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

lead
The day following the scenes which
have been described in the last chap
ter, Mr. Westfen started out on an
other tour of investigation in order
to crafty his desire to obtain more
knowledge of that part of the country
which he was now visiting. He was
very wall aware that a large field lay
before him in which, if all the past
transactions and work OF the primi-
time inhabitants who had lived with
in its territory could be told, the
lives, the history, the customs, ETC..
if properly collected. would make a
volume of very interesting reading
matter, especially so to the person who
was anxious to acquire knowledge of
some of the events and thrilling
scenes which had occurred within its
bounds The great thing that en-
crossed his attention for the time be-
ing was to secure something by way
of information that would be reliable,
anu NilNI lhl5hJ bO SlNOh ~ Inv
world as measurably correct and
which could be relied upon. 1t would
be no difficult matter for him or any
other person so disposed to sit down
and give free scope to their magma
tions in picturing a country, giving to
1t every good quality that could be
enumerated, or vice versa, region
devoid of every quality, prolific or
otherwise and no better than waste
and barren land What was necessary
in order to make his statement, which
should be given to the world, one OF
truth and correct in every particular
so far as possible, would be to secure
information bearing directly upon }
different phases and scenes which
came under his study and observation.
When visiting a particular place and
studying its general features with
out some definite information from
Others familiar with it's past history,
he could do no more than come to
some conclusion which the appear
ance of the place would seem to JUS
tify, and by conjecturing, which would
leave the matter in a very uncertain
condition with regard to it's reliable
ity or truthfulness.
Having determined that no knowl-
edge obtained by him should be trans
mitted to the world without sufficient
evidence to give to it the stamp OF
truth; or failing in this, to allow his
fellowmen the right to form their own
conclusions after having heard his
version of the affair, as it was learn
ed by him in his investigation
From the place where the traders
cabin stood, in order to follow along
the bank of the river toward it's
source, it will be necessary to go al
most directly west for a distance Of
a mile or more, the river making an
abrupt bend of almost a perfect angle
but a few rods above the cabin; from
there on down the valley the general
direction is pretty near southwest 10
its termination at Coshocton.
A PIONEER CLEARING.
In his trip today he concluded to
follow along the north bank of the
river until some place of interest or
portion of country rich in the ~ ces-
sary qualities of soil and general lay
of surface, to make it an especially
desirable place to select as a location
should meet his gaze. After going
a short distance he came to a small
creek flowing south and emptying IN
to the river but a few rods above
where the road and bridge of the pres
day crosses that stream from Can
ton to Bolivar. Here a narrow plain
extending some distance north on
either side of the brook was crossed,
and continuing his way on about one
half mile further, the chain of hills be-
fore mentioned juts down close to the
bank of the river, leaving but mar
row space of ground between the base
of the hills and the river for a con-
siderable distance.
Here at the foot of the hills he came
to an open place in the forest resem-
bling in some degree large garden
1t did not require very close inspec-
tion of the opening to see that at some
period during the past the timber had
been removed by the hand of man.
The absence of timber from this par
tieular place alone, when surrounding
II upon all sides was a rich and luxu-
RANT growth of heavy forest, was suf-
ficient evidence to settle In the mind
of the tourist that it was the work
of man. and his natural curiosity was
to learn if possible when and by whom
the clearing had been made. A part
of the cleared space was covered with
growth of small trees and shrubs,
showing that for some years past
there had been no work done upon 1t,
and 1t had been suffered to grow up
and become wild again. At the east
end of the open space good spring of