Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-02-06
Township Correspondence
Burgh Hill correspondence.
oLDES TIME.-eoutinusd.

OLDEN TlME.-COHltHNcG
On every hand could be heard the sound
of the axe and falling tree. The men were
dressed In long linen frOcks, often very
black from charred wood. All were busy,
early and late, cutting trees and brush,
piling them into heaps and setting them
on fire. In the clearing, as it was called,
it was smoke, oxen, yokes, log-chains and
h~and-spikes, and hard lifting to get the
logs together so as to burn. Well do I
remember driving two yoke of oxen, and
a pair of breaking steers in the middle,
over the stumps and roots, all used pretty
roughly /; while the man hold of the strong
bull pillow, must be well braced or thrown
down ct any moment. What seed found
its way int good ground brought forth
abundantly, unless destroyed by the deer
or "varmints." All kinds of fruit were
abundant, and perfect when not killed by
the frost. Much cider and brandy was
made, and yet some seasons great quanti-
ties of apples rotted because they were not
worth picking up. What grain was not
consumed, or given to the merchants in
exchage for goods, and made int whiskey
(eVery store had its still-house in those
days. was taken to the Lake on sleds, and
exchanged for cash, salt, or fish. Most of
the cheese and butter went to Pittsburgh
on wagons, and was sold for cash, or for
nails, glass, ETC., for the intended new
frame buildings. The cash must go for
taxes, and to make payments on land. At
a certain period in our history many of
these buildings which We now occupy
were put up, and much ambition was felt
as to who would have the incest frame
house or barn. 1t required very much
hard labor to get the logs to the saw-mill,
haul the boards, stone, timber, etc. Rails
ings, as they were called, were of frequent
occurrence, and much enjoyed by all. The
old men made the pins; the boys carried
them, held the studs, braces, etc. The
young men showed to good advantage
their strength, courage, skill and dextsri-
ty, high up CD the bents and other parts Of
the frame, while the strong, athletic, mid
die aged men, with arms, shoulders, pike
poles, and so on, sent the frame up as if by
magic. All was soon over, and then for
the cake and cheese, which by this time
the ''wimin" had all ready on a long Out-
door table. 1 don't know, Mr.. Editor, as
our Yankee mothers ever made just such
cake, unless for raisings. 1 rather think
it was called raising cake. 1t was made
light, and bakedin large loaVes like bread.
It did not come 10 the table cut up in Sill
ces like bread. but in a kind of wedge
shaped pieces; it was quite sweet and
seasoned, 1 recolect, pretty strongly with
spice. This cake and cheese alone made
the meal. When this house in which 1
am writing, was raised, and all had taken
what cake and cheese they desired, Father
said to US boys, $50 and drive up the
cows" We did so. Ten were soon MIXED,
the contents put into a large brass kettle,
and to this was added whiskey and sugar
TO suit the taste. After the so-called milk
punch treat, and another game of ball in
the meadow, the men started for home
feeling, if not saying, no doubt, that
Uncle Jimmy" had got up a good frame
anyway" I am sorry to tell you, Mr.
/ Editor, that our fathers made such free
use of whiskey, bat 1 do not recollect ever
to have seen a drum ken man at a raising.
BADLY EATEN.
We are certainly beaten, but don't feel
it very much, when we consider what a
large shipping establishment there is at
Baconsburgh.
COUNTY HISTORY.
We consider the plan suggested By Mr..
! Frederick Kinsman, Of your place, the