The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-09-07

4Fue The manners Of the Pioneers may not have
been rshnef- as that term now implies, his con-
Versaton may have been rough. not marked by
iiat precision 0t grammatical construction, eecu-
t!on2-y delivery or rhetorical flourish we are
want 10 hear now, his raimeut may not have been
purple and fine linen; ne may no: have dwelr in
palace, he may not have had pastry and sweet
neats, strawberries and ice cream Yet doub; not
but ne was happier in his home spun garments,
ivlngin his own log cabin. feasting like John the
Baptist on JOhny-cake and Wild honey, with his
honest heart, cheerful disposition and helping
hand FOX all that were in need.
OF the prvations, and tolls. and troubles. OF tie
uferingS and hardships. and dangers OF Pioneer
ife You haye already heard, and that the early
ettlers OF this county did not escape any or all Of
hese We can readily believe.
Our mothers and our grandmOthers passed many
cherries lonely night, in the absence of their
iusbands,, surrounded by bowling wolves and
perhaps rowing savages. awaiting the return of
hat husband with bread for the almost famishing
fhildren- Yet they murmured not And as we
ook into their peaceful happy faces to-day, grown
Dld though they be, they are none the less benig-
lant We cannot but feel that We should, of all
people be the most thankful for what We enjoy,
s the fruit Of their toll, and that one and all
hould unite in making the few years they may
/ - 10 VIII u inc Ileir ENeS-
When We look around Us to-day and see the rich
arms, beautiful dwellings, and churches all over
he land, with spires pointing heavenward and
chOol houses at almost every cross road. where
he children OF all alike have the means of OBJ
aiming an education free, see the broad fields of
Taving grain, or rich pastures feeding herds OF
.sttle, it seems almost impossible that less than
lalf century ago, within the life time of many
present, and within the present recollection of
rot a few who are here to-day. all this was one
asst wilderness OF forest trees. Not a clearing not
church, nOta school house, not field of grain.
Where now We hear the songs OF the labOrer and
he hum OF his busy work, was then heard the
ghOop OF the Indian. Where now we hear the
bound of the church bell, was then heard the
bowling OF wild beasts. Where now we see the
children hOcking TO school, was then seen the
children of the red-men, wild, uncivilized and
fIneducated. II seems that nothing short of a
miracle could bring about this transformation.
Was il a miracle Ask our worthy President, ask
Mr.. JordOn, Mr.. Dukes, Mr.. Wisely and the hun
ireds of Others who came here in the long ago.
Their answer will be. that it was the strong arm,
the iron viii, the untiring industry, the never
Failing perseverance, the singleness OF purpose,
and the manly integrity of the Pioneer, accom-
Ipained by the approval OF an Overruling Proyi-
Hence that wrought all this.
No kid-gloyed gentleman or fashionably dressed
foung lady could accomplish these wonders. No
f'iolin bow cut down the trees, and no piano woye
the linen, or knit the stockings. No fancy buggy
conveyed the corn to mill and no French cook pre-
ided over the jchny-eake. No two-forty nag
hauled together the logs in the clearing, and no
lainty fingers stetched the quilt None OF these
we're seen or heard OF, or known. Proper enough
n their place. but terribly out OF place in a from
| i.
with both profit and pleasure be indulged in. but
not congenial TO a backwOOds life. Life amongst
he Pioneers was earnest, real, and meant bust
ness.
The men felled the trees made the rails, ,ploughed
he ground, harvested the crops, cared for their
antilles, assisted their neighbors and looked af-
er the wants of the newly arrived emigrants
The women wOve the cloth and m'de the gar
nents cooked the victualS reared the children,
md managed the household affairs of their little
ZONES, rendering all the aid and comfort they
sould to their hard-worked husbands and sons
But do not imagine now that they had no fun,
IS We call il. That theirs was life of continual
irungery and toll. Did my young friends here
sver attend an Old-fashoned lOg-rolling or house
aising or quitting? Ii not, they have but little
conception Of the heaps of fun their fathers and
mothers had on such occasions. They were none
pf your crOquet parties, where full grown men,
arrayed in white pants and vests, with immacu-
ate shirt fronts, play marbles with n mallet, and
where young ladies with kid gloves, pearl fans
lainty slippers, and all the makeup of fashion,
|were afraid to laugh for fear they would be un-
able to get the right pout their lips again. But
Ithey were places OF rollicking, innocent and en-
toyable amusement. No studied affectation, no
effort TO appear unnatural, but an entire hearty
appreciation OF the time and place, and determ-
ination to extract all the amusement possible out
OF the OCCASION It is needless to say that such
meetings were Of the most pleasant description
and times of real pleasure.
