USA > Pennsylvania > Crawford County > Pioneer sketches : scenes and incidents of former days > Part 11
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For my part, I had no objection, at that time, for a good time for a few days to come. This we proceeded to have, as the time was rolling by. We stopped for nary a cloud to roll by, but attended the Fourth of July ball at Conneautville. Three or four days later A. J. Brown and wife, of Allegheny College, came and a dance must follow, which was kept up until a late hour. Prof. Munson, of Tennessee, arrived about that time and said he was anxious to get teachers to accompany him to Tennessee. Arrange- ments were made, and in a few days we started for the Sunny South.
CHAPTER XLI.
THE SUNNY SOUTH.
DOWN THE OHIO AND MISSISSIPPI -TEACHERS' INSTITUTE AUGUST, 1850-BOLTON & DICKENS, SLAVE DEALERS-SCENES-SCHOOL TEACHING-SAD DEATH OF BROWN.
PARTY consisting of Professor Munson, A. J. Brown, of Allegheny College, and wife; Miss Ball, the Misses Williamson of Linesville and Spring, Crawford County, Pa., and the writer, started for the Sunny South in July, 1850. It was a rather unpropitious time of the year for northerners to go South, but the professor and a schoolmate, Kingsley Clark, had been engaged for a year past teaching school and had announced in the Memphis papers that a teachers' institute would be held in August, and it being the first ever held in Memphis Mr. Munson must return and was anxious to take teachers back with him, hence the reason of our party going South at that time.
We took conveyance from Linesville by wagon across the country to Ashtabula, Ohio, where the Lake Shore Railroad terminated at that time, and took the train for Cincinnati. The Lake Shore from Ashtabula to Cleveland was very rough, the dust flying over everybody. We arrived at Cincinnati that evening, and found the mos- quitoes plenty and very pugnacious near the Ohio River that night.
The next morning we noticed the steamer Silas Wright had out her boards-"For Memphis and New Orleans this
13
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day." Our party went aboard the steamer, expecting soon to be on our way, but the next morning found us still at the Cincinnati wharf, and so on until the morning of the fourth day, when the steamer left her moorings and we steamed down the beautiful Ohio, full of hope and anticipating a a pleasant future. An interesting trip it was to be. On arriving at the locks at Louisville and while the steam boat was locking through, we had a desire to see the 7-foot 9-inch giant, Porter. We called at his place and inquired if the giant was home. The clerk replied in the affirmative, but after waiting some time and no giant appearing the clerk informed us that if we wanted to see him we must buy something. Seven glasses of lemonade were at once ordered, that we might get a look at the Ken- tucky giant.
Presently he appeared, and he was a wonderful look- ing object. He partook of his brandy, then he sat down on a high counter. The gun that he used for shooting ducks on the river was a load for the writer; his cane, a ponderous twisted varnished stick was big enough for a pile on which to build a saloon, or for an auger-shaped screw for Archimedes.
The whistle of the steamer informed us that she was through the locks and ready for her onward voyage down the river. We bid the Kentucky giant good bye, and went aboard. All went smoothly until we reached the Raleigh bar. Boat aground there for forty-eight hours. The next morning early the captain, with hawser and appliances, was determined to pull the steamer over the bar. All the crew were working the capstan and otherwise. A Dutch deck hand became sort of mulish; the captain, with one stroke of his flat hand sent him sprawling to the deck, then placed his foot on his head, the blood spurting profusely
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from the poor fellow's head. It was well that he wore slip- pers, or he would have crushed him. The captain made no friends by this cruel aet, but demonstrated that he must be obeyed in times of emergency.
After breakfast, as time began to wear on monoton- ously, our party thought they would go ashore on the Ken- tucky side and get some blackberries; found some, but many of them were dried up on the bushes, which was quite a surprise, as they were only half grown ten days before, in Crawford County, Pa.
The same day Miss Agnes Williamson told the cap- tain that a poor woman, a steerage passenger, was very sick and in destitute circumstances, and must have relief at once or she would die. The captain said there was a New Or- leans Spanish doctor aboard, and he would request him to see the woman. The kind hearted Agnes waited, but there was no response from the doctor. She then asked the doc- tor for humanity's sake to try to do something for the sick woman. He said his fee was $4.00, which must be paid, then he would prescribe. Agnes informed the captain, who got angry and said the doctor was a Spanish hog and ought to be thrown overboard for refusing to aid the poor in distress. The captain's stentorian voice was beard by the doctor, and finally he prescribed for the sick woman with good effect.
