A Souvenir of the Past

A Souvenir of the Past
In the beginning…
In the time now old and ancient,
In the years of long ago,
In the time of the beginning,
All the earth was then in darkness
All the earth was in a gloom,
Till the trumpets notes were sounded
Till the mighty Voice had spoken
When the sun in fiery glory
Rose above the east horizon
Rose in bright and shining splendor
Rose to drive away the gloom.
- From the Centennial
Pageant of Strasburg, Ohio,
1928 - by Vernon Clapper
“The roads you travel so briskly
Lead out of dim antiquity,
And you study the past chiefly because
Of its bearing on the living present
And its promise for the future.”
The 1978 Sesquicentennial
This small booklet commemorates the 150th Anniversary
of the Founding of Strasburg, Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
The 100th Anniversary Celebration, held in 1928, was quite
an event for our community. But memories are extremely
difficult to recall without some sort of tangible evidence.
In no way does it intend to bring the last fifty years up to
date, but rather to keep alive the memories of the past with the
hope that when the 200th Anniversary rolls around, some of the
early history will be preserved.
The fast pace of today’s world does not permit time for
such fastidious pageants as those held in the past. However, it is
very heart-warming to have organizations such as the Strasburg
Dramatic Club and the Strasburg Jaycees and Wives to take time
to promote the Sesquicentennial this year.
Not only has an endeavor been made to bring back
memories of our village, but also of Franklin Township with
pictures and history.
Strasburg is an outstanding village surrounded by the
Township of Franklin and is known as the Community where
“pride promotes progress.”
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP
The township of Franklin was not organized until 1854. It was the last-formed township
in the county, and was originally included within the boundaries of Lawrence. The surface is
level along the course of Sugar Creek, elsewhere it is rolling. The hills are store-houses for iron
ore, coal, and fire-clay, so far undeveloped, only their existence is known. A party of
Pennsylvania Germans came to Franklin in 1810, and settled near together, about a mile from
Strasburg’s present site, on Broad Run. Their names were Leonard Bear, John Burrell, John
Beeris, Kneestrick, Christian Noffsinger, John Zeigler, and the old France. Michael Kohr, Sr.
came out in 1811, and boarded at Kneestrick’s. He put up a cabin; cleared and fenced two acres;
hired Noffsinger to tend it, and went East for his family. Mr. Kohr and his good wife speak of the
alacrity of which all hands turned out to aid a newcomer put up a shelter. Axe and team were
cheerfully furnished. They think that mankind has grown more selfish during these years.
Pioneers were too busy with their labor to attend to schooling, and it was not till 1816
that the log school-house was erected, and a man named Lewis engaged as teacher. The Bible
was the reading-book; the “United States Speller” for orthography; and in arithmetic there was
but one book, - the “Western Calculator,” and it was the teacher’s property. Three months of
such schooling was all the book education many of the youth of that day could secure. The
families of this settlement belonged to the United Brethren Church, and held frequent meetings
in barns, cabins, school-house, and, in suitable weather, resorted to the shade of forest-trees.
The first church was built by the Methodists, assisted by the Brethren, and was composed
of hewed logs. It was situated one-fourth mile northeast of Mechanicsburg. In an early day
George Zeigler was killed by the falling of a log upon him at the raising of Jacob Garver’s barn.
In 1835, Messrs, Bacon and Clapp came to the settlement from New York, and organized a
temperance society, which soon gained considerable strength. Whisky was in general use, and its
supporters swore that the grain of the temperance men should rod in the field; but it was cut
before the others, to their surprise. Michael Kohr, Sr., ran the first distillery to work up his rye in
shape to keep and be in demand.
The village of Strasburg is located in the east central part of Franklin, just west of Sugar
Creek, whose course is across the northwest and east parts of the township. It was laid out in
1827 by John Foick, and is in railroad connection with the County seat by the Lake Shore and
Tuscarawas Valley. A story of the old times is that one John Barker, of this place, was
encountered by a black bear while hunting, and terribly injured. His cries were heard, and several
persons came to his relief, but his rescue came too late, as he soon died at the house to which
they conveyed him. The first store-keeper in the village of Strasburg was named Ross. John
Kellar was the shoemaker, Frederick Harbaugh the Postmaster, Roach and early stage driver and
Michael I. Kohr the singing-teacher. Twice, in 1812, did they stampede, from fear of Indians, to
the Gooden farm for safety; once leaving their supper untasted on the table, and not returning till
two weeks had expired.
