The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-01-10
THE PIONEERS OF OHIO.
RecolIections OF an Old Settler.

Pa, June, 1871. In 1895 l moved to
Wheeling Creek, Green county, Pa,
about twenty miles from Wheeling, Va.
The place then went by the name OF
Indian Wheeling, owing to its being a
great hunting resort. In the spring OF
1904, together with my father and
Oldest brother, / came to Ohio. We
brought with US one horse, one yoke of
oxen and what we could carry on the
horse. We crossed the Ohio river at
Steubenville, passing through Yellow
Creek, Deerfeld, where there were few
families living at that time, and Raven
ma, where there were also several
families by the name Of Wright At
that time there was road marked out
10 Hudson and some Of the underbrush
cut. We passed on to Hudson, where
we found our stopping place. Father
bought half Of lot No. 10, in the south
east corner OF the township. On select
ing our site, we relieved our horse, cut
four forks and drove them into the
ground, upon which we laid poles and
covered the sides and tops with bark,
and also constructed bark floor Our
beds filled with leaves, and blankets
spread, we were ready for operation.
We commenced by clearing land for
spring crops. We got in about three
acres of corn, and cleared Of a piece in
time to SOW wheat. Provisions were
hard to get and were obtained by work
ing for neighbors. We found out that Mr..
Abram Thompson had pork which he
wished to exchange for work, and so
father sent my brother and myself up
there to work for three and half
pounds of pork per day. Abrams
father, a deacon Of the church, lived
with him. He was very expert in the
use OF the knife and fork, and when he
was satisfied he seemed to think the
rest ought to be, and would lay down
his table cutlery, and offer thanks for
what we had eaten, and then leave the
table. As boys we were rather bashtul,
and ofcourse would follow suit, whether
we had eaten halt enough or not. We
stood it two days, when we took our
fourteen pounds ofpork and went home.
We told father that we could not work
in that way, that we did not get enough
to eat He said that he would 90 up
next day, and [ went with him. When
we arrived they had done breakfast, so
we went to work without any, but when
noon came we were prepared for
hearty meal We went in and seated
ourselves about the table; the Deacon
asked the blessing and then went to
work as usual When he had finished
he dropped his knife and fork and re-
turned thanks, and then left the table
NY father said to the Deacon, "Your
prayers are good, but Abrams pork is a
Id sight better. Prayers will not
strengthen a man to roll up logs" and
went on eating again. The old Deacon
never tried to choke him of with his
"thankfuness" after that.
In September my father and brother
went back after the family, and left me
in care of the shanty until they returned.
| was then only twelve years Of age.
They left for my use only a small loaf
of bread, an old rifle that carried an
ounce ball, and some powder and
bullets, that l might kill squirrels for
meat. They thought they would be
back in three weeks.
twas a trying time for me. | could
get along very we'll through the day,
but when night came | was lonesome
indeed. l would build a big fire and
roll myself up in my blankets so that '
could not hear anything, and there re-
main until morning. | managed so
about two weeks. My loaf began to
get very small. and I had to make my
allowance still smaller to make it hold
out. The three weeks expired and no.
body came. The fourth week wore
slowly away, and no one came. My
bread was gone, and | had to live on
squirrels alone. The fifth week expired
and still / was alone, with no bread
and no bullets. What to do did not
know. 1t is said that necessity is the
mother of invention" There was
necessity for my doing something, so l
went down to the brook and picked up
small stones, which l used in place Of
bullets-using a handful for a charge
managed to kill some squirrels in this
way, but macy were only crippled and
would get away. stayed there till the
sixth week began, when one afternoon
severe thunder storm came up. | fell
asleep, and when | awoke it was get.
ting dark. l tried to start fire, but
everything was SO wet that could not
kindle it. AS l set there tinkering
with my fire, all at once there came a
screaming of wolves little way off. |
soon left my fireplace and rolled myself
up in my blankets, partly sitting up,
with my gun by my side, loaded with
gravel stones. l thought that if they
attempted to come in l would give
them the contents. But they did not
attempt it. l sat there until morning
when left the old shanty to take care
Of itself, and went over to where Harry
O Brien lived, about three miles DIS
tant, and remained until our family
came back, which was not long.
The corn that we planted was all
destroyed by the squirrels, blackbirds,
coons and porcupines before it was
large enough to roast-not an ear came
to maturity.
In 1907 l was bound out to remain
until twenty one, that l might help earn
provisions for the family. The war Of
1912 having broken out about the time
l had finished my servitude, vo.un-
teered and served two years. Twas mar.
ried soon after my return, and lived on
Darrow street during the following
winter. In the spring of 1914 l cut
my loot so badly that did but very little