The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-06-02
THE OLDEN TINES.
General Reflections.
n nber 10.

lar reference as to time, we'll as a few
incidents and general characteristics,
which some of your readers may readily
recognize as old-tim acquaintance and
associations.
will go back little while to time
that the "oldest inhabitant" will not be
able to reach, except by tradition. The
first cabin erected in the village-or
rather the territory comprised within
the present limits Of Somerset, for the
town had no existence then-was built
by John Fink, who had emigrated from
the State of Pennsylvania. 1t stood on
the right hand side Of the turnpike,
about midway between the school house
and the mill. II was built in 1906. and
consisted of unhewed logs, and it an
swered all the purposes of "lordIy
palace" in the lone wilderness, and ma
ny were the hospitalities shown by its ven-
cradle occupants to the bold adventur-
ers who afterwards were seeking homes
for themselves and families in the neigh
borhood. "Father Fink's" house was a
kind Of headquarters not only for those
who were locating lands, but as well for
those who, on foot and on horseback,
we're working their way further west
PERRY county at this time had no exist
ence, as il WAS not formed till the 1st Of
March, I817-the territory comprising
it being taken from Fairfield, Musking-
um and Washington-and was named in
honor of the hero of Lake Erie-Com-
modore o. II. Perry.)
Mr.. Fink entered half section Of
land. and he, with Jacob Miller, who
settled in the west end of the village, or
where the village now extends, after
wards laid out portion OF their lands
into town lots, and the village began to
spring up. The first buildings were
nearly all log cabins. Afterwards few
hewed log buildings, and now and. then q
small frame, were erected. These, for
the few first years, were scattered half a
dozen lots apart, and the town Of course,
had a decidedly pioneer, "clapboard"
appearance. Afterwards many Of the
hewed log buildings were weatherboard-
ed, and a number of them stood the
wear and tear of time till within the
recollection of many of your readers.
am not certain but there are q few of
the old log dwellings still standing. the
logs, chnnking and mortar being hidden
e ,uoo
After the nucleus of the village was
laid and Mr.. Fink had his farm partial
ly opened, and began to have things
abundant around him, he built the
house which has been in use as a school
building at the east end of town. This
was large log cabin, and was after
wards weatherboarded Here let US stop
awhile, and make description of the
venerable old mansion as it looked dur
ing the decade between 1920 and 1880.
At that time there was no turnpike to
deface old landmarks. The road was
located near its present site, but it was
then con top of the ground" leaving a
large open space between il and the
house The large, capscious barn stood
On the south side of the road, opposite
the house, or little east of il, if any
thing. During these years there was a
constant emigration from Pennsylvania,
Virginia, and other eastern States, and
as Mr.. Fink had gone into the hotel bu-
siness in earnest in his fine new mansion,
he had about all the customers he could
provide for. In addition to the travel
ing public, teamIng was one of the prom
inent occupations Of those days, as the
goods purchased in the East had to be
hauled out to the small stores and gro
ceries in the Western country by wagon.
Most of the teams following the road
always made it q point, if possible, to
reach "Fink's Tavern" by sundown,
even though the poor horses had to ex-
pend a little additional strength TO reach
there. Many time have ! seen that
large ward literally covered over with
wagons-some going east, and Others
west, laden with products for the east OF
goods for the west. There are but few
residents in Somerset who ars able tC
form any idea of the business done al
that hotel, or tho constant activity 60
ing on there in those days. This house
was the general "headquariers" of Som.
erset for many years, and nearly it:
whole activity was centered there. The
monotonous silence which now turks in
that vicinity, except in school hours, is
fair type to represent the death of ar
individual after an active life. Those
dear old memories how they will CREEP
into our brains to make us believe that
the vigor, and youth, and glory of oul
earlier lives have departed. And the
old pioneer citizens who used to congre
gate there for social converse and glass
of "Mongahela." if need be, land the
'need be" was considered social necess
ity in those days)-where are they
Gone, alas, every one of them. to tbs
land from whence no traveller returns
and let us hope, to the land of the bless
ed. Let us hold the memory Of our ole
HAOnSeH III reverence WHaA
ever their faults. let US veil them will
the mantle of charity, and think only o
their virtues-for there is no history ol
tradition that has bemeaned the memory
of a single one of them in any narrow
ness of soul; but their large hearts wer,
ever open to welcome the weary strangel
to home in their rude cabins. and Il
cheerful seats at their humble tables.
But before leaving this end of town
must remind the reader that there wa
atanyard in the vicinity, which pre-
sume but few can call to remembrance
1t was called "Teel's Tannery," and WA
near the present site of the Judge Hooo
dwelling" above the grist mill. Though
all evidence of a tanyard have been de