The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-11-18
EARNEST HOBBY IS
RIDDEN BY OLDEST
MAN IN COUNTY
Godfrey Danner Of Mas
siIIon, Works for Ship
Canal.
join The Ohio and GREAT lakes.
GODFREY DANNER of Massillon

GODFREY DANNEIt, of Massillon
~ although nearly 81 years of age,
Is yet a great student of economics
and industrial projects and even now
at his advanced age is still working
for and advocating a shin canal across
the state of Ohio. The one ambition
of the old man is to see the culmi-
nation of this great project for which
he for many years has been strong
advocate. Mr.. Danner has been a iea-
ident of Massillon for 62 years. He
saw the beginning of the Ohio canal
and saw the early development of his
city mainly due to that waterway
With the falling off Of traffic with the
advent Of the railroads this old man
now wishes only to see the constrlic-
ton of ship canal which will con-
meet the great lakes With the southern
waters.
At the last meeting Of the Massil-
lon board Of trade Mr.. Danner was
present and asked to brin. his plans
and ideas before the board lie was
not heard because of much other bus
mess but he will be given an audi
cnce at the next meeting. Several of
the representative citizens of Massil.
lon have become interested in the old
mans plans and say that his ideas are
feasible AMI probably practical.
His plan Is not to convert the pres
ent dilapitated waterway into ship
canal but 10 follow the channels Of the
Cuyahoga, Tuscarawas and Mnskiu-.
gum rivers across Ohio He has a.
plan by which he claims the big wa
terway can be built by the federal
government without gigantic outlay
of money. 1t is this plan he wants to
reveal to the board of trade.
Mr.. Danner is the, Oldest man in
Massillon and probably the Oldest in
Stark county. He enjoys good health
both physically and mentally. He
can walk several miles at a stretch
and feel but little fatigued. But
strangest of all he regularly shaves
himself 1t is his opinion that not
another man in the state his age can
do that and do it as easily as he can.
He reads his evening paper without
the aid of glasses
The plan which he proposes for his
ship canal, while a hobby yet not an
eccentricity, takes up n good part Of
his conversation with all whom he
can interest. He was born in Ger
many and speaks the German Ian
guage better than English yet he is
practically American and watches with
great interest the welfare of his adopt-
ed country and especially the city in
which he lives. With Massillon sit
uated on a ship canal he sees great
possibilities ahead
Mr.. Banner now makes h's home
with his granddaughter, Mrs.
Reicheimer, In State street in Massil-
lon. His wife died many years ago
and for many years thereafter he lived
alone In Akron street. At one time
he was the owner Of most of tho sec
tion OF MassillCn which is now Akron
and State streets. His benevolent gifts
have amounted to hindretis OF dollars.
He contributed largely 20 81. rauls
Lutheran church In Ma ssillon. giving
much money and at enc time gave
the bell which now harris in the
church tower. Most of his estate he
divided among his five children, all
of whom reside in MassiIlon.
Most Of his life he spent as a shoe
maker, but for several years previous |
to his retirement he was in the real |
estate business. He says he feels as
hale and hearty today as he did a
dozen years ago. He says that his on
ly desire now is that he NAV live to
zee a ship canal across OH, or at
least to know that his plan will re-
ceive consideration.