The Spanish doctor was on his return to New Orleans from St. Mary's College, Baltimore, where he had been to attend the closing exercises and the graduation of his 18-year old son, who was also going home to New Orleans. This young Spanish collegiate blood got exceedingly wroth over what the captain had said about his father, and he got up
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on his top gallant sail in the presence of the young lady whom he much admired (Miss Agnes), and said had he been present he would have shot the captain on the spot. The writer at once informed the young Spanish blood, for his safety to not let the captain hear of his remark ; if he did he would pulverize him ; that, early that morning, he had pulverized a bigger Dutchman than he was; that the cap- tain carried more bad medicine than both he and his father did. The young lady also advised him to quiet his nerves, which he did with amends, and in time to avert be- ing thrown overboard by the stalwart captain.
The next morning our steamer cleared the bar and happily we proceeded on our way once more. A Louis- ania planter by the name of Garlic, about 60 years of age, who said he owned 100 slaves and a large plantation, had been up to that beautiful bay of Presque Isle, Erie, spend- ing June and July. He said he intended henceforth to enjoy life. He had plenty of money and niggers, he said; he apparently enjoyed himself, and imbibed freely from the flowing bowl, and that, or something milder, was free with him to all. He took a fancy to Miss Ball and before our party left he proposed marriage to her and said he would convey to her lands and money sufficient for her lifetime, if she would marry him. I did not hear that the wedding came off, although I presume many a worse one has.
Nothing of note occurred until we reached Cairo, the mouth of the Ohio River, where we remained a few hours. This southern point of Illinois would be a natural site for a city, but the rushing waters of the Mississippi and the Ohio would let no city stand. The 26th day of July, 1850, was a hot day in Cairo. A couple of Mexican greasers,
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hatless, shirtless and sockless, working as deck hands on a steamboat, I noticed appeared very warm. Presently one of them staggered and fell to the deck, overcome with the heat. He was insensible and fears were entertained that he would not survive, but a couple of buckets of water were dashed onto him and after some minutes he revived, but in no condition to work. The steamer's whistle called us on board and the Silas Wright was soon steaming down the Mississippi, the Father of Waters, with no sand bars to ntercept her passage.
We had a pleasant ride of 700 miles on the Mississippi; nothing of special interest to note until we sighted Mem- phis, where a conspicuous sign with letters as big as a cart wheel, attracted our attention-"Bolton & Dickens, Slave Dealers." Shortly after arriving in Memphis Prof. Munson, Miss Ball and the Misses Williamson, went out to Mt. Zion to the school and the residence of Mr. Munson; Mr. Brown, wife and the writer, to Morning Sun, some 18 miles from the city, where our schoolmate Kingsley Clark, was engaged at teaching. The following week was the time set for the opening of the teachers' institute at Memphis, notices having been sent into the surrounding states, Mississippi, Arkansas and Kentucky, that we might strongly organize and have not only an interesting but a profitable time in discussing the best methods of teaching. We met and organized, the three states above mentioned were fairly represented, and a good time generally was had. During that week we had a good opportunity to step into Bolton & Dickens' slave market and see what in the dickens Bolton & Dickens were doing, any how. Well we did not have to wait long to see, buyers and sellers were present same as in an adjoining livery and sale stable.
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"How much, sir, for this black gal ?- 18 years old, sound, young, healthy, trim-limbed, and many days' work in her. Profitable investment for any man. One thousand dollars I'm offered. Say $1,200-I'm offered. Must have $1,500. So she goes at 15; it is $1,500 I'm offered-once, twice-gone at $1,500."
Other sales were made, trading females for males to suit the demand, hiring out slaves at 75 cents per day after the manner that the liveryman near by trafficed in his stock. Separations, by sale, took place in families, which seemed still more cruel. A bright-eyed little woolly-headed boy, eight years old, was separated from his mother, she sold to go on a Louisiana plantation and the little fellow to go to Mississippi. The mother clasped her arms around her little boy, kissed him and said, "We are going to be separated, my dear boy, but if I never see you again, my darling boy, I hope you will meet your mamma in heaven." Then the poor slave woman sobbed and wept bitterly.
