Randolph County, Indiana - Chapter 5: Early ^ettlers, 1914 (part 1 of 5)

A Tale Of The Airly Days

Most of the early settlers of Randolph county came from North Carolina. Some of them settled in other parts after leaving Carolina before they came to this coufity, but most of them came directly from "The Old Dominion" to this state.

Thomas Parker, the first settler, John W. Thomas and Clarkson Wilcutts had left North Carolina in a party of five. Parker, with his wife and three children, selected his land near the present town of Arba and proceeded at once to build a cabin in which they lived for four weeks. John W. Thomas and Wilcutts afterward settled near Mr. Parker.

Mr. Ephraim Bowen, who came October 22, 1814, came from Maryland and settled on the north border of section eighteen, town sixteen, range one west. Mr. Bowen had visited this place and returned to his family in the east. Mrs. Bowen was not favorable to coming, but the glowing description which Mr. Bowen gave of this land induced her, after she had been earnestly solicited by the children, to come to the wilderness of Indiana. They arrived October 22, 1814. The children soon became very homesick'. Their spirits were not raised any by the wailing and howling of the old dog, who was seemingly as homesick as they were. The children cried and wanted to return, but the mother answered them with the same pleading that they had used before they had started. "Oh, mother, do go." "Please, mother, do go." I'his soon stopped their being homesick.

The fifth family was Ephraim Overman, wife and five children, all boys. Mr. Overman also settled near the Parker, Wilcutts, Bowen company. Other Carolina settlers to come in 1815, or near that time, were David Bowles, Jesse Johnson, James Frazier, and James Hodson. They settled near Lynn. Some of the Smalls came at that time, also, as did Paul Beard, Daniel Shoemaker, David Kenworthy and James Frazier. Early in 18 16 Paul W. Way, Henry W. Way, William Way, Jr., Robert Way and William Diggs came from South Carolina and located land four miles west of where Winchester now is.

Paul Way returned for his parents and his family. He returned to Randolph county with them, and several families besides, and -arrived in March, 181 7. The same fall John B. Wright, David Wright, William Wright and John Wright settled from Salt Creek west. In the summer of 1817 William Way returned on horseback, alone, to South Carolina to bring his father, William Way, Sr., to the new country, which purpose he successfully accomplished. With them came, among others, a Mrs. Beverly, and Moorman Way, then a lad of two years, who was to become one of the most influential and wealthy men in the history of the county.

As to settlements up to the close of 18 18, Jere Smith says, in his "Civil History:" "In the year 1818, when Randolph county was erected, there were fifty or sixty families on White river and Salt and Sugar creeks; fifty or sixty families on Green's fork and Mud creek; thirty families on Nolan's fork, including Joshua Foster on the Griffis farm, near the state line ; eight or ten families on Martindale's creek, and twelve or fifteen families on West river, above the Wayne county line." So that, by Mr. Smith's estimation, there were, at the time of the election in 1818, about 180 families in the present boundaries of Randolph county. Of course, at that time, the population was wholly east of the western boundary of the "twelve-mile strip," since the land west of that line was still Indian territory, on which white men were bound by treaty not to settle. In 181 8 the tribes ceded those lands, and in eight or ten years the county west as well as east of the boundary was settled. In fact, that territory began settlement in 1821, but emigration was slow to push in for several years. It would be interesting to find the "election returns" for August, 1818, the first in Randolph county, to learn how many and who were, at that time, the free and independent electors here. Those returns, however, have not been discovered.

On West river, in August, 1817, there were eleven settlers, all living east of the boundary and on Sections 7, 8, 17 and 18, the first and the last being fractional sections against the boundary. William Blount (and his two sonsin-law) on Section 7; James Malcom, Section 17; Henry Shoemaker, Section 17; Samuel Sales, Section 17; Arny Hall, Section 17; David Jones, Section 17; Evan Shoemaker, Section 18; Griffin Davis, Section 18; WilHam Smith, Sections 5 and 6; Isaac Barnes, Section 7, came in 1818; John E. Hodge, Section 8. came in 1818. The sections lie on both sides of West River, but on the east side of the boundary, and William Smith (father of Hon. Jere Smith) went highest of the river, taking land in Sections 5 and 6, the latter section having but a small fraction east of the boundary.

The early settlers of the north part of the county were a little late in arriving. Massix Lewellen came near Ridgeville in 1817. Joab Ward, Burgot Pierce, Thomas Pierce, Henry Kizer, David Connor, James Massey, Messrs. Kite, Jacobs, Canada, Reed and -many others. These people were practically all from Carolina and had in a great degree very much in common, especially as to political and religious belief. Their places of settlement is shown directly by the descriptions of the land which they entered.

Land Entries

So far as land-entries are concerned, a considerable amount of it was done in both 1814 and 181 5. Land was often entered months and even years before the owners occupied it, and not seldom the patentee never personally took possession. And often, on the other hand, persons would live in the new country months, or even years, before they could succeed in entering land.

Many came with no money, and had to work and rent or live out, or do some other way to earn the money to pay for what they bought. The records of the land office show that the entries in the county, during 1814, were as , follows in order of date : Clarkson Wilcutts, Greensf ork, southeast quarter of Section 28, Town 16, Range i, 160 acres, January 19, .1814. James Cammack, Greensfork, east half of Section - , Town 16, Range i, 323.16 acres, January 22, 1814. Ephraim Bowen, Greensfork, northeast quarter of Section 28, Town 16, Range i, 160 acres, April 13, 1814. Travis Adcock, Washington, northwest quarter of Section 14, Town 18, Range 14, 160 acres. May 14, 1814. John Thomas, Greensfork, northwest quarter of Section 33, Town 16, Range i, 156.58 acres, July 21, 1814 (fractional). Thomas Parker, Greensfork, northwest quarter of Section 32, Town 16, Range i, 156.88 (14) acres, August i6, 1814. Ephraim Overman, Greensfork, northwest quarter of Section 27, Town 16, Range i, 160 acres, October, 1814. Travis Adcock, Washington, southeast quarter of Section 10, Town 18, Range 14, 160 acres, October 19, 1814. Shubael ElHs, White River, northeast quarter of Section 18, Town 20, Range 14, 160 acres, November 30, 1814. EH Overman, Greensfork, southeast quarter of Section 33, Town 16, Range i, 156.58 acres, December 13, 18 14. Thus thjre were in 18 14 ten entries by nine persons, comprising about 1,750 acres. Seven were in Greensfork, with about 1,273 acres, two in Washington, with 320 acres, and one in White River, with 160 acres.

In 1815 there was in Greensfork only one entry, Nathan Overman, southwei'L quarter of Section 27, Town 16, Range i, 159.50 acres, September 13, 181 5. There was but one in White River, to-wit, George W. Kennon, southeast quarter of Section 26, Town 20, Range 13, 160 acres, September 10, 1815.

In 181 5 there were in West River seven entries, as follows: William Blount, southwest quarter of Section 8, Town 18, Range 13, r6o acres, April ID, 1S15. Lot Huddleston, northwest quarter of Section 17, Town 18, Range 13, 160 acres. May 3, 1815. John Jones, Town 18, Range 13, 325.68 acres. May 3, 1815. John E. Hodges, northwest quarter of Section 8, Town j8, Range 13, 160 acres, July 6, 1815. Isaac Barnes, Section 7, Town iS, Range 13, 186 acres, July 6, i8i5._ Arny Hall, east half southeast quarter of Section 17, Town 18, Range 13, 80 acres, October 12, 1815. Cornelius Shane, northeast quarter of Section 8, Town 18, Range 13, 160 acres, July 6, 1815. Seven entries, about 1,230 acres.

In 1 81 5 there were, in Washington, entries as follows: Curtis Clenney, southwest quarter of Section 11, Town 18, Range 14, 160 acres, January 7, 1815. Obadiah Harris, southwest quarter of Section 10, Town 18, Range 14, 160 acres, May 8, 1815. John Ozbun, southeast quarter of Section 8, Town 18, Range 14, 160 acres, August 9, 1815. Paul Heard, northeast quarter of Section 10, Town 18, Range 14, 160 acres, August 9. 1815. Paul Beard, northwest quarter of Section 11, Town 18, Range 14, 160 acres, /Vugust 9, 1815. Obadiah Harris, northeast quarter of Section 15, Town 18, Range 14, 160 acres, October 14, 181 5. George Frazier, northwest quarter of Section 9, Town 18, Range 14, 160 acres, October 17, 181 5. Seven entries, equaling 1,120 acres. The total entries in Randolph county for 181 5 were sixteen entries, and 2,669.50 acres, all but two being in Washington and West River townships. The entries in Washington were in Sections 8, 9, 10 and 11, of

Township i8, Range 14. The entries in West River were iti Sections 7, 8, 17 and 18, Township 18, Range 13. The total entries to the close of 181 5 (1814, 1815) were twenty-six entries, with 4,420 acres, in four townships, Greensfork, Washington, White River and West River.

