The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1910-03-17
Interesting Paper BY Miss Lille
B. x. Herbst, Read at Hor-
ticulturaI Society Meeting.


The March meeting of the Stark
County Horticultural society was held
old Kaufman home), No. 1856 South
Market street. On this occasion an
interesting account of this landmark
of Canton was read by Miss Herbst,
g granddaughter of the owner. The
paper follows:
Members of the Horticultural So
ciety and friends, we today bid you
welcome into the oldest home of our
city. AS few of you will know Of the
history of this ancient landmark,
have prepared brief paper for your
benefit.
1.-The old Kaufman home, located on
the corner of Market and Ninth streets.
was built the year 1911, and bought
by my grandfather, Peter Kaufman, III
the year 1892, before the last of the
red men were driven from our soil
Peter Kaufman, wife and family
took possession of this home, after a
very tiresome overland trip from their
Columbiana county farm, making the
trip part of the way in wagons, and
the rest on foot. A pet COW accom-
panied the household to the new home
and was led by my grandmother the
entire distance.
''Tbis home was built for tavern,
and used as such for years until ii
came into possession of MIR. Kaufman.
During the building of this home,
while the carpenters were upon the
roof shingling, as the story goes, and
told by Judge Sewers, father. an ap-
prentice at carpentering, in the midst
of their work in the early afternoon,
darkness appeared. which finally pre-
vented the men from proceeding with
their work, chickens went to roost,
and the people became alarmed, not
knowing what it meant, and fearing
the world was coming to an end. 1t
was some time before it was learned
it was an eclipse of the sun. Day
light was again hailed with much JOY.
In those days the almanac was scarce
reading matter.
Peter Kaufman was the first to
publish an almanac in this part of
the country, which was carried across
the state of Ohio and into Pennsyl-
vania in old fashioned peddler wagons
10 the old Quaker City of Philadel-
phia. Here a good portion of the
trading was done for the little town.
The necessaries Of life, merchandise,
books and drugs, the latter of which
was little needed in those days, We're
exchanged for the little almanac.
''The receipt of this little book was
hailed with as much pleasure as we
today look to our daily papers. Peter
Kaufman also edited and published
the German paper called Der Water
lands Freund und Geister Lett trans
lated, The Fatherland's Friend and
Spirit of the Age Besides his able
corps of assistants he was assisted in
his printing establishment by his
faithful wife, who with him worked
hard for the welfare of his paper and
to enlighten its readers.
within the walls of this home We're
raised a large family of children, all
row deceased, with the exception
of one son and three daughters-H.
s. Kaufmann, cashier of City National
bank, Canton; Mrs. Lydia Urthnagle
Of Columbus, o.; Mrs. Louise Behlen,
Cleveland, O.; and Mrs. Maria NJ
Herbst, who with her family live in
the cid home.
Here also were born two of Can
tons most prominent and pioneer cit
izens, James A. Saxton, now deceas-
ed, whose father, John Saxton, pub
lished the Canton Repository for
many years.
John F. Reynolds, deceased, for
years owner of Canton's gas and coke
plant, was also born here. Mr.. Rey-
nolds' kindness and generosity of soul
is still in evidence on our public
square, where man and the poor dumb
brute can quench their thirst. The
memory of such men will ever live in
the heart of his fellowman.
'Mr Kaufman in politics was an
ardent and very enthusiastic Demo-
crat.
'It was during the administration
of General Jackson that Johnathan F.
Woodside of Chillicothe received the
appointment of charge d'affaires to
Denmark. Mr.. Woodside arranged a
trip over his state before his departure
as diplomat to a foreign country.
Mr.. Woodside and my grandfather be-
ing very good friends, an invitation
was extended and accepted by Mr..