Doctors were unneeded; herbs, roots, and blossoms were used in teas. Dr. Bigalow is
named as one who was known in later times to the old settlers. The evenings were spent in
spinning flax, of which the clothing was universally made. It was a stern need which required the
father to go away to be gone overnight, and leave wife and children alone, subject to wild beat
and treacherous savage. Serpents were numerous; they swarmed about the stables and into the
cabins. It was customary before retiring to make examinations of the bed to see that it was free
from dangerous bed-fellows. Log-rollings and kicking-frolics were occasions of enjoyment.
The Garver Brothers’ Big Store, Strasburg
In a small one and one-half story building, twenty by twenty five feet, built of logs and
previously used for a sheep fold, Philip A. Garver, the father of G. Rudolph Garver and G. Albert
Garver, established a mercantile business at Strasburg, in1866, when the nearest railroad station was at
Canal Dover from which all goods were hauled and when mail was received but weekly on Saturdays.
The founder, having become familiar with the drug business, while manager of a jobbing drug firm,
which has since grown to the largest in the world, added that branch to his general line of goods. Sales
footed up rapidly those days when petroleum was $1.00 per gallon, a plug of navy tobacco $0.75, muslin
$0.60 a yard and coffee $0.40 per pound. In 1872, railroad connections were secured when the Lake
Shore and Tuscarawas Valley Railway was constructed through Strasburg. This resulted in a boom for
the hamlet which made it necessary to erect a new store twenty-five by forty feet with modern glass
front. Clothing and millinery were added to their stock.
Private Office
Piano Department
The First Store
Curtain Department
Hotel and Residence of Mr. & Mrs. Adolph Kugler, Strasburg
Peter Kugler, born September 7, 1835, married Mary Ann Klopp, who was born July 22, 1839.
They lived in Wallerfangen Kreis Saarlouis, Germany, where their only child, Adolph, was born
April 10, 1862. He learned and followed the trade of shoe making until the age of twenty-two
years, when he and his parents emigrated and arrived in May, 1884, at Burton City, Wayne
County, Ohio. On February 4, 1889, Mr. Kugler married Miss Elizabeth Horning of Canal
Dover. Mrs. Kugler is a daughter of Charles Horning, who was born in Germany, March 2, 1837,
and was married to Miss Mary Franz, who a was born March 12, 1834, near Canal Dover, where
they are now living, and are the parents of Joseph, of Canton, born September 10, 1860; John
Anton, born December 10, 1861, and died May, 1862; Mary Anna, born December 16, 1863,
died February 7, 1902; Elizabeth Kugler, born June 10, 1866; Mrs. Leonard Reiger, of Strasburg,
born April 2, 1868, Mrs. Joseph Hoot, of Canton, born February 18, 1871; George B., of Canton,
born July, 1873; Mrs. George Hoot, of Canton, born October 19, 1874; Barbara, a nun at
Allegheny, Pennsylvania, born September 4, 1976; Charles Nicholas, of Canton, born October
23, 1880; Johns Francis, of Canton, born April 17, 1882; and Mrs. Laura Klein, of Suffield,
Ohio, born November 8, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Kugler have had two children who both died in
infancy. Immediately after marriage they moved to Canton. In 1890 they moved to Canal Dover,
and in 1889 to Strasburg, where he is
engaged in a hotel and café business
and where his parents live with him.
The family belongs to the Catholic
Church. Mr. Kugler is a prominent
member of the Knights of St. John,
Catholic Mutual Benefit Association.
He is a member of the Canton Arion
Singing Society, and a charter member
of the Dover aerie, Fraternal Order of
Eagles. He is also one of the soloists in
the choirs of the St. Joseph Catholic
Church of Canal Dover. As a host he is
known as a genial gentleman, and as a
Adolph Kugler
Elizabeth Kugler
friend he is much esteemed.
The Hartline’s Home & Farm
Peter Hartline came from about Strasburg, Germany, served in the
War of 1812, settled near Bolivar and married Christina, daughter of
George and Mary Houseman Palmer of English descent. He died March
17, 1837, aged forty-nine; and she died May 15, 1826, aged thirty-eight
years, and was buried on the farm near Bolivar. Their son, Joseph, born
January 8, 1818, and died August 9, 1902, married Christina, daughter of
Abraham and Susanna Seese Gnagy. Chrstina Hartline was born
November 16, 1847, and died March 8, 1880. Her father, Abraham, was
born, November 7, 1804, and died March 11, 1861; her mother, Susanna, Franklin Hartline
was born June 28, 1803, and died March 18, 1845.
