The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1858-03-04
Fer the Journal.
MilIgrove Again, and the Black
swnmp.

swamp
Nh. BDroR In late Journal noticsd a
communication headed "West Millgrove,"
which brought aftesh to my mind, some reminis.
cences Of the past. Having been one of the
early settlers Of that part Of Wood county in
which Millgrove is situated, have been an in-
tsrested observer o. and alder in. the rise and
progress of our little village and vicinity to it's
present sminence; from swampy, bowling
wilderness, inhabited by savage beasts, and, on
some of its most elevated portions, by few
savage men--at certain seasons Of the year, an
innumcrable company Of unmerci(ul musketoes
with their continual hum--ths winged tribes Of
the forest, with their shrill songs and wild
screeches--and the noisy frogs, croaking their
hosrse notes, rs If to complete the trio of our
heterogeneous music. Here stuck my stake,
moved into my little cabin with my little fami-
ly, where We lived for weeks on pounded corn
and potatoes, with a icw other such like deli
cacies The almost unbroken wilderness pre-
vented our seeing outthe wide waste of waters,
overspreading the level surface of our country,
caused by the almost incessant rains during the
spring months, prevented our going out, at least,
without great inconvenience for most Of our
milling and marketing we were obliged to 60
more than twenty miles Our most convenient
post Office was at Lower Suniusky (now FIRE.
MONTY and usually took four days to go aud re-
turn with team, being compelled to cut road,
climb logs, and ford bridgrless streams The
log cabins and little patches of " ciearin,'' (the
only evidences of the white mans whereabouts }
were few and far between; but the d" settlers v
all the way were our neighbors, and appeared
as glad TO see the Yankee Gas they called me-
come along, as If was their only brother; and
| | was made welcome to their coarse fare and
blazing logheops in one end of their only room
My psdeslrous experience, too, was some. The
route to Perrysburg, our county seat, was
most dismal | frequently canoed il on logs
seemingly half the way, and waded half the
balance in water from to l9 inches deep;-O
part of the way winding through dense, road
less, and almost trackless forest.
But this is the dark side of the picture; sucl
times and scenes have passed away, in this par
of the Black Swamp. Had | not been salts
fed that my tent was pitched in naturally
wealthy country, that would some day "makt
its mark aud become settled with enle erprisinl
and industriou inhabitants, probably shoulC
have been discouraged, and sought home else
where. My expectations have in part been res
lized, great change has " come o'er' the fac,
of our country,--the tall forests have been pros
trated 1.-THE surface of our rich and productiv,
soil has been exposed to tho gaze o. the sun, ait
, converted into Farmers Bank with an exhnust
less capital. Good aud substantial ediices, ii
many instances, have taken the place Of our lol
cabins, and the Black Swamp country is grsdu
ally rising into notice,-our aourishing town
Of Milgrove especially. She does not expect t,
vie with London, nor Canton, nor even New
York City, at present, but she is coming up
Her growth, from various causes, has hitherto
boon slop but sure, genuins and healthy W.
have no Printing Press here yet, and probabl,
shall not have before next moon, so think you
suggestion, in regard to "three times as man,
Journals being taken" timely and good one
We have prosperous churches and schools
thrifty farmers, mechanics merchants and MI
lers, &C., and room for more. And if you, Mr.
Editor or any body else doubt it, why com
and see; it will not cost much PIONEER.
i Mllgrove Feb. 10 1853