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

found him standing faithfully at his
post. but as he heard the boys coming,
he called to them in q subdued voice
" Be still! be still. boy. ] hear them; ]
hear them very plain"
1t was evident to the tricksters that
they had caught tartar, for the fellow
was too dull to apprehend when he was
made fool Of The boys had no fur;l-
er desire TO hunt e,prtretchers With Barnes,
though he aogged them every night for
week afterwards 10 60 out again assert
ing that he was positively certain
they would succeed, for he had heard
them the night before running through
the cornield in every direction" lie
heard the wind rustling through the
cried corn stalks. and this he mistook
for the running TO and fro OF his game.
In few weeks after this event, the
BOYS got hold Of another young fellow
who was not 50 green. This was new
apprentice who had set in at another
shoe shop. The manipulators played
substantially the same trick to get into
his confidence, and seemingly succeeded.
The fellow however, would not go out
without bran new bag, which was Sc
cured at one Of the stores. So getting
all things ready the parties repaired to
the same wood lot, and the new custo-
mer was duly placed in position. The
boys started in an opposite direction
from whence they had come. to drive up
the game, and il took them quite lit
tie time to get back 10 town. They were
considerably surprised when they got in
to the shop from whence they had start
ed to find their supposed dupe on the
shoe bench stitching away as though
nothing had happened. He beat them
back, sold the bag for a quarter, and
thus put the laugh where it was not ex-
pected.
These games were practiced till about
the year 1878, when they fell into dis
repnte, and were Discontinued. The
old generation of young men who took
delight in such things, scattered abroad
and the fact that boys do not apprentice
as they used to, has also, no doubt, had
a tendency to do away with the custom
In all such tricks Somerset has history
and big one, too, If it were possible
to record all the incidents which tool
place within her borders for the first %
years Of her existence.
Among the old ri.izens who resided
in the village from 1926 to 1885. re
member George Trout, an old pioneer
who lived IN cabin home near tn
presen: residence Of John p. Wilson
He had three sons-Philip, Fenry anc
Michacl-(perhaps more, but di' no
know them>. lie had two daughters
one was married to Jacob Drummer, an'
the other to George Beckwith. He ma!
have had others. Then, ] remembe
William and David Mnssulman, Nicho
las Dennis. Benjamin Crater, Georg
Finck, old man Baugher, the lame fish
erman, who had cabin on "happy al
ley" before il wac so named, which stoo
near the present residence of Thoma
Smith. old grandfather Mains, who re
sided in property where Roswell Keena
now lives; Mr.. Oliver, teamster, VIII
lived in n log house on the lot occupie
by the Reformed Church; John Mur
ray, Benjamin Eaton, and Geore
Vein. The latter lived in a cabin o
the lot east of the west school house.
could mention many others but the
would extend these papers to an undu
length.
On the lot, parallel with the alley
facing North street, and directly oppc
posite the west side of the Lutheran bul
ial ground (south side of the street
there stood, at one time large brio
church built by the Reformed Socie I,
1t was never completed, and finally wei
to rack, and was taken down. Old NJ
Caywood carried on a pioneer coops
shop on what was known in later veal
as the "Caywood lot,"a little furthe
east, on the same street.
The population Of the village, j
1925 run to only between three and for
hundred, asd this fact should remin
the reader that the cabins were few an
far between at that time. Fully TIVE
thirds Of all the lands which were afte
wards laid out in lots and building
erected thereon were in "commons"-
that is, unoccupied. Since the twelve
fourteen hundred inhabitants have bes
: added TO the village these "commonr
have disa rpeared. SENEx.