The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1852-11-12
Ef @ lFor the Daily Dispdteh.
"reminiscences Of the Past --- RougI,
totes. Of n Pioneer.

lsS ~ ~ sf0RTsMoUTH, Nov. b, 1902.
IS Mn. PeARcE :E-Sr; The political battl,
4 nov hhvIng been fought, q glorious victory
4ghleved, our boasling enemies conquered
rand our labors crowned with success, think
ftng that something Of listorital nature
i woalA beacceptable 10, and noticed by you
llieaaers, ! offer you for publication, the fol
lowing: s4.S'asg
i 81 embarked from Pittsburgh on o family
4 boat, and By hard rowing all day. and float
Ing through the night, We arrived al, Alex.
andsla, al The mouth of the Scioto River
N three Nevks, where we landed in Oct.
iIg9, had to pay half dollar perhundred
4 height for my goods, besides finding m myself
4 and making u full hand on the boat, nv, in
Itention was 10 90 TO Chilico(ie aud settle,
lbnteih Scioto was TOO low ior keel boats 10
ascepd and the wagoners charged GA per
tuldied ipF hauling; goods from. Alexandria
4 ~ CkAlicoihe nv pIu0des Was estimated
at 400 pounds. Not having money enough
10 pay the lreigh,, left my things and
walked up, 10 Chilicothe. Here | found a
dismal and sickly scene. Every person,
from the smallest child to the ''oldest inhab-
liant" appeared like moving sp.ctres, at The
midnight hour, within the pales of the
church yard | could find no work 10 suit
me, and after remaining there week, being
the laughing stock of the children on ac-
| count of my fresh color and hardy looks, /
determined 10 return 10 Alexandra, and 90
further down the Ohio, but on my arrival
there, no boat passed fortwo or three days,
when | was solicited by Philip Moore, to re-
main and do some work for him, to which |
consented. Next, performed considerable
work for Major Belle. gme2
On the Goth Of March, 1900, i left Alex
andria, for what was then called "the old SET
tlement," where arrived in Two weeks.
ranged my business very quick, and on the
9th Of April, was married. hired team
and had our things hauled 10 McKeesport,
where we got into q boat, taking our two
cows aboard with US. The river being high.
we had quick. pleasant, and agreeable
voyage, ant landed safely a; Alexandra
again, on May the 81. rented little un-
finished house Of Col. Langham, for $50 per
year, in work. Twas 10 finish the house
he paying me for my labor. Believe me
that it was difficult matter at that time 10
find nails, lumber, glass, hinges, and screws;
but against fall Hal it completed, as also
an addition for shop. ~ 4aa as1
Alexandria was laid out in 1897, by Alex
ander Parker, of whom, bought one out lot,
and one in lot. and got my deeds, by giving
my bonds for $50, with Phillip Moore Tor Sc
curity. contracted for set Of house logs,
and made all the preparations could Tor
building the next spring. There being
but little or no work TO be done, had 20
shift in many wondrous ways to get on with
my building. On the 9Th Of August, 1901,
raised my house, and on the 10Th of Nov
moved into it, During the spring Of 1903.
my wife and made 300 lbs. Of sugar on the
hill back of Alexandria. s'-t ~ ~
| Nothing OF very great import transpired
in 1903, except the Northwestern Territory
was admitted as q State, and Scioto county
YVES marked outby our Legislature, which
! is the era from which feudsa and slrifes are
dated. Until this time, the inhabitants of
Alexandra lived in peace and harmony, like
one great family, though nowise related BY
The ties of blood, but by Chrstianlike neigh
borship. They would aid and assist each
other in times ofneed; ameliorate the wants,
distress and misfortunes of those who smar-
ted under fortunes lash, BY sympathy, beney-
olence and charity; thus all Of the residents
of this town. as well as strangers who Came
among us, received that aid whichis due
from humanity TO the afflicted and oppressed.
The majority Of the humane portion moving
off, and The the newcomers not caring for its
cultivation, this virtue was neglected, and a
rule adopted, ''every one for himself" 3Y
Portsmouth was also laid out in 1905, and
its generous proprietor, Henry Massie, offered
each one OF us Alexandrans as m NY lots
there os we owned here, on condition thai!
we would move or build there, and very
liberal aid advantageous offers were made 10
me. But, adhering 10 the principles of my
neighbors, Il remained here to my sorrow.-
\ The hope of getting the County seat located
here, kept up lively anticipation OF the su-
periorily ofUur place over Portsmouth, until
The seat of justice was permanently estabi
lished there, when we commenced 10 dwin-
die into that nothingness which our feu1s
brought US to.
i iii 1904 work was extremely plenty here,
4 and took in John Simpson as partner.
who faithfully worked with me for several
years afterwards, honorably acqultting him
self in every respect
| In the winter OF l804-5, the Ohio swept
all of my fence away, and ] went 10 the Mi
amies in search of place to suit me bet
ter; but alas, was disappointed. Not only
/, the Miamies, but every little rivulet had
overfiown lis banks, as LEANED from the
devastation made on the adjacent grounds
to the injury Of the inhabitants, and / re.
turned home contented and satisfied p I
In March, 1906, Mr.. Fletchers black
smith shop was burned in the night, and my
4 house was in imminent dangerof falling .
victim TO the devouring element.
J, This season raised a crop of corn on my
out lot, which ! assure you, was a hard ant
! tedious job for me; but, although it wal
a very dry and bad season for corn, raised
an excellent crop. Corn was very scarce il
; the spring and summer Of 1907 and wal
selling in Portsmouth for one dollar pc
busbel.
! On. Christmas day, 1908. the water wal
37h inches deep in my house, which swep
everything off atthadgnot weight enough
, to maintain its position; when my boards
fence and haystacks all went floating dowl
the river. Within one month we were, tht
second time drove from our dwellings b.
; high water The weather was intensel,
cold, and after the water commenced falling
large cakes Of ice were suspended from thl
, boughs Of the trees, like mill-stones hanging
upon threads, which were dangerous to pas
!, under with oursfrail crafts. h,ys = ,,l,l s,t5
IL In April, 1919, David RUPEES rife com