Abraham was buried near Collins Station, Indiana.
Abraham was the son of Christian and Catharine Stryker
Gnagy. He was a United Brethren preacher who died
and was buried at Maumee City, Ohio. His wife,
Catherine, died September 15, 1828, aged fifty-four.
Susanna Gnagy’s father, George Seese, was born August
6, 1783, and died December 10, 1848. His wife, nee
Mary Miller, was born August 26, 1782, and died
August 31, 1872. All not otherwise stated were buried at
Strasburg. Franklin Hartline, the oldest of the twelve
children of Joseph and Christina Hartline, was born
January 31, 1850. After work on the farm and school in
the district, he went to Mount Union College in the
spring and fall of 1869. He then taught four winter
schools, during which in August 1871, he married
Lucinda, a sister of John Garver, whose family is
Views of the Hartline Home
elsewhere noted. She died June 30, 1874, leaving Calvin
L. and an infant, Walter J. who died six weeks later. On December 27, 1876, Mr. Hartline
married Miss Adolphine, one of the four children of Frederick and Magdalene Layman Chattain,
who lived on the French side of Switzerland. She was born July 6, 1852, and, after the death of
her father, was brought to Ohio by her mother in 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Hartline have eight
children: Edwin Stanley, at Long Lake, Wisconsin; Joseph Clinton, in partnership with Calvin L.
in hardware store at Newcomerstown; Frances Felicia Hollinger, at Massillon, and Effie
Fredonia, Nellie, Flossie, Roscoe Chattain, Frank Leslie and Fritzie Waldo, at home, where
farming has been the occupation, with special attention since 1890, to the breeding of registered
Red Polled cattle with remarkable success. Mr. Hartline’s herds have won first prizes in the State
Fairs of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, West Virginia, Kentucky
and Tennessee; in all, in twenty-three different state exhibitions in nine different states. He also
one first prizes at the Pan
American
Exposition
at
Buffalo, and in five different
years in the International
Stock
Expositions
at
Chicago. The herd illustrated
has just returned with first
prizes one in the State Fairs
for 1907, in Ohio, Indiana,
Hartline’s Prize Herd in Five States in 1907
Illinois,
Kentucky
and
Tennessee.
The late Henry Kaldenbaugh’s Farm, Franklin Township
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP
ORGANIZATION – SIZE – MAGISTRATES – SUGAR CREEK VALLEY – SOIL – FIRST
SETTLERS – FIRST SCHOOL – MILLS – SUGAR CREEK FALLS – MILTON –
STRASBURG – FIRST PREACHING – CHURCHES.
The last township organized within Tuscarawas County was Franklin, which dates its
origin to December 6, 1854. It was taken from the territory of Wayne, and its original limits, as
given below, coincide, except in one slight instance, with the present boundaries: Beginning at
the southeast corner of Wayne Township, thence along the south boundary of that township to
the southwest corner of Lot 22 of the second quarter of Township 9, Range 3; thence north to the
northwest corner of the southeast quarter of Section 14, Township 10, Range 3; these west to the
southwest corner of Lot 8 in the second quarter of Township 10, Range 3; thence north to the
north line of the township, thence eastward along the north line of the county to the northeast
corner of Wayne; these south to the place of beginning. Its northern boundary is the Greenville
treaty line, north of which is Stark County. Franklin is three and one-half miles in width, east and
west, and its average length is about six and one-half miles. It is principally Congress land, but is
the southwest portions are ten Western Reserve school lots, and in the northern part are thirty
five military lots.
