Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-03-12
Fo, N, oxford Democrat.
Manhattan. X. T., Feb. u. 1853


respecting the condition Of the new settlers
OF the Fast compared with those Of the West.
Being born, and Spending the most OF my
minority In the county Of windham, W.,
and since that time having lived some -
wears among the new settlers OF OxfOru
County. In Maine, | am not entirely 'gnor-
ant Of the tolls and depriva,ions OF the pio.
necrs OF those stormy and woody regions
Among the hills OF the Green Mountain
State | we'll remember the rough paths,
travelled by persons on foot and w',h single
horse. leading to sparse settlemenis,-the
nearcs, neishbOrs being from to miles
through q solid growth OF TIMBER the
mill, the mos. necessary appcndagc to any
settlement. some ten miles distant. II was
not an uncommon occurrence TO SEQ men
with bag Of llour, meal, or even potatoes
upon their shoulders, vending their way
for miles TO their new wilderness homes.
The custom was To select location Of land
that suited to erect log cabin for shelter
and occupancy. and forthwith to fell the
amount Of trees that the settler wishes, pre-
pan,ory TO The clearing Of the amount Of
ground that Is deemed necessary for the
supply Of the immediate wants Of the family
thatare soon to occupy the premises.
A rugged. hearty settler would cut from
one to ten acres Of wood the frst season OF
his operations and after the green trees
were sufficiently dry TO get " good burn. y
as IL was termed. Ere va, set, and the way
the flames run aud roarcd was caution to
the four footed animal. and winged inhabi.
tants Of the adhcen, territory. when the
settler gets his :" good burn" he piles up
the rcmnan, Of logs that remains Of the
general and first Gre, and again puts the
brand to them to make the Gnal clearing OF
wood this done, tho ground is ready for
winter rye or wheat, or planting Of corn,
potatoes, &C., tho ensuing spring. The
labor per acre Of clearing the Vermont lands
in this way, varies IRON ten TO twenty-five
dollars, according 10 the growth OF the Tim
Der. After the beginning thus made. the
new settler clears more or lees land yearly
ill be has a efficiency TO supply his future
anticipated wants. by this annual proScs'
Of labor Vermont farmer finally secures
himself a good farm, being from ten to fifteen
years in getting "JorthaHdod,"- il,
having farm free from debt, that will
maintain bis family. and enable him there
after, by constant industry. to save FROM
SlOO to 500 annually, TO rely upon in iu'
turo emergencies.
The history Of the Vermont settler may
we'll apply to the new settlers Of Maine, al
though have heard OF harder trials aud
exposures In the Pine Tree State than in
Vermont. You. Mr. Editor, may have
read the valuable history Of Norway, pub
lishcd by David Noyes, E.q., Of that town,
In tina, may be had interesting information
upon this subject. II | rscollee, right, the
frs, pioneers OF Norway Travelled from New
Gloucester, 20 miles, by the guide Of mark
ed trees, with provisions on their backs,
there being no mill then'nearer than that
locality and IL j, related Of some Of them
that they were reduced TO the extremity Of
digging up the seed potatoes that they had
planted. 10 sustain themselves for the time
being: and in that town am now well ae-
qualn,ed with many families that have iOr
the fret years Of their settlement had hard
work TO 'uppOr, themselves and to make
thar ends ms,i" These same families
alter some fifteen TO twenty years Of hard
labor are now able 10 say tina, they have a
competency-thati Is, u farm clear Of debt,
we'll stocked, all worth from $1,000 to $4,000.
In doing this, WHAT. the true state OF their
case now Why, they have made them
selves old by hard work they have the ap-
pcaraneo Of old men their wrinklcd brow'
and grey hairs warn them OF the time OF
three score years and ten, when they are
indeed bu, forty or City years Of age. They
now have TO keep at work, work, work, u
hold on 10 what they have already made
Is this not so,
The foregoing are few facts Of many
that might DO addueed to sustain the posi-.
ton that have taken. Now for few
facts respecting the new settlers ia Ohio,
who removed from Vermont and Maine. TO
wha, was in 1916 and Il called the Western
terminus Of emigration.
Two years since | had the pleasure Of
visi,inga friend in Ohio, who, with some
half dozen other families, removed frotn
Vernon, to that place some IS years pre-
vious, in order TO better their condition
the Ohio fever OF emigration then prevailing
very strong, as /, had a lew years previous.
The town in which my friend then settled
was almost, perfect heavy growth OF tim
Der; 1t Cos, his father SOS per acre to clear
the land suitable for plan,ins-aycar's pro.
visions having to be provided, before any
could be raised from the new farm,-thal
land cost $500 per acre, the wheat that
was raised upon 1t sold for 80 cents per
bushel, and the corn t2j cents, with which
to pay for the purchase. stumps Of great
size are now scattered over the place, Occu.
plying room that better be improved in some
other way, to the advantage Of the owner.
So much for the settlers OF new and tim.
bered countries. will nowgiye few facts