The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1877-10-03
FRAGMENTS or TINE EARLY HISTORY
or OHIO COUNTY.
CHAPTER XIV.
BY II. D. TAYLOR.

CHAPTER XIV.
Old Mrs. Taylor believing in that text
Of Scripture which says MAN shall not
live on bread alone" did not confine her
benovolence to distributing the loaf to the
hungry mill boys, but was ever ready TO
relieve the sick and suffering, no matter
what their condition in life. Poor, dying
mothers, leaving helpless children, would
often bequeath them to her care; and in
this way her house became almost an
orphan asylum, during the ravages OF the
Revolutionary war. 1t is said that at
times she had as many as thirty odd
children all dependent upon her for food
and raiment She, too, was the princi-
pal surgeon and physician of the then
backwoods settlement With her lancet
always in her pocket, she was ever ready
10 replace dislocated joints, set broken
bones, and lance or bleed as required,
with the nerve Of a hospital surgeon, al
though the wall Of feeble infant, or any
tale OF sorrow or suffering. would always
bring tears to her eyes.
She had been raised and always held 10
the old church of England, or Episcopal
faith, (several of her old prayer books
are still extant,) but she was always lib
eral and kind to other denominations,
and their preachers made her house their
resting place. She did not, however, ap-
prove Of the ranting, furious, WILTSHIRE
las she called it) Of some of the Metho-
dist preachers. There was one especially
we think HE name was Hubbs-that
was frequently the victim Of her humor
and sarcasm. In those early days, with
such a numerous family, no time could
be lost or idIed away. The family room
WAS like a large work shop, wherein
winter nights everything was done that
could be done in doors. Shoes were
made or mended, brooms and baskets
manufactured, or corn shelled, or homi-
ny beat. 1t so happened that one night
on which brother Hubs round on the
circuit had brought him in as a guest,
there proved to be a heavy demand for
shelled corn, TO ill q contract for meal to
be ground and delivered the next day
and all hands were engaged in Smelling
and sacking corn until bed time. These
sacks were set in rows around the wall
and brother Hubbs, who was a most im-
petuous, raving enthusiast, and who had
acquired habit of beating and mauling
with his fists at almost every word he
uttered. knelt down to pray by one o.
these sacks Of corn, and soon became fu-
rious in his zeal. and prayed, and pound
ell the sack Of corn until the whole fami'
ly became weary. As soon as the family
had arisen to their feet, the old lady wen
to the same sack. stopped down and com
menced feeling it carefully. "Well
Hubbs," she said, 81 am just feeling j
you beat us a mess of hominy. II 20,
have, I'll make Lofty (the negro woman
boil it for our breakfast This sar
casm is .said to have almost curec
Hubbs Of his ranting manner.
By the most untiring care and industr!
these two people raised family Of eigh
sons and four daughters, and acquires
some property. Their son, Harrison
visited Kentucky; the first time whilst {
mere STRIPPING. and became the agent TO
various land speculations, and spen
much Of his time in the woods with sur
veying parties. 1t lie related Of him tha
he never knew fear; that he made sever
al trips through the wilderness solitar.
and alone, and on several occasions re
manned at the surveyors camp, when mos
Of his party had retreated to the settl,
, ment for fear of Indians. Through hi
influence his father and mother, and hi
brothers and brothers-in-law were in
duced TO remove TO Kentucky. The oil
/ man sold his farm and mill, and took
large portion Of the pay in such merchar
disc as would be useful IN a new country
he landed. in Ohio county in about 1895
and bought farm near Hartford, wher
t. the bountlful supply of store goods Gre
sted almost as great an excitement as tn
!. lockets worn by Shultz's girls at til
: Pigeon Roost Fork of Muddy, as relate
by Ralph Ringwood.
The following story illustrates no
they were appreciated by the young hun
ers and bellies OF the day: At socii
: party at the house Of the old folks oil
night, a pert, conceiIed young hunt
was seated nearest the table, on whiC
the candle was burning; near by it lay
pair of bright polished snuhers. tt
. young gentleman was requested to snu
!. the candle, and Immediately took it
3. his hand, and licking his thumb al
finger was about to pinch it of, whit
some one said, ,'Use the snuffersr