TUSCARAWAS COUNTY OHIO - HISTORY: County History Part 10 *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Submitted by: MRS GINA M REASONER Email: AUPQ38A@prodigy.com Date: August 16, 1999 *********************************************************************** HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF OHIO By Henry Howe, LL.D., 1898 TUSCARAWAS COUNTY PART 10 PLODDING INDUSTRY. -The sound of the horn at daybreak calls them to their labors. They mostly work in groups, in a plodding but systematic manner that accomplishes much. Their tools are usually coarse, among which is the German scythe, short and unwieldy as a bush-hook, sickles without teeth, and hoes clumsy and heavy as the mattock of the Southern slave. The females join in the labors of the field, hoe, reap, pitch hay, and even clean and wheel out in barrows the offal of the stables. Their costume and language are that of Germany. They are seen about the village going to the field with implements of labor across their shoulders, their faces shaded by immense circular rimmed hats of straw -or with their hair combed straight back from the foreheads and tied under a coarse blue cap of cotton, toting upon their heads baskets of apples or tubs of milk. Systematic division of labor is a prominent feature in their domestic economy, although here far from reaching its attainable perfection. Their clothing is washed together, and one bakery supplies them with bread. A general nursery shelters all the children over three years of age. There these little pocket editions of humanity are well cared for by kind dames in the sere and yellow leaf. AN ECONOMICAL BONIFACE. -The selfishness so prominent in the competitive avocations of society is here kept from its odious development by the interest each strikingly manifests in the general welfare, as only thus can their own be promoted. The closet economy is shown in all their operations -for as the good old man Kreutzner, the Boniface of the community, once observed in broken English, when starting on a bee line for a decaying apple cast by a heedless stranger into the street -"saving make rich!" Besides acting as host in the neat village inn, this man Kreutzner is the veterinary Aesculapius of this society, carrying out the universal economy still further by practicing on the homeopathic principles! Astonishing are the results of his skill on his quarto-limbed patients, who, from rolling an and snorting under acute pains of the abdominal viscera, are, by the melting on the lips of their tongues of a few pills of an infinitesimal size, lifted into a comfortable state of physical exaltation. With all the peculiarities of their religious faith and practice we are unacquainted; but, like most sects denominated Christian, there is sufficient in their creed, if followed, to make their lives here upright, and to justify the hope of a glorious future. Separatists is a term applied to them, because they separated from the he Lutheran and other denominations. They have no prayers, baptisms nor sacraments, and, like Jews, eschew pork. Their log church is often filled winter evenings, and twice on the Sabbath. The morning service consists of music, instrumental and vocal, in which a piano is used, together with the reading and explanation of the Scriptures by one of their number. The afternoon exercises differ from it in the substitution of catechizing from a German work for biblical instruction. A BELOVED LEADER. -They owe much of their prosperity to Bimeler, now an old man, and justly regarded as the patriarch of the community. He is their adviser in all temporal things, their physician to heal their bodily infirmities, and their spiritual guide to point to a purer world. Although but as one of them, his superior education and excellent moral qualities have given him a commanding influence, and gained their love and reverence. He returns the affection of the people, with whom he has toiled until near a generation has passed away, with his whole soul. He has few thoughts for his fatherland, and no desire to return thither to visit the home of his youth. The green hills of this beautiful valley enclose the dearest objects of his earthly affections and earthly hopes. The community are strict utilitarians, and there is but little mental development among them. Instruction is given in winter to the children in German and English. They are a very simple-minded, artless people, unacquainted with the outer world, and the great questions, oral and political, which agitate it. Of scarcely equalled morality, never has a member been convicted of going counter to the judicial regulations of the land. Thus they pass through their pilgrimage with but apparently few of the ills that fall to the common lot, presenting a reality delightful to behold, with contentment resting upon their countenances and hearts in which is enthroned peace. The condition of the Zoar community has not changed materially since the foregoing was written. Some of the former customs have been abandoned; they have become more prosperous; their log-houses have been largely replaced by spacious brick structures, and