While the territory was yet a portion of Wayne Township, a number of its settlers were
elected to the office of Justice of Peace, and since the organization of Franklin its magistrates
have been as follows: John M. Shelter, 1855; Christian Swartz, 1855; Christian Swartz, 1858;
George Beck, 1858; Thomas C. Ayres, 1858; William I. Wright, 1860; Christian Swartz, 1861;
Amos Woodling, 1861; Christian Swartz, 1864; Amos Woodling, 1864; E.R .Benfer, 1865;
Henry F. Krantz, 1866; Amos Woodline, 1867; Henry F. Krantz, 1869; Philip A. Garver, 1869;
Joseph Hartline, 1870; Amos Woodling, 1871; Philip A. Garver, 1872; Amos Woodling, 1874,
Philip A. Garver, 1875; Philip A. Garver, 1878; Daniel Haas, 1880, Philp A. Garver, 1881;
Daniel Haas, 1883.
Sugar Creek is the main feature of Franklin’s topography. It enters the township at the
northwest, and by a bending course from northeast to southeast reaches the southeast part of the
township, where it makes it’s exist, crossing into Dover. A broad valley, ranging from one to two
miles in width, follows its meanderings, and gives shape to a large portion of the surface of
Franklin. The valley proper was densely timbered with sugar maple, which gave the stream its
name. Rising above this thirty or forty feet were the second bottoms or plains. The forest growth
here was scant. A few sturdy scattered while oaks and sparse thickets of ground oak in the
underbrush comprised it all. The soil was sandy and gravelly, unlike that in the first bottoms
below, which was loamy and of rich productiveness. Back from the plains the surface is rolling,
in some few places broken, but the amount of land in the township that is not easily tillable is
slight. The plains were avoided by the earliest settlers, who were accustomed to judge the
fertility of the soil by the density of this timber. They chose to locate among the distant hills
rather than try to farm the scrubby plains. Time has proved that they were mistaken. The plains,
though at first somewhat deficient in yielding generous harvests, are now considered to be lands
of the richest and most valuable kind. No stone is found on the surface back of the first range of
hills. The types of timber most abundant in early days were white and black oak, chestnut,
walnut and hickory. Some poplar was found, and in the little valleys some beech existed. The
hills are rich in coal and mountain iron ore, but they have been little developed.
Several archaeological remains of considerable magnitude
have recently existed in this township, but the ravages of the plow are rapidly effacing all traces
of them. About sixty rods above Sugar Creek Falls, on the north side of the stream, a raised
earthwork extended across the plains. The embankment may yet be clearly traced where the land
has not yet been cleared. A large white oak, standing on the top of the elevation near the north
end, attests the antiquity of the works. About three-fourths of a mile south of Strasburg, on the
Hartline farm, near the edge of the plains, is a fort, inclosing about a half-acre. The embankment
in early days was three or four feet in height. On the east side in one corner, was a gateway or
entrance.
The earliest white settlers of Franklin Township were not land owners. A few squatters
built temporary cabins on the plains and tilled a little soil, but hunted and trapped principally for
a living, and the school lots in the southwest part of the township were leased and occupied
before much, if any, land was entered and settled. It is impossible to state with any degree of
certainty the name of the first pioneer. John Burris is said to have been here more than eighty
years ago. He came from Maryland, was a noted hunter and Indian fighter, and participated in
the war of 1812. More than one Indian is said to have fallen beneath the aim of his rifle. Burris
was of a roving disposition, leased a school lot for a time, owned no property, and died in the
township. William Smoyer is accredited by some with being the first settler. He was an old
bachelor and squatter. He cleared a little patch of ground on the Zeltman farm, a half mile north
of Strasburg, lived there for some time in a little cabin, then encamped father up the stream on
the Zimmerman farm, southeast quarter of Section 13. In his old age, he shook the dust of
Tuscarawas County from his feet and departed for a wilder, more western habitation.
Jonas Bair, from Westmoreland County, Penn., in 1807, settled near Winfield. He lived
there sixty-three years, then moved to Dover, where he died in 1879. Leonard Bair, Sr., is said to
have come to the township in 1808. His son, Leonard Bair, Jr., in 1817, leased school Lot 17,
and lived there till his death. John Zigler resided in the township before 1809. He was a
Marylander, and prior to settling in Franklin, had dwelt in Dover, where his son Daniel was born
in 1807. John Zigler married a sister of Isaac Deardorff, leased school Lot 6, and died in the
township at a good old age. John France and his father came early from Pennsylvania and leased
school Lot 11. Mr. Knistrick, father of John Knistrick, was amongst the earliest settlers. He
hailed from Maryland, and leased school Lot 16. John Cummins, an Irishman, who was equally
noted as an imbiber of whisky and a wood chopper, came early in the settlement of the county,
but late in life, and alone. He remained but a short time in one locality. The school lands were
sold in 1831, and the lessees, who had cleared much of the land, were rarely the purchasers.
