USA > New York > Cayuga County > History of Cayuga County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 13
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In 1864 he returned to Auburn and opened a studio ; but like most young artists, he did not secure satisfactory patronage. Returning to New York, he worked at a salary on crayon heads, for which he was well paid. He again came to Au- burn, and went thence to Oswego, where, for three years, he found liberal patronage, and, ob- taining commissions, he went to California, made numerous sketches of the Yo Semite valley and has finished several fine paintings of that re- markable region, which are much admired.
In the spring of 1873, he went to Europe and devoted about a year and a half to a careful study of its works of art. He then returned to Au- burn, and in 1876 removed to Philadelphia which has since been his home.
ALEXANDER F. LOAMANS, a French artist of genius and ability, and a connoisseur in his pro- fession, came to Auburn in 1854, and painted here for about two years. He had many marked peculiarities. He could paint with great rapidity, and could with little apparent effort make showy pictures, which he could, and did sell cheap ; yet realizing a full equivalent for the time devoted to them. He would frequently arise from his bed at night, and by the light of a lamp lay his ideal subject rapidly upon the canvas for future study, and at other times, for weeks together would work with a peculiar zest, as if inspired with a supernatural enthusiasm. Like most artists he was a wanderer and his whereabouts and sub- sequent career are unknown to us.
SANFORD THAYER, the son of a small farmer, was born in the town of Victory, in this County,
70
LADY ARTISTS.
July 19th, 1820. At the age of fourteen his father died, leaving his family in such poverty as broke it up, and scattered its members, and young Thayer was left to shift for himself. For four years he worked at farming, barely support- ing himself, his art genius burning for gratifica- tion. At this time, slender in purse and ward- robe, he came to Auburn to learn to paint. He was directed by the artist Goodwin, to whom he applied for a position, to go to a carriage painter, to take lessons in plain painting, and this he did; but failing of employment, he returned to his old work upon the farm and in the smithy. He was finally employed in Skaneateles in car- riage painting. Fortunately, Elliott, the great painter, then resided in Skaneateles, engaged in the execution of a design on a fine carriage. Thayer watched with great eagerness the work of this master, and attempted to copy it when completed. While absorbed in the effort he was surprised by Elliott, who kindly criticised and complimented the rude, yet promising effort of the young man, giving valuable practical hints to the great joy of the would-be artist, who was thus firmly fixed in his purpose to become an ar- tist, and he fully executed it. He applied him- self diligently to his work, and years after he again met Elliott in Syracuse, to whom he ex- hibited a portrait of a boy which he had painted, and was delighted and encouraged by words of commendation. The friendship thus formed be- tween these two geniuses continued till Elliott's death. The latter painted two splendid portraits of Thayer, which were said to have been his finest productions. He was selected to complete the orders left unfilled when Elliott died, a com- pliment of significant import. Mr. Thayer still resides in Syracuse and, as health permits, still executes fine works .of art.
LADY ARTISTS .- MISS CELIA MURDOCK resides with her father in the town of Venice in this County. She is an artist of much merit, and has practiced and taught art successfully for many years. She is now traveling in Europe.
MISS CARRIE WOODRUFF NOYES, is a cultivated lady, a professional and accomplished artist, con- ceded by art critics to draw and paint better in water-colors than any other resident lady artist.
MRS. MARY VIGUS, was a native of Port Byron and a self-taught artist. She became an instruc- tor in art at a ladies' seminary in Memphis,
Tenn. ; married, and on the death of her hus- band supported, and still supports, herself and two boys by her profession.
MISS LOU ANN MUNSON, when a resident of Weedsport in 1841, and afterwards, painted por- traits in oil with much acceptance. She is now Mrs. Sunderlin, and resides in Philadelphia. She is a sister of Mrs. James Henderson of Auburn.
MISS GERTRUDE L. STONE, daughter of Col. Henry M. Stone, late of Auburn, early evinced an excellent taste and tact in drawing, and has taught pencil and crayon drawing for many years in schools of her own, and in young ladies' seminaries. She is now an instructor of art in a ladies' school in Ohio.
MISS ELIZABETH M. BEMIS, a native of Auburn, is a lady of good general culture, and has been specially instructed in drawing in the New York Academy of Design. Her work is strongly com- mended by art critics, as indicating skill, culture and care. She is now acceptably teaching draw- ing in the public schools of Auburn.
