The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-07-07
History of Pike Township.
BY JACOB SMITH.

settlers IN selecting nome lor tnSm-
selves and families, made choice of
of lands which had such an uneven
and hilly surface; but when we become
acquainted with the reasons which
prompted them in their selection. we
will cease to wonder, and must say
that they were governed by what they
believed would be for their own good
and that of their families also. The
majority of the early settlers of Pike
township were from the state of Penn
sylvania, and had been reared among
its hills and mountains and tonse-
quently had acquired a fondness for
surroundings such as had been theirs
from early life Another and still
stronger reason was that the low, level
productive lands of today at that time
being covered with dense forest, was
more or less wet, damp and marshy
and consequently bred malaria, fevers
and other diseases of a lingering and
debilitating nature, and to avoid these
evils as much as possible the high
lands were chosen. The higher, more
hilly and uneven the surface was, the
less subject it was to these great draw
backs to human health, enjoyment and
prosperity. Among the hills the air
was purer, and did not come freighted
with the germs of Ague, fevers, NAL
aria etc, and consequently was the
place for a home notwithstanding the
level portions of the country in the
course Of time would be far more val
liable. The present inhabitants of the
township love their native hills and
valleys and are content to remain and
toll for a livelihood until the time
comes when it shall be said to them,
well Done Good and Faithful Ser
wants, etc."
Almost the entire area of Pike is un-
derlaid with a wealth far exceeding
that which has been accumulated from
the surface. Underneath the hills lie
from one to three veins of coal, the
most of which is of excellent quality.
There can hardly be an estimate made
Of the vast amount of COAL ore, fire
clay, limestone, ETC., which is slowed
away beneath the surface, the greater
part of which still lies untouched, a
waiting the hands of men to place IL
in the surrounding markets. Coal min
ing has been carried on to some extent
along the northern and eastern part of
the township where means of trans
portation has been afforded, but
through almost the entire western part
this source of wealth lies untouched,
there being only an occasional mine
to supply the demand for home con-
sumption. The farmers of Pike though
not always as fortunate in raising large
crops of grain as in some other local
tiles, still have the means within their
reach of accommodating lin many in
stances) fortunes far in excess to the
one who must depend alone on good
crops, ...
are afforded, these mines of wealth
will be developed, and the income from
them will be great.
The agricultural resources of the
township consist principally in the
raising OF corn, wheat, oats, rye and
grass OF late years considerable at
tention is being paid to the raising of
potatoes especially in the south west
ern part of the township and many
hundreds of bushels are annually
shipped to the markets in different
parts of the country. Stock raising
has been a source of considerable in
come to the farmers during the last
two or three decades, and no portion
of Stark county is better adapted to
this pursuit, as the. hills when sowed
down to pasture, afford generous
supply from which cattle, sheep, horses
swine, etc, can live and grow fat for
the countries markets.
The land ofathe township is drained
by the Nimishillen creek which passes
through the eastern part from north
to south; the Limestone run which
rises near the center and flows south
into the Sandy Creek, and Bears Run
which rises in the northwestern part
and flows south into the Sandy near
the southwest corner of the town
ship, The timber which still remains,
consists principally of oak, walnut,
beech, maple, hickory, elm, ETC., and
of late years very much of 1t is being
cut into lumber by portable saw-mills
and put upon the market to help sup
ply the demand which has been created
by the rapid building up of the country
and its industries.
Let the reader turn back with us
through the vista of time, until We
stand upon the threshold of the nine
teenth century and on pleasant spring
day in the year 1896, there might have
Eeon seen threading their way through
the unbrolien forest of southern Pike
township a man and woman the for
mer carrying in one hand a rife, and
with the other was leading horse
which was laden with provisions to
last Them on their journey, with their
clothing Immediately behind was the
woman setting upon another horse
IoI IL. 1,