This was too much for my tender heart, and I let the curtain drop and went away from the scene, hoping to never again witness a similar one. I was told, however, that the separation of children from their mothers was not a common practice.
I passed on to another street, stepped into a grocery store, saw a pail of water on a bench with a gourd in it and helped myself to a drink. Just then the rattling sound of a wagon, mules and tackle, was heard. A man alighted from the wagon and said to the grocer, "I want a ton or two of bacon ; have you got it for me?" "Yes, sir," was the reply. In the wareroom several cords of bacon were piled up on the floor. "How much a pound?" "Six cents for this pile; and that pile is damaged, which you can have
BOLTON & DICKENS' SLAVE MARKET.
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at three eents." From the three-cent stock maggots were to be seen crawling out upon the floor. The Mississippian looked at it, rolling his cigar from one side of his mouth to the other. "Well, I'll take a ton from this pile at $60; it's good enough for a nigger; but if a grub knaws a hole through a darkey, I'll come back on you and get a load of the six-cent stock." The bacon was loaded into the pon- derous cotton racked wagon. The planter boarded the wagon, two darkies mounted the mules and drove off the six-mule team
With massa and de bacon For de ole plantation
in Mississippi. While some of the musical darkies seemed to enjoy life, which I suppose some of them did-so does a good horse in good hands.
But there is nothing in human slavery commendable, The least said in its favor is damnable.
Selling men and women upon the auction block, To a better impulse of the soul it sends a cruel shock.
The end of the week closed the institute and our party began to look out for situations. Aaron J. Brown engaged to teach a select school in Memphis. Mr. Munson secured situations for Miss Ball and Kate Williamson. The writer engaged a school for Agnes in the MeLean district, three miles from Memphis, on the Charleston road. which proved remunerative to the teacher, and was in a very pleasant locality, also. The writer then went out of the city eight- teen miles and took up a subscription school, starting in with five scholars, but soon had 25. Pike and Dayboll's arith- metie was the kind used there. I, however, rode into the city and purchased Adams' Revised, with which I supplied my school.
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I cannot attempt to write a full description of the South as I saw it, as I promised at the start I would not tire my readers with long-spun articles.
A. J. Brown, being a good writer, was solicited by G. W. Brown, editor of the Conneautville (Pa.) Courier, to write for his paper, which was an Abolition sheet at that time. Copies of the Courier were sent South. Mr. Mc- Lean picked up one of them, taken by Agnes, whose home was at his house. He read an article setting forth southern customs-touching upon slavery, of course,-and other opics of the South. Mr. McLean preserved the paper. In the next issue of same paper he noticed another article, signed A. J. B. He took the paper to Memphis and found that A. J. B. was the high school teacher, from the North, and he and others said that it would never do. An indig- nation meeting was called. Mr. Brown's letters were read from the Conneautville Courier. It happened that McLean and others there most interested did not know Brown, who sat by the side of a lawyer whom he knew; and the lawyer advised Brown, after hearing the expressions of the meet- ing that "We will fix him," "we'll tar and feather him." "A school teacher kept by us to write about our southern customs and privileges," "we'll fix him so he'll mind his business," to go out the window in the rear. Brown did so, and escaped to Holly Springs, Miss., thus ending his school and his fine prospects in Memphis. His wife followed him in a few days; also a German merchant tailor, an acquain- tance of Mr. Brown. Shortly afterwards, while Mr. Brown was at breakfast, he sank back in his chair and died. A short time afterwards Mrs. Brown married the German tailor.
Elijah Brown, one of the pioneers of Linesville, was the father of Aaron; and on his return from Mississippi
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the eireumstances connected with the death of his only son were almost unbearable. He had spent quite a large sum of money in educating Aaron, and had the satisfaction of knowing that he was one of the best scholars in Western Pennsylvania. But his hopes were blasted, his heart bro- ken, and this caused him also an untimely death.
The writer returned North the following winter, as he cared not to wear out chill fever again the coming spring, which was prevalent at that time in southwestern Tennessee. Our friend Clark returned to Albion, Pa., the following spring in poor health, and lingered a few months and died. The rest of the party remained in the South.