The year 1816 saw a great increase of entries, and of settlements also. The total for 1816 was 6,109 acres, in the following townships : Greensfork, four entries, 830 acres; Washington, thirteen entries, 2,080 acres; White River, eighteen entries, 2,880 acres; Ward, one entry, 640 acres; West River, three entries, 400 acres. The great rush that year seemed to be to Washington and White River; 1,600 acres were entered in the latter township in three days, December 4, 5 and 7; and in Washington six entries were made in October and four in November, or 1,600 acres in the two months. The years

181 7 and 181 8 saw a greatly stronger movement, in so much that the entries for the two years amounted to 25,200 acres, those for each year being somewhat neai'ly the same. The entries in 181 7 were in Greensfork, Washington, White River, West River, Franklin, Ward and Wayne. Washington, eighteen entries, 3,439 acres; White River, thirty-five entries, 5,337 acres; Greensfork, -seven entries, 1,178 acres; Ward, eight entries, 1,280 acres; West River, twelve entries, 1,832 acres; Wayne, five entries, 800 acres; Franklin, two entries, 360 acres. Entries, 87; 14,226 acres. The entries in 1818 were in the same townships. Washington, twenty-four entries, 3,060 acres; White River, forty-one entries, 8,437 acres; Greensfork, five entries, 437 acres; Ward, one entry, 160 acres; West River, nine entries, 1,440 acres; Wayne, seven entries, i ,280 acres ; Franklin, one entry, 1 54 acres. Entries, 88 ; acres, 11,968. Total entries up to the close of 1818 were, in Washington, 64;. White River, 96; Greensfork, 24; Ward, 10; West River, 31; Wayne, 12; Franklin, 3. 240 entries, with 36,729 acres. Emigration to Randolph after

181 8 fell off greatly, so much so that during the nine years from 1820 to 1828, inclusive, a smaller quantity of land was entered than in 18 17 alone.

Thus it appears that the rush of settlers to Randolph was at first in 181 7 and 18 1 8 and then again from 1833 to 1837, inclusive, especially the two years 1836 and 1837. "'"he amount of land entered in these two years last named reached the amazing quantity of 125,676 acres, and, including 1833, 142,509, which is almost exactly half the area of the entire county. The land entered in 1836 and 1837 exceeded all the previous entries during thirty-five years, from 18 12 to 1836, by some 8,000 acres.

By the close of 1838 almost all the land had been "taken up." Except the "school sections," little remained for, original entry, and what was yet unentered lay in scattered parcels here and there throughout the county. By that time, therefore, Randolph had been bought of "Uncle Sam," and the public title was transferred to private hands.

"Speculators," however, here, as elsewhere, had extensively "got in their work," and in various localities vast tracts lay unoccupied for years because the speculator's title covered it. It has been said by some of the early pioneers that most of the land on both sides of the road between Winchester and Deerfield was owned by one man, and after his death that vast body- of land remained still vacant for many years. As a specimen of the evil work of entering land for "speculation," a single person, residing at Cincinnati, appears to have "entered" many tracts in several different townships comprising we know not how many acres. Another, from Cincinnati, also engaged largely in the same speculative work. Still a third individual appears as having entered tract after tract, scattered here and there.

One of the first necessities of any commvmity is a mill. "To live we must eat, and if we eat, bread must be prepared," is an old statement, as true today as it was at the time at which it was uttered. Many devices were made by which com could be cracked or pounded into meal, hut these could only supply a very small amount and machines or mills became a necessity. The primitive mill or corn cracker is described in some of the reminiscences given elsewhere. These mills had also a great function in society, that of becoming community centers, as it were, or the meeting places of men from various localities. In this way sentiment was disseminated, opinions were exchanged and the mill became the "Public Forum." They were the centers of travel and were made the objective points of many early roads. The first mills were nothing more or less than "corn-crackers," and had an output of but a few pounds per day. This was the best they could do and satisfied the needs of the community. However, the small output meant that more mills must be built to supply the demand, thus, each community had its own mill. Cabin Creek seems to have been a favorite location, as it is said at one time there were no, less than nine mills in operation upon that stream alone.

Mills, Machinery, Etc

As to mills, etc., before 1820, we have not been able to gain any certain or exact information. There were some mills built on Nolan's and Greensforks (as, also, some horse-mill corn-crackers and hominy-pounders). William Smith, father of Hon. Jeremiah Smith, built a mill in 1819, on West river. Meshach Lewallyn built one at Ridgeville on Mississinewa, about the same time. Jere Cox erected one on White river, some miles east of Winchester, in 1825. Jessup had a mill on Greenville creek as soon as 1820 or before. Aaron Hill's father, as also a Mr. Hawkins, in the region of Arba, had hominy-pounders, and perhaps corn-crackers, run by horse-power, shortly after the first settlers came. However, Aaron Hill's father came to this county in 1831. Jesse \\^ay says he thought the first water mill in the county was built by John Wright, on Salt creek, just north of Winchester, in 1818 or 1819. But to find exact dates, and to determine the locations of those early mills, is very difficult, and in many cases an impossible task. In the statement herein given, locality has been followed rather than priority of date ; and no doubt many, after all the labor expended in the work, have been omitted.

Water-Mills

A mill was built at (just below) Macksville by Robert Cox about thirtytwo years ago ( 1848) . It is now owned by Roberts and Goode. It is a good (grist) mill, and does a thriving business. At the mouth of Cabin creek Mr. Bunker built a saw-mill very early. Afterward John H. Bond rebuilt the sawmill and added a grist-mill. William Roberts bought and rebuilt the mill soon after 1854. It was afterward owned by Dick & Cowgill. Up Cabin creek (three-quarters of a mile) is another grist-mill; Jacob Beals built one on that site very early. Afterward it was rebuilt by Peter S. Miller (from Bucks county, Pennsylvania), and again by William Marine (about) 1844. Mr. Marine was the grandfather of James Whitcomb Riley. It was owned by John H. Bond and Solomon Wright, and later by Henry Studebaker. Steam was used at one time but now water alone. A portable saw-mill was there once but it has been taken away. The mill now has a good reputation for work, and is the only country mill in the county. Just above that (also on Cabin creek), William Marine had built another mill (about) 1839. He at one time owned both these mills (called Marine's upper and lower mills). While Marine was running both these mills, Nathan Mendenhall undertook to build still another mill between Marine's upper dam and the lower mill connected with that dam. He built his dam, dug the race, got the timber on the ground but finally he stopped. Why, we do not know, for one would think a man might as well go clear through as to begin such a job as that. It is a pity he had not put to actual test the project of running a water-mill without water!

Two miles above (on Cabin creek still) stood Mendenhall's (lower) mill, built before 1840. It has been rebuilt once or twice, and was discontinued not long ago. The works were taken to Parker, and the mill is in operation there now. A mile above was Mendenhall's upper mill, built by Nathan Mendenhall (father of the one mentioned above), at a very early day. The mill was rebuilt by his son Hiram. It was changed into a woolen factory. It was at Unionsport, and is run by both water and steam.

A s^w-mill was built by William Davison before 1829. It was running up to 1852, but was discontinued soon after. Thomas Gillum built a "corncracker" one-fourth of a mile south of Buena Vista, one of the first watermills in the county. It was gone long ago.- Below ]Macksville mill (on White river), Mr. Spillers built a saw-mill (about) 1850. It was rebuilt by David Harris. On Sparrow creek a saw-mill was erected (before the Macksville grist-mill was built) by Morgan Mills. He used to saw day and night. He would set his log and start the saw, and then lie down and take a nap. When the saw got through the log, the snapping of the trigger would wake him up, and he would set the log again. That mill went down sixty years or more ago. Robert Cox rebuilt the mill and used it to saw the lumber for the mill he built (at Macksville) on White river. Koah Johnson built a gristmill on Sparrow creek at the crossing of the Huntsville and Sampletown road, southeast of Macksville, very early, about the same time as Gillum's mill on Cabin creek there was also a saw-mill. Both have been gone many years.

James Clayton built a saw-mill on "Eight Mile Creek" above :\Iacksville. That mill quit sawing before 1830. Lewallyn's grist-mill on the Mississinewa near Ridgeville, was built (say) 1819 or 1820. It was afterward owned by William Addington, and then by his son, Joab Addington, afterward by Addington & House. Still again by Arthur McKew, and later by Whipple. Frederick Miller had a grist-mill and saw-mill on Bear creek, three miles southwest of Ridgeville, perhaps seventy-five years ago. They have been gone many years. On Bear creek, Josiah Bundy and Jacob Horn once had a saw-mill. The old Sampletown mill, between Macksville and Win-

Chester, just east of the "twelve-mile boundary," was built very early, but has been gone a long time. Jere Cox built a grist-mill above Winchester on White river, in 1825. Joseph and Benjamin Pickett built a saw-mill, William Pickett in 1853 purchased the place and both mills. They were operated till about 1864, and were torn down in 1870. Mr. Pickett said there were five dry years (from 1864 to 1869), in which the water was so low that the mills could not run, and they were left to go to wreck, and were taken away in 1870. Parsons had a grist-mill on Mississinewa one-half mile below Deerfield before 1832. Jessup had a "corn-cracker" on Greenville creek, north of Spartanburg before 1820. A grist-mill used to stand on Greenville creek northwest of the Kennon farm in Wayne township. It was there in 1850, but has been gone many years. The timbers are there still.

