The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1888-06-21

and thrones tremDle before them. buC
their career is of short duration, be-
cause their deeds are full Of evil. SUCH
is not the history of the family we rep
resent here today. Theirs is II worthy
of emulation, and will bear the scrutiny
of time. The name is a household
treasure, and we all delight to honor it,
and cherish it as a precious heritage
and as such, we will pass it down To
succeeding generations with a jealous
pride.
Thus we see the character Of human
nature exemplifed in families. One is
impelled by ignominy and h%aughtlness,
while the other bows in humble sub
mission to what is right and honorable.
In the end, both will lie down to crum-
BILE into common dust, and their names
and characters VIII be recorded side by
side, on the pages of history.
The. subject of our discourse was no
hero who, like a Napoleon or a. Wash
ington, could marshall his host and lead
them on to victory, or an orator like
Demosthenes Or Cicero, that could
mount the rostrum and with the power
of his oratory sway the destiny of mar
and nations; mol was he a Martin Luz
Their denying Potentates and Devils
and lay them trembling at his feet, but
a plain, humble and honest American
citizen. Sensible Of his duties and dar-
ing to perform them in an honorable
and conscietious tanner
His pilgrimage to this then western
country was not a royal pageant, pre-
ceded by an imposing %retinue, with
banners and swords glittering in the
sun. His only weapons Of defense
were his hands and an old, rusty flint
lock musket that his father, Wendell
Essfg, carried when serving as Imrer-
ial body guard to King Frederic the
Great of Prussia, being present at his
coronation i'll 1740, aud dong duty on
that occasion. In this unique weapon
he reposed the most unbound conf.
dence. The rev%erbrations that followed
a discharge from it, were more potent
in the enforcement of civilization in
those days, than the missels of death it
sent scattering through the forest.
There was a secret connected with this
gun that ordinary weapons did not p;s
sess. Its great length enabled him to
carry on a warfare at long
range. The enemy could readily
see the fire and smoke, but were un-
able to discover the whereabouts of the
foe that i ected the battery. While
they were looking for the enemy when
the fire and smoke bleached forth, the
willy back-woodsman was lurking be-
hind some ambuscade far beyond the
reach of their puny weapons.
He landed with his family, which
consisted Of his devoted wife, and
twelve children Zone of the girls being
married to Geo. Wike) in Stark County,
when this country was yet, to a
Sgreat extent, under the dominion OF a
Jribs of warlike Indians, and located
his homestead on the bank of the east
branch of the romantic N~imiShillen
Greek, meandering through the rich
alluvial soil Of Stark County, and noted
for its varied and picturesque scenery
and the pellucid waters. There they
erected their first log cabin in the wilds
of Ohio, about one mile north of the
present fair grounds, and within sight
OF the city of Canton. ! remember the
site quite well, and, if I mistake not
there still remain a few apple trees
neal where the house sUoOd, That were
planted by his hands. In that humble
cottage they passed the earlier years Of
their western life, having for their
neighbors bands of savage red men.
The grisly bear and boards of prOwl-
ing wolves who, in their nocturnal
ramblings never failed TO make night
hideous with their clamerous revelries,
in undesirable proximity to their
lonely dwelling.
Afterwards this primitive cottage
was enlarged and remodeled by build
ing additional rooms to it, and in this
house was reared one of the most
illustrious families in Stark County.
just across the road, where the creek
describes a sharp curve and flows in
gentle eddies close to where the house
stood, could bee seen, in later years, an
old weather beaten spring house bear
ing evidence of many years service.
From this primitive dairy, Grand
mother Essig turned out that high
grade of golden butter for which she
was so f~aYorably noted. This trait Of
character she entailed on her children
and it has permeated the entire Essig
family. The delicious buttermilk from
the frequent Cummings, was eagerly
sought by the brawny squaw and her pa
pooees who never failed to utilize an op-
p~ortunity and call for a cup of the re-
freshing drink. The little fellows would
grasp the cup with both hands and sup
away till their cheeks bulged out like a
ground sqirrel in chestnut time,
The bucks were more fastidious in
their tastes; they preferred the fresh
morning milk with The cream on, and
in order to keep on friendly terms with
them, the new settlers were compelled
to treat them with more consideration.
The lavish exhibitions of gratitude ex-
pressed in their crude manners gave
evidence of entire satisfaction, and in
their exhuberant moments returned the
kindly acts OF the fair donor with
numerous presents of their handiwork.
The novelty of a white mans cabin
on their hunting grounds ere, t d an
intense curiosity in their camp and their
visits Of investigation were more
frequent than welcome, consequently
the new settlers were very often III per-
pleXlty as to the true inwardness of
their friendship. The scenery around
their home was not very extensive. A
primeval forest, swarming with savage
life confronted them IN every side,
while a dense barrier of white pines
served as a back ground, whose dark
shadows cast a somber hue over the
little colony as they gathered around
their newly made Preside.
When the anxieties of the day were
over, and the evening zephyrs came
whispering softly through the rustling
leaves, and myriads of insects
began to chirp their discor-
dant music on the calm
night air, it was then that the happy
pair could be seen leisurely reclining on
their favorite arm chairs, contemplating
the great future before them, and the
little prattlers gathering around them
telling of the killing of the big bear