They were as a rule, a worthy class of people, but their means were few, and their position did
not enable them to accumulate money sufficient to purchase land.
Among the earliest land holding pioneers of Franklin, were William Bacher and Isaac
Deardorff, both of whom were residents of the county before 1809. Mr. Bacher was a
Pennsylvanian, had leased and occupied a school lot in Dover Township, and as the expiration of
his lease, probably in 1818, settled in Franklin, on the southwest quarter of Section 21, which he
had entered. Isaac Deardorff owned 320 acres, the northeast quarter of Section 18, and the
northwest quarter of Section 19, the latter of which he entered. He was a cousin of Judge
Christian Deardorff of Dover Township, was an early Justice of the Peace, and an excellent and
life-long citizen of Franklin Township.
Other pioneers were Abraham Brenniger, John Cascheer, Henry Duncan, Abraham
Forney, Walter Griffith, Benjamin Gundy, Christian Gnagy, Michael Kohr, Philip
Knappenberger, Jonas Kline, Jr., David Porter, Thomas Lappington, Jehiel Savidge and George
Wallick.
Abraham Brenninger came from Pennsylvania about 1809, and settled on Military Lot
13, in the northern part of the township. He was a respected citizen, and remained here through
life. Henry Duncan owned and occupied Lots 16 and 17 in the extreme northern part of the
township. John Casebeer entered and settled on the northwest quarter of Section 12, in the
southern line of the township. He subsequently moved West. Abraham Forney emigrated from
Somerset County, Penn., to Dover Township about 1809, and entered a farm on Crooked Run,
which he sold to Michael Welty, and in 1814 came to Franklin and settled on the northwest
quarter of Section 2. He was a local minister of the United Brethren Church, and preached a
great deal, at first in his own neighborhood, but later on the circuit. He died about 1825, aged
forty-one years. Two of his eight children still reside in Franklin. Walter Griffith entered the
southeast quarter of Section 13, and settled here about 1816. After his death his family moved
West. Benjamin Gundy was the owner and occupant of the southwest quarter of Section 20, prior
to 1820. Originally from Pennsylvania he had lived in Harrison County for a while, and after a
residence for a time in Franklin Township, he returned to Harrison County. Again changing his
place of abode, he sojourned in Wood County for a brief season, then returned to his county and
died here. Christian Gnagy came from Pennsylvania about 1818, and purchased the southwest
quarter of Section 19. He was a noted local minister of the United Brethren persuasion, and in his
old age removed to Wood County, where he died. Michael Kohr was one of the earliest pioneers,
and also one of the largest land holders. In 1811, he came from Maryland and settled on the east
half of Section 8, which he had entered. He first came out alone, boarded at Knistrick’s, built a
cabin and cleared and planted about two acres, hired Mr. Noftzinger , of Dover Township, to
tend it, then returned East for his family. He lived in this township till old age, then re-married
and removed to near Navarre, Stark County, where he died. Philip Knappenberger was born in
Northampton County, Penn., in 1783. Attaining his majority, he made a trip West, entered the
east half of Section 9, in his father’s name, and the northwest quarter of the section in his own
name. Returning, he married and brought his wife to the new country, In the face of the Indian
troubles, during the war of 1812, he returned East, and at the termination of hostilities, again
took up his residence in Franklin. He was a Justice of Peace, a gun-smith and a farmer; he was a
disbeliever in the Bible, and wrote and published a book expressive of his views. Mr.
Knappenberger was twice married and died in this township. Jonas Kline emigrated from
Pennsylvania before 1820, and settled about two miles west of Strasburg. He afterward went
West. David Porter owned a little place, and lived for a time in the northern part of the township.
Thomas Lappington originally from Maryland, immigrated to Stark County, there married Mary
Shutt, and entered and removed to the southwest quarter of Section 9, Franklin Township. He
died here before 1820, and his widow and child returned to Stark County. George Wallick, a
Pennsylvanian, was an early settler, and the first tanner in Franklin. He purchased and occupied
until his death, fifty acres in the western part of Section 19, now the Eberly place. Jehiel Savidge,
a native of Connecticut, came from Portage County in 1818, to the plains about a mile north of
Strasburg, possessing a faith in the value of his soil, which was ridiculed by many of his
neighbors, but which proved in the end to be well founded.
The first and for many years the only schoolhouse in the township stood on the Eberly
place. It was a little round log cabin, one end of which was filled by a large tire place and
chimney. The seats were only slabs. The building was built in 1816. Mr. McCarter was the first
teacher, David Teeters followed him. The Bible and the United States Speller, were the principal
text books. One of the early teachers possessed an arithmetic, a copy of the
“Western Calculator,” which did good service in teaching the youth to cipher.
John Aultman built the first grist mill in the township, on Sugar Creek, about one and a
half miles south of Strasburg. After his death, George Welty operated it. Being burnt, it was
rebuilt by the Winkelpleck brothers, subsequently owned by Daniel Garber, Henry Beck, Mr.
Burneet, of Dover, and at present by Rath and Syler. It is a good custom mill, contains three
buhrs, and has been recently repaired. Philip Yerkey built the mill on Sugar Creek one mile north
of Strasburg, about forty years ago. Michael Eberly was the second owner, and he sold it to
Frederick Hartline, who now operates it. Philip Trapp erected a grist and carding mill many years
ago,, about a half mile south of Strasburg. It has been abandoned for a long time, but a saw mill
is still in operation.
Michael Kohr started the first distillery in 1818. Wilson & Griffith then operated one on
the Zimmerman, and soon after John and Jacob Garber, Isaac Deardorff and others,
manufactured spirits in considerable quantities. The demand for whisky was great for home
consumption. It was the popular beverage, cheap, and as many thought essential to health and
happiness.
Christian Deardorff built and operated for many years a carding and saw mill at the Falls
of Sugar Creek, in the northwestern part of the township. A natural waterfall of several feet is
found here, and this distance was doubled by the construction of a dam. Before the railroad was
built, this locality was a pleasure resort of considerable not. It is a beautiful spot, and a hotel was
kept close by to provide for the material needs of visitors.
The earliest attempt at town making in Franklin was in 1816, when Christian Deardorff
and James Clark laid out Milton, a short distance above Sugar Creek Falls. The plat embraced
fifty-six lots and six outlets. It prospered for a brief season, containing at one time perhaps ten
houses, but Wilmot was founded about two miles above, in Stark County, and its growth proved
the ruin of Milton.
Strasburg, the next and only present village of the township, lines in the eastern part of
the township, west of Sugar Creek, and has a population of about 200. It is a quiet country
trading place, though in former days it obtained notoriety for the boisterous, rollicking element
wont to congregate here. The village was laid off the northwest quarter of Section 21, Township
10, Range 3 by Jonathan Folck, in February, 1828. It embraced forty-seven lots, ranged on both
sides of Main Street, which extended north fifteen degrees west and south fifteen degrees east.
Main Street is four perches wide, and is intersected by Cross, North and South Streets. In 1874,
Rudolph Kapitzky laid out an addition of eight lots between Cross and South streets, and east of
the original plat. The proprietor, Folck, owned the quarter section upon which the village was
located, and lived east of the plat, near the creek. Christian Metzgar built the first house. He was
a weaver by trade and occupation. Frederick Harbaugh was probably the second citizen. He was
a carpenter, a Justice of the Peace, and afterward owned a small store. Timothy Bacon was,
however, the firs store-keeper. He obtained a small stock of goods from Mr. Graham, a Dover
merchant, and sold them on commission. A little later he purchased the Folck farm. After Bacon
and Harbaugh, a Mr. Ross brought a general line of merchandise to the village and was a
merchant for a number of years. Frederick Harbaugh was the first postmaster. Timothy Bacon
and Henry Fansler were his successors. Philip A. Garber is the present mail official. Joseph Stout
and Christian Sees were early residents. The latter was a grocer, and the former opened and
operated a tannery for many years. Quite a list of physicians have hunt out “a shingle,” but most
of them made a very brief sojourn. John Welty practiced for a few years, and Drs. Smith and
Jacob McGie succeeded him. Dr. Goudy is the present and sole practitioner.
Present Day (1978)
At present Strasburg contains two dry goods stores one notion store, one brewery, three
saloons, two hotels, three wagon shops, two blacksmith shops, two shoe shops, a meat market, a
cabinet shop, a school, a church and a railroad. The Cleveland, Lorain & Wheeling connects it
direct with Dover, New Philadelphia and Uhrichsville. The schoolhouse is a two-story brick
structure, and a model of architectural beauty. It contains four apartments, but two of which are
in use, and was erected in 1881, at the cost of $5,000.
The church edifice in Strasburg is the property of the United Brethren Society. It is a
frame building 34 x 44 feet, and was built about 1853, at an expense of $1,200. Prior to this, the
society had held services in a union church, built in 1833, one-half mile north of the village. The
United Brethren, Methodists, and Lutherans contributed to this erection. The earliest meetings of
the United Brethren Society were conducted at private houses. The earliest membership included
Abraham Forney, John Forney, George Sees, Christian Gnagy, Benjamin Gundy and John
Shisler. Abraham Forney, Mathias Burchfield and Christian Gnagy were early local preachers.
Among the earliest ministers were Revs. Joseph Gandy, George Pfrimer, George Krum and
Jacob Winters. Rev. B.F. Booth is the present minister. The congregation exceeds 100 members.
Scarcely a half mile north of Strasburg, stands St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. It
is a neat, commodious frame structure built in 1854. Two congregations worship here, the
German and the English Lutheran. The building occupies the site of the old Union Church, built
nearly twenty years earlier. It was about that time that the Lutheran congregations were formed.
Rev. Gollister was the first German minister and Rev. Abraham Snyder the first English
Lutheran. Among the earliest members were George Wallick, Isaac Deardorff and George
Welty. The German Lutheran congregation is the stronger of the two, numbering perhaps 150
members. Near the southwest corner of Franklin Township is an Evangelical English Lutheran
Church were a large congregation now worships. Rev. W.L. Tedrow is the present pastor. The
society is quite an old one.
About two and one-half miles west of Strasburg, on School Lot No. 1, is a small
Dunkard, or German Baptist, house of worship, where occasional services are held. They were
commenced here but a few years ago, and the members in the vicinity are few.
The earliest preaching in the township was probably by Rev. J.B. Finley of the Methodist
Church, in 1809. He had a very extended circuit, but made an appointment for divine services at
Sugar Creek Falls. His pulpit was a large stump in a clear patch of ground, surrounded by plum
thickets. During the sermon, his congregation would not come forth from behind the bushes, and
the zealous minister had the novel experience of speaking apparently to the open air. A second
appointment was made, and this time the assembling people threw off their shyness and bravely
faced the pioneer missionary. The preaching, however effective, did not result in the formation
of a class. A Methodist society was organized however a few years later in the southwestern part
of the township, and in about 1820 a long meeting house was built on the John Casebeer farm,
northwest quarter of Section 12. Mr. Casebeer John and Richard Burrell and others were
members. Preaching was continued for nearly twenty years, when the church was abandoned and
has long since disappeared.
A Winebrennerian Church formerly stood on School Lot 21, in the southwest part of the
township. It was built largely through the efforts of Andrew Swinehart and Mr. Keplinger. The
membership of the congregation was not large and services ceased here years ago.
RESIDENCE OF THE LATE MICHAEL T. KOHR, STRASBURG
RES. OF ISAAC H. KURTZ, JR.
ONE HALF MILE N. OF WINFIELD, FRANKLIN TP, TUSCARAWAS
RESIDENCE OF MR. AND MRS. JOHN H. GARBER, NEAR STRASBURG
STRASBURG. RES. OF R. KAPIZKY
TUSCARAWAS CO, O.
Finale
So runs the history of our village
Now one hundred years of age
So runs the story of our past life
Of our founding and our growth.
But we’re looking to the future
To the future town of Strasburg
Boosting hard the Strasburg spirit
Attended by the town’s improvements
Depending on the man of labor
Depending on the nearby farmer
On our schools we count quite strongly
On education of our youth.
And our churches must be leaders
Of the moral life of Strasburg
We place our hope, our faith, our future
In the hands of Christianity.
Now we stand a century old
Looking toward the rising sun
Toward the day of future progress
Toward the day of future peace
Toward the day of growth, advancement
To fulfillment of our hope
Hope to be a prosperous city
Nestled in these friendly hills
Hope to really be a leader
In this section of the country
Hope to grow, achieve and prosper
Hope to be a town worthwhile.
- From the Centennial
Pageant of Strasburg, Ohio
1928 - by Vernon Clapper