A Mr. Hinchy had a saw-mill and grist-mill on the Mississinewa, east of AUensville, in the early settlement of Jackson township, which were somewhat important for several years. There were some mills (one or more), on Mississinewa, near Fairview. John Wright is said to have had a corn-cracker water-mill on Salt creek, north of Winchester, thought by some to have been the first water-mill in the county. Jesse Way said Wright's mill was built in 1818 or 1819.

Joshua Bond had an oil mill (perhaps the only one in the county), as, also, a grist-mill, both run by horse-power, near Winchester, very early - perhaps as long ago as 1820, or thereabouts. Joshua Bond settled near Winchester about 1818, and set up his mills soon after; and about 1835, or so, he removed to Jay county, building a horse mill there also, and running the same till a comparatively late day, dying there also about 1878, at the age of ninety-four. His mill in Jay county was noted, settlers coming from both far and near.

Old Paul Beard had a saw-mill on Greensfork, which was old in 1837. There was a mill site where a grist-mill had been, but had gone down in 1832, and a new mill by Levi Stout (same man) two miles lower down on Greensfork, a mile and a half north of west from Lynn, about 1838, which was still running in 1854.

Amos Ellis had a saw-mill in old times between these two mill sites, which was gone, however, in 1840. Aimbrough and Mendenhall built a mill on Cabin creek some time prior to 1836, but this mill ran only about four years.

George Ritenour built a mill near his residence west of Deerfield in 1838, but this mill lasted only a short time, as the mill at Deerfield was much larger and better. Robert W. Bunker built his mill on Cabin creek, 1839. Marsh mill, below Deerfield, was built in 1833. John Jackson's mill, on Cabin creek, was built in September, 1834. Hurst's and People's mill was built near Unionsport in 1841.

There were other mills built from time to time, particularly saw-mills, concerning which no information has been obtained. These early mills must not be reckoned to be like the great mills of the present day. They were, indeed, but small and insignificant affairs. It is related of one of the first mills in Jackson township, that the owner boasted that his whole "fixings" had cost him only $2.50.

Those old-time mills were very humble, unpretending establishments. Cox's mill, above Winchester, built eighty years ago, and eleven years after the first settlement of the county, bolted flour in a hand bolt. The "corn crackers," so called (Jessup's on Greenville creek, for instance), used to grind about a peck an hour. The stones employed in many of the first mills were simply the native boulders of the region, dressed to suit the purpose. Still they served the needs of the settlers in a small way for many years. Some half-dressed mill stones are lying beside the highways still. The grist would be sent on the back of a horse or a mule with a half-grown lad, and one by one these grists would be slowly, oh, how slowly, worked through the machinery of the mill. Men, however, who were able to command a wagon and team and enough grain to warrant the labor required, would take a trip to the more extensive and better appointed mills on the White Water, or the Stillwater, or even the Miami. In the earliest times boys have been sent on horseback twenty miles or more, from the Arba settleiiaent to the mills on the White Water below Richmond, both to buy corn and to get it ground in one of the mills in that region.

The story told by the old settlers of nearly every one of the first mills in the whole region, though perhaps not an actual fact as to even a single one of them, is yet painfully suggestive of the more important real fact that the mills did actually grind so "awful slow" that everybody would naturally believe that a dog might "lick the meal by spirits," and lift up his head and howl between the "jets" for more. But let us not laugh at these small beginnings of things. The settlers used far more labor, and displayed much greater energy in undertaking what they were able to accomplish under such appalling difficulties than their posterity do in effecting the far greater results of the present day.

steam power was unknown. To fit up a steam establishment required a large amount of money, more, in fact, than most could command. Still as the country grew, and the milling necessities began to surpass the capacities of the water-power, and the "corn cracker" and the hand-bolt mills of the region, men ventured to try how steam would answer the purpose, and one by one, mills were built away from the streams. The result has been that waterpower has dwindled and almost grown out of use, and steam has nearly carried the day.

One of the first steam mills in the county, possibly the first, was built by Elias Kizer at Winchester, as early perhaps as 1835, on Salt creek on the north side of Washington street.

Mr. Roberts had a steam grist-mill at Winchester (in the west part of the city). It was running say in i860, but its rumbling has been silent for some years. The brick mill and warehouse near the depot has been standing for some fifty years. It was built for a warehouse by John Mumma. Martin owned it awhile, then Heaston and Riley, then Colton and Bates, then Bates Brothers. It is an extensive mill, has a high reputation, performing good, thorough, reliable work, and a large amount of it, now owned and operated by C. Graft.

Deerfield steam mill was built by Jason Whipple eighty-nine years ago (1845). Foi' many years it had a very large patronage. At one time it drew custom for thirty or forty miles in every direction. Customers had the privilege, by staying through the night, of having their grists ground in turn, and many availed themselves thereof. Sometimes a dozen or twenty teams would wait through the darkness of the night, rather than go home through the long and tedious journey and then be obliged to return at a future day. People came from Centerville, Wabash, Greenville, etc. It was owned by Willis Whipple, son of Jason Whipple. This mill was torn down in 1907.

The mill at Allensville was fixed so as to run by water or steam. It was built in about 1850, and ceased to be used about 1900. A saw-mill (water and steam) was built, and afterward a grist-mill, by McNeely before 1845. The establishment was rebuilt by Thomas Reece and Company. There was a steam saw-mill on Olive Branch, then it was made a grist-mill, and afterward the works were taken out and carried to Farmland. At Farmland, Dr. William Macy had a steam saw-mill, afterward belonging to Ford and Company, but it has been silent for sixty years. Stanley Brothers had a steam grist-mill at Farmland before i860. Having been burned, it was rebuilt with new ma-

A steam-mill was built at Ridgeville on the railroad, by Arthur McKew. It was burned and rebuilt of brick. The mill is a good one, and does much work.

There was a steam-mill at Harrisville, built some years ago. A steam grist-mill was running for several years at Arba, but it burned down in 1877, and has not been rebuilt. There were two steam saw-mills at Spartanburg. One was built about 1852 by William Luker. The other was built by Wesley Locke about 1880. It had a corn-mill and planing-mill attached. A large steam grist-mill was erected at Union City, Indiana. It was owned by Converse & Company ; had a capacity of 200 barrels per day.

A steam saw-mill has been in operation for several years on the State line pike, two miles south of Union City, but it was removed about 1881. Mr. Sheets set up a saw-mill west of Union City in 1852.

There was a saw-mill on Oak street. Union City, and John H. Cammack had a saw-mill in the Cammack neighborhood, some two miles east of Bartonia.

There was a saw-mill eight miles southwest of Farmland, and a steam grist-mill at Huntsville, also a saw-mill at Huntsville, owned by Peyton Johnson, and there was another saw-mill- owned by Jere Hyatt. A saw-mill stood not far east of Deerfield, on the State road, from early times until about 1880, owned latterly by John H. Sipe. There was, for years, a sawmill on the boundary, southwest of Spartanburg. A saw-mill was in operation for twenty years or more near Salem. When Union City began to need lumber for building, that mill, among others, helped much to supply the demand. A grist-mill and a saw-mill were formerly in operation north of Lynn, but one was burned (or both) and now_ there is neither.

Anthony McKinney built a saw-mill on Mississinewa, one and a quarter miles below Fairview, about 1839, put in a corn-cracker about 1840, and built a new and more extensive mill, putting in "wheat buhrs" about 1842. He had three run of buhrs - and a bolt carried by machinery. It was a good mill for a while. Mr. McKinney sold the mill to Samuel Zaner. He owned it about a year and sold to Abner Wolverton, about 1864, for wheat. Steam was put in in 1875, but has not been used for years.

Mr. Ward had a saw-mill on Mississinewa, below Ridgeville, which ran for several years. John Foust had a saw-mill and corn-cracker in about 1856, in Franklin township, just at the township line, on Mississinewa. Cyrus A.

Reed had a saw-mill one mile above Fairview. It was built about 1850, and stood perhaps ten years. There was a saw-mill at Shedville, run by steam.

Before 1825 Lemuel Vestal undertook to erect a mill on Stoney creek, near Windsor. Before completing it, he sold out to John Thornburg, who finished the grist-mill and also built a saw-mill. After four years he sold to Andrew G. Dye, and he to Moses Neely, and still again the mills were transferred to Thomas W. Reece, who built them anew. Their owners since have been Neely, Mark Pattis, Johnson & Dye, William A. Thornburg, Reece & Sons, Mahlon Clevenger, John Thornburg, Robert Cowgill and John Clevenger. Doubtless other mills have existed, of which no account has been obtained.

