The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-08-19

SCnOOl Ceacncr mere. Inc nrSt ScnOOl
house was built Of round poles, with
a fireplace that extended along one en-
tire side of the building. There was
no floor in the building. This was in
1917. The first preaching was in this
school house during this year. The
first church was built of logs, punch
con floor was laid in it and it was COW
cred with a clapboard roof, and for
windows space about eight feet long
was left on each side. This was in
width the space between two logs,
and from this space to the corner on
either end log filled up the space.
This space between the logs was then
covered with CREASED paper, and there
was light, and they could see as
through glass darkly.
The people in those days were more
sociable than now, and would often
go ten miles to help a neighbor roll
logs together when clearing land, and
when new settler would come in the
whole neighborhood would rally and
help him put up a cabin.
When he came to Portsmouth, in
1915, there were only fifteen or twen-
ty cabins there. They were in the
neighborhood where the Biggs House
now stands Lots containing one
fourth Of an acre were worth. twelve
dollars, but twelve dollars was not
easy to get. Moccasins and breeches
were made of buckskin in those days.
When he came to Webster there
were three French families here,
few French had formed q settlement
in Gallipolis There were plenty of
friendly Indians. Buildings were put
up of round logs, rooted with clap
boards, some put down puncheon
floors, while others used the ground
for floors.
Mr.. Bennett said he was in Ports
mouth two years ago, in a wholesale
store, and the clerks were speaking Of
the wonderful progress made during
the past few years. i told them that
about the year 1920, short distance
back Of Portsmouth, there stood a
sycamore tree that was about ten feet
in diameter, door was cut in the tree,
and family lived in the tree durin g
the winter Some Of them doubted it
until | told them | was there and
knew it to be so.
1.-THE first mill we had was called a
hominy block" In building this mill
a large stump would be burned on top
and scraped out, forming hollow
similar to a modern butter bowl; then
about ten feet from the stump a
forked pole would be put in the
ground with the crotch about eight
or ten feet high, then a pole about
sixteen feet to twenty feet in length
and from four to six inches in dame
ter at the larger end, and pole about
six to eight feet IN length and three
or four inches in diameter, were pro-
cured, the smaller ends of these poles
were then fastened together with
hickory withes, and the larger pole
was then laid in the fork, so that the
small pole would swing over the
stump, and the mill was built Corn
would be put on the stump, and by
pulling the swinging pole down corn
could be cracked. Then they had
what was called a tin mill; this was
simply sheet of tin with holes per-
forated in it with a nail, and used to
CRATE corn. Next came the hand-mil i
which was similar to the modern mill.
Two stones were used, about two feet
in diameter and eight or ten inches
thick, hole was drilled in the upper
stone and handle put in, and it was
turned by hand, in the same manner
as a modern coffee-mill Next they
had what was known as a horse-mill,
then water-mill, then followed the
steam-mill, and that is supposed to
have some advantages over the homi-
ny-block.
THE first plows used were called
Barshears. They had small wrought
iron point fastened on wood.
I'm early days horse collars were
made Of husks, and traces of hickory,
then raw cowhide was used, then lime
was used to cut the hair from hides,
and it was cut in strips and used for
tugs"
when iron ore was found here
John Benner built Bloom Furnace,
and four tons of iron per day was
thought good yield. The next fur
naces built were Scioto and Jackson" "
''When steamboats, were unknown,
what is called Keel-boats used to be
foated down from Kanawha Licks to
Cincinnati, loaded with salt and other
things. After unloading, the boats
were taken back up the river by men
pushing them with poles" This was
done by going to the front end or
bow of the boat, then placing one
end of the pole on the bottom of the
river and the other end against the
shoulder Of the man, who would then
place his hands on the pole, and push
] inn nmainS st the nnd with his Sh nulder