The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1876-03-23
NOTES ON JACKSON COUNTY.
BY d. MACELEY.

BY ID. MANklE0.
Wealth and poverty cannot be meas
ured by the number of dollars possessed
The early settlers OF Jackson county
were indeed poor in dollars and cents,
yet they enjoyed measure of content
ment unknown to the present inhabit-
ants Of the county. The privations OF
the pioneers were so numerous, that
scarcely know where to begin the emu
meration Of them. But take one little
matter, about which we scarcely ever
think The fist absolute necessity,
which even the savage must heed, is
food next. clothing, especially in so
variable a climate as ours; next comes a
house, or some kind Of shelter. Fire, all
must have, and Of this will now speak.
Matches are now so common and cheap,
that, like most blessings they are not
appreciated. Did you ever consider how
you could dispense with matches? The
first matches | ever saw or heard Of, was
in the spring of the year 1896. was at
the store of Silas SHELTON, in Oak Hill,
and Levi Massie, the storekeeper, had
part OF box Of matches. He had used
part Of them, showing his customers how
they could be ignited by friction. They
were quite different from the matches
now used They were fiat strips of wood.
with the composition on one end, and
there was piece of sand paper in the
box. This was folded with the sanded
side in, so that by putting the match
between the fold of the rough paper,
gently pressing it upon the end of the
match, and then drawing the match rap
idly out the friction Of the rough paper
ignited the composition.
bought this part of box of matches
for twenty-five cents, and took it to
school with me, and it was very great
curiosity, both to teacher and pupils.
1t was many years after this (lS36) be-
fore matches came into general use.
In the country, where wood was SO
abundant, and where great log fires were
kept up day and night in the ample fire.
place of the cabins. there was no trouble
in keeping fire, except in the summer.
Even then it was common to cover with
ashes a chunk of fire at night, and it
would generally keep until morning. If
it should go out, no breakfast could be
had until one Of the children could be
sent to the house of a neighbor to get
fire. The neighbors often lived a mile
or more distant from each other
Resort was often had to flint and steel
to get fire, especially among the more
intelligent and careful of the settlers.
A kind Of decayed wood, or fungus, call
ed punk, was used as tinder. 1t was
generally found in knots. or forks OF
trees. that of the hickory and maple be-
ing best. 1t was of the color and appear
ance of very fine sponge. A spark OF
fire striking it at once ignited it, and the
fire gradually eat into it, but it took care
full blowing with the breath to cause it
to ignite piece Of tow. or a cotton rag.
A piece of native flint was kept in nearly
every house, and the back Of knife was
most usually the steel used. The blade
of penknife, when shut. or the back OF
a butcher knife, stricken with glancing
blow across the edge of a piece of flint,
would produce a shower of sparks Of fire.
The piece OF punk was held on top OF
the flint, with the thumb of the left
hand, while the back of the knife was
glanced across the edge of the flint with
the right hand. l have seen the back OF
the old utcher-knife quite worn by
striking fire. The temper of knife
could readily be known by the appear
ance of the fire it produced. If the blade
was too soft, the sparks wonld be red and
heavy, falling downwards, a knife OF
good temper wsuld make white sparks.
which would fly in every direction,
sparkling and Kissing as they scattered.
Nearly every boy carried a piece of flint
in his pocket, and when about to swap
knives, each would test the quality OF
the knives, by seeing what kind of fire
they would produce. 4.
There is fungus growth found upon
logs, and dead trees, sometimes as large
as a saucer, and hard as the hardest
wood, which was known as "touchwood, y
and by some enormously called a toad
stool. When dry, and set on fire at the
edge, it would burn for half day before
the fire would pass through it, being a
live coal at one side, while il could be
held in the hand by the other edge, and
fire could thus be carried conveniently
long distances. When persons went out
to dig ginseng, or hunt, and wanted to
cook dinner, they could carry and keep
fire readily with this "touchwood." |
nave often carried fire in this way from
home to the sugar camp, distance OF
two and half miles.