Other Machinery

Peter Kabel had a carding machine, etc., in the west part of the county. At first Mr. Kabel had a little carding machine in the garret of John H. Bond's grist-mill. He was very poor, and got the use of Bond's "power." After awhile he bought a waste farm that was too wet for tillage. He ditched the prairie and drained the ponds, springs and swamps, and collected the water, and got enough to run a carding machine and woolen factory. For a long time it was a famous establishment, getting custom far and near, and Mr, Kabel made a fortune. His factory is gone now. There are pleasant anecdotes about Mr. Kabel and his mill. Somebody had at one time turned the water upon the wheel and made the mill run empty through the night. He was provoked, and on Saturday he sawed the foot-bridge over the fore-bay almost in two, and laid it in its place. Monday morning he came to start his mill, and, forgetting all about his "trap," he stepped upon the sawed plank and went, souse, into the fore-bay. He scrambled out just as Thomas Addington was going to the mill. He ran to meet Thomas, laughing and crying out: "O, Thomas, Thomas, I caught mine self, I caught mine self!" Mr. Kabel lived three miles south of Macksville. There was for some years a woolen factory at Unionsport. It had a good reputation, and its yarns were in great demand. There used to be a carding machine at Winchester, belonging to Elias Kizer, but it is not there now. The old county seminary, at Winchester, was fitted up and run as a woolen mill factory for several years. It was quite extensive and did much work, but it has been discontinued. There was, for many years, a carding machine and woolen factory at Deerfield. It was burned down and rebuilt, and burned again, and, since the last fire, has not been rebuilt.

It is told. US, as a matter of curiosity, that Moorman Way once undertook to fit up a carding machine at Winchester, and run it by ox-power. The establishment did some work for awhile. A carding machine was built and operated in very early days, near Winchester. It is thought to have been the first in the county, but has been gone for many, inany years. It belonged to Daniel Petty, and was operated by horse-power.

Mills and warehouses are now run in connection with each other. This has made it impossible to have a miH ofif the railroad. As we have said heretofore, there is but one mill running at this time, that is not located on a railroad. This mill does but very little business. The mills of today are to be found in Union City, Lynn, Modoc, Parker, Farmland, Ridgeville and Winchester. Warehouses are to be found in those places and in addition, in Crete, Carlos, Losantville, Deerfield and Harrisville.

Early Roads

The first roads of the county were mere trails or paths that led in and around the hills, or upon, crossing the streams at the most available point, so as to prevent the least possible difficulty. The trail which was blazed on trees or bush was often difficult to follow, even by the most experienced settler.

Even the roads established by law were very vague indeed, as will be seen in some of the entries. The first road was to run from Winchester between Jesse Johnson's and Paul Beard's. Another was laid out from the west end of Hezekiah Hockett's lane to the Wayne county line, at the southeast corner of Martindale's. A third was to go from Hockett's road threequarters of a mile north of "gass" to an irregular direction to the State road at Vernon. This is the only reference made to the town of Vernon anywhere. Another road was to run from the southwest corner of Samuel Smith's fence to the crossing south of Jackson's, thence to new road at the north end of William Smith's lane. If following the roads was any worse than following the descriptions they must have had a sorry time, indeed.

When roads were finally established the right-of-way was cleared simply by cutting the trees and allowing the stumps to stand. It was often with great difficulty that a wagon could be drawn along these roads at all because ' of the stumps. As the roads became more and more traveled it became necessary to put them in better condition. This was done by filling up the holes

But for many years travel in the spring of the year was almost impossible, and no very great distances could be gone at that time. Eventually, however, the roads were graded and straightened, but little attention being paid to hills or hollows. When the gravel road was suggested it seemed at first to be a wild dream.

"Most of the year a journey over the roads was simply a slow, laborious wallowing through mud; the bogs were passable only through the use of corduroy, and this corduroy of poles laid side by side for miles, not infrequently had to be weighted down with dirt to prevent it floating off when the swamp waters rose. * * * /^^g Qj^g proceeded he must track to right and left, not to find the road, but to get out of it and find places where the mud was 'thick enough to bear.' * * * Innumerable stubs of saplings, sharpened like spears by being cut ofif obliquely, waited to impale the unlucky traveler who might be pitched out upon them, and the probability of such an accident was considerable, as the lurching wagon plunged over a succession of ruts and roots, describing an exhilarating seesaw with most astonishing alteration of plunge, creak and splash. Ever and anon the brimming streams had to be crossed, sometimes by unsafe fording and sometimes by rude ferries. In the latter case the ferry keeper was apt to be off at work somewhere in his clearing, and the traveler had to 'halloo to the ferry' till he could make himself heard."

At first the toll roads were private enterprises and people had to pay toll for traveling upon them. The toll-gate keeper lived at the cross-roads and kept the highway closed with the "pole and sweep," so that tra\clers might not pass when he was not present. But the toll road has long since been a thing of the past and first-class free roads are to be found today. James Whitcomb Riley represents an old pioneer talking reminiscent'y at an Old Settlers' Meeting. This old man would represent a period of about thirty years ago, when Mr. Riley has him say :

When we had to go on horseback, and sometimes on 'shanks mare,' And 'blaze' a road fer them behind that had to travel there. "Of the times when we first settled here, and travel was so bad.

And now we go a-trottin' 'long a level gravel pike, In a big two-hoss road-wagon, jest as easy as you like ; Two of us on the front seat, and our wimmen- folks behind, A-settin' in theyr Winsor cheers in perfect peace of mind!"

But today the picture which Mr. Riley describes would attract as much attention as would have the automobile and motorcycle of today attracted at that period.

Pioneer Schools And Churches

Much has been said of the pioneer schools in another chapter. These schools were conducted in a private cabin, or in rude houses constructed for schools alone. They were built of logs, puncheon floor, if any floor at all, a fire place filling one end of the room. For light, greased paper was used.

Churches were not built until after private homes had_ been used in a community long enough to justify a church association. These churches were crude affairs, but they served the people well and were the means of bringing a spirit of love, fellowship and communion into the community.

The ministers of that day preached upon texts taken from the Bible and paid no attention whatever to questions outside the church proper. The hymn would be announced, the minister would "line" it, the leader would pitch the tune, and, with the congregation, sing the song. These songs were sung with a fervor and spirit that carried enthusiasm and conviction to all who sang and heard. They may have lacked harmony but they did not lack in spirit.

They left an impression never to be forgotten, and many a man and woman of today looks back upon the singing in the old days as one of the most effective means of worship.

The Good Old Hymns

There's lots of music in 'em - those dear sweet hymns of old, With visions bright of lands of light and shining streets of gold; And I hear 'em ringing - singing, where mem'ry, dreaming, stands, "From Greenland's icy mountains to India's coral strands."

They seem to sing forever of holier, sweeter days, When the lilies of the love of God bloomed white in all the ways ; And I want to hear their music from the old-time meetin's rise Till "I can read my title clear to mansions in the skies."

An' so I love the ^ Id hynms, and when my time shall come - Before the light of day has left me, and my singing lips are dumb - If I can hear 'em sing them then, I'll pass without a sigh To "Canaan's fair and happy land where my possessions lie."

Questions And Manners Of The First Established Home

Much of the material given here concerning this subject is the direct result of experience of those who gave it, many years ago. These people fived in the county and knew exactly the customs, manners and conditions of themselves at that time; and if they differ from what they are today we must remember that the conditions and environments were very much different from what we have it.

They did the best that could be done under very trying circumstances and met the conditions fairly and squarely. For the most part they were honest and upright people and enjoyed a good time in the crude way of (heir time.

Much of the following was gotten from Mr. Martin A. Reeder, an old pioneer of the county, and Mr. Joseph Hawkins, who lived in Jay county at the time of these interviews. Mr. Hawkins was very familiar with Randolph county.

Manner Of Living

Some articles have been furnished by Hon. Martin A. Reeder, who has been a resident of the county for about sixty years, the substance of which is given below, with also some additions from other sources :

Many would put up a "camp," and live in that for some weeks or months, and wait to build a cabin until the large trees had been cleared from a place extensive enough to prevent danger from the tree trunks falling on the house. Others would put up their cabins in the dense woods, with perhaps a dozen trees near, any of which might, in a storm of wind, have crushed the dwelling and all its inmates. And yet, though scores of cabins were erected thus, it is not known that a solitary tree ever threw its huge trunk upon the roof of a single settler's dwelling.

Cabins were built of round logs from eight to ten inches through, and covered with clapboards. They were of all sizes; - some perhaps twelve by fourteen feet, and some eighteen by twenty-five feet, with one seven or eight feet story and a loft above in the roof. A small cabin would have one door and one window. A large one might, perhaps, possess two of each. The chimney and fire-place would be wholly outside, opening of course into the house.

At the "raising" the neighbors for miles around were expected to come and lend their aid (who at first, were not many), and they went. No "shirks" were there. "Help me and I will help you," was their motto, and the rule was faithfully practiced.

On the "raising day" the body of the house would be completed and the roof put on. Cutting out the door and window holes, and the opening for the fire-place, putting in the doors and windows, building the fire-place and chimney, laying the puncheon floors, chinking and dauljing ibe cracks lietween the logs, laying the loft, etc., were done bA- the owner at his pleasure as he had opportunity. Barns and outhouses were raised from time to time, so as not to tax the settlers too heavily.