A life on the frontire is a school in which is
taught to its fullest extent habit of self reliance
A readiness to meet all and every emergency
Constantly exposed to the dangers both present
and remote to the invasion OF the foes of civiliza
ton, to the accidents OF every day life necessarily
imminent TO every frOntiersman and his family
prompt, decided and earnest action is demanded.
No time for preparation TO avert the danger not
much time for the consideration of the means to
be used to avert it; only thorough knowledge OF
the remedies against all these could avail.
Thus the Pioneer of necessity became wary, be-
came quick in using such means as he had at
home TO meet dangers. His perceptions became ac-
cute and almOsty instinct as it were the approach
of enemies TO life and property could be detected
The very necessities of his life, compelled him to
thus school himself, that he might not be at the
mercy of any and every viceSsitude of his ever
eventful life.
But whilst the early settler learned to rely upon
himself, on his own resources, he did not forget
to learn that he was also dependent on his COM
panionS for much of his safety and prosperity.
They learned to rely on their neighbors-though
the nearest may have been miles away-for pro
lection from their common enemies, and for as
sistance in their laborS. No one then called upon
his neighbor in vain for assistance No one ex-
cused himself from rendering that assistance. for
the reason that his own work needed attention, or
that his neighboI was too poor to pay. No one
thought of his own convenience, his own affairs,
when his neighbor was in need and required his
help.
The wants OF the Pioneers were few and simple,
and yet it was with the greatest labor and difficult
ty that even these could be supplied. twas next
to impossible TO live without bread, and to pro-
cure this OccasiOned miles OF travel and days of
toll. This may seem strange TO us, who live in
time when bread is 50 Oabundant and so easily pro-
cured. But when we remember that the flour had
to be brought from SanduSky city, Urbana, Bel
fountaine and other places equally as remote, in
wagons drawn by oxen and through a wilderness
without roads, and over swamps and streams, we
may well conclude that it was 10 play-day sport
to go to mill. and that if wheat bread was a scarce
article amongst the settlers, there reason for
it.
Why did they not eat corn bread? Well they
did eat it, and lots of it too. But even that kind
OF bread did not grow on the trees. When the
forest trees had been removed, with the greastest
labor, and piece of ground sufficiently cleared
up TO cultivate in corn, it required the utmost
vigilance TO keep the squirrels and other animals
from destroying it, and when housed, there were
no mills to grind it, except such as were propelled
by horse power, and after hOu=s Of TOLL these only
succeeded in partially reducing the corn to meal,
which was separated from the larger particles and
used for mush and jOhny-cake, whilst the eoarser
part was made into hOminy. At the season when
the un-ipe corn was in proper condition, it was
used for roasting ears, or by hand reduced to meal
by the old tin CRATER.
There was no available market for any kind of
pIoduce, except such as was needed to supply the
new comers, and consequently an abundant crop
would make no one rich The first settlers were
for years able to supply their tables with wild
game. In some parts Of the county, in addition
10 deer. bear and turkeys, wild hogs were abund
ant. How these hogs came to be here no one e1-
acl4E h4lcNY Jul II = suptOscu llldt tutS WEE
brought here at the time the garrison occupied
Fort FiAdlay, and upon its withdrawal were al
lowed free range.
At the carly settlement of the county, fish were
abundant in nearly all the streams, and especial
ly in the Blanchard. None of your little sinners,
and clubs, and sun fish which the boys hook out
now, but great fine fellows such as now inhabit
the Maumee and the Lakes. Every Pioneer was
Of necessity hunter. Not that he followed that
business for amusement but for the reason that
much Of his subsistence, and his safety and that
Of his property depended upon hi. skill and Wig
lance with the, rife. Hence it was that almost
every man and boy, and grest,msny women and
girls were accomplish shots, and many a leisure
hour did they while away in friendly competition