The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-07-25

Rad cleared sufficient land to produce
ample for their living and that of
their young family One thing some
what remarkable about his wife,. was
the fact that at the time of their
marriage she was very small woman
weighing about 95 or 9S pounds, and
Mr. Heminger being large heavy
boned man could lift her about with
as much ease as a ten year old child.
This, however, did not alwas remain
the case. A few years after their
marriage she began a second growth
in size and at the time of her death
in middle life she had attained the
remarkable weight of about 40C
pounds or more. They had FIVE
six children some of whom may still
be living Mr.. Heminger with his
entire family emigrated west about
the year 1si9. and since that time
none Of them have returned. Joseph
Keel owns and lives upon the farm
| which Mr.. Heminger opened up, and
the house of today stands but few
rods from the old log.house occupied
by Mr.. Heminger and family.
Leonard Shroyer came from Penn
sylvania to Pike township about the
year 1925, and settled on the north.
east quarter of section TO-. He was q
mason by trade and quite skillful
hand at building what was called COM
| mon riprap walls. Sometime after
coming here he built house to live
in of small stone the walls of which
are still standing. It has been more
has besn used as residence. Since
that time no attention has been paid
the old house and 1t has been allowed
to crumble down, the roof and other
parts where wood was used has rotted
almost entirely away, SO that the bare
walls alone remain of what was ut
one time quite nice residence.
OF. Mr.. Shroyer's direct descend
ants, ten or eleven in number,) but
! one is living Mr. Troxel at an age
beyond four score years. A goodly
number of the second and third gener-
ations are scattered over Ohio, Michi-
gan, and other parts of the union. In
religious belief Mr.. Shroyer was a
Lutheran. and about all the members
of his family espoused the same faith.
He was one of the number who, labor
ed hard to clear up farm which to
consequently canbe rightly called one
/. of Pike townships benefactors.
Jacob Smith emigrated from Potts.
Il vile Pa, to Pike township in the yea
1929. He was then about 40 years
of age. He was a shoemaker by trade
and had worked quite extensively at
the busire's S IL, Pottsville, carrying
on shop which gave employment 10
several hands. 1t was principally on
account of poor health that he left
Pennsylvania having the idea that u
} he would gst into new country and
at out door work, his health WOULD
improve. In this he was not disap-
pointed. After making the change his
health became good and remained SO
to the end of his life; and when past
four score years Of age he could get
around as lively as person of twenty
years. He purchased 30 acres on the
southeast corner Of section IA, which
he cleared and farmed, doing some
work at his trade IN connection with
the farm&ork. In religious belief he
was a Methodist, and became mem
mer at its organization of the first
Methodist society in the township
. This society was organized in 1880
About the year 1857, he moved to the
eastern part of Stark county having
purchased 40 acres In Washington
death which occurred in 1872 at the
: age OF 80 years. His descendants
four in number lived mostly In Pike
township. One is still living, Warren
G. aged 60 years at Salem, Columbi
ana County o. His eldest son Law
renee B. Smith was local minister
in the NJ. e. church for a psriod ex
tending over 60 years. His second
son John Smith taught school foI
many years and was also an ordained
minister in the M. e. church.
goodly number of the second and
third generations are still living ir
the township, some filling positions ol
trust as public officers and teachers
and are among the number OF Pike
townships hest citizsns. The writer
Of this sketch holds the memory oi
: his grandfather Jacob Smith in res
pect and reverence.
Thus we might go on and enum
Grated other persons who were among
the early citizens Of Pike, and who as
sisted very much in bringing the
township from wild uncultivatet
wilderness. to land where peacs
and plenty abounds, and where al
things necessary for our happiness
and comfort both physical and spirit
ual may be" found. We will now take
: leave of our readers, trusting that this
outline sketch may add somewhat Il
the knowledge OF those who are anx
ious to gain information about the
Y wnrlr and Iahor of thnao who war.