These cabins, though not elegant, were, when properly cor-.pl.eted, solid and substantial, and warm to boot; and many, many years ot" happy, con- tented, prosperous life have been spent within their lowly walls. And many who lived all their youthful years in such a humble domicile but who have since become able to abide in stately mansions, can now truthfully declare that their happiest days were spent nevertheless beneath the shelter of those mighty, overshadowing forest trees, under the lowly roof of that old-time log-cabin. How true the words of the poet :

Note. - Many of the early-built cabins had no windows at all. The door and the big, open-mouthed fire-place were the only avenues for light. It is within the knowledge of the writer of this sketch that families who emigrated from Carolina to Randolph county in 1847 had never seen any glass windows, and had no idea what they were for. Some houses dwelt in in 1846 had no windows.

The ideas of convenience then were not just like our own. In about 1850 the daughter of one of the earliest settlers said of a certain new house that she occupied '(with her large family), "the room is so convenient [the house had but one room] we can set up six beds in it."

"Have a big log, cut notches up and down the log fourteen feet spart^, set double stakes fourteen feet out from the log, cut small logs six to eight inches thick, 'scafe' off the ends so as to fit the notches in the log, put cne end in the notch and the other between the stakes ; in the notch let the ends touch, but put blocks between the other ends, so as to make the upper one slant enough for the roof, put some logs atop of the big log and some across the front above; put on the roof, and stuff the cracks with moss.

Moss was plenty on the old logs, as thick as a cushion and as soft as a sheepskin; you could tear off a sheet as long as a bed-quilt if you wished. We often used sheets of moss for blankets to ride on instead of a saddle. The front of the camp was open six feet high, and logs Vv^ere across above. A log heap fire was built in front on the ground. At first we left it unprotected, but the smoke would sweep into the camp and choke us so that we could not stay. Then we took puncheons and set them tipright in a semi- circle around (outside of) the fire, leaving passages next the camp to go in and out at. This mended matters greatly. We lived in this camp from March until November, 1829. We cleared that summer nine acres - ^five for early corn and four for late corn, potatoes, turnips, etc.

The men had built three camps side by side agajnst the same log, expecting to have three families. Only two came, and that left tvi^o camps for us. There were eight in our family, and, the two older boys fixed a bed in the extra camp, and the rest of us slept (in three beds) in our own proper camp."

The houses were made strong in this way. The loft was constructed of split logs, and the doors of split timbers three or four inches thick, with battens fastened across and hung on strong wooden hinges, having also a strong wooden bar across the door inside, fastened at each end by the fork of a tree put into the door casing by a hole bored with a large auger.

To break into such a house as that would be by no means easy, yet the dwellings were seldom locked. Such a thing as entering a house unlawfully, was well-nigh unknown.

Furniture

This country lies far interior, away from all water-courses, those oldtime channels of inter-communication. Emigrants could reach this county only by a long and tedious stretch of wagon road and forest trail. Hence, the settlers brought with them commonly only the most necessary things, and especially those for which no substitute could be found in the new land; kettles, ironware, etc., must be brought, since nothing could be found in the West to take their place. Bedsteads, chairs and tables were useful, but they were also heavy and bulky, and awkward to move, and substitutes could be found, and they were, in many cases, left behind..

Feather beds, bedding, pewter ware, cooking utensils, etc., were brought. But for bedsteads, the settlers made something- which answered the purpose. T\^o rails with one end inserted in the side and end logs of the cabin, meeting in a post at the inner corner driven into the ground, with clapboards laid across from the side rail to a strip pinned upon the log, would do for a bedstead. One active young wife made one for herself by boring holes in some poles and making two benches, and laying eight large, thick clap-boards upon them, and lo ! she had a bedstead ; and on went her straw bed, all the bed she had, and her sheets and bed quilts ; and she was never prouder of anything in her life than she was of her bedstead and her bed, nice and good and brand new.

Sometimes, for an extra nice "fixing," men would split out pieces from a straight-grained oak, and make bed rails, and prepare other pieces for the slats, boring auger holes in the side rail and in, the side house log, and putting the slats in these, and that was good and solid. Four high posts would stand at the corners, and rods or wires be strung from top to top of the four posts, and curtains would be hung on the rods; and who could wish a neater curtained bed than that ? Often two of these would be made for a single cabin, one in each farthest corner ; one for the father and mother, and the other for company ; and the children - why, they had to go into the loft, and sleep under the rafters to the music of the rain falling on the roof, or of the snow rattling on the clapboards. And that was a jolly place to sleep. And instead of chairs were made puncheon stools, and puncheon benches, which last were better than chairs or stools either, since half a dozen urchi-ns could sit upon one. And as for chairs or stools at the table, they were not needed, inasmuch as all the half grown boys and girls had feet, and they stood up at the table, like folks at a modern Sunday-school celebration picnic dinner; and almost every article of convenience that settlers had they made for themselves. Door hinges and latches were made of wood, and a string sufificed to raise the latch ; and to pull the string inside was better than a lock, because no false key could pick the lock or unbolt the door. A poking stick answered for tongs, and some stones on the hearth did instead of andirons; and, as for stoves, those articles had not been invented yet, or, if they had, it wouia cosi so much to haul the bulky things of the sort which were called stoves in those days into these western wilds, that when here, the cost would be inore than that of a forty-acre lot.

The people of the present time will doubtless be glad to learn how the pioneers managed (not merely to raise or earn, but) to make their bread in those days when stoves and ranges, and all the modern paraphernalia of bakmg and cooking were not. Bread was made mostly of cornmeal, and m three forms, viz : "Dodgers," "Pone," and "Johnny Cake." To the people now all these three are reckoned as one; but to the pioneer, they were entirely distinct, yet all excellent of their kind, and either or all good enough to make "a pretty dish to set before the king."

"Dodgers" were made of meal with pure water and a little salt, mixed into a stiff dough, and molded with the hand into a kind of oval cake, and baked in a "bake-pan" or '"Dutch-oven," viz., a round iron vessel as wide across as a half-bushel, or less, and six or eight inches deep, with legs, of course, and a lid with a raised rim to hold coals on the top. The coals were put in abundance underneath the "oven," and on the top as well; and when the bread was done there came out the "dodgers," as moist, as sweet, as nice as epicure ever saw.

"Pone" was made with meal, water and salt, with the addition of milk or cream and yeast, thinner than dodgers, and was bakecj in the same way.

"Johnny Cake" was made with lard and butter, water and salt of course, and baked in a loaf or cake, say six inches wide and an inch thick, upon a board perhaps two feet long set up before the fire. When one side was baked enough the other side of the cake was turned to the fire till it was done, and then you would have perhaps the sweetest and best corn bread ever made. Besides these there were grated corn, pounded hominy, lye huminy, green corn (roasting ears), etc. Corn has been well said to be the poor man's grain, and on account, among other things, of the ease with which it can be made into food, the variety of which it is capable, and the general excellence of the different kinds. Lye hominy and green corn, the two simplest forms of its preparation, are at the same time well-nigh the best and most delicious food that ever passed the lips of man.

After wheat had been raFsed, of course, some flour was used, but still for a long time corn was the chief source of bread. The mills were but poor, many of the first for grinding wheat having only hand bolts, and the flour would be none of the best. But you are not to think that the settlers were destitute of meat. On the contrary, they had abundance, and' that of the best and rarest kinds. Deer, turkeys, pheasants and what not were plenty; and a good rifle would bring some of them down at almost any hour. To shoot turkeys standing in his cabin door was no uncommon exploit for the pioneer ; and to bring down on an average, one deer a day, besides a full day's work, was what many a backwoods man succeeded in doing. Almost every settler (and settler's son) was a hunter as well, and those who did not care themselves to shoot deer could readily get all the venison they wished of their sportsman neighbors, and that almost for a song.

Then there were hogs, at first or very soon afterward. There were many "wild hogs," that were the offspring of such as had strayed from older settlements, or from the Indians, some of whom kept swine. These hogs were called "elm-peelers," and were long-legged, long-bodied, long-headed, sharp-snouted, with short, straight, pointed ears, and as nimble nearly as a wolf; and, when very wild, more savage than the bears themselves. They would make but a poor show (except as a curiosity) at one of our modern fairs, but at that time they were highly valued, even above the fat, unwieldly, helpless things called improved stock. When a "Yankee man" was trying to sell some improved breed to the western "hoosier" (or "sucker" it may be) and mentioned as an advantage that they could not run. "Can't run?" said the settler. "No," said the Yankee. "Don't want 'em," replied the "sucker." "My hogs have to get their own living and look out for themselves, and I would not give a snap for a hog that can't outrun a dog." So "improved stock" was then and there at a discount.

These woods-hogs would get fat only during "mast years," and sometimes the herds of hogs would get to be three or four years old and would become thoroughly wild and very savage, fleet of foot and almost as fierce as a tiger, so that hunters would be obliged to take to a tree to get beyond their reach. During the non-mast years these troops of swine would subsist upon roots, etc., such as hickory roots, sweet elm roots, slippery elm bark and such like. There was no hog-cholera then. Swine even now peel elm trees, eating the bark as high as they can get at it, and in such cases they seem clear of cholera. This habit of eating the bark from elm trees is what probably gave hogs in those days the name of "elm-peelers." When fatted on hickory and beech mast the meat was very sweet but oily, and would not make good bacon. Hunting wild hogs was grand sport, though somewhat dangerous withal..

