Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-02-01
Early DAYS In LOrdstOun.

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EDITOR CHRoNICLE:-My father being
the first settler at LOrdstown CenterIper-
haps a description and short history
would not be Rmiss. We moved there
from Warren, october 10th, 1877, from
near ESQ. Webb's. We were neighbors
and a childrens' visit to aunt Webb's
was q yearly treat, especially on cherry
time. Il alive may msny blessings
surround her. We settled in a cabin
with puncheon floor, and one window
made Of stats covered with creased pa
per TO let in light The chimney was
without jambS We could all get around
it. When fire caught, the engine was a
gOurd full Of water, that Immediately
squelehed the flames. Our neigbbOrs
then were VIM. and Henry Thorn, two
and a half miles east on the Salt Spring
Tract. John TAFT, Lyman Lowell, Pely
David, John Lewis, Samuel Bassett, Mr..
Snyder, and John Owens on the north
line, Leonard Miller and Tommy Long
more, perhaps one more, name forgotten,
northwest line. Andrew Grove and
James Preston on the south. They were
all neighbors then. If sickness came or
any help Was wanted they turned out
without money or price. The first Jus
tice Of the Peace was MI. Snyder. The
elections were held at our house for
4AAAN NEaLns Liz dHHAC bNC III LIZ
southwest corner, were planted in the
spring of IS2S. Thomas Pew was the
next settler in the place, and lear Esq.
Woodlands late residence. From that
time the township begun TO fill up. But
few Of the first farms contained more
than fifty acres. Game was plenty then;
wild hogs thick as rats are now and about
as useful outside OF home consumption.
When winter set in hard, the hogs would
pile in Pew's little lshed stable, fight,
squeal and eat One another, until there
would hardly be a squeal left in the
spring. Pew shot two old r~esidenters,
cleaned them, broke of their tusks, took
them to HeatOn's furnace and sold them
to the furnace hands. We often wondered
how they got through with them; but it
was all right-they were a hard SET, and
he took il out in pOtmetsl and tobacco,
Pittsburgh twist, M plug to the H.,
feathers and all. Occasionally a panther
would visit the marsh or ledge. It
would be seen in fifty places in as many
hours. Rather a good thing TO keep the
children in the house, especially when
they were barefoot. Jimmy Richardson
the first shoemaker in the town; q good
old soul who made more promises than
shoes. He could not refuse. John TAFT
was the first smith; George Hanem the
first wagon maker. The first store was
by Burke & Side from Palmyra
The first school near the center was
south near the ledge, in a little cabin,
taught by Anna Harmon, q sister Of DR..
and II. r. Harmon. She was q dear
lover of BOhea Tea and carried il with
her to school and kept e tin full always
hot. Sometimes it would get a coal
dropped in il, so we could hear her scOld.
That vas her best hold. We had her
for several seasons, our schools cOntinu-
ed two or three months in the year as
they could raise the means. With aunt
Anna we could never pass the fox and
the bramble. When school commenced
it was customary for first class to COM
mence at Crucifx, second class at Baker.
At the closes Of the term we quit as
usual at Fox and the Bramble. But for
all she was z good, kind old lady. Our
teacher was John Fullerton, an old
bachelor, full Of fun and fond of a drop
Of the creature now and then. He push
ed cur expanding knowledge as far as
the English reader and the rule Of three.
He has long since gone where the good
uncles 20. I and many others there
finished of with Granville Sears. He
could make a pair Of mems boots at
night and run the school next day all
right. When needed b e-could lay on the
greatest amount Of hickory in the best
time Of any man, not in practice, / ever
knew operate. 1t was all needed. Chill
dren were not so thin skinned as atpres-
ent. He is alive vet, 1 think, but I do
not wish 10 hatter him in the least. The
last deer I heard Of being killed was on
our place, by Thomas Thorn. Religious
meetings were held at Warren, and
every three months at OldtOWn, at Mich
ell Ohl's mill or house, as the crowd was
=HnTFnn nv a InFhnrnn Hrnma NEanm-
named KILLER. The youngsters above
us would get together, and the young
men, if able, with blue swallow tail coats
and bell crown hats, fur on them an
inch long, and red bandanna banker
chief. sometimes in home spun, with
pewter buttons, old FraZier's make.
The ladies, as we call them now, dressed
their own manufacture, except bon
net, shoes, apron and high back comb,
and start for "Old Town" church, bare
foot, shoes and stockings under their
arms. On getting near they would stop
at the creek, put on their fixtures, at
tend church, and as soon as out Of sight, I
of with them, and take it barefoot again.
Sowsgged the world. They were happy,
and felt less want than now. The mer-
chants at Warren, brought on a stock of
bOnnets made Of paper stamped to re-
present leghOrn, and gave the bonnet to
parties buying the trimmings. All the
in our settlement, and some Of the
old ladies, had got new scow bOnnets,
and on Sunday started for OhltOn to
church, myself and a few more lads
Before they got half way, they
were caught in a shower Of rain. Such
a dilapidated and slouched set of paste
board had not been seen before, and
tall crying and some small cussing
the store keepers, was sOrter mixed you
guess. My acquaintance with the
old settlers, most Of them gone to their
reward, is more deeply fixed them pres
ent events. Some Of them wereIa Curl
osity in their way, but good fellows at
heart. J.. p. q.