The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-07-11
History of Pike Township.
By JACOB SMITH.

Mr.. Young was of German lineage,
and like very many of that race into
whose minds in early life, had been
instilled the prevailing superstitions of
the day, he was somewhat disposed to
to believe in agencies of supernatural
kind. He was strong believer in
witches and witchcraft telling Of
many instances in which persons had
become subject TO the will of witches,
and that farmers stock often was be-
witched so that it was necessary to
of the evil spirit. He, however, assert
ed that by peculiar gifts with which
he was naturally endowed, such as
being left handed, and also by know
ledge which he had gained by study,
that he had power to control them
harm AS time passed by and ciyili-
cation with it's enlightening power
spread her rays broadcast over the
land he became Sufficiently educated to
renounce in a great measure all his
views that were antagonistic and
not in accord with reason and
sound judgment. During the latter
part of his life he was considerably
afflicted with rheumatism making it
necessary for him to use canes or
crutches in order to get around. BY
good management and industry he was
q "a hlln TN odd m hiG annt N bpr
quarter section of land, lying in the
adjoining township of Bethlehem.
Other settlers who came into the
township about the year 1807-S, were
James Eakins, John Shut, and Jacob
Kemery. OF these three persons, not
very much has been left on record.
Eakins settled some where not far from
the southwest corner of the township
in 1903. Shut settled upon section
8, where he resided until his death,
which occurred about the year 1868, at
the advanced age of ninety two years
He was a tall, stout, well built, active
man and continued to labor almost to
the end of his life. Many were the
times when past four-score years of
age, he might be seen out in the woods
chopping wood, splitting rails, burning
brush, or with grubbing hoe or scythe
cleaning out the brush and weeds
which grew In the fence corners and
other places where they were an in
cumbrance. He asserted that he al
ways felt better, could rest with much
more ease and comfort, and enjoyed
life far better when actively employed
than when idle.
Kemery settled in the northwest
part of the township where the balance
of his life was passed. He died at the
age of "a years. Some of his descend
ants of the third and fourth generations
are still living in the township.
Among the prominent pioneer famil-
les of Pike township who came in at
an early day, was Jonathan Gable,
originally from Somerset county, Penn
sylvania, who settled upon the south
east quarter of section 27, in the year
1911. He Immediately began to I'M
prove the place by clearing five acres
of ground and sewing 1t In wheat, and
then putting up cabin. During the
rough and inclement weather while
working in the cabin, he spent the
nights at Mr.. Young's house, distant
from his place pretty near two miles,
In the spring of 1912, he moved his fam
lily to his new home. Very shortly
after coming here, he was drafted into
the United States service and he was
notified to appear at such place on a
certain day, properly armed and
equipped according to law" or furnish
substitute. Here was trying time
for this pioneer family, they being
comparatively alone in the wilderness,
with three small children, the eldest