USA > Ohio > Champaign County > The history of Champaign and Logan counties : from their first settlement > Part 30
USA > Ohio > Logan County > The history of Champaign and Logan counties : from their first settlement > Part 30
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A room of that size, and built in that way, was used for kitchen, dining room, parlor and bed-room. The bed, and sometimes
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three or four of them, were placed in the back end of the room, and here the whole family slept. And when they had visitors, which was very frequently in those days, they were accommodated in the same way. Where the family was large, however, the boys fre- quently had to sleep up in the loft, on the floor, which was laid with clap-boards, the same as the roof. In order to get up to the loft, a ladder was placed close in one corner of the house, generally in the end near the fire place. This description, however, applies only to the very early settlers. They soon began to add to these cabins such improvements as seemed necessary for comfort and convenience, but many well-to-do farmers still held on to the first comfortable log cabin for many years. And in this way, we may adopt the words of the old Scotch poet, and say, that many
" Noble lads and winsome inisses,
Were reared in sic a way as this is.
In reflecting back upon those past times, their houses, farm-, manners and customs, pleasures and enjoyments, and then on comparing them with those of the present time, the question will obtrude itself upon the mind as to which is the best calculated to promote real comfort, health and enjoyment; the old-fashioned cabin fashions, manners and customs of those times, or the very different ones of the princely palace residences and their fashions, manner and customs of the present time.
Before I close, I think I must say a few words to the ladies. 1 have said before that the women were equally eligible with the men to become members of this Association, and if they would avail themselves of the privilege, they might and should bring to remembrance and relate incidents and circumstances of the "olden times," which would be very interesting and instructive to the present and rising generation.
The subject of woman's sphere and her proper position in society has been much discussed by lecturers of both sexes, and in the public papers for a few years past, but whether that discussion ha- had much effect in making the change or not, one thing is very certain-that a very great change has been made in regard to woman's duties, and her occupation as housekeeper, within the past fifty or sixty years. This will be very apparent if we contrast the duties and occupation of the women of that period (for they were real women then as well as now,) with those of the ladies (As
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they must be called now) of the present time. Everything has changed. Wives and heads of families considered it their duty, to card, spin and weave the materials, whether of flax or wool, for their husband's and children's clothing, and their own, and then make them up, also, as tailors and milliners were almost un- known at that time. A farmer's or mechanic's wife who did not keep her family decently and comfortably clothed in this way, was not considered a very valuable "help meet" by the com- munity.
They must, however, have some "Sunday- go- to-meeting" clothes, but these were often of their own manufacture, made with more care for this special purpose. Some few had Sunday clothes of finer quality, brought with them from the older settle- ments of the Fast, where they had moved from ; these were pre- served and kept with great care for many years. As improve- ments advanced and the country became more thickly settled, dry goods stores of course would be gradually introduced, though often at considerable distance away ; and many women and their daughters have traveled from this vicinity to Urbana to get "store boughten" calico or tiner dresses, which they paid for with gin- seng, which they had dug in the woods with their own hands. This "seng digging" and trade is well worthy of description, but there is not room or time now. A few more changes I must briefly mention. The sweet music of the spinning wheel and the weaving loom in the cabin, has given way to the piano and melo- deon of the splendidly furnished parlor. And perhaps in too many instances the rough board book-shelf on the wall of the sabin, with the Bible and a few religious and good historical books apon it, has been displaced by the splendid center-table in the gau- dily furnished parlor, loaded with sensational novels and the "yellow-back literature" of the present day. In the women's de- partment, perhaps as great a change has taken place in regard to cooking as in any other. Cooking stoves were not even heard of in those days. The cooking was done by the big log fire in the same room where they ate and slept. The implements used wero a large dutch-oven, siew-pot, long-handled frying-pan, and some- times a tea-kettle. With these utensils a woman of those days could get up a meal good enough for a prince, if she only had the "wherewithal." I should not have left out the Johnny-cake
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board, which was very important, but as the ladies now do not know what this is, I will omit it for the present.
