The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-05-04


and they would then remain there un-
til in state of profuse perspiration,
while in this conditions they would
emerge from the pit, run down the
steep bank, six or eight rods to the
river, then plunge in and under the
water for a short time. The reac-
ton from a state of great warmth to
directly opposite condition was
thought to be effectual in counteract-
ing and throwing off disease. Posi-
bly, such may have been the case in
instances, but from the present day
medical standpoint, we would natur-
ally suppose that the first part of the
treatment (sweating) would be suffi-
cient without the cold bath, unless
the disease was of such a character
that heroic treatment was necessary
in order to check it's further progress.
The trader occupying the cabin had
located at this point as place where
he would have greater access to the
rowing bands of Indians, as they gen
orally followed the well beaten trails
of their ancestors from one place to
another. Here at this point there was
another trail from the south which
joined the great path from east to
west. and the majority of the Indians
residing in the Tuscarawas and Mus
kingum valleys came to this place to
barter their furs for ammunition and
such articles as they needed. 1t was
kind of central point and more trad
ing was done here than at any other
place along the great thoroughfare.
WESTFELL'S TRIP.
AS we have before stated, the pur-
pose of Mr.. Westfell in taking this
trip was in part to learn as much as
possible about the Tuscarawas valley,
it's present condition and fitness for
settlement since the border conflicts
between the Indians and whites had
ceased it's richness and fertility, and
also to gain some knowledge of the
primitive inhabitants who had for gen.
erations past travelled up and down
the valley; and who had made such
strenuous efforts to maintain posses
sion of what had been transmitted to
them by their ancestors frdtn one gen.
Grafton to another during many scores
and hundreds of moons. Here they
had roamed unmolested from time i'm
memorial, except as they occasion
ally warred among themselves, and in
all this time of occupancy there would
certainly be many evidences left in
the ruins of their deserted villages,
towns and hamlets, from which some
knowledge could be gained by a study
of them, and from traditions which
had been handed down from parent to
child and those among the settlers
then resident in the valley, who could
tell from actual experience what they
had endured in their conflicts with the
natives through those trying times,
when each was laboring to their ut
most to exterminate the other and to
gain or retain possession of the rich
hunting grounds along the river val
ley.
After night of refreshing sleep in
the traders cabin, Mr.. Westfell arose
and prepared to enter upon the duties
which had brought him to this place.
The first thing that he did after par
taking of we'll prepared breakfast
by the traders wife, was to ascend
the steep bank above the cabin, and
when upon the highest part by climb
ing a small tree he could overlook all
the plain below him for several miles
in extent. From his place of observa-
tion he was more than one hundred
feet above the level of the plain bor-
dering upon the river, and the signt
that greeted his eyes was one of joy,
rapture and pleasure. Like a thread
of silver winding its way along
through the plain at the base of the
hills, was the river outlined below
him in all the beauty that a balmy,
produce. An occasional opening could
be seen in the surrounding forest
where the settler had erected his cabin
and also the deserted Indian village
on the opposite side of the river. The
settlers who had located here were
each intent upon securing a liveli-
hood, and this rich, luxuriant valley
having all the qualities necessary to
productiveness and wealth, had been
chosen by them as the place where a
home would be an earthly paradise
A HAPPY VALLEY.
To the vision of the tourist as far
as the eye could penetrate there was
the same richness of scene and appa-
rently the same good qualities in the
virgin soil. The bright green foliage
with which the trees were clothed, and
the general rankness of the vegeta-
ton which grew along the banks of
the river in almost impenetrable
thickness, all bore evidence to the
fact that here was one of the choice