The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-09-22
SMTTH-HOCKENSMITH.
Reunion of Two Well Known
Families.
HELD AT s. H. WEIGHS HOME
The story of German Orphan Boy Pretti-
Iy Told How He Happened to Come
to This Country and Settle In
stark County.

TO TINS country anu Sebble III
stark County.
The fourth reunion of the Smith
Hockensmith families was held on Sat-
Sept 10th, 1898 at the home of S. II.
Welch in Pike Township.
Quite good crowd of relatives, friends
and neighbors assembled.
AS the noon hour approached, boun-
tiful dinner was arranged on the tables
in the dining hall barn floor and justice
served it by persons of all ages from
tender infancy to extreme old age.
After dinner the same dining hall was
changed into an auditorium in which
the afternoon exercises were held.
Organization was effected by electing
Jacob Smith, Pres, S. II. Welch, Secre-
tary, John Hockensmith, Treasurer, and
an executive committee consisting of o.
T.. Smith, Jos. Russell and Victor Lash.
The next reunion is to be held at the
home of Matte Smith on the 3D. Sat, of
June, 1890.
The literary exercises consisted of a
number of recitations by the little folks,
talks by the older people and the follow
ing well prepared paper by Jacob Smith.
FOLLOWING is THE ADDRESS OF PREsI-
DENT, JACOB SMITH:
Friends and relatives We have came
together today, not as those who meet
upon stated occasions, simply for the
purpose of having some fun, but for the
sake of renewing our acquaintance with
each other, and Cementing the friend
ship we have for each other more firmly
than it has ever been in the past. We
realize that while time is hasting us on
in the course Of life, that each year finds
us that much nearer its close, and in
order to carry out the design Of the ere
ator who has placed us here, it is neces-
sary for us to act in the present.
have often thought that would be
very glad if was able to stand before
an audience and tell them something that
would be beneficial to them, something
that would instruct and interest them in
hN SlNaA BlOylN lllo VI AllN' NOAANA DS
Ve,y glad to do so it would be one of
my proudest days, could have it to say
that had in some measure contributed
to the happiness and pleasure of the oc-
casion. While we are not all so Consti-
tuted, that we may entertain an audience
with words of instruction., with counsel
to direct, with interesting pictures Of
the present and past, with some great
deeds done in imitation of the heroes of
bygone days, we may with the humblest
lay to, helping hand, and aid in some
degree to help move the cause along.
We have all got some work to do, some
place to fill, and in that work it is neces-
cary for us TO move out with the deter
mination, that so far as we are compe-
tent, we will make a success of life, and
be an honor to ourselves and to those
around us. There isno person but what
may be an example fit to initiate if they
but strive to fill the station in life in
which God has placed them, and though
some may move upon a much higher
plane intellectually than others they are
the guiding stars to lead % on toward
the port where we may finally rest, from
all the labors of this life.
These reunion occasions are some of
the bright spots along life's pathway;
for the present, we lay aside all life's
cares, and endeavor to have happy and
good time together, and the hours thus
spent carry with them the recollection
that we have interested ourselves in
each others welfare, and when looking
back over the time, the thought is pre-
sent that ..as an association of relatives
and friends we are better acquainted
with each other, we know more of our
friends experiences in life, and lesson
is given us, by which we may make a
grand step upward in the scale of moral
and intellectual good. l have never
yet attended reunion, whether it be of
relatives, of neighbors and acquaintances
or of the comrades of the late war, but
what I have been benefited in more
always proved happy one, have always
been able to learn something that never
knew before, and the friendship of the
years which have passed by is always
strengthened and increased to degree
not experienced before. Our love for each
other is more firmly cenlented, and we
in a measure become more like each
other, our experiences, our trials, our
successes in life in its different walks
become common to each, and by the
knowledge thus gained, we are better
fitted to lay hold upon the duties and re-
sponsibilities that will arise in our path,
way. Afterward and now while we are
each endeavoring to contribute ssmeth
ing toward the happiness of this location
Twill so far as am able give what have
learned of our family history upon the
one side of our ancestors.
About the year 1865. 1--WE say about,)
there came to one of the ports in Ger
many, Il am sorry that could not ascer.
tain which one, or at what place the port
was located) an orphan boy twelve years
of age, had heard of the country called
America, and especially of the United
States then in its infancy, that if he
could get there, where there was much
unoccupied territory, there would be a
chance for him to make better living
than what he could do in his present