USA > Virginia > Tazewell County > Tazewell County > Annals of Tazewell County, Virginia from 1800 to 1922 > Part 31
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HOUSE FURNITURE.
"The furniture for the table, for several years after the settlement of this county, consisted of a few pewter dishes, plates, and spoons; but mostly of wooden bowls, trenchers, and noggins. If these last were scarce, gourds and hardshelled squashes, made up the deficiency. Iron pots, knives and forks, were brought from the east, with the salt and iron, on pack-horses."
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"These articles of furniture corresponded very well with the articles of diet. 'Hog and hominy,' were proverbial for the dish of which they were the component parts. Johnny-cake and pone were, at the first settle- ment of the country, the only forms of bread in use for breakfast and dinner. At supper, milk and mush was the standing dish. When milk was not plenty, which was often the case, owing to the scarcity of cattle, or the want of proper pasture for them, the substantial dish of hominy had to supply the place of them; mush was frequently eaten with sweeten- ed water, molasses, bears' oil, or the gravy of fried meat."
"In our whole display of furniture, the delft, china, and silver, were unknown. It did not then, as now, require contributions from the four quarters of the globe, to furnish the breakfast table, viz: the silver from Mexico; the coffee from the West Indies; the tea from China; and the delft and porcelain from Europe or Asia. Yet, a homely fare, and un- sightly cabins and furniture, produced a hardy race, who planted the first footsteps of civilization in the immense regions of the west. Inured to hardships, bravery and labor from their early youth, they sustained with manly fortitude the fatigue of the chase, the campaign and scout, and with strong arms 'turned the wilderness into fruitful fields,' and have left to their descendants the rich inheritance of an immense empire, blessed with peace, and wealth, and prosperity."*
THE WEDDING.
A wedding is thus described by Dr. Doddridge, and from what I have seen and can learn, a more faithful picture could not be drawn of a pioneer wedding:
"For a long time after the first settlement of this country, the inhabit- ants in general married young. There was no distinction of rank, and very little of fortune. On these accounts, the first impression of love, resulted in marriage, and a family establishment cost but little labor, and nothing else.
"A description of a wedding, from beginning to end, will serve to show the manners of our forefathers, and mark the grade of civilization which has succeeded to their rude state of society, in the course of a few years.
"In the first years of the settlement of a country, a wedding engaged the attention of a whole neighborhood; and the frolic was anticipated by old and young, with eager expectation. This is not to be wondered at, when it is told that a wedding was almost the only gathering which was not accompanied with the labor of reaping, log-rolling, building a cabin, or planning some scout or campaign. On the morning of the wedding-day, the groom and his attendants, assembled at the house of his father, for the purpose of reaching the home of his bride by noon, which was the usual time for celebrating the nuptials; and which, for certain reasons, must take place before dinner.
"Let the reader imagine an assemblage of people, without a store, tailor, or mantua-maker, within a hundred miles; and an assemblage of horses,
* Doddridge.
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without a blacksmith or saddler within an equal distance. The gentlemen dressed in shoe-packs, moccasins, leather breeches, leggins, linsey hunting shirts, and all home-made. The ladies dressed in linsey petticoats, and linsey or linen bedgowns, coarse shoes, stockings, handkerchiefs, and buck- skin gloves, if any. If there were any buckles, rings, buttons or ruffles, they were the relices of olden times; family pieces from parents or grand- parents. The horses were caparisoned with old saddles, old bridles or halters, and pack-saddles, with a bag or blanket thrown over them: a rope or string as often constituted the girth as a piece of leather.
"The march, in double file, was often interrupted by the narrowness of our mountain paths, as they were called, for we had no roads; and these difficulties were often increased, sometimes by the good, and sometimes by the ill-will of neighbors, by falling trees, and tying grape-vines across the way. Sometimes an ambuscade was formed by the wayside, and an un- expected discharge of several guns took place, so as to cover the wedding company with smoke. Let the reader imagine the scene which followed this discharge; the sudden spring of the horses, the shrieks of the girls, and the chivalrous bustle of their partners to save them from falling. Some- times, in spite of all that could be done to prevent it, some were thrown to the ground. If a wrist, elbow, or ankle, happened to be sprained, it was tied up with a handkerchief, and little more was said or thought about it.