Stock, especially hogs, ran wild in the woods ^nd each man had his private stock mark. This mark was recorded in the recorder's office and became the way of marking one's stock. All other settlers must respect this mark under penalty of the law. There was a law at that time which said that if any one should mark a hog, shoat or pig, other than his own or change the mark on a hog, shoat or pig, other than his own, he should be fined in any

The first stock mark recorded in the county was by Christopher Baker. "This day Christopher Baker entered his stock mark as follows, towit: A smooth crop in the left ear and a slit in the same and an under bit in the right ear.

Besides pork, as above described, and wild game, the streams abounded in fish; bass, sahnon, pike, buffalo, red horse, white and black suckers, silver sides, catfish, etc., were plentiful in the streams, and men could have all they pleased to catch. Besides bread and meat, potatoes were soon raised, so as to furnish a full supply ; as also pumpkins, squashes, cabbages, and other garden vegetables. But wheat, for several years, proved nearly a failure, so that flour, if used, had to be brought from the Miami or some other older settlement; and only a few could afford to take the trouble to get it, or cared to obtain it if they could.

But how was cooking (other than baking bread) done? This way: A stiff bar of iron-wood (or of iron itself) was fastened in the chimney lengthwise the fire-place, about midway from front to rear, and perhaps eight feet high, called the "lug-pole." On this bar were suspended several hooks of different lengths, made of small iron rods (or sometimes of wood). These hooks extended far enough downward so that the pots and kettles of various sizes would hang above the fire and close enough to it to receive the needful amount of heat. Thus, boiling of all kinds was done.

For roasting (or basting), a wooden pin was fastened over the fireplace, and from this pin the turkey, venison saddle, or what not, was hung by a string or a wire in front of the blazing fire-place. The side next the fire would soon be cooked, and, by turning it round and round, the whole would be done "to a turn," the gravy dripping out into a dish set below upon the hearth. Thus, with milk and butter in abundance after the first two or three years, with tree-sugar and molasses in profusion, with wild berries and plums, etc., with which the woods abounded, the settlers, after they once got started, had no lack. In fact, many things of which they had a plentiful supply, would now be reckoned (if they could be obtained at all) a wonderful luxury.

As to the supply of game and the readiness with which it could be gotten, it may be stated that one man has been known to kill nine deer in a single day, another has killed six. These are of course extreme cases, yet to kill a deer or two, half a dozen turkeys, and fifteen or twenty pheasants in a day was nothing uncommon for a single person.

To light the house, no gas nor kerosene, nor even tallow candles were needed. The huge fire-place would, for an ordinary purpose, give light enough. Some had a kind of contrivance consisting of a sort of dish or bowl with a nose or spout for the rag-wick to lie in. In the dish was melted tallow or lard, and the wick lay with one end in the melted lard, and the other up along the spout. This lamp would hang by a string in the middle of the room and well supplied the place of chandelier or astral. Sometimes a still simpler arrangement was employed, a broken saucer with some tallow or lard in it would have a piece of rag' laid in as a wick, and your lamp was all complete. And for outdoor uses, the boys used to light themselves and their company to meetings or spelling schools, or to hunting sprees or "hoe down" parties, with torches, consisting of a handful of hickory bark. All that had to be done was to peel some bark as you went along, light the ends in the fire-place when about to start for home, and keep it whisking about as you went on. The more wind the better, though wind in those forest paths gave little trouble. A group of torches scattered along among the trees, flaring and dancing and flashing as they were waved hither and thither by their bearers, presented so picturesque a sight as in these artificial days can seldom be witnessed. A good torch-light was worth half a dozen lanterns any day (or any night rather).

Candles were made by taking a wooden rod ten or twelve inches long, wrapping a line or cotton cloth around it, and covering it with tallow pressed around the stick with the hand.

Lamps were made by digging the inside from a large turnip, sticking up a stick in the center, about three inches long, with a strip of cloth around the stick, and turning melted lard, or deer s tallow, in until the rind was full. Often the great blazing fire-place gave light enough, and many an evening's work has been done with no other means of vision.

The methods and means of work were simple enough. Trees were girdled and felled and cut into lengths with the ax. In fact the ax was to the settler the tool of all work. Without it he was helpless. With it he was a crowned king. With an ax and an augur and aa old hand-saw he could make well-nigh anything. Rail-splitting was done with maul and wedge. Moving logs was done with a lever, or hand-spike, while one in a hundred or a thousand would boast a crow-bar. Clapboards were split out with a frow.

set endwise. It was spread and rotted and dried and "broke," and swingled (scutched), and hatcheled (hackled), the tow carded and the flax or the tow spun and reeled and spooled or quilled and warped and woven and colored and made up into garments.

Hauling was done on a sled made out of "crooks" split from a tree-root. Plowing was done with a bar-share plow, which had only a wooden mold board. Hoes were huge, ungainly things, large enough to cut and dig "grubs" with.

Men traveled mostly on foot, or on horseback. Many a man went on foot to Fort Wayne or to Cincinnati to enter his land. One man entered three different forty-acre tracts and went on foot to Cincinnati for the purpose, several times except that one of the trips was made partly on horseback. Boys sixteen years old have tied up their money in a rag and gone on "Shank's mares" alone through the woods to make entry of land for father or mother or possibly for themselves.

Many a farm was tilled for years with a single horse, or even an ox. Not seldom a poor fellow's only horse would lie down and die and leave him in a "fix" indeed. However people were accommodating and a person could get help from his neighbors to the extent of their ability. Wagons were very scarce. To become the owner of a wagon was an event to reckon from as the beginning of a new era. One early settler says that in a space of two miles square, where resided perhaps thirty families, only two wagons were to be found. He says moreover, that the neighbors got up a milling expedition, taking a wagon with six horses and twelve bushels of, grain. The horses were restive and wild and would not pull together and the wagon became fast in the mud and six men took a horse and a sack of grain apiece and "put out" for the mill, leaving the wagon in the mud-hole to be got out at some other time.

Thus our ancestors plodded on; slow and tedious and awkward- their methods Avould now be reckoned, but honest, faithful, industrious, frugal, simple-hearted, sincere, hospitable and generous. They heroically accomplished the herculean tasks appointed to their lot and bore patiently and successfully the burdens which providence laid upon their shoulders. Let their posterity beware how they condemn the humble condition of their forefathers. Let this generation look back to those old-time' scenes and to the worthy actors in them, not with a feeling of shame nor a sense of disgrace.

but let them reckon it an honor to have sprung from a line of ancestry so noble, so excellent, so hardy and energetic, so worthy of sincere respect, nay, almost of reverence ; and let them see to it that in methods of energetic labor and in heroic success in the employment of larger and better means of accomplishment, they prove themselves before the world to be worthy successors of their venerable progenitors.

Clothing

]\lost of the settlers brought with them into the wilderness all they could afford to last them until more could be raised, at least to last for one year, and often for more than that. After a corn field and a truck patch must come a flax patch. When the flax became ripe it was pulled, threshed, spread, rotted, gathered up, broken, scutched, hackled, spun, woven and put on the back to wear. All the machinery needed for this work was a flaxbrake, a scutching-board, a hackle, a spinning-wheel, a quill-wheel ana wmding blades, warping bars and loom, all of which were very simple and inexpensive and most of them could be made in the vicinity or, even at home. And all the work, from sowing the seed to taking the last stitch upon the garment, was done upon the premises and much of it was performed as easily by the lads and the lassies as by the men and women themselves. Tht hackling of the flax produced tow. This tow was carded and spun, the flax was spun into "chain," and the tow into filling, and both were woven into "tow linen" ; and out of this strong and not unsightly fabric many garments for summer wear were made, dresses for females being colored according to the taste and the males wearing theirs uncolored. For winter, people had sheep and took the wool, carding it by hand, spinning it on a "big wheel," and weaving it with linen or cotton warp (or chain) into "linsey-woolsey" or "jeans." The "linsey" was worn mostly by the women and the jeans by the men; sometimes the fabric was colored "butternut" and sometimes blue.

Cambrics, muslins, etc., were scarce and costly and rarely used. For outer garments men soon began to use deer-skins, making pantaloons and "hunting shirts." The latter was much like a modern sack coat and a very comfortable, though not especially handsome garment it proved itself. At first the buckskin was obtained ready dressed, of the Indians, but the settlers soon learned to prepare it themselves. The men had commenced to make and sew their own buckskin garments, the work being too hard for female fingers. The sewing was done with the sinews from the deer's legs or with a "whang," i. e., a thong or string cut from the deer hide, a shoemaker's awl, and a very large needle. These buckskin clothes were just the thing. They were within the reach of all, costing nothing but labor; they were very durable lasting for years ; they were warm and as to looks,, each man looked as well as his neighbor and what more is needed ? And they were an almost perfect protection. The sting of the nettle, the scratch of the briers and even the bite of the rattlesnakes was harmless. The cockle-burs and the Spanish needles would not stick to them ; they kept out the cold "like a charm," and, moreover, when properly dressed and neatly made, they presented by na means an unsightly appearance.

