton To