tuscarawas river – Tuscarawas County Stories

The Lenape “Old Town”: Roots of Tuscarawas County

AI generated image depicting an eastern woodlands indigenous village in eastern Ohio in the 18th century, 2025. (Source: Google ImageFX)

Before European settlers arrived, Tuscarawas County was home to a thriving indigenous community that gave the county its name. Like many people, I spend a great deal of my time researching my family history. I try to discover who the “first” ancestor of mine was to settle somewhere, whether that’s my family line in Ohio,Continue reading “The Lenape “Old Town”: Roots of Tuscarawas County”

January 12, 1913: The Night Dover Held Its Breath

AI generated image depicting details from the story of the 1913 rescue of four Dover men from a flooded Tuscarawas River, 2025. (Source: MicrosoftDesigner)

Four well-liked young men, a flooded bridge, and a night that nearly claimed their futures forever. It was cold and rainy Sunday afternoon, January 12, 1913 when four friends decided to travel from Dover to visit Mineral City’s newspaper office. It was a trip the group – made up of Perry Floyd Bixler (1895-1972), linotypeContinue reading “January 12, 1913: The Night Dover Held Its Breath”

“Mean and Pitiful”: This You Abraham Shane?

AI generated image depicting a Moravian Mission village in Ohio in the early 19th century, 2025. (Source: ChatGPT)

I stumbled upon an interesting reference — one that links a respected Tuscarawas County founder to a moment of sorrow, exploitation, and quiet unraveling at the Moravian mission at Goshen. I recently reread a book that I read while in college and studying the Pennsylvania / Virginia frontier (aka Ohio) and something jumped out atContinue reading ““Mean and Pitiful”: This You Abraham Shane?”

The White Bridge Murder

An AI generated image of a bridge covering a river in the wintertime. Created by DALL-E 2, January 2023.

It was 2 o’clock in the morning on Wednesday, February 8, 1928 when Blicktown farmer John Hinig heard knocking at his front door. Cautiously he opened the door and saw a man, soaking wet, freezing, and seemingly in distress standing in his doorway. The man, William Herron, told Mr. Hinig that while he was drivingContinue reading “The White Bridge Murder”

Isaac K. Lakin: From the Tuscarawas to the Yellowstone

Yellowstone River at Miles City, Montana

The Yellowstone River with Miles City, Montana in the distance, c. 1881. I always enjoy when I stumble across someone in history who, through a simple mention in a newspaper or other source, captures my interest so much that I want to learn more about them. My search for their life in the historical recordContinue reading “Isaac K. Lakin: From the Tuscarawas to the Yellowstone”

Kidnapping of “Plucky” Clara Thiebaud

Newspaper headlines often offer a snapshot of an exciting, and perhaps scary, event in an otherwise normal person’s life. One such headline jumped out at me from a 1920s issue of a local newspaper and I could not resist learning more. I have chosen not to use Clara’s later married name(s). Charles Thiebaud and hisContinue reading “Kidnapping of “Plucky” Clara Thiebaud”