MISS FANNIE BEMIS, sister of the foregoing, was educated in pencil drawing and crayon work, in Cooper Institute and the New York Academy of Design, and was the recipient of the first prize, a gold medal for the best drawing, a compliment well merited, as evinced by the excellence of her work. Her crayon portraits are much com- mended by competent critics, and give full satis- faction to her patrons. For some three years she taught drawing in the Howland school at Union Springs.
It will thus be noticed that Cayuga County has been the home of a very large number of pro- fessional artists, of varying ability and success, most of whom contended against poverty and adverse circumstances, and won their reputations by following their own native impulses for art, which no obstacles, however severe; could repress. They were born artists, and their birthright they claimed and won.
Of engravers, we may well be proud of George Whitfield Hatch and John Chester Buttre; the former, the foremost of bank note engravers, and the latter the peer of any in steel portrait engrav- ing ; while Elliott, in portrait painting, won a national reputation, and Meeker, Thayer and Page, with the long list of other artists, whose careers we have briefly chronicled, won deserved distinction in their several fields of labor.
71
VALUATION AND TAXATION.
CHAPTER XII.
VALUATION AND TAXATION.
VALUATION FROM 1800 TO 1877-STUDY OF THE
TABLE-COMPARATIVE VALUATION OF FARM LANDS-OF REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY -COMPARATIVE TAXATION-SUPPORT OF THE POOR-LUNATICS-COUNTY POOR HOUSE.
Years.
Assessed Value of Real
Assessed Value of Per-
Total Value of Real and
Personal Estate.
Amount of State Tax.
Amount of School Tax.
Amount of County Tax.
Amount of Town Tax.
Amount of Supervisors
Bills.
tion.
1800
1,839, 111 Included
1,839, 111| None.
1,000
1,192
390
3,58z
1811
948, 856
in
948,856
None.
6,585
2, 108,
8,693
1812
1,382,616,
Real.
1,382,616
4,887,252
1,679
3,854
4,195
9,728
1814 4,534,869
384,896,
4,918,765
1,680
5,027
3,403
10,197
1815
4,534,869
330,440
4,911,309
9,730
1,710
4,293
4,451
20, 187
1816 4,513,699
363, 111
4,876,810
9,752
2,201
3,805
6, 196
22,046
1817: 4,346,329
232,353
4,578,692
9,157 4,533
1,921
7,310
5,119
18,985
1819
4,346,329
139,985
4,486,314
4,534
2,379
7,626
5,563
20, 104
1820, 3,284,793
123,395
3,408, 188|
3,408
2,370
7,758
4,556
18,005
1821
2,463,693
127,843
2,591,536
2,501
2,341
8,885
3,648
17,466
1822
2,463,703
J35,267
2,598,970
2,732
2,36c
6,426
5,582
17,101
1823 3,311,501
527,229
3,838,730
4,075
2, 367
8,521
6,544
21,642
1824
3,311,501
580,533
3,792,034
9,609
2,375
9,480
4,875
21,474
1825
4,768,555
490,538
4,259,076
2,796
2,295
15,024
5,827
23,197
1826
3,557,574
577,435
4,135,009
None.
2,783
15,325
3,493
21,602
1827
3,517,574
546,729
4,064,303
2,797
13,331
3,388
19,517
1828
3,547,574
609, 560
4,227, 134
2,763|
11,638
3,118
17,520
1829
3,517,574
620,192
4,137,766
4,154,074
2,393
11,994
5,630
20,018
1831
3,517,574
679.015
4,196,589
2,783
12,379;
4,470
19,630
1832
3,517,574
700,205
4,217,779
2,629
16,069
5,806
24,505
Aurelius
$12.00
$57.52 per acre.
Brutus
5.88
41.32
"
Cato
6.00
48.83
"
Fleming
10.75
52.85
4
Genoa
11.25
49.73
Ira
6.00
48.83
16
Locke
6.90
29.96
"
Mentz
9.50
45.71
Moravia
8.00
32.20
"
Niles
9.00
37.45
Owasco.
12.00
39.23
=
Sennett.
