The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-10-04
OLD LAND MARKS NO. 1902
BY John Danner.

Now that another presidential cam
paign is opening | am reminded of
what took place in Canton, in Stark
county, and very generally all over
the nation GA years ago. At that
time we had no railroads in the coun-
ty, and the great bulk of the wheat
raised in Stark, Wayne and Holmes
counties was taken to Massillon for
market and shipped by canal to Cleve-
land. 1t was during those times that
Massillon, very properly, was known
throughout this region as the Wheat
City" Among the largest wheat buy
ers in Massillon oU years ago were H..
B. & M. ID. Wellnan, l.. & S. Rawson
and Jesse RhodGs,, and the piisrimages
made by farmers for 30 miles east and
west of Massiilon were so great that
many country taverns were opened
along the roads leading to Massiiion
to accommodate the farmers going to
or returning from that place, which
at that time was the great wheat mar
ket of this region. At one time there
were four country taverns between
Canton and Massillon. Flooms, Wertz,
Baheys and Aliens were the best
known in those days between the two
towns, and at certain seasons Of the
year all these taverns had all they
could do to take care Of the farmers
that went to Massillon with their
wheat.
During the memorable campaign Of
1910, when General William Henry
Harrison was the Whig candidate for
president, and Martin Van Buren, the
Democratic candidate, was the most
exciting campaign 1 have ever witness
ed. 1t was during that campaign that
coon signs and hard cider were much
in evidence, and the singing Of cam
paign songs, such as
"Old Tips the boy to swing the fail
And make the Locos all turn pale"
Great parades of political gatherings
were quite common that season. 1t
was during that campaign that the
first band of music was organized in
Canton. 1t was known as the Canton
Independent band, and George Faber
was the leader. Very soon after the
organization and drilling of this band
a beautiful band wagon was built for
said band. and the band became so
popular that they were often called for
to go into other counties, and attracted
much attention all over the state.
The popularity of the Whig band
very soon aroused the Democrats. also
to organize band In Canton, known
as the Democratic band. They also
had very good wagon built for the
band. The Independent, or Whig band
had their wagon highly ornamented,
the colors being mostly red and black,
with great deal of gold bronze. The
Democratic band wagon was Just as
good wagon as the other, but not
nearly so deliberately ornamented. This
wagon was painted cream color with
some stripping and trimming.
The teacher of the bands that sea-
son was the late II. j, Nathnagle. He
was then resident of Canton, and
married Miss LYDIA Kaufman. He was
fine instructor of music, After leav-
ing Canton Mr.. Nathnagle went to Col
umbus, o., and was the instructor of
music in the blind asylum of that city
for more than 80 years. Mr.. Nathnagle
died few years ago, but his widow is
still living, quite advanced in years.
Mrs, M. NJ. Herbst, of this city, is sis
ter of Mrs. Nathnagle.
Also at that time the late Peter
Kaufman was publishing German
Democratic paper in Canton. He lived
at the corner of Ninth and Market
streets, where the Herbst family re-
sides. In addition to publishing Ger
man Democratic paper, Mr.. Kaufman