At the close of Dr. Brown's speech, President Gardner intro duced Samuel Carter, a venerable citizen living near this pl 4, who had been with us since the foundation of the county was laid. Mr. Carter spoke in a clear and earnest manner for some minutes, graphically detailing incidents and scenes of carly life, much to the interest and amusement of the assembly. He -nul when his father came to this county sixty-three years ago, there were three Indians to one white man. Then cabins had het ane room, in which they lived, ate and slept. Furniture was trer. When he was married fifty years ago and moved into his erbin, he made a cupboard by putting together some rough claphun- with wooden pins, for there were no nails then nearer thin U'r- bana, which was their "dresser." The first table they over land he made with an ax, hewing out rough boards and pinning them together. The first thing he ever put salt in was a gum. In their room was a spinning-wheel, beds, bin, &c. In Iste, when he moved here on the place he now lives, he built a log house, without door or window; he sawed a hole to go in and out at, and ~ there was no floor below they slept upon the loft and cooked outside. The stock took shelter beneath. In the day he worked hard out ting hay, and at night worked at his house, and when they got a mud chimney completed so they could have a fire in the house, it was the happiest moment of their life. He wore homespun then, and all he had was a pair of tow-linen pants and a shirt, but no drawers or boots, and considered he was very well prepared for winter. Like a great many he bought land and had to work hard to clear and pay for it. This was slow work without money or markets, but he kept on and after a while population Incresent & little, but they could not sell anything. A bushel of wheat could not be sold for twenty-five cents. They had no means, and the only way they could pay for their land was to mise how, cattle, &c., which brought but little profit. He had raised many s fino steer for ten dollars which would now be worth sixty dollars. They had no other means of getting money except by hunting for furs, and could not buy coffee, tea, &c., but they had plenty of venison and raccoon, and many a good meal he had made of it. He thought society was better then than now ; they bad not
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so much to do, and time was not so precious as now. Now we had not time to visit; but then people went several miles, and when they had got a good liddler and a puncheon floor, would dance all night and as another old pioneer added, "go home with the girls in the morning." After a while, the speaker said, he began to advance in the world and prosper. He bought a new cotton shire, and thought he was coming out. Aftera short time he bought another, and then he had a "change." But there had bren a great change. When he looked around him he found that all those whom he used to meet at raisings, log-rollings aud mus- ters, were all. gone-his company had all gone before, and he must soon go too. Life had not much charm for him now, and life was like a calm summer evening to him now. He said he would probably incet and be heard again on a like occasion, but if he did not they could say he had gone before them to another and better land. With a fervent blessing, he retired.
" Joshua Antrin was next introduced, and made an excellent and able address which we re-print in full on our first page. He said it was due the audience to make som explanation for the author- ity of some statements he was about to make, and cited living wit- nesses then present ; among others he mentioned Mrs. Esther Rob- · inson, daughter of the first, white settler in Logan county. He also stated that Sharp's mill was built and running in 1803. But the reader will find his speech of absorbing interest.
After moro delightful music from the band, who by the way have acquitted themselves with honor during the past week, fur- nishing music to thousands of delighted hearers, the President in a few happy words introduced the Hon. Win. Lawrence, who he said had grown up among us from a boy. Mr. Lawrence came for- ward and said :
I did not suppose I would be called upon in the presence of these venerable and venerated pioneers to say one word to-day. I came here to listen to what others might say, and by my presence to tes- tily my respect for those who are here and my interest in the oc- casion. But called upon as Lam, I will say a few words which I hope may be pertinent to the occasion. I first visited Logan county in 1836, before I had reached the years of manhood. I came to
* Reported for the BELLEFONTAINE PREES.
1
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Bellefontaine to reside a little over thirty-nine years ago. The hills and valleys and streams were here then as now ; but almost all else has changed, wonderfully changed. Forests have become cultivated fields, mud roads have given place to turnpikes and railroads, and villages have sprung up and grown in size and pop- ulation, where primeval forests stood. School buildings, and churches with spires pointing heaven ward, have arisen where there were none before, or only the rudest log buildings. Bellefontaine then had a population of less than 600, and its frame and log build ings looked old and dilapidated. The only brick buildings in it were the court house and county offices, two old churches, and lens than half a dozen brick dwellings of antiquated architecture. Com paratively few of the people who then were in the county yet re- main. Emigration and death have done their work. A stream of population has poured in among us from other countries and States. and a new generation has been born.