"The ceremony of the marriage preceded the dinner, which was a sub- stantial backwoods' feast of beef, pork, fowls, and sometimes venison and bear meat, roasted and boiled, with plenty of potatoes, cabbage, and other vegetables. During the dinner, the greatest hilarity always prevailed; although the table might be a large slab of timber, hewed out with a broad- axe, supported by four sticks, set in auger-holes; and the furniture, some old pewter dishes and plates; the rest, wooden bowls and trenchers: a few pewter spoons, much battered about the edges, were to be seen at some tables. The rest were made of horn. If knives were scarce, the deficiency was made up by the scalping knives, which were carried in sheaths, sus- pended to the belt of the hunting-shirt. Every man carried one of them.
"After dinner the dancing commenced, and generally lasted till the next morning. The figures of the dances were three and four handed reels, or square sets and jigs. The commencement was always a square form, which was followed by what was called jigging it off; that is two of the four would single out for a jig, and were followed by the remaining couple. The jigs were often accompanied with what was called cutting out; that is, when either of the parties became tired of the dance, on intimation, the place was supplied by some one of the company, without any interruption to the dance. In this way the dance was often continued till the musician was heartily tired of his situation. Toward the latter part of the night, if any of the company, through weariness, attempted to conceal themselves, for the purpose of sleeping, they were hunted up, paraded on the floor, and the fiddler ordered to play 'hang out till to-morrow morning.'
"About nine or ten o'clock, a deputation of young ladies stole off the bride, and put her to bed. In doing this, it frequently happened that they had to ascend a ladder, instead of a pair of stairs, leading from the dining
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and ballroom to the loft,* the floor of which was made of clap-boards, lying loose. This ascent, one might think, would put the bride and her attendants to the blush; but the foot of the ladder was commonly behind the door, which was purposely opened for the occasion, and its rounds, at the inner ends, were well hung with hunting-shirts, dresses, and other articles of clothing. The candles, being on the opposite side of the house, the exit of the bride was noticed but by few.
"This done, a deputation of young men, in like manner, stole off the groom, and placed him snugly by the side of his bride. The dance still continued; and if seats happened to be scarce, as was often the case, every young man, when not engaged in the dance, was obliged to offer his lap, as a seat for one of the girls; and the offer was sure to be accepted. In the midst of this hilarity, the bride and groom were not forgotten. Pretty late in the night, some one would remind the company that the new couple must stand in need of some refreshment: black Betty, which was the name of the bottle, was called for, and sent up the ladder; but sometimes, black Betty did not go alone. I have many times seen as much bread, beef, pork, and cabbage sent along, as would afford a good meal for half a dozen hungry men. The young couple were compelled to eat and drink, more or less, of whatever was offered.
"But to return. It often happened that some neighbors or relations, not being asked to the wedding, took offense; and the mode of revenge, adopted by them on such occasions, was that of cutting off the manes, fore- tops, and tails of the horses of the wedding company.
"On returning to the in-fare, the order of procession, and the race for black Betty, was the same as before. The feasting and dancing often lasted several days, at the end of which, the whole company were so exhausted with loss of sleep, that many days' rest were requisite to fit them to return to their ordinary labors."
I have quoted this account, written by Dr. Dodridge, because nothing could be more correct, and it was beyond my power to tell an original tale so well.
HUNTING.
This constituted one of the greatest amusements, and, in some instances, one of the chief employments of the early settlers. The various intrigues of a skillful hunter-such as mimicking a turkey, owl, wolf, deer, etc .- were soon learned, and the eye was taught to catch, at a glance, the faintest im- pression left upon the earth by any animal. Marks, which would be, by any but a hunter, overlooked, were easily detected. The times, and ground on which deer, elk, etc., fed, were soon learned, and then the important lesson of preventing spells or enchantments by enemies, were studied; for it is a singular fact that all hunters are, more or less, superstitious. Frequently, on leaving home, the wife would throw the ax at her husband, to give him good luck. If he chanced to fail to kill game, his gun was enchanted or spelled, and some old woman shot in effigy-then a silver bullet would be
* I have emphasized this word, because, even now, the second stories of some of our most costly mansions are termed " lofts " by the older persons.
