The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1889-06-20
ORATOR AUNGsT
Delivers a Fine Address at the Eamg
Family Reunion,
The Advent Of the hiaHig Family in STARK
County Simultaneous With tho
Organization OF the
County,

Nj, w. Aunghti
Friends and Members of tho Rssig
Family We have met to-day 10 ex'
change greetings and kind words Of
fellowship, TO recount the happenings
OF another year, and 10 add another
chapter of tho Eaaig Family,
Upon former OCCASIONS Of these Ieun'
ions, you have heard narrated IN lifting
words, the "reminiscences of the family,
but, being somewhat unfamiliar with
tho traditions 0fa noble ancestry, which
We all love 10 hear retod, shall not 90,
oupy your time In that way, but with
your kind indulgence, viii make an
EFFORT 10 mention few Of those incl
dents and circumstances which have in
auenoed tho growth and development OF
the family, especially those traits and
conditions of ancestry for which every
member OF their now numerous prog
eny should feel truly grateful,
At tho time when Wendell Easlg
loft the beautiful aud picturesque
country of Switzerland, with itSaalubrl
Oua climate, ita anow'coyered noun
taina and placid lakea, and ita romantic
mOuntanic paatnrea and yerdant mead
avs, 70 seek home IN the then unaub
duGd wilderness beyond the seas, emil
grafton from Europe waa taking place
under circumstances entirely different
from those Of tho present day, Az that
time tyranny occupied almost every
throne, and religious intolerance char
acterized the pulpit, 70 deny tho d.
vine right of kings or 10 express An
honest opinion different from that
held by those whom accident
had placed IN power were
crimes, 10 bo guilty OF which was
TO have inflicted The most extreme puL'
iahmont Az that time crimes were IN
vented for no other purpose than 10
furnish Victims for the unrelentlng and
blO0Othlraty persecution Of tyranta,
Men were banlahed, accommodated,
subjected 10 every conceivable torture,
put 70 death without trial for no other
grievance than an imaginary crime
against ignorant kings and potentatea,
Ia fact, liberty and Justice were atran'
gora In the land, Under the circumatan'
cOa the brayoat and wiaeat OF Eur0pO'a
sons were driven from their homes and
compelled 10 seek refuge IN foreign
Cllmta. We say the brayegt aud wlaeat
were driven out, because tyranny sci,
dom banlshed q coward, and the church
never accommodated man who had
not q mind Of his own,
Among this number of early adyen,
turera In search Of liberty In America
was Wendell Esaig, the honorod head of
the family 10 which we belong. Cir
Cumatancea are different now The
rea of inqulsltlon have long since been
o1tlnguiahed Tho ahrleks Of the tor
tufed no longer MI the mir. The long
line OF prosecutions for orlni0n'a sake
are now narrated by tho historian only
90 evidence Of the Ignorance aud hlgOt,
ny Of the past, Tyranny has become
tempered with tolerance, and men Are
being respected for honest opinions In
stead Of being peHeouted.
Az the time OF which wo speak the
Inducements 10 omlgrants were not no
great 40 they arc to-day, The voyage
waa longer aud more perlloug, Tho lot
Of the settler was e0yeror than we find
II now. There were no beaton paths
that led TO wealth and fame, but on the
othor hand privOtiona aud haldships
met them NJ every turn, IL was under
these circumstances and conditions
that tho Esslg family had ltS inception
m America About the roots Of this
family tree the earth OF humanity has
clung, It's fruits wo sec before u8 to.
day, Tho oak 10 none the less the
majestic monarch Of the forest because
Of tho storms no has had 10 weather
SO 10 the Esaig family stronger and
wiser because OF the trials and battles
and oonquosl8 of its ancestors. Appro'
Clatlng these circumstances as We do,
who would not feel proud Of such on
ancestry Who can stand In the pr0e.
enCe OF the achievements OF his fathers, |
without feeling himself newly inspired
and equipped for the battles Of the |
luturep
Simon EsBlg, n son Of Wendell, after |
having rendered his country efficient
service In the War Of the Revolution, |
moved with his family In 1908, 10 the |
then infant state Of Ohio, establishing
his homo on the banks Of the Nimlshil
len In Plain township, Stark county,
We are cherlohing hia memory to-day |
almost IN sight OF the spot where the |
bluO smoke curled from his |
cabin chimney Here In the
midst of fragrant flowers, charmed
by the oarrolling of the song.
stere of the wood, although surrounded
by wild beasts and wild men, this hardy
and industrious pioneer and his doy0t. |
ed wife lived peacefully and happily
and reared U family OF thrifty aud hon
est sons and daughters.
Notwithstanding the hardshlps and
prlyatlons usually attendant upon the |
advent of the pioneer, yet how inspiring
and animatng these rural surround
ingB must have been, TO witness the
first awakening Of spring and TO feel its
warm breath stealing over the senses;
10 see the moist, mellow earth begin
ming TO put forth the green spr0ut and
tho tender blade; and the trees and
shrubs In their r0yiying tlnts aud burst.
ing buds giving the promise of return.
ing foliage and flower; the birds twlt.
tering about the trees and bushes; the
robin throwing llveller note into his
late querulouB wintry strain and the
lark gpringing up from the roeliing
bosom OF the meadows, towering away
into the bright clear azure, with the
waves of melody rippllng from his tiny
throat, were all scenes ~ inspire the
ldeas Of rural imagery. But TO the
sturdy pioneer, life was not all poetry
The refreshing breezes were attended
by killing fr0sts. Accompanying tho
beautiful and refreshing sum- ler show
ors would be found the crop. destroying
aud devastating hail storm. But trust. |
ing In the rainbow OF promise, and over.
coming misfortune by laboring with in.
creased assiduity, they usually succeed.
cd in reaping the rewards Of their In.
dustry.
A a H.. A..