The Bar of Logan County then consisted of Anthony Casad, Hli ram McCartney, Samuel Walker, Richard S. Canby, Benjamin Stanton, Royal T. Sprague, and myself. Of all these I am the sole surviving resident lawyer, and my friend who sits before me, Gen Gardner, is the only merchant now in business who was in busi ness when I first made Bellefontaine my home. [ General Gardner responed : "That's so, my friend ; give me your hand ;" and Gen Gardner and Judge Lawrence took each other by the hand in a warm and cordial greeting.] Judge Lawrence proceeded': The Bar, as I first knew it, here, was one of ability, learning and integ rity. The pioneers before and around me, I know will bear testi mony to this. But the Bar is changed ; McCartney, Walker and Casad repose in mother earth, lie buried in the county of Logan, where they lived honest lives and adorned the profession of the law. Peace to their ashes and honor to their memories. Richard S. Canby is now a Judge in Southern Illinois; Benjamin Stanton does honor to his profession in Wheeling, West Virginia, and Royal T. Sprague is a Judge of the Supreme Court of California, a position which he fills with much distinction. Among these members of the Bar I would not draw any invidious comparison, for they jointly shared the confidence of all who knew them. Two oftheme served in Congress, Stanton and Canby. In forcible argument and logical point, Ohio never had an æbler man than Benjamin Stanton and when Richard S. Canby once became thoroughly aroused and
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enlisted in the discussion of a subject, with his scholarly attain- ments, he was the most eloquent and impressive orator I ever heard.
The law practice has changed much since I first engaged in it in Logan county ; then money was a scarce commodity. A lawyer then would ride on horseback five, ten or fifteen miles, through the mud, with "leggings" regularly strapped or tied in proper posi- tion to shield the lower extremities, and before a justice of the peace would manage a lawsuit for a fee of five dollars, generally secured by a note at six months, and finally paid in trade. We had no livery stable, and if a lawyer did not keep a horse he borrowed one from some accommodating neighbor. Now, a young lawyer, if he goes on such an errand, must have a top buggy with at least one and sometimes two horses to carry him.
Joseph R. Swan, one of the ablest, purestand best men Ohio ever had, then presided on the Common Pleas, and Joshua Robb and Gabriel Slaughter were Associate Judges, all men of sterling good sense and practical good judgment. Then the lawyers regularly attended the courts in the adjoining counties, to which they trav- eled on horseback. The courts of Logan county were regularly visited by Samson Mason, Win. A. Rogers and Charles Anthony of Springfield ; John H. James, Moses D. Corwin, Richard R. Mc- Neemar, of Urbana; Patrick G. Goode, Jacob S. Conklin and Jo- seph S. Updegraff of Sidney ; Win. C. Lawrence of Marysville, and others.
Judge Lawrence proceeded at a considerable length to describe the early condition of affairs in Logan county. He said farmers had no cash market for any of their products at an early day. There were no railroads to send any thing to market. A farmer would raise a small crop of wheat, and in the fall load up a two- horse wagon, take oats to feed his horses, and some bread, butter and ham for himself, and drive off a hundred miles to Sandusky, sleeping at night in his wagon, to sell his load of wheat. With the proceeds he bought a barrel of salt, roll of leather and muslin, and reserved enough money to pay taxes. Hogs were bought by dro- vers and driven to Sandusky. He said he had seen wheat sell here for forty cents, and pork and beef for a dollar per hundred pounds. Mechanics were paid in trade, houses were built for trade, lawyer and physican- paid in trade. The people were social, and hospital-
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ity was one of the essential characteristics of all the people. Our spare will not permit us to give a fuller sketch of the Judge's remarks.
Judge Lawrence then read a note from our venerable and respected fellow citizen John Kirkwood, living two mile- west of West Liberty, stating that he was confined to his room and could not be present. He stated he had an apple tree growing on his farm, planted in 1804, which now measures eight feet and three inches in circumference, and has never failed to bear some apples each year since it began bearing. He said he would send sample- of fruit, but it did not come to hand.
