The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1877-07-04
FRAGMENTS OF the EARLY HISTORY
OF OHIO COUNTY.
By n. ID. TAYLOR.
CHAPTER XII.

Among the early settlers were several
German or Dutch families, who were ex>
emplary citizens-industTious, frugal,
neat aud clearly. Their houses and
farms were always the source Of admira>
tion-kind and neighborly to those who
treated them in like manner, but plain
aud positive 10 those who displeased
them. Aunt Molly, who was a good,
kind, moiheriy lady to those whom she
liked, had neighbor who was ever ready
TO borrow, but never thought of sending
borrowed articles home. Aunt Molly had
grown weary of such neiGhborship, and
one day as she sat knitting away, and adj
mirins the frolicsome gamboling OF her
young dog, called Pup, mp came her
neighbours daughter TO borrow Aunt's
washing tub, to which request the old
lady replied. pointing to the dog. 60
home and tell your mother to send and
borrow Pup, he has legs, and when she is
done with him, he can walk home, but
my tub has no legs, and it can not walk
home!
One OF these cart uettieT-, "hiio i''inS
in town, had become too fond OF tipping
at the tavern. His good wife resolved to
bleak him of his bad habits, and succeed
ed completely in a way that would break
most men OF the present day, if their wives
had the nerve and resolution TO pursue
their course, which was to follow him TO
the tavern, call Tor liquor as often, laugh,
talk and sing as loud as he.
The most remarkable and amusing
character that ever lived in Ohio county
was old Peter Shown. lie was born and
raised in Maryland, and although native
born, spoke very broken Dutch, or rather
English, until the day Of his death. He
was OF a slender, wiry form, with pleas
ant, sparkling eyes. and agreeable feat
ures. Either from ignorance Of our Lam
guage or design. he was continually max
ing blunders in the application Of names
and terms; full of crank sayings and
whimsical oddities, always dissenting
from others in opinion on the most plain
and self>eyident propositions, yet one OF
the best and most faithful workers in his
line of business in the country. He could
actually build a post and rail, or paling
fence, or gate that would last longer and
stand more erect than any other known
man; even his axe handles and ramrods
were celebrated all over the country, and
no man could beat him making grain
cradle or snead for scythe, or in using
them after being made. He had his sea-
sons OF the ear aud his stage Of the moon
for doing everything, and would travel
for miles in making his selections for
timbers. To tell all Of the amusing sto-
ries Of his oddities would fill volume,
but some of them are TOO good to be lost
We will give his first visit to town. He
had settled on Rough Greek, about three
miles on an air line above Hartford
Amer he had got everything fixed up
snug and nice around his warm, comforts
able cabin, be thought be would have a
spree in town; so one bright evening,
with Just a few inches Of snow on the
ground, he started for Hartford. Know
ing it was on the creek, he thought all he
had to do was to follow it down, but this
was an unluoky conclusion, for besides
several smaller oreeks and ravines which
intercepted his way, the route, by the
meanders of the creek, was about nine
miles. The consequence was, long before
he reached town, night had set in, and
he was sereraded by the hooting of OWL
and bowling Of wolves, and he became
much alarmed for his safety, and using
his own language: $50 thought would
pray, and ! knelt down and began Il
pray, and ! thought God Almighty sale
to me: 'Ah, Shown, when you are a
home, snug and warm in your cabin, you
never prays Go your way. Shown, viii
not hear you p and that made me SO naC
would not pray another bit, Tb'
owls and wolves, however, let him pas
until late at night He saw light, to
wards which he started in eager haste
but soon came to some tan watts, full o
water only with covering Of thin ice an
snow, into which he plunged, and 10 hi
usual mode of using improper terms, b
|. described his alarm by saying: "By sure
] thought ! was going up to hell"
Getting out of this difficulty the bes
, way he could, he followed up the high