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run with a needle through it, and shot at her picture. To remove these spells, they would sometimes unbreech their rifles, and lay them in a clear running stream for a certain number of days. If this failed, they would borrow patching from some other hunter, which transferred all the bad luck to the lender, etc.
Game was plenty at the time this county was first settled by the whites, and accordingly, the woods furnished most of the meat. Considerable bear still exists in various parts of the county. Deer are scarce, and elk and buffalo extinct. The elk and buffalo were generally killed at the licks whither they repaired to salt themselves; and even yet, deer licks are watch- ed with profit to the hunter.
Animals were hunted there not merely for their meat, but for their skins and furs. These served to pay for powder, lead, or anything else, being nominally the currency of the country.
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.
Neither was hunting, the mere pastime, devoid of skill, which it now is. The hunter might be considered somewhat of a meteorologist; he paid particular attention to the winds, rains, snows, and frosts; for almost every change altered the location of game. He knew the cardinal points by the thick bark and moss on the north side of a tree, so that during the darkest and most gloomy night he knew which was the north, and so his home or camp. The natural habits of the deer were well studied; and hence he knew at what times they fed, etc. If, in hunting, he found a deer at feed, he stopped, and though he might be open to it, did not seek to obscure himself, but waited till it raised its head and looked at him. He remained motion- less till the deer, satisfied that nothing moving was in sight, again com- menced feeding. He then began to advance, if he had the wind of it, and if not he retreated and came up another way, so as to place the deer be- tween himself and the wind. As long as the deer's head was down he con- tinued to advance till he saw it shake the tail. In a moment he was the same motionless object, till it again put down its head. In this way, he would soon approach to within sixty yards, when his unerring rifle did the work of death. It is a curious fact that deer never put their heads to the ground, or raise it, without shaking the tail before so doing.
The quantity of game will be apparent when it is known that Mr. Eben- ezer Brewster killed, during his life, upward of twelve hundred bears in this county. He died in the summer of 1850, and this statement occurred in an obituary notice.
CHAPTER XVIII.
SCENERY-DIAL ROCK
Dial Rock is one of the three heads of East River mountain, and is about three miles east of Jeffersonville. How it came by its name cannot be accurately determined; though tradition tells that there is, on the rock, a natural sun-dial. I shall not deny its existence, but must own that I was unable to find it when I visited the rock. These rocks are elevated in the air to about the height of fifteen hundred feet above the valley of Clinch river, which flows gently along near the base of the mountain. The ascent to the foot of the cliffs is gentle, and may be easily rode over by such as care more for themselves than their horses. Nothing remarkable exists, to
H. G
SCENERY FROM DIAL ROCK.
attract particular attention, till the base of the naked cliffs is reached. These cliffs are from one hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty feet above the common level of the summit of the mountain; and seem as if some internal commotion had started them from the bowels of the earth to awe and affright the eye that should dare look from their tops.
The first rock to the west being reached, the ascent is begun by climbing its steep and rugged sides, which, owing to the clefts is easily done. When this is done, the eye is involuntatily turned to the east, when a still more
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naked rock appears, towering still higher in the air, and looking still more sublime and awful. Passing on over the top of the first rock, the vistor soon finds himself upon the very brink of a cleft about ten feet wide, the sides of which are perpendicular, and not far from one hundred feet deep. This must be passed, or the second rock cannot be gained. Turning now to the left or north, he finds that he may descend to the bottom of this gulf, by means of other irregular clefts breaking into it. This descent begun, and the visitor begins to feel the wild grandeur of the scene around him. Huge rocks, lying on thin scales so loosely that seemingly the slightest blow would sever the props that uphold them, and let them down with a crash, from which noth- ing could escape, and caverns of all shapes and sizes, filled with darkness impenetrable, seem to stand gaping for the victims of the rocks above, should they give way.