the larger part of the farm labor is done by hired help. German is still used in family and business discourse. Converts to their belief and mode of life are accepted into the society after a probationary period; and while accessions are continually being received desertions are not uncommon. The two iron furnaces operated by them have been abandoned for some years, they having proved financial failures. Joseph M. Bimeler, to whom they were so much indebted, died August 27, 1853. They now number about seventy-five families, and their record as law-abiding citizens still stands without a blemish. They are a very hospitable people and entertain many visitors. DENNISON is ten miles southeast of New Philadelphia, on the P.C. & St. L. R.R., and was laid out for their use about the year 1864. City Officers, 1888; T.R. Woodborne, Mayor; D.A. Demuth, Clerk; W.M. Miser, marshal; John W. Hill, Treasurer; J.T. Watters, Street Commissioner; T.H. Loller, Solicitor; S.S. Demuth, Weighmaster. Newspaper: Paragraph, Independent, W. A. Pittenger, editor. Churches: 1 Episcopal, 1 Catholic and 1 Presbyterian. Here are the repair shops of the P.C. & St. L.R.R., with 686 hands. Population, 1880, 1,518. School census, 1888, 1,518. School census, 1888, 754. Chas. Haupert, superintendent of schools. Capital invested in manufacturing establishments, $12,000. Value of annual product, $40,000. -Ohio Labor Statistic, 1888. UHRICHSVILLE is ten miles southeast of New Philadelphia, at the junction of the P.C. & St. L. and C.L. & W. Railroads, and joins on to Dennison. City Officers, 1888: T.D. Healea, Mayor; W.D. Collier, Clerk; Wm. McCollam, Treasurer; J. Marshall, Marshal; James Parrish, Street Commissioner. Newspaper: Tuscarawas Chronicle, Republican, J.E. Graham, editor and publisher. Churches: 2 Methodist Episcopal, 1 Christian Union, 1 Disciples, 1 Moravian, 1 Presbyterian. Banks: Farmer's and Merchants', Wm. B. Thompson, president, T.J. Evans, cashier; Union (Geo. Johnston), I.E. Demuth, cashier. MANUFACTURES AND EMPLOYEES. -Everett & Thompson, doors, sash, etc., 8 hands; Diamond Fire Clay Co., sewer pipe, etc., 40. -State Report, 1887. Population, 1880, 2,790. School census, 1888, 1,345. R.B. Smith, superintendent of schools. Capital invested in manufacturing establishments, $48,000. Value of annual products, $83,000. -Ohio Labor Statistics, 1888. PORT WASHINGTON is twelve miles southwest of New Philadelphia, on the Tuscarawas river, the Ohio Canal and the P.C. & St. L.R.R. School census, 1888, 239. NEW COMERSTOWN is seventeen miles southwest of New Philadelphia, on the Tuscarawas river, the Ohio Canal and P.C. & St. L. and C. & M. Railroads. City Officers, 1888; S.F. Timmons, Mayor; J.D. Longshore, Clerk; R.F. Dent, Treasurer; Lewis Gardner, marshal; Thomas Knowls, Street Commissioner. Newspaper: Index, Independent, R.M. Taylor, editor and publisher. Churches: 1 Methodist Episcopal, 1 Methodist Protestant, 1 Baptist, 1 Lutheran. Bank: Oxford, George W. Mulvane, president; Theodore F. Crater, cashier. Population, 1880, 925. School census, 1888, 498. Capital invested in manufacturing establishments, $9,000. Value of annual product, $10,000. -Ohio Labor Statistics, 1888. MINERAL CITY, P.O. Mineral Point, is ten miles northeast of New Philadelphia, at the crossing of the Valley and C. & P. Railroads. newspaper: Mineral Pointer, Independent, W. Hosick, editor and publisher. Churches: 1 Methodist Episcopal, 1 United Brethren, 1 Lutheran, 1 Catholic, 1 German Reformed. School census, 1888, 420; S.R. Booner, superintendent of schools. It is a lively mining town, with extensive coal and fire-clay mines and extensive fire-brick works. Population about 1,000. BOLIVAR is twelve miles north of New Philadelphia, on the Tuscarawas river, the Ohio Canal and W. & L.E.R.R. Newspaper: News-Journal, Independent, M.H. Willard, editor and publisher. Churches: 1 Lutheran, 1 Methodist, 1 German Lutheran and 1 Catholic. Population about 800. WEST CHESTER, P.O. Cadwallader, is twenty miles southeast of new Philadelphia. Population, 1880, 216. ZOAR is on the Tuscarawas river and W. & L.E.R.R., eleven miles west of county seat; has about 300 inhabitants. SHANESVILLE is ont he C. & C. Railroad, about eleven miles west of county seat. It has churches, 1 Methodist, 1 Reformed and 1 Lutheran; 1 newspaper, News, Independent, John Doerschuk, editor; a bank and 500 inhabitants. School census, 1888, 139. BLAKE'S MILLS is one-half mile south of New Philadelphia, on the Ohio Canal. It has 1 Methodist Episcopal church. School census, 1888, 179. GNADENHUTTEN is eleven miles south of New Philadelphia, on the Tuscarawas river and on the P.C. & St. L.R.R. School census, 1888, 119. S.K. Mardis, superintendent of schools. This name is pronounced Noddenhiten. There is here a Moravian church, and it is the site of the Moravian massacre. Near the monument yet stand an apple tree, planted in 1774 by the Indians, and it has borne apples from that day to this. The apple is about two inches in diameter. Its skin is variegated in crimson and white, and the fruit pleasant in taste. *************OH-FOOTSEPS Mailing List***************************