The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-09-24
Pioneer RecolIections.

The following is boy recollection Of
Sullivan and its people furnished them at
their Pioneer meeting Sept 4th 1884, by
]. B. Lang:
Sullivan was among the earliest settled
townships in this region. Not far from
sixty-fve years ago the first settlement
was made. My father settled in Hunting
ton in the spring of 1924, l was then an
infant and as l grew up | commenced
taking in the surroundings and noting the
progress of human affairs. AS the settlers
for miles around were called neighbors we
soon became acquainted with all new
comers. Among those who were early
settlers Of Sullivan were Capt. Sylvanus
Parmely, George Mann, Whitney, Richard,
George and Jesse Chamberlain, Ira Par
mer, Henry, Benjamin and Rhesa Close,
Joseph Carlton, Oretus and Clement
Marsh, John, Rufus, Enos and Amos
Gould, Jonah Demoss, Samuel Merriheld,
Thomas Rice, Mr.. Steyick, Jacob Stine, Mr..
Turner, Mr.. Fem, Robert Laughlin, Mr..
Holbrook, Mr.. Williams and several
others. .f. f.s
Ara Farmer, a brother Of Ira, was
drowned in the river at Elyria. My father
made furniture for the settlers which
brought them often TO our house.
Incidents and anecdotes Of those early
times may interest the younger members
Of those now present.
Henry Close lived about four miles from
our house and one cold night our folks
thought to make them visit. After father
had finished hisday's work got in q bark
log and fixed the fire to keep while we
were gone, he yoked up the oxen hitched
them to the sled, put on two or three bund-
les Of stalks, we all piled on and in pretty
good horse time we we're before the square
roaring fire where we spent pleasant
evening eating hickorynuls and fried cakes
When the time came to go home we wrap
ped up and the next thing / knew was
in my trundle bed in the morning at home
Madison Rice was. think the Oldest son
of Thomas Rice; he became sweet on
Alzina Sage one Of our neighbors. He
came one day to visit our school in general
and Alzina in particular. At noon he and
Bill Hubbard, our teacher, got TO wrest
ling and Madison got broken leg. The
old bridge across Black River spanned Q
wide stream which is now little more
than a swail. Down that stream grew
large quantities Of wild plums. Ne
mother and went there to gather some
Of them, she got bewildered and did no
know which way to go, at last we heard
some one cross the bridge which gave III
"pointer" and we found our way ou
with nearly bushel OF plumbs which w
carried home on our backs nearly thre,
miles The old horse mill built by Capt
Parmley, and which would have beel
more appropriately named had it beel
called an OK mill, was great convenienc
and many time have taken bushel o
corn on the old mare and had ii made int
"jonny.cake timber" A few years late
an immense great mill for those days wa
built, just South Of this which was pre-
PEELED by ponderous low pressure steam
engine with three or four great boiler
which required about four cords Of WOO,
day to make the requisite steam. Their
was also saw mill and up stairs was
carding machine which made wool int
rolls for the women to spin and weave
l think Capt. Parmley was interested Il
this mill with perhaps several partners
The water was obtained from a pom,
Just South Of the mill but this sometime
failed and water had to be hauled to kee
, IL running. remember going with m
uncle to this mill with a grist, but befor
getting IL we were Obliged to hitch ou
oxen to their wagon which was loade
with barrels and go to spring nes
Thomas Rice's and get load Of water /
addition TO the usual toll.
Capt. Parmely kept store which !
those early days was headquarters for sue
articles as were required in new countr
They had fashions In those days and Il
, Parmely girls we're considered the hea
quarters for the styles, and for aught
know they yet have some influence in thi
line. I sold little black dog to D
Quigley for IS. and got an order on tn
. store. My mother took me on the hor
| behind her and went TO trade 1t out. 81
, got herself blue calico dress and clot
for me coat. This was my first "tail coat
More business was done In Sullivan fro
forty to fifty years ago than in any 9TH
town in all this region. 1t was bless
with smart, active, energetic men who