Descending into one of these dark pits, over loose rocks of immense size, from the hollows of which you expect, every moment, to see the head of a rattlesnake hissing and bidding defiance to your further progress, you find yourself soon at the bottom of the first cleft in the mountain; and then the painful and tedious ascent of the second rock begins, after which the visitor imagines all farther troubles are comparatively light. A few yards to the eastward, after the top or summit is gained, will dispel this fond hope, and instead of affording an easy passage, opens to view another cleft still more grand and awful. Here is seen the same wild confusion of rocks (them- selves mountains), thrown together, as if nature had, at this place, collected the rubbish of her materials, in mountain-making. This defile must be passed before the third rock can be scaled; the task of which having been accomplished, the visitor finds that on and on, to the east, the cliffs rise higher and higher, and he eagerly hunts a passage of the defile that he may gain the most elevated of this beautiful yet terrific array of rocky monu- ments. Soon it is found, the third and fourth rocks are passed, and he finds himself, tired and thirsty, upon the summit of the fifth. A basin of clear, ice-cold water invites him to quench his thirst, and proceed to the sixth rock, from the top of which he casts his eye down the beautiful Clinch valley, when lo ! beauty indescribable presents itself. Mountains rise above mount- ains, in endless succession, till far in the smoky distance his vision ceases to distinguish the faint outline of the Cumberland and the Tennessee mount- ains. Looking to the north, he sees the great Flat-Top, from which others gradually fade into indistinctness, and imagination seems to say, there, there is the valley of the beautiful Ohio-the garden of commerce and in- dustry. To the west rises Morris's Knob, the highest point of Rich mount- ain, its summit kissing the very clouds, and seeming to bid defiance to the storms of heaven. To the right, rise Paint Lick and Deskins' mountains, and nearly behind them, the rocky peaks of House and Barn mountains, in Russell county. Far in the distance are seen ranges of Clinch mountain and its various spurs. To the left is seen Wolf Creek knob, a continuation of Rich mountain. Close at hand, the rocky sides and top of Elk-horn, and far in the distance, ridges of the Alleghany range. From this beautiful scene the eye is directed down to the valley beneath, when a disposition to shrink back is felt. The visitor now sees himself standing on the pinnacle
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of Dial Rock, overhanging the valley, fifteen hundred feet below him. The scene, in the distance, is beautiful beyond description. The scene around him is sublime beyond conception. It is beyond the power of the wildest imagination to picture half of its grandeur.
It is here I felt the disposition to bring the infidel, and ask him, "Is there a God?" The works of nature speak more than ten thousand printed volumes, and though innate, their eloquence is adapted to the compre- hension of every tongue.
I have taken the scenery from Dial Rock, as being suited to my purpose, not because there is no view so fine, but because it is well known by persons who have visited the county. Very many such views are to be had. To appreciate the above, and the following, they must be seen.
A DAY IN THE MOUNTAINS.
The dawn of day found me on my feet, in the piazza of a friend (with whom I had stopped the previous night, in a beautiful valley, surrounded by lofty mountains), gazing eastward, to watch a rising sun in this region of beauty. The brilliant stars shone brightly in the western sky, while those in the east were growing dim and faint amid the gray beams of light which were shooting up from the hidden sun, and resembling the flitting lights of the icy north made permanent. As the sky became more lighted, the rough outline of the huge mountains became visible, and cast their long shadows far down the valley in which I stood. The bright rays shooting from the morning sun, now fell upon the boughs of the forest-trees which towered above the mountains, giving to the pearly dew-drops suspended from the smaller twigs, the appearence of so many diamonds hung as orna- ments on the leafless branches.
"I know of a drop where the diamond now shines, Now the blue of the sapphire it gives; It trembles-it changes-the azure resigns, And the tint of the ruby now lives. Anon the deep emerald dwells in its gleam 'Till the breath of the south-wind goes by;
When it quivers again, and the flash of its beam Pours the topaz-flame swift on the eye.
Look, look on yon grass-blade all freshly impearl'd, There are all of your jewels in one: You'll find every wealth-purchased gem in the world In the dew-drop that's kissed by the sun."-E. Cook.
A part of the disc of the sun was now seen slowly rising above the summit. At this instant, the scene was beautiful beyond description; the whole top of the mountain seemed in a blaze-a moment and its beauty was lost. Aurora rose brightly above the mountains, casting her gentle beams upon the valley below. In this were many cottages, from the chimneys of which, soft columns of smoke were seen ascending in the clear, still atmosphere,
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presenting a scene worthy of the most refined pencil-work. Horses, cattle, and sheep, might be seen scattered over the rich meadows, while the merry notes of the cartman, and the deep-toned bay of the fox-hound, and the shrill ring of the huntsman's horn, were heard echoing in a thousand vari- ations, among the glens and gorges of the surrounding mountains. The tender emotions excited by the loveliness of this scene, and their deep im- pressions were such, as to defy the atheistical reasonings of either Thomas Paine, or of my own insensible heart. Deity was stamped upon everything.