In justice to the Southern people I will say for myself that I never lived among a more benevolent and kind hearted people-never was treated better than during my stay, my sickness and convalescence. Dr. Garner, on my being taken down with typhoid fever, took me from my boarding place, saying that there was plenty of room and servants at his place for the young boy in a strange land, and I should have the best care, which, I think, saved my life. True, he was a wealthy man, but he was equally as kind and big hearted. He would not allow me to pay a dollar for all of the care bestowed upon me during my six week's sickness. The doctor has gone on to the great beyond-
Where none others can,
Except the true and God-like man.
A great barbecue came off, and I had got on my feet again, and able to attend. It was held in a grove of fine primeval oak trees, a nice grassy plat, a bounteous table spread through this beautiful natural park a distance of forty rods. A large mass of people assembled, not a buggy or
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carriage on the ground: all came on horseback or on foot. There were four speakers from Memphis. Two of the ora- tors represented the Whig and two the Democratic party. General Winfield Scott was the Whig nominee and Frank- lin Pierce the Democratic nominee. One Whig and one Democrat spoke before dinner, the other two orators used up the afternoon throwing their political bomb shells, and everything passed off in harmony. Fine old whisky was upon the speaker's stand, that he could wet down the ac- customed frog as he began to sing in the throat of the speaker. The speakers apparently felt pretty well, and the wit, oratory and sarcasm flowed like oil from an exploded oil tank on Oil Creek. The barbecue closed, and everybody was apparently satisfied with the day's doings. Well they might be, for it was the best I ever attended.
A large sum of money was expended, and great pains taken to make all comfortable. My friend, Dr. Garner, contributed for this feast the fattest and best four-year-old steer he had, and seven large, fat lambs. Others contribu- ted from the best of their flock of lambs. When the Southern people go in for a good time they are going to have it, in any branch of business, of which the Northern people are well aware. Up to this date and later, the institution of slavery had always existed among them, and the mass thought it was a coherent natural right for them to forever hold. Under similar circumstances, in all proba. bility, the majority of the people of the North or any other nation, would have probably acted likewise, as the common people should not be blamed for the action of its leaders.
If every champion politician who advocates war felt that he had got to go to the front and face the enemy.
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many would no doubt change their lingual tactics. Well, the great sectional unpleasantness is over and we may expect to see the South continue to grow and prosper more than ever. Her resources, timber, harborage, soil and minerals are wonderful, and we may confidently look for- ward to great results in revenues from vast commercial enterprises yet to be created in the Sunny South.
CHAPTER XLII.
THE NEW YEAR.
R
EVOLVING TIME has ushered in another year, The year of 1891 is already here, Its checker boards are out, upon which to play Our fortunes at the present and a future day.
The boards are broad, and will contain Space sufficient to play your game; Should you leave off about where you begun, And have not played the card that won,
Don't be discouraged with your lot, For there's plenty of room at the top; It's harder to climb to top of the ladder's round Than when up to climb the ladder down.
And when you commence to play, Never allow yourself to say That you can never win- Begetting failure as you begin.
Persevere, shift, look toward the favored spot, Always plenty of room at the top. Lay out your line of work like the prophetic seer, Work, and reap your reward the coming year.
A persevering will with good ambition, Places one in the best position; For oft riches takes wings and flies Long before its victim dies.
The rich born man is often left in a sad condition Without self-reliance, money, or ambition, When tossed upon the sea of life he fails, Like a ship at sea without her sails.
Those who have started aright upon the route, Will meet others who have turned about, Please kindly aid them with words of cheer, To start aright upon the New Year.
CHAPTER XLIII.
OUR FOREST HOME-MARRIAGE-ORGANIZING A SCHOOL DISTRICT- PHRENOLOGICAL LECTURES-WHOLESALE BLESSING.
Y FATHER purchased 100 acres of timber land, in the Chew Tract, from John Reynolds, of Mead- ville, the agent. This land was situated in Spring township, about two miles east of the Con- neautville road, adjoining the Old Fleming Lot, it being the first parcel sold from the Chew Tract.
There was a great demand for whitewood, white ash and cucumber logs, delivered on the bank of the canal, about two miles from the timber.
Good sleighing came on, when, with my father and a span of horses and a sled, axes and cross-cut saw, I set out for the wood and commenced to cut and haul logs to mar- ket. That business became general throughout Crawford and Erie counties, though many cut their whitewood and cucumber logs into chair plank, one and five-eight inch boards and columns. Ash was cut into one and four-inch plank, and largely used in the manufacture of oars, for which Crawford and Erie counties were celebrated as grow- ing the best ash timber in America.
