The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1870-03-08
PALLADIUM CORRESPONDENCE.
NY First Trip to Cincinnati.

In the fall of 1922, my father had
some business to transact with the Land
office of the Northwest Territory. I
being young, was allowed 10 go along
as companion tc my father in his sNew
Jersey" carriage. My older brother,
who had accompanied US to Sockum,
decided to go along with his OK team
Buck and Bright. who ever so well
trained as any on the Whitewater, could
be driven by the line, and were not
to be distanced in travel by any team
of horses.
My brothers load consisted Of corn
meal made at Picket's mill, which in early
times had the reputation Of making the
best meal on Whitewater. Neverthe-
less it was built on cheap plan, having
a long narrow mill-race that might be
stepped across, the dam was merely a
few neighboring powders which had
been thrown into the stream. One
warm Summer day, Miller Picket dis
covered his mill to come to a stand still.
Upon searching for the cause he found
no water in the fore bay and race.
Going up the race to ascertain the cause
of this trouble, he found near the stream
a neighbours hog, bathing in the tepid
waters. This obstruction was driven
out and the mill went on. But 1 com
menced to tell about the trip to Cincin-
natl
The first day we went as far as Ea-
ton, where my father had brother liv-
ing. The next morning we continued
our way on pretty we'll travelled road.
In passing along took cognisance Of
various things. The houses and barns
contrasted much with the rude huts
seen in the previous trips to Randolph
county. Many of the buildings were
| of hewed logs and matched with straw
custom prevalent at this day among
the Germans.
| We put up the second night. at the
home of a farmer in Butler county, who
sometimes kept teamsters-espccially
if they looked respectable. Nothing Of
special interest occurred until we arrived
in the city, on the third day, hating
within square of the Landing, on n
vacant lot Guess there is no such va
cant lot there at this date.
The first thing that most attracted
my attention was the sight of wooden
man mounted on post at a corner. I
had learned to read at our log school
house on Whitewater, and spelled out
the sign over the door "Museum."
The door being open 1 was about to as
cend the stairs when l was accosted by
a man who demanded quarter of dol.
lar admission fee. Not having the
sspecie'' or its equivalent, posted of
to the carriage to obtain a quarter from
my indulgent father. That sum was
soon in the hands Of the door keeper,
and had the exquisite satisfaction of
seeing stuffed snake skins, ETC., etc.
While passing among the curiosities, an
unearthly sound accompanied by the rat
Ting of chains greeted my ears from
some unseen place. Suffice it to say /
made tracks do wn stairs and to the car
| rage, believing that old sSplit Foot
was chained in Cincinnati. and no fears
need be entertained his troubling us in
our school day ramblings at home !
| My father undertook to find the Ian d
office. We tackled up our horses to
the. carriage and started in the direction
pointed out to him, which l think
was north east. In crossing streets we
|
workmen who were paving. With much
difficulty we finally found the office
a building apparently eight by ten, on
corner lot. Upon entering the door,
was some what abruptly accosted with
with the strongly emphasized words
"Take care They proceeded from
person sitting in a chair with his feet
bolstered upon another within short
distance from the door. We learned
that the trouble was the govt. Those
who have had that disease can appre-
ciate his sufferings better than l can
tell. / believe his name was Finley.
After transacting the business we
had there, we returned to the place we
first stopped at. My brother had in the
meantime sold his corn meal, making
'.quick sale and small profits and and
bad procured some back loading for
some of the store keepers in Richmond.
We started out Of the city, a little be-
fore dark and halted for the night at a
small village called, believe Summer.
Vile, where tavern was kept at which
we put up.
Several transfers soon after came in
and were pretty noisy. Whiskey prob
ably had some agency in producing
it.