Breakfast being over, I soon found myself upon the road, intending to visit a distant part of the county. But now, the wind had risen, and a misti- ness was spreading itself over the mountain-tops. As I rode on, the heavy murmur of the winds in the timber on the mountains, convinced me that there would soon be a change of weather. None but those who have either been at sea and heard an approaching storm, or have listened to the roar of the mountain-blast, can have anything like a correct idea of this awful sound. Soon a vapory cloud was seen enveloping the mountain-summits, and in four hours it was raining in torrents. The little rippling rivulet, was now converted into the roaring mountain-torrent: how different the scene from what it was a few hours before!
Soon the wind changed to the N. E., and it became colder; presently it was in the north, and the white flakes of snow were falling thick and fast. This continued for several hours, when the wind changed to the west and it was clear. The sun was now nearing the western horizon, and casting back his bright beams upon the snow-capped mountains, which looked in- describably grand and imposing. Not a single dark spot was to be seen, but everywhere the same unsullied white mantle was thrown over them, till they looked like vast monuments reared in the air emblematic of purity. Any attempt to describe a mountain in this State, known here as the "Budd- ing Frost," must fall far short of correctly portraying the scene. Nothing but painting, executed in the highest style of art, can give the remotest idea of the original. I have seen something as grand, but nothing as beau- tiful as a mountain in this state.
In a short time the sun was seen sinking behind the western mountains, and here again was such a view, as would fix the attention of the most un- observing, and on which the artist would dwell with pleasure. The rays of light falling through the sunny crystals on the hill-tops, looked like so many brilliant pearls. A single streak of cloud shot out from behind the mountains, crimsoned with the setting sun, while its edge, or border, secmed belted with electricity itself. Though this scene was viewed from the town of Jeffersonville, where from the bustle of business, few stop to contemplate scenery, I observed crowds gazing with intense interest, and admiring the gorgeousness of a setting sun in a mountain-country.
APPENDIX.
APPENDIX.
TABLES.
TABLE REFERRING TO POPULATION .*
Persons over 100 years of age in county, June 1, 1850 1
Persons over 90 years of age in county, June 1, 1850 4
Persons over 80 years of age in county, June 1, 1850 18
Persons over 70 years of age in county, June 1, 1850. 40
Persons over 60 years of age in county, June 1, 1850 126
Persons over 50 years of age in county, June 1, 1850
214
Persons over 40 years of age in county, June 1, 1850
543
Persons over 30 years of age in county, June 1, 1850
955
Persons over 20 years of age in county, June 1, 1850
1410
Persons over 10 years of age in county, June 1, 1850
2231
Persons under 10 years of age in county, June 1, 1850 3330
Slaves in the county. 1060
Total, including 56 free negroes. 9932
MISCELLANEOUS TABLE.
No. of blind persons in the county
8
No. of deaf and dumb
13
No, of idiots.
24
No. of paupers.
24
No. over 20 years of age who can neither read nor write. 1490
No. of children attending school
694
State tax on county.
$ 2000
County tax.
$
786
County receives from public fund for school purposes.
$ 546
County cost of supporting paupers.
$ 605
TABLE SHOWING THE WEALTH OF THE COUNTY.
$3,189,080.00
Value of farming utensils $ 36,390.00
Value of live stock
$ 517,330.00
Value of agricultural productions. $ 226,579.95
Value of mechanical productions.
$ 7,000.00
Value of slave property.
$ 530,000.00
Value of stock in trade
$ 85,000.00
Total wealth of the county $4,581,379.95
* The above table has been compiled from the census books for the year 1850. It is the opinion of Mr. William O. Yost, the gentlemanly marshall of the county, that there was, at the time he took the census, very near 11,000 persons in the county. It was his duty, however, to report only such as were in the county on the first of June of that year.
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