The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-07-20
OLDEN TIMES.

~ - - JN''F~f - N"'ttJ l(ttJ TUcf
night in the Neg Catia-A ren,arkd-
Jle Coon and ,Sqlirrl Story-Hard
Times-ir. BiJier goes to ChiH'cothe
tobvy C0rn-IHe hdtdns beg Bread.
A few days ago 7 called on Mr. Ja
cob BibIer who has been resident Of
Liberty township for almost sixty
years, from whom l have obtained
few items which may properly belong
or come under the head Of olJen |
times" ard lave no doubt viii be
read by old men and boys.
A few years more and tholast living
will have passed away in Liberty
township, (or even the county, Who
is able 10 relate 10 us anything about
the pioneer log cabin times and Indian
tales. AS there are yet few ofthesc
old veterans left to tell Us about these
things which come under our oDser-
ton, who have assisted in raising the
first cabins Of the early settlers as
well as being personally acquainted
with some of the customs and habits
Of their red noighbors Of the forest
(Indians) l will try and give q few
items. Mr.. Frances Bbler crHigrated
from Shenandoah county, Va, and
landed in the month Of September
1905, at the residence Of Rev John
IIite, in Walnut township FojrG,!d
county, Ohio, (being The present resi-
dcnce Of Mr Samuel HiteD with four
sons and four daughters-Jacob ny
informant, the only one of the sons
now living, is seventy five years old.
In a day or two, Mr.. BibIer and his
boys with axes on their ehoulders,
started off for their new farm in the
Wilderness on Walnut creek, for the
purpose ofcu,ting logs to build q cabin
as well as to clear away the brush to
erect the same Soon the logs were
cut, the clap boards made, and the
next thing to do was to call in the
ncighbors to help raise the building,
some of whom lived 4 distance of six
miles. The cabin was raised and
roof put on the same day. The fol-
lowing day Mr.. Bibler brought his
family to their new home in the West.
There was no floor above or below
For widows and door two holes were
cut out, one to serve for door, the
other small one of two feet square
for window. AS substitute for
glass a cloth was hung over the win
dow opening. A door was made out
ofhewod slabs or clapboards hung on
wooden hinges. On the door was fas-
tened wooden latch with 4 string
fastened to the same and hanging
down on the outside BY pulling tht
string the latch would rise. Some
times our pioneers would grease papcr
and use it as substitute for window
glass. The first night it showed ant
6 rained. The reader may imagin,
+ how they felt when the snow, mize'
j with rain, blew through the cracks
Chimney and cook stove they ha
:. none. A fire was built in the ccnlr
of the cabin on the ground, the smok
= could escape through the cracks. Th
- first thing in the morning was to dr..
their wet clothes, cut hole for
. chimney which was made Of mud an
O sticks, tho mortar being made in til
o cabin, the boys and grls with theI
n hands daubed on the clay as fast 4
= the old gentleman and one OF the boy
put in the climbing. Then they mad
Il paddles Of pieces of clapboards
IS smooth their work. Soon the fire wa
C moved from the centre Of the room
" the new chimney. 1t was not lon
before the walls we're dry, some clay
q boards were laid above and hewc
5 puncheons below which serv cd {
IS floors. Now as to the kind of furn
II ture they had am not i1formcd, br
!. may imagine that it was net very c!
pensive, but of the most simple kin
al benches for chairs, slabs Tor table
X Some of the early settlers knew hi
Ia gourds for tin cups, and bcdstca(
i. made of poles. After the house W
D. finished land must be cleared.
g By the following spring they h;
N several acres ready for planting cor
and had n fine prospect for a go'
is crop, but did not gather a bushcl
O. Soon as the corn was turning to roa'
u ing ears the squirrels and coons d
stroyed it all before it got ripe. J
10 cob Bibler told me they tried to she
it the squirrels and scare them ava
or but to no purpose, for they were
p numerous. Did l not know Mr.. b
Ii ler to be a man of truth, and had | I
~ the utmost confidence in bis intesri
r. I would be slow to believe the co
and squirrel story; but l believe it
much so as if | had seen them mys'