Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-07-17
CHAPTER II.
Married folks IN bed al home,
Whose thoughts unhal Lowed never ~
SLEPT sound ali night"


The early pioneers of ROskpOrt endured the
same priyatiOns that were common to other
parts OF the Western Reserve at that time
Henry Alger, in letter to the writer, says
In 1913 went TO Newburgh and worked nine
days for 5. 5 Baldwin, for fifty SIX pounds of
salt, and carried it home on my back In 1912
/ went TO Madison, nine miles east Of Paines-
vile, and threshed wheat fer every tenth bssh-
el !"
The first time the writer's father went to mill
after settling in ROckPort, he went to the River
Raisin, in what is now the State Of Michigan,
in an open boat 1t being in the fall Of the year,
he brought home three barrels of apples The
reader can imagine the sensation produced
among a family of SIX children when the first
barrel was opened-Nith what a delicious per-
fume they filled the house. They were forbid
den fruit, except on particular occasions. On
the winter evening, when the rude wintry winds
howled round our dwelling, mother used 10 dis
tribute those apples among her children. Oh
mother, "thOu vast pure aud lovely" Thou
hast long since entered into that rest which is
in reservation for the pure in heart A bright
spirit among that innumerable multitude around
the throne of God, where all tears are wiped
away-whereiparents and children shall be uni
ted. Glory be to God for the prospect which
the Christian religion opens up to future state,
and let all the people say amen
The method Of grinding corn in those days, in
the absence of gristmills, was as follows: First,
stump of tree was selected Of about two feel
in diameter; on this a fire was built and kept
burning until hollow was formed which would
hold about half bushel over this a spring
pole was set up, and pestle attached. The
corn being put into the mortar, the pestle was
applied until the corn was ground sufficiently
fine. Long time ago, when the writer was
tow headed boy Of some six years Of age, mill
Of this description was in full operation on the
banks of Rocky River, where he and his sisters
used to grind their hommony for supper
In 1910, the United States Mail went from
Cleveland TO Detroit once week, three men
being stationed along the route, who carried it
on foot in a small valise, the whole contents
weighing from five to seven pOunds-there being
ne post Office between Cleveland and Detroit
the Post Office Department paying twenty dol
lars for carrying the mail each way. At what
particular time Young America was born, this
deponent saith not but It Is evident that when
they carried the U. S. Mail from Cleveland TO
Detroit on foot in valise, he had not got his
swaddling clothes Off
The country has progressed marvelOusly since
1910. In 1920, Cleveland was a village sir
miles from NewbuTgh, where the steamboat
Walk-in-the- Water used to stop 10 get wood.
Now the tables are turned entirely, and New
burgh is FIVE miles from Cleveland, with fair
prospect Of being swallowed up by the city
Now, instead Of the mail being carried as in
1910, in a valise by one man on foot, an iron
horse is brought into requisition, which carries
several tons of mail matter, and that at the nate
of forty miles per hour; and just as though
this was not fast enough, the elements are
brought under contribution, and lightning ear
ries news at the rate of-well, won't say
how fast, for don't know. Anyhow, it's very
fast, and the country, or rather the folks in if,
are in fair way to 60 mad. Verify, this Is a
fast age, and every imagin1tion and thought Of
the people is to get money and 60 ahead.
Among the legal voters in ROckPort at the
time OF its organization, were the following =
Eliel Fam, emigrzted from Pennsylvania and
settled in the township in 1915, full of yeans,
having seen some eighty winters; Chester
Dean, dead Joseph Dean, living John James,
dead; Asahel Porter, dead Samuel Dean, dead
Datus Kelley. living; Rufus Wright, dead
Henry CLARK, Josephus Sizer, Charles Miles,
Erastus Johnston, Daniel Hardin, uncertain
John Pitts, dead; Henry J. Garfield, dead
John Thompson and James Nicholson, living
Mars Wager. dead John Kidney and Dyer
Nichols, dead; Henry Alger, living Benjamin
Robinson, living.
ITO Be Continued