The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-10-22
Wellington es Years Ago.


us through mutual friend, an account
of her uncle's experience in this township
in 1916, when a summer evenings walk
here was not so much of "picnic" or so
much of pastime as our young people
find it. There was not house or white
person living in or near this region, and
a country that now seems so pleasant and
productive, was wide and inhospitable
wilderness. Mrs Merrick, an intelligent
lady of well preserved faculties, writes as
legibly and composes as clearly as a
bright schoolgirl Of today, and we thank
her for this fragment of history, which
we are sure will be most welcome to our
readers. Her uncles, Francis Kelsey,
Phineas johnson and Mr.. Brooks, were
all from Berlin, Conn, and the letter is a
copy of one written home by Phineas
johnson, from G. Wetmore's, in Stow,
Summit County, o., in July, 1915. Mrs.
Merrick who was n Kelsey, writes that
Francis Kelsey had sister and two
brothers who settled in Huntington, and
have descendants in that place, and that
Mrs. Chas. West, Of Wellington, is a
grand daughter Of Phineas johnson, who
with the Brooks families settled in La.
porte. We notice that the families refer.
red TO and the incidents of their pioneer
life as early as 1919 are mentioned In the
History of Lorain County, in connection
with the settlement of Carlisle and
Laporte. Mr.. johnson says: r-
"On the 9th, sat out TOR the third town,
18th range, in company with Francis
Kelsey. At Q O'Clock ate our dinner,
inquired how far it was TO II tavern.
Found il was 40 or 30 miles and not
another house TO the end of our walk.
We soon met heavy shower with ihun.
der; took shelter in the bushes, but
travelling through them with repeated
showers we were pretty well wet before.
night. We escaped one shower by getting
under few barks with an Indian. AT
about sunset, peeled some barks and made
as good shelter as we could beside log,
lay down in our wet clothes and thought
OF home. Slept very little, WAS sick in
the night; got up in the morning stood
by the fire staggering and trembling like
one debiltated with liquor, but dare not
look back lest any part Of our purposed
object should be omitted. Ate few
mouthfuls, and after repeated requests to
march, staggered on, we'll knowing that |
must walk thirty or forty miles without
seeing a habilation Of human creatures.
About one o'clock ate a small piece Of the
very dry mutton we took from home with
a small piece OF bread, not daring to take
any butter with ii. At three o'clock find
the west branch OF the Black River. |
agreed to go down the river miles to its
forks, and Messrs. Brooks and Kelsey 10 60
down to the line of the town and follow
il, and meet as above. l stepped on think.
ing that four miles was quite walk, but
found that by the winding of the river
and the logs and the swamps should
have business until sunset, let me be ever
so industrious. Brooks and Kelsey after
travelling line until they were tired, left
it, thinking they were in an error and set
their compass for the river hoping to find
me.
They hit the river at dark, after
almost exhausting themselves through
swamps ETC.; passed the river not being
sure they were right, then set their CON-
pass for the road from which / took my
departure, took torches and proceeded
down the river with great anxiety after
me, knowing was not we'll and they had
all the provisions, compass, fireworks, etc.
But after going down the river half or
three-quarters OF mile lost the river and
could not again find 1t. After repeatedly
firing their gun and hallooing until they
were hoarse, they built fire and
encamped for the night, Mr.. Brooks in
great fear lest the firing out should kill
me, or that the wild beasts would eat me
who was ueging on with great persever.
ance hoping TO meet them; sometimes with
vines and herbage as high as my head,
river very crooked, banks high where |
might go off jump OF fifteen or twenty
feet
At dark began to think / must
provide for myself for the night and
hearing my voice sound through the
woods l thought, to the astonishment Of
every wild beast, lay down on fiat piece
Of wood split by the falling of tree in a
thick bush After getting almost asleep
found myself very cold, concluded l
must walk through the night or should
take cold, or chill TO death; walked on
little farther, got into the mud over the
tops Of my boots. was then determined
to give over walking being confident that
Twas as far down stream as was proposed.
With my knife cut handful of brush and
put under my head, and some on my body
and lay down for the night, 1t being as
late as nine o'clock, the wolves howling;
did not know but some wild beast might
eat me up before morning, but went TO