The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-07-14
VOLUME 4.

home, the fearful farswells, the long
journey. the camping out all night BY
the roadside, the crossing Of the Ohio
and the Muskingum. the arrival at the
new home in the wilderness, the telling
Of the tress. and the erection of the log
cabin that was TO be a shield against
the wild beast Of the forest, and shelter
from the SHOWS and driving blasts of
Winter? ] cannot claim to know per-
sonally any Of these thinRa, for / was
not born until nearly eleven years after
my parents settled in their new home,
in 1878, not far from the northern banks
Of Rush creek, in Pike township. Nor
can ] claim to know much personally Of
the earlier history Of Somerset and
Deighborhood, for first saw your pleas
ant village in December, 1874. But my
father walked your streets at any early
day, and he was guest at John Fink's
tavern, and staid all night there, in
1911, and he tarried with his brother.
Robert Colborn, one Of the earliest set
tiers of your township, whoe house
stood on the very spot where Martin
Berkey now resides. When father
brought his family to Ohio, he stayed
the last night with Thomas King, who
had been and old neighbor in Somerset
county, Pa, and lived a few miles south
east of this place. Thomas King was
the first Representative OF your county.
Within this decade Of years, Reho-
both, New Lexington and Bristol were
laid out, and the county Of Perry Or
ganized. The bill for the organization
OF Perry county was passed by the
Legislature, December &c. 1917, and
Daniel Converse, James Wilson, and
Samuel Lybrand, who were appointed
to locate the seat Of justice. 6xed the
same at Somerset. The first court was
held in April 1878, the 6rut county
election in the same month, and anoth-
er in Oaober Of the same ,ear. Be-
tween the years of 1910 and 1920,
church and school buildings, Of course
Of n primitive character, were erected
at Overmyertown, Somerset, Thornville,
New Lexington, Rehoboth, and at few
other places. These early churches wer.
/. Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Baptisl
and Presbyterian. St. Joseph's was the
first Catholic Church in the county, and
the frat in the State.
lS2O-l83O.
In this decade came the settlement Of
Monroe and Saltlick townships, and the
compleier and fuller settlement of all
the other townships of the county
Speaking Of the county, in general
terms, this may be said to have been
the era Of hard work, in which more
chopping and clearing were done. more
brick burned, more fences built, and
more land brought into a state Of cult
vaiion. than in any other ten years OF
our history. The battle with the form
idable obstacles of the native forest wa.
severe, and the hardships and privations
to be endured many, but our fathers
and mothers were equal to them, and
surmounted all obstacles, though don,
through great suferings and trials, and
in due time they caused the wilderness
. and waste places to bud and blossom as
the rose.
lS3O-lS4O
Another decade of laborious endeavor
and Of privation az we'll; but q majority
Of the pioneers had now secured good
foot hold, bewed out comfortable home,
and good farms in what had lately beer
a wilderness, and yet some of the rest
less' and dissatisfied, and many Of tn.
older children of the earlier emigrani,
began to talk about "going west" WItI
all the hardships, this was an era o
> great enjoyment in the houses of th'
original settlers. Many of them haC
> moved out of their log cabins into be,
ter houses, their children were youn,
e men and women, or lads and lasses, ant
cboppings, and huskings, and quiltings
= and pullings, and apple bees, and sing
e ing schools were quite the order Of tn
q time. There was hard work enouel
yet, but the boys and girls did not mirt
+ that, and in their pastimes, or leisur
e houra, song and laughter, and reparte
II enlivened every gathering and ever.
y household.
l. Many were the weddings during thes
ten years, nearly always having numer
q ous guests, and accompanied with pro
= longed feasting and jollity, both a
'r Wedding and Unfair. The gay wedJin
y. parties of those days nearly alway
e, travelled on horseback, and the boys an
1 girls of 1S30-40 knew how to ride; an
D. large party of weddings" as auch
tS cavalcade was usually termed, was nj
'e only a novel, but picturesque and in
'e spiring spectacle.
= 1840-185O.
We find that the county has mnc
improved-many new and better churc
edi6ces and school houses have bee
- built, the system of agriculture has at
vanced, .here are many fine orchard
" and the farmers begin to invest moi
freely in tea, coffee, sugar, and "stci
clothes" and other luxuries.
~ The extreme southern townships I'll
9 last to be settled-have filled up; in TIL
section there is a family on every forr
- or eighty acres, and the population
=, the county touches its highest point, a
" ter which it decreases slightly, uni
'' about 1870, when the mineral distri
begins to be developed.
" Somerset, the county town, contains
. population Of over thousand. Thor
~ vile, New Lexington and Rehoboth a
- thriving villages, and Straitsville, I'll
- old town, of course,) and Oak6sl
n's Maxville, Ssltillo, Millertown, Crosse
:" Vile, New Reading and Bristol q
small villages.
-" The Presidential campaign Of 18
VIC waa altooethar uonraoadaptad and p.