The president next introduced Volney Thomas, who made a brief but interesting speech, describing customs of early days. Ho was born in Champaign county in 1810. He told how they went to church. Churches and school houses were made of logs and polls, and in these colleges they got their education and religious teaching. He went to school in the first church built at Mt. Tabor. It had a big fire place in one end, and one morning when they went to school it was found that during the night the back-log had rolled out on the floor and burnt up the house. Then the only school book was the New Testament, and their task was to commit certain portions to memory. It was a fine thing in those days to have a pair of morocco or squirrel skin shoes, and when the young men and women went to church the young woman would tie her shoes up in her handkerchief and her beau would carry them in his hand to church, when she would put thein on; after meeting she pulled them off and again went barefooted home. When the wo- men wanted a new calico dress, they went to the woods and dug gensang, which they took to Urbana and traded to the merchant.
He recollected seeing old Mr. Hopkins, who lived in Chum- paign at the time, come to church many a time with nothing on but a pair of low-linen pants and shirt, barefooted and bareheaded, and for a half hour preach with great power. When there was a log-rolling. Rex pulling, or social gathering, all turned out and had a good time. Being all Quakers then they didn't dance, but played plays such as "Sister Phebe" and "Marching Round Quehee." This was the way they were raised.
The President then showe I some relics, one a photograph of the first house built in the county, and the other a large pewter dish, presented to the Association by Andrew Stiarwalt, of Bellefon- taine. It was purchased in Pennsylvania about the year 1760. by
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Thomas Guy. He owned it 48 years and at his death gave it to his nephew, Thomas Guy, who owned it forty-two years, and at death gave it to his daughter, Mrs. Mary McFadon, who brought it to Logan county in 1831. She owned it eleven years and at death gave it to her daughter, Mrs. Martha Stiarwalt, who has had it since 1814. It is a quaint and venerable relic, 120 years old.
After the reading of an old poem, which we shall present at an- other time, with some preliminary remarks, the Association pro- ceeded to elect officers for the ensuing year, when the following were unanimously declared elected : President, J. M. Glover, West Liberty; Vice President, Joshua Antrim, Middleburg; Secretary, Thomas Hubbard, and Treasurer, Gen. I. S. Gardner, of Bellefontaine. George McCulloch was elected Chaplain for life. Trustees-B. S. Brown, Samuel Carter, Wm. Lawrence, of Bellefontaine; Volney Thomas and Joshua Buffington, of West Liberty.
Books were declared open for members' names and many were recorded, which will be given at another time.
The next quarterly meeting was appointed at the Town Hall, West Liberty, December 3, 1870, with Judge Lawrence to deliver the opening address.
After the doxology by the band, and an affecting and solemn benediction by the Chaplain, the meeting was dismissed, and all went home happy, feeling that the occasion had been one of rare interest and amusement.
Third Quarterly Meeting.
The third quarterly meeting of the Western Pioneer Association was held, according to appointment, at West Middleburg, in this county, on Saturday, March 4, 1871. The day was warm, sunny and pleasant, and although the dirt roads were in a bad condition, the attendance was larger than was anticipated, the house being completely filled. In addition to the large number of citizens of the town and vicinity who expressed their appreciation of the oc- casion by attending, there were present many of the pioneer men and women of the neighborhood, who took much interest in the proceedings, and added to the exhibition a large collection of relics of the early days.
In the absence of the worthy 'Treasurer and other active mem-
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bers no business was transacted, though much was to be done. The time was pleasantly occupied until the adjournment with speeches, songs, etc.
It is much to be regretted that the large collection of relics of other days could not be presented to the Association to be preserved in its archives for the benefit of future generations. They are of little use as they are, but gathered together would form an inter- esting and speaking chapter in history which could not be sup plemented by written desciption. The donor would also have the satisfaction of contributing an article to the museum which would carry his name in connection down to posterity. We hope these relics may be gathered up from all over the county and sent in properly labeled with their history and donor's name, to the Pres- ident of the Association.