The following spring I commeneed to clear off a few acres of the timber on the southwest corner of the above
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tract, preparatory to sowing fall wheat, and for pasturing and meadow land. The next season I cleared a few more acres.
On September 7, 1853, I married a Miss Malvina Salis- bury, of Girard, and soon after moved on to my new farm and continued in the lumber business. The next year my father sold his old homestead and made a tour through Illi- nois and Iowa, but made no purchase there. Those prairies looked too treeless to suit him and he came back satisfied. He wanted the place that I occupied. I then bought 75 acres adjoining east, on which was a small clearing, where I built a dwelling house and removed, father and family occupying the place I left. Others had settled in the neighborhood, a steam saw-mill was built near by, and the roads improved.
We saw the growing necessity for a school in that new settlement. I drew up a petition, which was signed and presented to the township board of education, to set us off a school district. It was granted, as was also the sum of $300, to be paid by the township after the completion and occupancy of the building. That appropriation, of course, was insufficient to build the house, as material was high; but father and I took the job to build the school-house, with a small donation in labor and material from the resi- dents, and by donating $50 cach we completed the build- ing, and sister Cornelia taught our first school at Mill Grove. We had but one child to send to school, nevertheless our boy must have a school to go to, and that one was only about twenty rods from our door.
We also needed a place to hold meetings of different sorts, lectures, etc. One day while I was hauling logs a reverend looking gentleman appeared on the scene, whom I
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discovered to be an old friend, Delancy Barnes, who said he had come to give us a series of lectures on phrenology. "All right," said I, and notified our teacher to have the scholars inform their parents of the lecture that night. I had not seen the professor for ten years, when I heard him preach at Jerusalem-not the Jerusalem of the Jews, but Jerusalem near Jericho-the Jericho situated near Father- town, on the Conneaut Creek, two miles south of the ancient city of Tighthole, Crawford county, Pa., and I have no doubt that the reader will know where I mean. We had a very good house that night, and a very interesting lecture from Prof. Barnes. We passed the hat around and the audience chipped in quite liberally, especially J. F. Wood- ard, who always took an interest in phrenology.
At the dinner table I asked the elder to ask the blessing, which he did. At supper I made the same request. He responded and followed with a story. Said he: "I was acquainted with two preachers in Connecticut -former schoolmates-one of whom removed to Illinois, where he became a successful farmer. In the course of a few years the Connecticut preacher visited him. When it was noticed that the farmer did not ask a blessing at each meal the preacher asked him why he had fallen from grace, to which he replied that he had prospered in his new calling, and when he gathered in a crop he returned thanks to the Lord for the same in a wholesale manner, and he thought that suited better than to do a retail business." By this I was to understand that it was not necessary to ask him to return thanks at each meal.
Prof. Barnes remained with us all the week, with a full house each night. His lectures were interesting, and he was considered an expert in phrenology.
CHAPTER XLIV.
LUMBERING.
AN INCIDENT-SHIPPING LUMBER TO ERIE, BUFFALO, TROY AND ALBANY.
HAD COME to like lumbering better than anything else and hailed with joy the advent of the coming snow, a foot or two deed, for Christmas and the New Year, that we might haul the logs that we had previously been skidding on the Wash. Wyethe place, a mile or so away in the woods, where we had that winter and on our own place about 1,000 whitewood, cucumber ash and maple logs to get out.
One morning early in December, we started out to the woods with several hands and our trusty yoke of cattle, "Dave and Charlie," as good a logging team over which ever was drawn a braid; they were large enough for all practical purposes and it took a stout yoke and chain to hold them. One David Fifer, a Teutonic gentleman, was helping me that day. I told him to cut down a small-sized beech tree that was standing near by. Presently I looked up and saw to my dismay that he had girdled the tree completely around like a rabbit does a peach tree to kill it, and as this tree leaned directly toward my cattle, this Dutchman had girdled it to kill them. The tree was already going; I sprang as near to the cattle as I dared, at the same time motioning and speaking to them to back- only one step more; but the tree struck Old Dave's head and brought him to the ground. When the poor animal
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