The garments were commonly made and worn large and free, which of course greatly added to their comfort and convenience. Sometimes, however, in standing near the fire a man would get his "breeches" hot and another in mischief would clap the hot buckskin to the flesh and the luckless wearer would jump with a yell and a bound clear across the room as though the great log fire was tumbling on him. Sometimes too they would get wet and if allowed to dry, the skin would become very hard and stiff and could not be used again till it had been softened by dampening and rubbing.

The Indians made moccasins and the settlers bought and wore them, being excellent for dry weather, winter or summer, but not for wet. For the wet season strong leather shoes were used, though many, especially the younger class, went much barefooted.

Upon the head the men wore in the winter chiefly a strong well-made, low crowned, broad-brimmed wool hat, somewhat like that which the older Quakers now wear. Sometimes a warm head-gear was made from a coonskin. It was comfortable but looked wolfish. In summer home-made hats, braided from whole rye-straw grown for that purpose were in extensive use.

This machine may be thus described : Narrow strips of tin were firmly set in a piece of wood an inch square and six inches long. The straw was spread open and drawn through these tin "teeth" and made into strips of equal width. Five of these strips (sometimes seven) were plaited into a braid, and the braid made long enough for a whole bonnet. The braid was ironed smooth (having been bleached if thought necessary), and nicely sewed into bonnets ; and they looked equal in neatness (not to say taste) tothe fashions of the present day.

board. The great object of a bonnet was at that time supposed to be to protect the face, head and neck from the sun, and the wind and the cold; and they were made accordingly. What a bonnet is for now is best known, perhaps, to the wearers ; or, if they do not, how should anybody else be expected to know ?

The fashions of that primitive time, doubtless, would seem awkward and uncouth at the present day; but the clothing answered the prime ends for which clothing is worn, decency and comfort, even better perhaps than the garments of the present day. And as to looks, folks were better satisfied with what they had then than people are now; and, if they were suited who "had them to wear and to look at, surely we who are so far removed by two generations of time have no occasion to complain.

It can be trvily affirmed that underneath those coats and hunting shirts, uncouth in looks and awkward in fit, dwelt souls brave and generous and hearts tender and kind, loyal, affectionate and true. God grant that the same may ever be truly declared of their children and their children's children while the ages roll. Fashions may come and fashions may go, but what matter, so the deep fountain of love and truth and faithfulness in the human soul remains pure, untarnished and perennial.

Trading

Money was scarce, little indeed, was needed, for, as has been shown, almost every necessity and luxury was produced at home. Some money, however, was necessary, chiefly to pay taxes and to buy iron and salt, powder and lead. Taxes indeed for many years were low. The first county tax levied in Randolph was "twenty-five cents upon each horse-beast." The first settlement of the treasurer showed as follows :

In November, $260.00 were the receipts and $259.75 the disbursements. In 1820 the county treasury boasted of $462.63, $309.63 of which were realized from the sale of lots, and $1 from a fine, leaving $152.00 as the avails of county taxation in a single county for a whole year. And up to 1829 the annual county taxes still fell short of $900.00. So "taxes" required but a small amount of the "needful." But iron and .salt and powder and lead were indispensable and heavy and costly. They took money and abundance of it, or its equivalent.

As a specimen of the costliness of articles in those times, the statement is made that Benjamin Bond, who came to Wayne county in 181 1, gave for nails twenty-five cents a pound and paid for them in cordwood cut upon his land just west of New Garden meeting-house in Wayne county at twenty-five cents a cord upon the ground, a cord of wood for a pound of nails !

Once in western Pennsylvania in the long, long ago, a horse was given for a barrel of salt, and at another time (in this region) eighteen dollars was given for a bushel. Money could be obtained, indeed, though not largely. * Deer skins would bring fifty cents ; raccoon skins, thirty-seven and a half cents and muskrats, twenty-five cents. The fur buyer when he came his annual round would pay cash, but the merchants paid only in trade. If the settler would wait for the fur buyer, he could have the cash, if not, he must "dicker" it out and let the merchant finger the cash himself.

Deer must be killed from May till November and raccoons and muskrats from December till April. So the hunter had his harvest all the year round, only, if he wanted money, he must store up till the fur-dealer came. But necessaries could be gotten at any time. And these were comparatively few, though somewhat expensive. A side of sole leather and of upper leather, a barrel of salt, powder and shot for himting, some fish hooks and perhaps an ax would suffice for a whole year. For land buying some money was required of course and after the "specie-circular" in the spring of 1837, only silver (for gold was not then in circulation, being before the days of California, dear, and of course scarce, or more properly speaking, not in ordinary use as money at all) was available and hard work indeed it often was to obtain the needful.

One (now old) man tells of the strait he was put to at the time when that famous "specie circular" came in force. He was a lad of eighteen years. Having had his eye for a long time upon a fine sugar camp near his father's dwelling but without money enough for his purpose, he heard that another man intended to "enter" the tract. Hurrying to gather up funds for that and for some more land desired by his father, he set out on foot and alone, carrying his money tied in a knot in his pocket handkerchief most of the way in his hand, bound for the land office at Fort Wayne. The money was largely in paper and in just three days the "specie circular" was to come in force. He hoped to reach Fort Wayne by that time and struggled on. But he could not "make it." The third night found him kt St. Mary's, a few miles short. The next day he entered the land office, not knowing what he could do, fearing the worst yet hoping the best. The receiver happened to be an acquaintance of his father's and agreed to take his "paper money." And so he made his point and got his land. And then afoot and alone he wended his way homeward again without money only as he borrowed two dollars of his friend, the receiver, but happy in possession of the certificate which would in due time bring for him a patent under the "Broad Seal" of the United States of America. The reason why he was found thus with no money to go home on was this : He supposed that the tract of land he wished to enter was an "80 acre" piece. It was 84, which would take exactly $5.00 extra, so the question came up, "Will you take all your money and get your land or will you save your money and not purchase?" He. had come too far to go back with his object all unaccomplished, and the young hero decided that he would have the land and get home as he could. And have it he did and under the generous offer of his friend, the receiver, he accepted the loan of two dollars to pay his expenses homeward. It is a pleasant thing to note that, though this boy (and his father) were ardent Whigs of that olden time and the receiver was a Van Buren Democrat, he befriended the boy nevertheless like the frank and genial man that he was.

Wherever there are human beings there will be amusements. Thousands of years ago a prophet foretold that Jerusalem should be rebuilt and that the streets "should be full of boys and girls playing in the midst thereof." Wherever there are boys and girls there will be playing and men and women are only grown-up children. The sports of the settlers were generally of the more active kind as jumping, wrestling, running races, with frequently a "hoe-down" at an evening merry-making, after a raising or a log-rolling, or a spinning bee or some other gathering for work and assistance.

An invitation would be given to the men and boys to come and help roll logs or to raise a building or something like that, and to the women to come and bring their spinning wheels. Both classes would go. The men would roll logs or what not and the women would spin. At nightfall supper would be served and then for a frolic by such as pleased to take part in it, which would doubtless be fast and furious, since those who participated were stalwart lads and buxom lasses and in sober truth "all went merry as a mar-

Applecuttings, husking-bees and spelling schools were also favorite pasttimes. Applebutter was one of the staples of life and when the apples were ground and cider made young people would be invited to help "peel apples" and help prepare for the "picnic." The young people would gather from miles around and enjoy the evening" as only young people ip the bloom of life could enjoy themselves. After me work was done, the "hoe-down" or some other amusement, was indulged in until a late hour, when all would go home to meet at another place perhaps the next evening.

Corn was snapped, that is, pulled from the stalk, husks and all, and hauled to the barn to be husked later on. Neighbors would be invited to the husking-bees and all would have a time of merriment while performing this work. Fortunate indeed was the man who husked the red ear.

There have been indeed more harmful sports than these backwoods-balls, especially if they were kept free from the mischievous presence of and disturbing power of intoxicating drinks (which was not always the case), since they were for the most part simply lively methods of working off a superabundance of animal spirits, which mere hard work outdoors or indoors could not subdue.

Then for the boys hunting served the purpose both of hard work and high sport as well for to chase the bounding deer through the leafy woods or to wait and watch for his forest lordship as his kingly horns would come tossing proudly among the waving boughs and to bring his active form to the earth with the unerring shot of the faithful rifle amid the wild baying of. the eager hounds as they gathered to be "in at the death," - these wild and fiery hunts were for these rollicking boys the keenest of sports. And thus it was -

The spelling school was the great event of winter evenings. Spelling was indulged in by old and young and unfortunate indeed was the man who could not spell in these contests. Sometimes it was class against class, but more often one school against another. The interest taken in these spelling matches was very intense and the little old school house would be crowded to suffocation. If the contest was one school against another the members of each school would line themselves on opposite sides of the room. If it were not a contest between any particular communities, the leaders would be selected and these would choose alternately of all the people present; these would line up on either side of the house and the contest would begin.