11.00
52.05
=
Springport
14.00
59.77
Scipio
12.00
53.74
Sterling
4.75
31.89
Summer Hill
4.04
22.08
Venice
11.50
45.96
Victory
5.75
34.59
1868 16, 182, 342 4, 167,794 20,850, 136 1869 16,281, 821 4,008,608 20, 350, 519|
96, 146 26,412 201,650 73,072 2,711 398,867 96,906 27,687 172,615 100, 364 . . . . 309, 109 1870 16, 373, 621 3, 520,435 19,894,056 126,682 26, 335 212, 581 91,273 3,083 461,667 1871 16,574,621 3, 132, 161 19,706,785 92,887 26,335 49,786 111,538 2,815 284,821 1872 16,940,534 3,021, 177 19,961,711 163, 578 25, 165
1873 17,046,521 2,736, 368 19,832,889 112, 512 24,673
1874 34,271, 217 4,587, 834 38,857,951 114, 342 23,821 1875 31, 502, 240 4, 372,782 35,875,022 98,667 25,965 1876 29, 535, 540 4,095,810 33,631, 350
1877 28,497,684 3,203,440 32,318,078
49,082 27,782 53,634 161,060 3,057 308,765 54,868 30, 233 55,910 147,919 3, 149 289, 272
In 1800, the towns in Caynga Connty were Milton, (now Genoa,) Sempro- nius, Ovid, Romulus, Ulysses, Aurelius and Scipio, having 1,947 inhabitants. In 1862, the County bounties paid to volunteers amounted to $12,230. Town boloties, including the town expenses that year, amounted to $7,517. In 1863, the Conaty bounties charged to the towns, and included in the town expenses, amonoted to $31,400. There was included in the County tax of 1863, on account of bounties, $2,371.
STUDY OF THE FOREGOING TABLE.
I N a single year from 1812 to 1813 there was a sudden increase in the valuation of the County of more than three-fold. That increased valua- tion from $1,382,616, to $4,887,252 was main- tained with slight variation until 1821, when a large reduction was made, from an average of over $4,000,000 to about $2,500,000. From 1825 to 1836, eleven years, it stood at between $4,000,000 and $5,000,000. In 1837 it was raised to over $6,000,000, in 1839 to over $12,000,000, the valuation being doubled in two years. In 1845 it was reduced to less than $9,500,000, in 1851 it was advanced to over $21,000,000. The amount varied from $19,000,000 to $21,000,000 for the next twenty-three years until 1874, when the valuation was raised to nearly $39,000,000. This amount was reduced in 1877 to $32,000,000.
We state the amounts here in round numbers, the exact figures will be found in the foregoing table.
The following was the assessed valuation of the farm lands of the County in 1837 and in 1877:
1837.
1877.
1833 3,517,574
652,378
4,169,952
2,628
16,095
5,719
843
24,444
1834 3,516,628
836,539
4,452, 167
2,623
18,237
6,986
867 27,847
1835 3,516,028
927, 146
4,443,174
2,635 17,707
5,080
934
25,424
1836 3,516,628 1,480,446
4,497,074
6,005,631
12,875 15,588
5,945
25,438
6,901 1,180 53.515
6,374 794 44,299
1845 8,153, 104 1,325,021 9,478,125
5,856
5,699
19,184
6,225 938 36,964
1846 8,492,836 1,415,998
9,908,834
5,891
5,241 23,822
8,350,1,035 43,296
1847 8,760,221 1,640,906 10,401, 129
5,971
5,241 14,470
8,812 1,363 35,857
1848, 8,920,781 1,611,763 10,532,534 10,858
1849 9,803,286 1,702,845 11, 505,931 5,398
5,626
19,946
8,325 982 38,297
24,557
5,439 10,402 12,266 28,459 5,201 14,667 31,440
8,808 1,129 50,011 8,627 1, 375 59,847 9,840 1,250 61,150 76,147 94,362 10,653 1,472 20,961 1,797 83,479 16,833 1,607 17,888 1,968 12,248 1,764 122,837 12,790 1,608 109,828 12,871 1,631 107,634 11,892 1,705 127, 103 10,317 1,412 123,265 17,785 2, 100 170,511 47,040 54,674 1,774 223, 175
59,245 14,411 60,046 14,411 87,768 16,456 94,741 16,719 98,031 16, 338 211, 139 295,773 2, 543 621,283 81,159 15,557 306, 520 111, 596 2,495 514, 825
