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

race. and James Smith by strangling
his antagonist
Neither of the missionaries after
ward returned to this mission. Post
was here about four months and
Heckewelder six months. But little
was accomplished In that brief period,
but 1t opened the way TO important
missions which succeeded 1t. Follow
ing this there was q series of mis-
sions established along the Tusca-
rawas valley little further south,
which were conducted by the Revs.
zeisberger, Heckewelder, Smuck, Jung,
Roth, Jungman, Schweinitz and 9TH
ers, which were productive of much
good in preventing the Delawares from
engaging in the bloody border wars
which shortly afterward followed.
The site of the Post cabin even in
recent years was still indicated by
the chimney stones which remain, and
the absence of timber in Gods Gar
den" and is just about three-fourths
of mile above the bridge on the
road leading from Bolivar to Canton,
below spur or point of the hill
which approaches the river above 1t.
This was the first house built by
white men in the state of Ohio, ex-
cept few Jesuit cabins and trading
houses on the Indian trails that pass
ed through the state, and was located
at the point where the great Indian
trail from Sandusky to Fort Pitt
crosses the Tuscarawas river above
the bend, and one mile north of the
present town of Bolivar.
GODS GARDEN"
Having become satisfied that he was
now upon the ground where the mis-
sionaries had occupied during their
brief residence near the Indian capt.
tai in 1862, Mr.. Westfell made still
further search in order to give full
description of the locality to those Of
his friends who might be coming to
this part of the west in search of
homes. The trip of today had been
one of great Importance. Here these
men In their zeal for the salvation and
uplifting Of the heather Indian from
darkness and ignorance, had been will
ing to forsake the comforts and luxu-
rles of home, and suffer untold priva-
tions and tolls, with no other personal
reward in view save the satisfaction
and joy derived from having done a
Christian duty, and being the humble
instruments in Gods hands of point
ing out to the poor, ignorant native
of the forest the way of salvation and
righteousness. Having chosen this as
their work, no other occupation, no
matter how great the compensation
might be, and how much of earthly
honor and respect would be heaped
upon them in the discharge of Its re-
quirements, all was sacrificed in their
labor to lead mankind to that great
reward in the future, even everlast-
ing life.
The place where the cabin stood
and the open ground still destitute OF
large timber marking the location of
Gods Garden" is at the present day
place of frequent resort. Persons
WlSulHB CO DeCOIlo dCqudihlOu WIN
this historic place often come, some
times from great distances, to see and
walk over the ground where the first
white people trod the state when as
yet it was a wild, uncultivated wilder
ness.
Mr.. Westfell now started to retrace
his steps to the traders cabin, sat
isfied that his days Investigations had
been a profitable one. He knew very
well from descriptions given him by
those who had penetrated these wilds
before him that he was not mistaken
in the locality. and the place where
he had passed a part of the day had
been the home of these two men for
a brief period of time, almost half
century before.
ITO be continued.)