What I have learned about my hometown:

-Before the land was settled is was covered with an encompassing forest of chestnut, maple, pine and oak broken only by streams and swamps.

-The wild land was once inhabited by the Eriechronon tribe of Native American Indians, better known as Erie Indians. I would like to add that arrowheads and other artifacts are still commonly found in the area, I have found them myself while wandering arounf the woods at the end of my road.

-Rt 585, a road I travel almost daily, is an old indian trail.

-The first piece of land purchased in what would become Rittman Ohio was bought on October 19, 1814 by Stephen Harris. The earliest settler was Isaac Decourcey and records show him living on the land in 1813.

-The earlier settlers made reports of seeing bears, wolves, wildcats, porcupines, wild hog, deer and turkey. We still have wild turkey, my husband ran one over last year.

-Maple trees were abundant and many settlers made maple sugar and sold it in Canton.

-The school house and graveyard were built in 1817.

-Corn was exchanged for venison with the Indians.

-An estimated 15 families had moved to the area by 1815.

-A nondenominational meeting house was erected in 1817.

-Milton Township,  in which Rittman is located, was named after the famous classical author of Paradise Lost

.-In 1918 snow fell as late as June killing most crops and making food sparse that year.

What I find interesting is all the last names that I recognize. I talk to people daily whose ancestors helped to form the place I call home. I will do an in depth update when I hget to the chapters with my family in them.