Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-12-08
Pioneer Diniculties.

> ground in log mill, at Middlebury; and although
but about twenty miles distant, the journey there
and back occupied days. They had only OK
teams, and the bad roads they cut through the
woods, after being passed over few times, be-
Icame impossible from mud, compelling them tc
lopen new ones continually.
r Owing to the want of market the products Of
agriculture were very low. Thousands of bush.
els of wheat could at one time be bought for less
than 25 cents per bushel, and cases occurred where
ten bushels of wheat were offered for a single
fpound of tea, and refused. AS an example: Mr.
Joel Blakeslee, of Medina, about the year 1922
sowed fifty acres of wheat, which he could only
Fsell by bartering with his neighbors. He fed out
the most oft i'll bundles to his cattle and swine.
All that he managed to dispose of for cash, was a
small quantity sold to traveller, at twelve-and-a-
half cents per bushel as feed for his horse. Other
products were in proportion. One man brought
an ox-wagon filled with corn, from Granger, eight
miles distant, which he gladly exchanged for
three yards of Satinet, for pair of pantaloons.
1t was not until the opening of the Erie canal
that the course of prosperity has been onward
The early settlers, after wearing out their panta-
looms, were obliged to get them seated and kneed
with buckskin in which attire they attended
church. Itwas almost impossible to raise wool,
in consequence of the wolves destroying the
sheep.
The sketch below, written by an old resident
of Meigs county, is to the same effect. tits a
tale that might be told by thousands of early set
tiers. .-=z--=s
"People who have spent their lives in an old
settled country, can form bat faint idea of the
privations and hardships endured by the pioneers
of our now fourishing State. When look at
Ohio it is, and think what it was in 1902, when
l first settled here, struck with astonishment,
and can hardly credit my senses. When l emil
grated was young man, without any property,
trade or profession, entirely dependent on my
own industry for a livelihood. I purchased 60
acres of new land on credit, 81 miles from any
house road, and built camp of poles, by 4
feet, and feet high, with three sides, and fire
in front. furnished myself with loaf of bread,
a piece of pickeled pork, some potatoes, borrow
ed frying pan and commenced housekeeping.
was not hindered from my work by company;
for the first week did not see living SOUL but,to
make amends for the want oft I had every night
a most glorious concert of wolves and owls. l
soon, like Adam, saw the necessity of a young
help mate, and persuaded young woman to tie
her destiny to mine. built log house, 90 feet
square-quite aristocratic in those days, and
moved into it. was fortunate in possessing
iack-knife; with that made wooden knife and
two wooden forks, which answered admirably for
us to eat with. A beadstead was wanted; took
two round poles for the posts inserted for the end
pieces two holes into the logs of the house; some
puncheons were then split and laid from the
side rail to the creyice between the logs of the
house, thus forming substantial bed-cord, on
which we laid our straw bed, (the only bed We
had,) on which we slept as soundly and awoke as
happy as Albert & Victoria. In process of time,
yard and half of calico was needed; started
on foot through the woods ten miles to Marietta
to procure it; but alas, when l arrived there
found that in the absence of both money and cred
it, the calico was not to be obtained. The dilem-
ma was serious one, and how to escape l could
not devise; but had no sooner informed my wife
of my failure, than she suggested that had pair
of pants, pretty well worn out, which would make
quite decent frock-the pants were accordingly,
cut up, the frock was made, and in due time the
| child was dressed.
The long winter evenings were rather tedious,
and in order to make them pass more smoothly, |
succeeded in purchasing a share i'll the Belpre
| library six miles distant. From this promised
myself much entertainment, but another difficulty
presented itself; had no candles. The woods,
however, unbounded with pine knots, and with
these I made torches by which l couldread, much
to the injury of my eyes. Many night have
passed in this manner, till u o'clock reading to
my wife, while she was hatcheling, carding or
spinning.
| Time rolled on, the payments for my land be-
came due, and money at that time was CASH
ARTICLE. However, did not despair, bought a
few steers; some bartered for and others got
on credit; (my credit having somewhat improved
since the calico expedtion,) slung knapsack
on my back and started alone with my CATTLE for
Ronney on the Potomac; here sold them, and
then travelled on to Litchfeld paid for my land,
and had Just one dollar left to bear my expenses
home, 800 miles. Before returned, worked
and procured fifty cents in cash; with this and my
dollar, commenced my journey homewards |
laid out my dollar for cheap hair combs and these,
with little Yankee pleasantly, kept the comfort
ably at the private houses where stopped till l
got to Oswego, on the Susquehanna, where 1had
power of attorney to collect some money for a
neighbor in Ohio s5--...- ...
Imight oceed to cite incidents without num-
Der, similar to the above. which have passed un-
der my own observation, or have been related to
me by those whose veracity have no reason to
doubt; and from what have written, you will be
able to perceive that the path of the pioneer is not
streWed with roses and that the comforts which