The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-05-11
BY Jacob Smith.

a preacher of righteousness among the
Delaware and Seneca tribes of Indians
In the year 1862.
Many of these men far in advance
of civilization and enlightenment
among the savage Indians. and the
rude and uncultlvated white settlers
came into the wilderness to seek and
cabin was ready for It's occupants,
and long before the school house and
court house were erected, each or
which served in early days for places
of religious worship, these pioneer
heralds and teachers of the Gospel
blazed their way through the dense
and wild forests; and in the woods
and cabins among the settlers and
resident Indians. have began Their
mission by calling and exhorting their
fellowmen to forsake the ways of sin
and transgression, and to accept of the
ways of righteousness and purity of
| life. They considered no toll or labor
on their part too great, or hardships
|
the sons of the forest from their wild
and savage modes Of worship, and the
early settler to the knowledge of a
! simple faith and pure child-like form
of obedience to the great commands
given in the word of God Very much
might be written concerning the
la5ors, tolls and sufferings through
which these pioneer ministers of the
! Christian faith passed and endured in
their efforts to bring the savages and
settlers within the fold of God, and
who have done so much in the way
of civilization and instruction in the
arts and sciences as then understood,
as we'll as in the faith and duties of
pure and simple Christianity.
AN EARLY MISSIONARY.
1t was some time during the sum
mer of the year 1861 that this Chris
tian Frederick Post, a Moravian min
lister. came from Bethlehem, Pa, to
establish a mission among the Della
ware and Seneca tribes of Indians.
Finding here what he supposed to be
favorable point for the accomplish
ment of his purpose, he erected log
cabin near the old Delaware capital
Con the banks Of the Tuscarawas riv-
err in the southeast corner of what is
at present known as section No. 26
of Bethlehem township Stark county,
o., on land now owned by Mrs. Adam
Shaeffer. The cabin was built upon
the north bank of the Tuscarawas riv-
er, which at this place is the line be-
tween Stark and Tuscarawas coun-
ties.
Post was a regularly ordained min
lister in the Moravian church, but act
ed of his own choice In this work, and
independent of the Moravian assocfa-
ton at Bethlehem. Pa, of which he
was a member, He had previous to
this time married an Indian woman
of the Iroquois tribe, and the church
by reason of this matrimonial alIl-
ance. did not recognize him any long
er as leader among them, but was
placed under the leadership and guild
SNSS VI NAOLhCi lWutH
ing among them) who directed him in
his work and managed the affairs of
the society in which they labored.
Whenever he chose to labor independ-
emily of the church, he was permitted
to do SO, and had the good wishes
and prayers of the association to go
with him.
Immediately after putting up the
cabin he returned to Pennsylvania to
hunt an associate who could teach the
Indian children to read and write,
while he devoted his time and efforts
to preaching to the adults. How long
he remained in Stark county at the
time the cabin was built is not def
nitely known. but in all probability not
more than a month or six weeks.
Shortly after Mr.. Posts return to
Pennsylvania he discovered a suitable
associate and helper in the person OF
John Ernestus Heckewelder, who was
at this time young man but 10 years
of age. and was serving an appren-
ticeship to a cooper who manufac-
tuTed cedar vessels, from whom he
had to be released In order to go, as
a portion of the time contracted for
to learn the trade still remained to
serve out. Heckewelder had been tor
some time under the instruction of
the Moravian association, and was fit
ting himself for the work of the min
istry which he intended to follow as
his labor in lfe.
Post and Heckewelder left their
homes at Bethlehem for their new
field of labor. starting about the first
of March, 1862. and after stormy
journey through spring foods and
freshets which frequently delayed
them for several days together, they
finally. after about forty days of Sc
we're hardships and toll, succeeded in
reaching the log cabin In Stark coun-