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

CHAPTER 2.
During the year 1912, Pitney Guest
and Benjamin Miller emigrated from
New Jersey and settled in Pike town
ship. Their first place of residence was
on section 10, which they occupied as
"squatters" for about three years.
Guest was Miller's son-in-law, and both
families started out with the deter
mination to try and better their condi-
tion in life, even though 1t could only
be accomplished by much hard labor
and privation. Miller had been a SOL
dier during the Revolutionary way, and
served the greater part Of the time
while there under Gen. Green. During
an engagement with Gen. CORVALLIS
remained in the service until the close
of the war being subjected to all the
hardships and privations which the
soldiers of '76 were called upon to en-
dure. The old veteran and hero died in
the year 1928 and was buried in the
village graveyard at Sandyville. OF his
life and labor after coming here until
his death we know nothing beyond the
facts mentioned Guest was a shoe
maker, and by working at his trade, in
addition torlearing and cultivating his
ground, he was able to accumulate
some money. He was the only person
who could make and mend shoes in
the settlement for several years, and
consequently had the entire custom
He was drafted during the war of 1912,
but peace was declared very shoftly af-
terward and he was not ordered to the
front. After living about three years
on section 10, he Told his improve
ments, which consisted of log cabin,
some other small buildings of an
equally primitive kind, and few acres
of clear ground, for 500, and entered
the northeast quarter of section 7. This
place has been owned until quite re-
Gently by his son, Washing gton Guest
then for short time by his children,
but is at present owned and controlled
by resident of Canton by the name
of Goldberg.
Mr.. Guest was both a justice OF the
peace and regularly ordained minis
ter of the Baptist church. The Office
of justice of the peace he held for more
than twenty years. Being strictly up
right and honest in all his transactions
with his fellow man, he was continued
in office of different kinds by his con-
stitGents, longer, probably, than any
other man In the township. Whenever
nnVTnp n him IN nr1pr N nI,t 70 In,
Justice by law" his first effort always
was to have the parties settle the dis
pute or difference amicably between
themselves, without resorting to the
stern mandates of the law, thus pre-
venting much hard feeling and conten-
tions between neighbors and friends.
In his capacity as minister and JUS
tice of the peace, he lis said to have
united more persons In the bonds of
matrimony than any other person in
the county at that day; the believer be-
ing united in the ritual of the church
he represented, and the skeptic in the
form of law laid down for the use of
justices of the peace. He was man
possessed of more than the ordinary
intelligence Of the people among whom
he moved, but was ever content to la
Dor for their good and for the advance
ment of Gods kingdom among them.
He was killed in the year 1856 by be-
Ing thrown from wagon during the
running away Of the team attached to
it. His widow survived him Is years
and died in 1874 at the advanced age of
92 years.
One thing that ! wish especially to
make mention Of before closing this
sketch of Mr.. Guest is that | am for.
tunate enough to have in my posses.
sion clock Of German manufacture
which Mr.. Guest eithe! brought with
him from New Jersey in 1912, or pur-
chased it shortly afterward 1t was
one Of the kind that was in use In
early days, called by some the "old
wall sweep" and was his tlmepiece in
his house during his life. AS ] write
this ! am sitting within few feet of
the old clock, which is still faithfully
ticking off the hours as they pass, and
II proper care is taken of it, it will be
as good for another generation to come
as 1t has been seryiceable in the past.
Phillip Siffert and Henry Bordner
both came to Pike township during the
year 1872. They were men of consid-
cradle energy and enterprise, and both
were elected to Offices of trust when
tn township was organized a couple Of
years later.
During the three years following Mr..
Guests settlement in Pike, the follow
ing persons came in, the most of whom
entered land or purchased from those
who had previously entered it: Michael
and John Holm, John Russell, Chris
tian Hiple, George Fetters, John Bech-
tel, Daniel Failor, Joseph Keel, Sr,,
Peter Hockensmith, the Keysers, Hen
lines, Shroyers, Weayers and Howen-
stines. Michael Holm and his son,
John came from MARYLAND and mr.