The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-07-11

east part of section 20. He died many
years ago, his widow surviving him
neaer score of years. The land upon
which he settled is still owned by his
youngest son, Benjamin Fetters, one
of Pike townships best citizens and
pretty near fourscore years of age.
The Henlines, Keysers and Shroyers
all settled in the southern part of the
township, mainly on sections 10 and,
building up the country and adding
to it's wealth and prosperity.
Peter Hockensmith settled on sect.
ion 5, on land owned at present by
Isaac Goshorn. He was from Freder.
ick City, Maryland, and was weaver
by trade. At that early day the wear.
ing apparel, bedding etc, was prin-
cipally of home manufacture land
many of the pioneer families brought
with them looms, upon which to make
their cloth, one of the members gener-
ally being competent to do the work.
Shortly after coming here, upon the
organization of the township, Mr..
Hockensmith was chosen to fill the
Office of township trustee, which
with two or three exceptions he held
continuously for a period of twenty
years. During the exceptions noted
he served as Constable and Justice of
the Peace. Though not very highly
educated man, he nevertheless had the
qualities and natural ability to manage
affairs and take hold of business in
manner that generally insured sue.
cess. A good many of his descend
ants still live in the township, some
OF whom occupy places of trust, both
in Office and as teachers.
The Howenstines settled in the
northeast part of the township.
Among their members some one or
another Of them have been kept in
places of trust the greater part oi
the time since the organization of the
township. George Howenstine de-
ceased, filled the office of clerk, trus,
tee, justice of the peace, county com.
missioner etc, with honor to himself
and those who placed him there. His
descendants are people of great worth
to the community in which they live.
and their labors have assisted greatly
in adding to the religious, educational
and agricultural interests of the com.
munity around them.
Prior Foster was one of that class
OF men who do not remain long at
one place. He was one of Africa's race,
and was a well known and remem.
bered early settler of Pike township.
From descriptions handed down
through time, his race was of the
deepest black, and his mouth when
smiling presented the appearance of a
coal pit set around the opening with
a very even row of ivory posts or
slabs. He was married in Canton on
the corner now occupied by the Can
ton Hardware Co., in the year 1871
by justice of the peace named Coul.
ter, to handsome white girl who was
said to possess reasonable share of
good sense and judgment" but of a
taste hard to be accounted for in the
ordinary course OF nature. Mr.. Foster
was a miller by trade, and while no,
exactly a giant in size he certainly
was one in strength. He was often
heard to saythat he never saw the horse
that could carry as much at one load as
he could. The following incident is
told OF the Fosters: A stranger was
passing Fosters home one day and
stopped to enquire the way to a Ger.
tain place. Mrs. Foster was alone.
and in replay to the inquiry said, my
dear Will soon be in and he can tell
YOU Shortly after Foster made his
appearance, and the stranger in ute,
astonishment looked at the husband
and then at the wife, at loss how
TO reconcile the unsuitableness of the
couple. Madam" said he, "did | un.
derstand you call that man your
dear?' Yes, sir" she replied.
We'll" said the stranger, 'Tll be id
II he don't look to me mire like n
pear" Foster had son named
George who was quite black, and who
was also very strong. | still have a
distinct recollection of seeing this
man pretty near sixty years ago, and
SO far as | can call to remembrance
ne was the first colored person ever
saw. He also married white girl
Squire Guest was called upon to per
form the marriage ceremony between
them, but declined doing so until he
had consulted an attorney at Canton,
after which he united them.
Among the other pioneer settlers
who came here at an early day were
the following; Michael Morley, John
Richards, Jacob Miller, Jacob Flora
Michael Apley, Martin Mckinney, John
Burnheimer, Jacob Bowman and Others
and 1t was not many years after the
close OF the war of 1912 until the en-.
tire township was sold, occupied, and
IN process OF producing livelihood
a EaNN NVtaa n