36,851 2,086 503,511
1867 16,019, 177 1, 311,950 20, 331, 127 133, 236 26, 233 207, 500
43,813 1, 878 412,001
1854 17,642,905 3,068,459 20,711, 364 15,343,13,022 25,853 12, 171 33,962 21,033 15,775 39,504 46,788,15,096 1855 17,629,461 3,052, 748 20,682, 209 1856 17,734, 375 3, 299, 103 21,033,478 1857 17, 346, 141 3,448,942 20,795,083 43,233 1858 15,821,228 3,733,492 19,554,720 34,220 14,666, 48,151 48,202 18 59 15, 562,727 3,633, 228 19, 195.955 33,625 14,411 46,726 1860 15,407, 559 3,266, 573 18,674, 132| 1861 15, 234, 595 3,418, 399 18,652,994 41,519 38,309 1862 15,332,756 3,475,778 18,798, 539 1863 15,437,247 3,784,806 19,222,052 48,501 1864 15,711, 353 4,348, 241 20,059,594 1865 15,758,778 4,293,697 20,052,475 1866 15,904, 886 4, 244, 124 20, 149,010 100,833 15,714 318,739
44
6,225 27,651
6,791
28,803
9,999 29,279
5,978
28,151
6,500 1,332 $3,68
1844 8,431,670 1,272,246| 9,703,916 10,681
Ledyard
14.00
50.95
Conquest
4.75
39.06
1838 4,546,231 1, 385,868: 5,931,899
6,019 1,320
41,071
1839 10,546,233 1,604,529 12, 1 50,762
41,351
7,147 1,369 6,719 1,090 6,202 1, 240| 41,632 41,714
23,249
1830
3,517,574
186,357
4,532,686
1,671
6,643
4,930
22,402
1818 4,346,329
Estate.
sonal Estate.
Amount of Total Taxa-
7,381
1813
4,780,830
106,422
1837 4,546,231 1,459,400
2,620 30,670
6,413 1,173
39,704
1840 10,964, 546 1, 548, 110 12, 512,656 1841 10, 324,472 1,617, 358 11,941,830 1842 10,749,043 1, 548, 160 12,690,873 1843 No record No rec'd No record
5,434 20,74Z
8,340 1,217 46,591
1850 9,345,257 1, 809, 384 11, 154,641 5,581 1851 17,828,008 3, 275,081 21, 103,089 1852 17,677, 368 3,098, 127 20,775,945 1853 17,681, 138 3, 216, 205 20,897, 343 20,909 14,287
30,296
Sempronius
5.00
23.83
97,920
2,490 26,307
6,881 1,211 35,679
6,552 28,500
5,978
21,265
2,863
12,992
7,433
636,500
3,622
3,759
59,685 138, 599 2,884 391,670 67,815 145, 144 3,581 357,339 52,436 136,315 4,720 338,070 58,366 129,879 3,059 324,357
The above equalization of 1877 includes the farm lands only, excluding village and railroad property ; in 1837 all the property of the towns was included. The very great advance in the estimated value of farm lands will arrest atten- tion. It will be noticed that in 1837 the prices ranged from $4.04 per acre for the lowest to $ 14.00 for the highest, and that in 1877 the same
72
EARLY SUPERVISORS.
towns had been advanced from four to eight-fold, while the personal property of the County had in the same period increased only about two- fold.
COMPARATIVE VALUATIONS OF REAL AND PER- SONAL PROPERTY .- The foregoing table furnishes a guide as to the relative estimated value of the real and personal property at the different pe- riods from 1814 to 1822. The personal property of the County was assessed at one-seventeenth of the value of the real property. But, for the next two years, from 1822 to 1825, it was sud- denly raised to one-fifth, an increase in two years in the assessed value of the personal estate of the County of more than three hundred per cent. From 1835 to 1838 it was still farther ad- vanced and reached the highest relative amount at any period in the whole history of the County, and was rated at one-third of the real estate. Here the increase ended. From 1838 to 1850 the personal property fell off one-half and was rated only one-sixth the real. From 1851 to 1860, very nearly the same proportion was main- tained, but from 1873 to 1877 the proportion was lower than at any other period during the last fifty years and was less than one-seventh of the real property.
