The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1892-08-11
WILLIAM H. ESSIG.
A PROMINENT CITIZEN KILLED IN
sTANTLY BY THE CARS,

while Walking Along the O.. o. & 8
Track Near Richville-His Neck and
Right Leg Broken-.sad Ending OF a
Prominent Man.
william Harrison Essig, one OF Stark
icounty's pioneers, a prominent man and
eternity suddenly and unexpectedly last
evening. Death was due to being struck
by train on the Cleveland, Canton d
Southern railroad and was instantaneous.
Mr.. Essig lived upon farm about half
mile south west Of Richville along the
Cleveland, Canton d Southern railway
track. Yesterday afternoon he left home
to 20 TO pay a visit TO his son Nell Essig,
who occupies farm about q mile from
his place up the railroad track. Shortly
after 7:20 O'Clock he started to return
home and that was the last ever seen
of him in life by any OF mis- folks. he went
down along the railroad track and mad
gotten about half way between tne hlcn'
Vile station and his home when the south
bound excursion train returning from
Canton to GAINESVILLE came along and
struck him. MIR. Essig was sixty six years
of age and was at times somewhat hard OF
hearing, and II Is probable that ne did not
notice the approach of the train. The road
curves around considerably at this point,
been made to the railroad Office by the
engineer, IL is probable he did not see Mr.
Essig at all, and did not know OF the acci-
dent,
As the evening wore on
and Mr.. EssiR did not return his folks at
home began to wonder what had become
of him and finally his son William started
out to look him up. About IL o'clock he
found him lying along the railroad track
dead. The body was taken home and an
examination showed that his neck was
broken and il is therefore certain that he
was killed suddenly. His right leg was
also broken below the knee and mark
upon the right temple showed that he had
been struck there.
Coroner Openhimer has been notified
and he will go down today and hold an
inquest in the case.
The funeral will be held at 8 o'clock
Wednesday morning from his late resi-
dence and the body will be inferred in the
Westlawn cemetery, ...
Deceased was one of the most promi-
nent and public spirited men in the
county. He was born on March IA, 1927
in Plain township near the Grove Hall
school house and resided in the township
until 1865 when he removed to Rochester
in Bethlehem township. In 1870 he came
to Canton and for five years he was en-
gagged in the hardware business with his
son, ex-Councilman o. A. Essig of this
city and Andrew Pontius, on the corner of
Seventh and Market streets and on
the east side of Market in the room
now occupied by George Deu.
BILE. Afterward he removed to the
farm upon which he has since resided
near Richville. He was sturdy Demo-
crat, a progressive and capable citizen
and was respected and honored through
out the county. For ten years he has been
member of the agricultural society and
last year he served as the president of the
organization. He was q brother of Lewis
Essig of Plain township and Joseph Essig
OF the west. His wife and a family OF
seven children are also left to mourn his
loss. The children living are Messrs. o.
A. Essig, William Fssig, Nell Essig, Mrs.
John Holl, Mrs. Oliver Holl and Misses
Libbie and Ettie Essig.
Deceased was in the city last week and
in speaking with friends he signified his
intention of attending the Horticultural
meeting at the home of d. NJ. Neiswonger
next Wednesday and also the annual
Essig family reunion to be held on Thurs
day.
When found along the track he had
been there for about three hours. His
watch which had been stopped by the blow
from the train recorded the time of the
accident at just five minutes before
o'clock.