The master or the squire or perhaps the minister, at least some one of influence, would pronounce words first to one side then to the other; if a word was misspelled it went to the opposite side and so on until spelled correctly. All those having missed it would be retired. And so the contests would continue until but one would remain on the floor. The master would frequently pronounce word after word and page after page and sometimes the entire spelling book before all the spellers would be "down." Under conditions of that kind a special list of words would be given, or perchance the dictionary would be resorted to. Spellers were so well acquainted with the books of the time that frequently they could spell page after page without the word even being pronounced.

The writer knows of two men who at one time spelled "McGuffy's" entire book without having a word pronounced. This seems an exaggerated story but many a man knows it is true, having heard it done.

The spelling school over, the young lads would line themselves up at the door ready to ask to see her home, fearful of getting "the mitten" and receiving the jeers of his companions. But more usually it was the case of "the longest way home is the nearest and best."

Visiting was indulged in a great deal of Sundays and evenings. There being no newspapers, the only method of communication was by meeting either at the church or school house or in the home. After the supper work was done, the husband would hitch the team to the sled and all would go over to neighbor Browns to spend the evening.. Neighbor Brown and family were always glad to see them and a pleasant evening was enjoyed. Innocent games were indulged in by the younger people while the elders exchanged ideas of a more serious nature. The mother would take her knitting and spend an evening of usefulness as well as pleasure. The party would soon be divided, mutually, into groups.

"Soon was the game begun. In friendly contention the old men Laughed at each lucky hit, or unsuccessful manoeuvre, Laughed when a man was crowned, or a breach was made in the king-row."

"Between the andiron's spraddling feet. The mug of cider simmered slow, The apples sputtered in a row, And, close at hand, the basket stood With nuts from brown October's wood."

The evening was soon past and only too soon was it necessary to make the return trip. Happy indeed were the people of those times, because they sought for real pleasure and found it at their own command.

Religion

But not all even of the young spent their leisure hours in sport. For many, very many the religious exercises of those earliest days of primitive simplicity were more satisfying as they were certainly more profitable than any form of mere worldly pleasure could possibly be. Great numbers of the first settlers of Randolph were men and women of a strong and earnest religious faith and of a hearty, loving spirit, fearing God and delighting to do good to men.

The earliest religious meetings were probably of the Friends or the Methodists, possibly the former, though which ever may have been first, the other was not far behind.

Perhaps the earliest houses of worship through the county were built by the Friends, the one at Arba being the first, those at Lynn, Jericho, White River, Dunkirk, Cherry Grove and perhaps some others, following not long after in point of time. The Methodist meetings were held mostly at first in private houses, as Mr. Bowen's in Greensfork near Arba; Mr. McKim's at Spartanburg; Mr. Marshall's in Ward township; Mr. Hubbard's and Mr. Godwin's in Green town.ship and so on. Other denominations also gathered congregations in various parts, as : The Disciples, the United Brethren, the

Randoi.Ph County, Indiana. 24I

Christians, the Protestant Methodists, the Baptists, the Presbyterians and in latter days the Anti-Slavery Friends, the Wesleyans, as also the African Methodist Episcopal church and perhaps others.

Some of the Methodist churches were built very early as the chapel west of Deerfield, the Prospect meeting house east of Deerfield, Macksville, etc.

In early times many protracted meetings were held and several campmeetings at some of which remarkable seasons of religious awakening were witnessed and many souls were brought to repentance and forgiveness. Many preachers too have been prominent and successful in their labors for Christ. Protracted meetings are still employed (in addition to regular Sabbath and other stated work), as a powerful and efficient means for the spread of religious knowledge and the impression of the public mind with religious truth. Camp-meetings are also (though more rarely) held, since the altered condition of society renders them less a matter of necessity or convenience than formerly. Almost every neighborhood now has commodious churches, large enough to hold the congregations who desire to gather for Divine worship. There are indeed in various places in the county groves which have been furnished with seats, etc., for the convenience of meetings; and, during the pleasant Sabbaths of summer out-door meetings are occasionally held in them. But immense crowds now are rarely seen except upon very unusual occasions.

In the simple-heartedness of those early times the people are thought, by the aged veterans who can remember what took place forty, fifty or sixty years ago to have been more warm-hearted and whole-souled in their religious feelings and convictions than they are to-day. However that may be, religion, to those who then professed it was a serious business and they made thorough work of it. Women would take a babe in their arms and the husband a three-year-old child in his, while together they would go cheerfully on foot for miles to the place appointed for divine service. The daughter of the first settler of the county stated that she often when a "girl in her teens," walked from near Arba to Newport to Friends' meetings (at least six miles), and was not aware of having done anything worthy of especial mention. A young Friend at Cherry Grove would rise at 3 a. m. and work several hours in his field and then ride on horseback sixteen miles to weekday Friends' meeting. Children, ten, twelve, even sixteen years of age would go "barefoot" to church and young women and mothers would carry their shoes tmtil near the church, when they would put them on and wear them (16) until a short distance on their return, at which time they would take them off and go "barefoot" home. A Methodist circuit rider would go his round once a month, riding frequently hundreds of miles during the time and having an appointment every day and not seldom one at night besides. The preacher honored his calling then and to be a Methodist circuit rider meant to go to work at preaching and to have plenty of it to do ; and to their honor it should be said that as a rule they performed a great amount of ministerial labor, and that, according to the full measure of their ability, they served the gracious Lord in His vineyard in their appointed lot. And those old-time ministers of Christ have, one by one, lain down to their final rest and their souls have gone home to receive the gracious welcome, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

And true it is that the simple-hearted worship offered and the instruction given in those rude and uncouth cabins was to the full as acceptable to the Great Father of all our mercies as is any now-a-days to be met within the grand and magnificent piles of brick and stone that pass for houses of worship in these later days. Linsey woolsey home- spun and deer-skin hunting shirts, calico sun bonnets and coon-skin head-gear were as pleasing to the eye of the Omniscient as can any rich and costly methods and fashions be which the descendants of that honest, sturdy, faithful race of sterling men and loving women feel themselves called upon now to indulge or to practice.

It is indeed a comfort to the pure and humble soul, in all ages and places, to know and feel the blessed truth, that while "man looketh upon the outward appearance, God looketh on the heart" ; that the Good Shepherd knoweth His sheep and leadeth them in peace into the green pastures of His love.

It is an interesting reminiscence of those pioneer days that as late as 1840 this veteran mail carrier for nearly thirty years on the route north from Winchester used to take, on a horse led by his side, a heavy sack of silver money, sometimes to the amount of five thousand dollars to six thousand dollars at a time for payment at the Ft. Waj'ne land office for land entries at that point. He would camp out one night as he went, yet he was never molested and to the honor of the veteran who did this no man ever lost a cent by unfaithfulness of his. Night and day, summer and winter, through mud, snow and rain, whether sweltering in a July sun or shivering in a December snow storm, swimming the swollen streams faithfully and untiringly, heroically did that conservitor of the United States mail press onward from south to north and from north to south alternately, growing old but not

One of his stopping places was at the residence of Edmund Edger in Deerfield. Mr. Connor would usually get to Mr. Edger's about dark and would take the money from the sack and put it under the house through a trap door. This trap door was in the floor and covered by a rag carpet. Mr. Connor or Mr. Edger never felt any uneasiness about the money being disturbed.

This not only indicates the honesty and faithfulness of such men as these but indicates the honesty of all the people among whom Mr. Connor had to stop or travel.

May the day be long deferred when such integrity, though found arriong the poor and lowly shall fail to receive its due honor in the hearty esteem of the public in whose behalf such untiring faithfulness has been done.

All honor to him through many long years of weariness and privations and toil faltered not in the path of public duty, heroically performing what was then so indispensable to the public welfare and for accomplishing which needed result no better and easier method had then been discovered.

journey. We arrived here without any lives being lost or limbs broken and that is all we can say. If I was to tell you of the many difficulties we had t > encounter in moving here, extreme cold weather, dangerous roads, in consequence of ice you would hardly believe me and therefore I shall say nothing about it. We are all in good health and spirits and are well pleased with the country as far as we have as yet seen."

This letter shows the spirit of thousands and thousands of the pioneers and all honor to the men and women who were willing to brave the dangers and hardships to make this country what it is.

"Only he who knows what it means to hew a hom^ out of the forest; of what is involved in the task of replacing mighty trees with corn ; only he who has watched the log house rising in the clearing and has witnessed the devotedness that gathers around the old log school house and the pathos of a grave in the wilderness can und.erstand how sobriety, decency, aye, devoutness, beauty and power belong to the story of those who began the mighty continent. In pleading for a more just estimate of Thomas Lincoln, I do but plead for a higher appreciation of that stalwart race who pre-empted the Mississippi Valley to civilization, who planted the seed that has since growjj school houses and churches unnumerable. They were men not only of great hearts, but of great heads, aye, women, too, with laughing eyes, willing hands and humble spirits."