TAXATION .- The foregoing table also supplies some interesting facts relating to taxation. In 1840, but thirty-seven years ago, (the table closes with 1877,) the gross tax upon the County and the towns for all purposes, was but $41,632. The population was then in round numbers 50,000 ; the taxation, therefore, was about eighty cents per capita of the population, and that was the highest tax which up to that time, a period of more than forty years, had been levied upon the County.
The amount for the next ten years did not greatly vary from that, and in 1850 the gross tax was but $50,000, about the same per capita 'as in 1840. The gross tax upon the County between 1850 and 1860 was more than doubled, arising mainly from the large increase during that de- cade, of the State tax, which, it will be noticed, had arisen from $5,581 in 1850 to $59,245 in 1860, the increase from all other sources during those ten years being only $28,092. But the great flood of taxation rolled in upon us from 1863 to the present time. At the former date the war claims were being paid, and the gross
taxation reached its climax in 1864, when we paid $621,283, about $ 10 for each man and woman and child in the County. From that time it has been gradually lessening until now. During these fourteen years the County of Cayuga paid $5,431,623 in taxes, an amount greater than the entire property valuation of the County at any time during the first forty years of its existence.
An examination of the foregoing table will show the sources of the trouble and also our gradual release from it. Up to 1863 our County and town taxes had been relatively light, less than $50,000 for the former, and an average of about $12,000 for the latter. But they suddenly arose to hundreds of thousands in consequence of the military expenses of the time, and, in re- spect to the towns, the added burden growing out of their indebtedness for the construction of rail- roads. The State tax, owing to the same gen- eral causes, was enormously increased, rising in 1872 to $163,578 ; but the latter has been re- duced to $54,868 in 1877, only about $9,000 more than it was in 1857, twenty years before. The County taxes have fallen to $55,910, but the town taxes still aggregate high figures, $197,919, owing mainly to liabilities incurred for railroad construction.
EARLY SUPERVISORS.
The Supervisors of the County of Cayuga in 1818 were the following : William Allen, Scipio ; William Clark, Genoa ; Nehemiah Wisner, Au- relius ; James Leonard, Mentz ; Charles Cham- berlain, Locke ; William Satterlee, Sempronius ; Elijah Devoe, Owasco ; Rufus Sheldon, Brutus ; Augustus F. Ferris, Cato; John McFadden, Sterling,-representing ten towns.
The town of Auburn was first represented in the Board of Supervisors in 1824, Elijah Miller being the first Supervisor from that town. There were then eighteen Supervisors, as follows : Auburn, Elijah Miller ; Aurelius, Robert Cook ; Brutus, Sylvester Sheldon ; Cato, John Jackway; Conquest, William Crowell ; Fleming, Lyman Loomis ; Ira, William H. Noble; Genoa, Wil- liam Wilber ; Locke, Silas Bowker ; Ledyard, Ephraim C. Marsh; Mentz, James Leonard ; Owasco, Geo. R. Brinkerhoff ; Springport, Asa W. Burnham ; Scipio, John Daniels ; Sempro- nius, William Satterlee ; Venice, John Beards- ley ; Victory, Roswell Enos.
73
PAUPERISM.
The fact is disclosed by the proceedings of our early Supervisors that the principal sources of local taxation were damages paid to land owners for new roads laid through their lands ; bridging streams, for the support of the poor, and for bounties paid for the destruction, of wild beasts.
PAUPERISM .- Contrary to the common belief, we have had the poor with us always. The early settlers were not all self-supporting. The hard- ships and privations of the early emigrants caused much sickness amongst them ; many heads of families died, leaving sick and dependent mem- bers who required temporary support from the more favored. There were not then many chronic paupers, but the aggregate assistance re- quired was relatively large.
Before the erection of the County Poor House, in 1825, the amount paid by the towns for the support of the poor, was nearly equal to all the other town expenses.
Aside from the maintenance of the paupers and the expenses incident to opening new roads, the other town expenses were very light. The town of Aurelius, which in 1818 included the village of Auburn, paid in the four years from 1818 to 1821 inclusive, for all local purposes $3,244.04, of which sum $2,354, or more than two-thirds, went for the support of the poor, and a similar expense, for the same purpose, was im- posed upon the other towns of the County. We, therefore, had indigence and pauperism sixty years ago, relatively to the numbers of the peo- ple, nearly as great as at the present time.
