Connecticut western news., 1880-05-19
Life i'm the Western Wilds.

Life in new country, when settlements were miles apart, and before railroads and steamboats were built, is in such striking contrast to the style and mode of life in New give 8 short sketch of the experience and hardships of a settlers life in tue primeyal wilds of what was then called the s'far west. ; The scene is ln the interior of Ohio, and the events took place half c century ago. The facts were given me few years ago by those who were among the first who emigrated to that part of the state, and who have now been gathered to their final rest and also, by had built their rude log houses and were living therein. The town of Litchield, Ohio, was settled by people who formerly resided in Falls Village and Wolcottville, who moved there about the year 1880. and was named by the eldest of the settlers after their native county, as soon ss they had made . clearing for the settlement. They made their long and tedious journey across New York on canal boats to Buffalo, and by boat across lake Erie to they
 ness with ox-teams. The slow and tedious journey of 8 month then, is now easily made by rail in two days. They went to . certain section to the southward, where they halted, and being pleased with the location, decided to make their home there in the lonely wilds
 Soon commenced the work of clearing the for est for settlement. The roads through the forest were made by simply felling the trees in A SbEd1Sub course &rOWnQ e&cn 6eCt1On, W01Ch were or miles square otherwise they were not improved. Some of the trees were lm- mense in size where the settlers located, tow ering up 150 feet, and were SO numerous that one could see but few yards ahead. The length into which the logs were cut was gov ern d by the size of the trees they were then drawn by oxen and rolled up in heap. When | set on fire they lighted up the forest in the night for long distance around. The frs, l log house contained but one room and a loft, Jan 70 cd 10 rlo If The nearest grist mill was 20 miles distant to | which 1t required or days to go and return
 with their grist. There were deer and wolves in abundance, and the deer would come into ! the clearing at night to escape the latter,
 which dare not venture in. The young lawns
 are spotted, and this seems to have been de- | signed by Providence as Q protection, for no l animal will molest them until they outgrow
 these marks. One of the settlers possessed 8
 deer which he had tanned, and which used to
 stray off into the forest and run with the wild deer. When pursued they would separate and | go in different directions. One nigbt the wolves gave chase to the tame deer, and ii
 started with rapid pace for the clearing. Ii
 was so terribly frightened that upon reaching 1 the house of it's owner, it dashed against the
 door so turiously as to remove it from it's l hinges, and entered in. The wife of one oi l the settlers went to make 6 call at 6 neigh.
 bor's, in another settlement, accompanied only by large faithful dog, and on returning, los, her way. She wandered about, endeavorinp l in vain to find her way home, until nearly
 dark. The prospect ofseeing home that night
 was anything but f1attering, while to remair
 in the woods after nightfall would be certain
 destruction. The signing of the wind through
 the branches of the lofty trees, and the thought of being lost in the woods and at the
 mercy of the wolves, rendered it an hour of the deepest agony. But harkl While despair. ing of finding her way out, voice is heard ir the distance Her husband, being fearful oi
 her fate had started out in search, and she ii found. Quickly they retrace their steps home. ward, arriving not minute too soon, for, at
 they reach the edge of the clearing, back iI
 the distance & cracking in the brush is heard
 and there is no mistaking the meaning, for s
 pack of wolves had scented their track, anC
 were but short distance in their rear wher they reached the clearing. It was an instance | in ones life never to be forgotten In 8 shor,
 tune men of this and another settlement unit- ! sd sl.sir iabors ard bulis iuH .seilooin0use, ! and, having no church at any of the settle
 ments near, they used to hold meetings
 there, going around collecting the women and
 children. and taking them to meeting on OK. | sleds. Their privations were many, but they l murmured not and were united and happy. I After clearing the forest more x'ensively they l were rewarded with large crops of all kinds
 that were planted. The soil being very deep
 and of great fertility, all kinds of vegetation
 had luxuriant growth. IpLEwILD.
 Falls Village, Ct.