The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1876-10-12
NOTES ON JACKSON COUNTY.
By ID. MACKLEY.


| contin ue this week the articles from
Y Wasg, written by William Hughes,
and translated by Judge Evans.
"Our friend Pritchard, of Patagonia,
should not think that il is worse on him
and his friends in carrying his provis-
ions on his shoulder for six miles. than
has been endured by many others in diff
ferent parts of this country in early
days.
81 heard an old Welshman say that
thirty-five years ago, in a certain portion
OF Ohio, he would take sack OF corn to
mill x-back,' (not horseback) and that
1t took him three days to make the
trip, and was compelled to continue in
this way to provide bread for his family
for over two years, before better conve-
nience was afforded him. Those that re-
side in our cities and towns know but
little of the hardships and trouble that
had to be endured by those who under
took to settle in the wilderness of new
country. The shoemaker that settled at
Oak Hill experienced much trouble, and
endured great hardships; he had prom
ised to make pair of shoes for the son
prominent farmer of the vicinity. On
Friday evening he came for his Shoes as
he needed them to go to camp meeting
the next Gay. Shoemakers in those
days. as at present, were slow to fulfill
their promises; so he began to excuse
himself by saying that he knew nothing
of the camp meeting; that he under
stood that the shoes would not be need
ed until the Sabbath. But inasmuch as
the shoes must be had that night, the
poor shoemaker at once went to all the
stores, and also to every house in the
village, in search Of a candle, or some
thing to make one OF, or anything else
that would afford him light to finish his
shoes, but failed to procure anything of
the kind. One of the shoes was ready,
and the young mans father, in this ex.
tremity, suggested that he had plenty of
rich pine knots about the house that he
would bring and make plenty OF light.
The shoemaker know nothing of the
light Of rich pine knots, but presumed
it would be rather good light, because
they were rich, and as Oak Hill was
about to be enveloped by the shades OF
the evening, here he came with bundle
OF wood, split up very fine. He lighted
to work. 1t was q very warm night in
August, and the door had to be kept
open, as well as the window, in order to
have little air, and the wind would
blow the smoky blaze'in every direction
which made it pretty rough for the eyes
and nose of the. shoemaker; for often the
flame and smoke came into closer con
tact with them than they were welcomed
to, and the one that held the light " as
not as steady and reliable as the idle
Jack" generally used by shoemakers
The shoe however was finished some
time during the night, and the young
man was thus enabled to attend the camI
meeting; but the shoemaker made sol
emn oath that he would never again un
dertake to make a shoe by the light o
rich pine knots.
ut was a country of shift in thos,
times, all getting along buying or selling
next to nothing. 1 have heard some o
the old American pioneers, of late years
claim that they lived mere comfortabl,
then than at present, for the reason tha
the Queen Of Fashion was now pressing
so hard upon them, that they can hardl,
keep up with thtir neighbors, and tina
in the struggle, many had lost thei
farms in their efforts to keep up. To tn
people of Centreville and Oak Hill
would say. that you must not look at m
with suspicion for simply recalling t
mind the condition Of affairs in your Il
cality SS years ago. and not as it is wit
you to-day. There are only few head
of families of those days now livinI
there, and quite a number OF those thI
were raised there have removed away |
different parts. many of them to MINI
sofa in and about South Bend; some
New Cambria and Dawn, Missouri: Va
: Vert and Cincinnati, Ohio"
lean certify that what Mr.. Hugh,