In 1823 the town of Auburn was formed and in 1824 the entire town expenses were but $302.21, or excluding damages incurred for lay- ing new roads, it amounted only to about one hundred dollars. In 1825 the town paid $200 to improve highways and the same amount for the support of the poor, and for all other local expenses $47.36. In 1827 it was still less. We append the items as found in the records of the Supervisors proceedings of that year.
Asa Munger com. of schools three years, $11.25 Hackaliah Burt, =
two 7.50
John Patty, "
one 3.75
Samuel Dill, com. of highways,
1.00
Collector's commission,
1.59
Total, $25.09
It is quite apparent from the early records of the bills audited by the Board of Supervisors of
the County, that official incumbents did not then depend upon office for their support.
In further demonstration of the poor expenses, before the erection of the County Poor House, we append the following : The town charges of Scipio in 1824 were $380.41, of which sum $250 was for the support of the poor ; Ledyard $288.68, of which $250 was "poor money "; Owasco, $182.37, of which $100 was " poor money"; Locke, $212, of which $150 was " poor money" ; Sempronius, $447, of which $250 was appropriated for the support of the poor, and so on through the list of towns and the records of years.
These heavy expenses for the support of the poor, led the Supervisors at their session in 1825 to take measures for the erection of a County Poor House, a site for which, comprising seventy- nine acres, was procured on the farm of Thomas Stevenson, then in the town of Brutus. George Casey, Daniel Sennett, Henry Polhemus and Salmon Tyler were appointed superintendents for the erection of the building and superintend- ing the general object of County pauperism. Two thousand dollars were appropriated in 1825 to this object, and three thousand dollars in 1826. The building was completed in the latter year, during which fifty-two paupers were re- ceived, and in 1827 the number had risen to one hundred and fifty, a number of inmates exceeding the present average.
The first lunatics were sent to the Insane Asylum from this County in 1843, when four were taken to Utica by Dr. J. D. Button. The present number of insane maintained by the County in the two asylums of Utica and Willard is seventy,-fifty-two at the latter who are con- sidered incurables, and eighteen at the former many of whom are considered as curable cases. The whole number of insane persons in the County in 1875, was 157, an increase in this un- fortunate class within twenty-five years of about three-fold, and nearly equaling the aggregate number of the blind, idiotic and deaf and dumb in the County. The cost to the County of maintaining the insane in the asylums, exclusive of clothing, is four dollars per week at Utica, and two dollars and sixty cents at Willard, thus im- posing in the support of these unfortunates, an annual tax exceeding $12,000.
Sylvester Willard, M. D., was the first physi-
74
EARLY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.
cian to the poor house. Dr. Boyce has held that position for the past seventeen years, receiving a salary of $250. In 1843 the cost of maintain- ing the poor of the County outside of the poor- house was $7,224.55, and at the poor house $3,707.62, a total cost of $10,932.17. In 1877, at the poor house the cost amounted to $7,741.94 and outside of it $31,407.21, an aggregate cost for the maintenance of the poor of $39, 149. 15, nearly four times the aggregate of 1843. The present average weekly cost of the maintenance of the paupers at the County Poor House is one dollar and fifty-six cents, independently of the annual products of the farm. E. L. Phelps held the position of Keeper of the Poor House for seventeen years, and Morris M. Olmstead that of Superintendent of the Poor for twenty, and is the present incumbent of that office.
CHAPTER XIII.
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES AND STATISTICS.
EARLY DISADVANTAGES-FIRST SOCIETY AND ITS PROCEEDINGS -SECOND SOCIETY - ITS OFFICERS AND PROCEEDINGS-MORAVIA AG- RICULTURAL SOCIETY-NORTH CAYUGA AGRI- CULTURAL SOCIETY-GENERAL HISTORY OF THE PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY - CAYUGA COUNTY PATRONS - FIRE RELIEF ASSOCIA- TION-AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.
I N a County naturally so favorable to so varied and abundant agricultural productions as Cayuga, associations might be expected among the farmers for their own mutual improvement ; but for nearly a quarter of a century the early emigrants had to maintain a stern contest with rude nature and had little time or means for any- thing else. The forest had to be removed, roads constructed, streams bridged, mills erected and most of their own clothing prepared. Those who enjoy the improved facilities of the present day, with all the arts and conveniences of life, can but feebly conceive the difficulties and em- barrassments under which the first settlers labored. They had a fertile soil to cultivate, when once the trees were removed, which needed no
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