New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-06-12
Pioneer Life-How Farms are Cleared
without $500.
NEwTowN, N Y, Thursday, June 3, 1852


NEwTowN, N Y, Thursday, June 3, 1852.
To the Editors Of The ~ T. Tribune:
BY reading your paper, l am satisfied
YOU are friend to the Homeste ad BILL and for
that reason wish to relate to you the experience
of settler, as told to me about twenty five years
since:
JONATHAN RowLEY of Camillus, (now Elbridge)
Onondaga Co., n Y, who is still living, or was
two years since, informed me that he purchased
his farm Of capitalist in Albany about fifty years
ago, on credit OF six years, at SO an acre that
in the winter he engaged farmer who had been
down with load of wheat, to take himself, wife
and child back to Elbidge for 81 So where he worked
for their board until spring. He then hired house.
put his bed wife and children into It, took his AK hand
and auger in his hands, and started early in the
morning for his future home and cut his way three
miles through the wood feled Eastwood trees, such
he and his wife could handle built him shanty and
got done before o'clock p M He then took his
ger went the stump Of the first tree he eled boreda
hole in the top took from his pocket tle last sxpence
he had in the world, dropped it in, made plug drove
that in the hole "and that 10 the last have
Of it, said he.
In answer to my inquiry why he disposed of his last
cent in that manner, he replied, " knew had to de-
pend ON my hands, and had little was determined
to begin without cent In the spring he continued,
81 and my wife cleared oil two and planted 1t to
corn. My wife would the child, wrap 1t up and
place it in the crotch of the roots of large tree and
pile and burn the brush. During harvesting worked
for old Judge Munro for wheat 10 eat carried 1t to
Skaleatelas nine miles, my back to mill carried
opesnd bait bushels at time 1t took day. The
second year used up my corn before my wheat came
ip and went again to the Judge and agreed to chop
Vne acre for him. and he advanced TO a bushe aud
a.hslf of had nothing to eat while doing IL but
Johnny. cake and maple sugar. | took In my pocket
tome large Jumps Of rock salt, which occasionally held
in NY mouth that made me drink freely and kept the
water from inurng me, ard assisted in satisfying ma
ture. Ny two of wheat came in good but my
pa1ialoons were worn out and had 10 part with tweny
bushels, at bushel, to get new pair. My wife
was better clad and did not need any addition yet Tue
third year had three Of wheat and one at corn
/ bought COW and one hog, and have never wanted
a bushel OF grain or pound of pork since. also
built ne good log cabin the third year. have raised
large family of boys and girls, and we have always
had plenty of everything But it was hard work 70
pay tor my land, wheat was only worth about 81
cents bushe The last payment made got 40 cents
a busbe for IL at my barn.
But" said l. Uncle Rowley, how did you enjoy
yourself when you living cern.cskes and ma
pie sugar.
He replied by slap on the shoulder, and said al
assure YOU my young friend, those the happiest
dsys Of my life. We really took comfort them
He had no $500 to begin with.
w. S. WoRTInNGroN.