The meeting was called to order at 2 o'clock p. M., and after prayer by Rev. Mr. Flood, President J. M. Glover gave an inter- esting review of social life running back to pioneer times, explained the social, benevolent and historical object of the society, and urged on all old people the importance and duty of joining it, to collect and preserve the history of the county.
"A Requiem to the Departed Pioneers," composed by Professor Joshua Antrim, very touching and impressive, was next given by Miss Mollie Bales and Prof. Sharp.
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St The
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BY WM. HUBBARD).
It was just such an Autumn morn as this-how many years ago? Let me see: John is now twelve years old, and was then but two, I know- We had loaded the wagon the day before, a wagon staunch and new, And away we hied on the Autumn morn while the grass was wet with dew.
The yellow dust was damp and still, on the smooth and quiet road, And gaily the bay and sorrel team moved on with our household load; The leaves were tinted with yellow and gold, and colors of myriad sheen, And the meadows had lost in the early frost their tinge of summer green.
1 mind me well how the shocks of corn stood in the fields by the way- How the yellow pumpkins, like nuggets of gold, in the open furrows lay, How the luscious apples hung ripe and red as we passed the orchards by, Where the children played in the pleasant shade, all under the misty sky.
We were moving away to the Illinoy, where land could be cheaply bought; The homestead farm wasn't large enough for both the boys we thought- But, if it were to do again, peradventure we would stay,
For we often sighed in the Illinoy for the dear home far away.
The land was cheap, and the yield was great, and we have enough to divide Between the boys, and leave the girl a handsome thing beside; But, one or another, we never were well ; that is, i mean to say, Not quite so well as we used to be in the home whence we moved away.
We lived five years in the Illinoy before the sickly fall --- Ahl that you may very well believe was a trying time for us all! All, all were down, my companion died, and I never got over the blow; Though Jane was grown, and took care of things right well, as all of us know.
And Ephraim now looks after the farm; of boys he is one of the best; He said to me: "Father, you're growing old-it is time you had some rest- So take little John and go back once more to look at the dear old home- You can go by the cars, not the toilsome way by which we had to come."
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Who is that man yonder? He looks to me very much like .lason Bla k; Bat Jason, I'm sure, walked very straight, while this man crooks in the back And Jason's hair wore the raven's hue, while this man's hair is white- Ah, me! I forget what time may do in ten years of his flight.
"God bless you, friend! Come, sit you down, and tell what I would know Of neighbors well remembered still, whom } knew long ago; I'm back to the dear old stamping ground, and brought little John, my twy Leaving Ephraim and Jane to care for things at our home in Hinoy
And Jason said, and sighing said: "Old friend, tis sad to tell Of the folks who were here ten years ago, and whom you know - well But few are left, for scores are dead, and many have moved away And the few you meet you will hardly know. so changed are they to-day
"You mind the man who bought your place-a -tout young fellow was he. But he died of a fever the second year, leaving wife and children three And they managed bad, and the Sheriff sold the housestead out for dont And where they went 'tis so long ago if ever I knew I forget
"Your neighbor Gates, across the creek, tor a long time he lay low And died at last-let's see-I think it is just six your- ago; And Jonah Gates, his oldest son, I s'pose you have heer n tell, Gave up to drink and playing cards, and isn't doing well
"I can not name them all. of course, but a score of our young men Were lured away to fields of blood, and never came back again : Some gave up their lives at Gettysburg, some fell on the march to the sims And widows and orphan children left are sorry sights to see
"You well remember Willie Grey, so handsome, kind and true. For his dead father, your best friend, had named his boy for you They stole him away as a paymaster's clerk, poor boy, and now he shops, Where Mississippi's turbid tide in restless surges sweeps."
"Enough-enough-more than enough: I very plainly see The old home has no comfort left that it can offer me. So I'll pack my things; and to-morrow morn, with little John, my boy. I'll go back again to Ephraim and Jane, And our home in the Illinoy "
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Oh, Give Them Back.
BY JEBBE ROBERTS.
Oh, give me back my cabin home Within the forest wild, And give me, too, those hopeful years, I knew when but a child. Oh, let me see the birds again, With plumage bright and gay, And near their notes as when I trod The tangled, winding way.
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