The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1886-03-04
Pioneer Life-NO. 1
BY DAVIS MACKLEY.

Pioneer life in Jackson County was
much the same as in all Southern
Ohio, Kentucky and Western Vir-
ginia. In fact, most of the pioneers
of this county were from these ad-
joining States.
Most persons who did not live in
the days of the pioneers, seem to
think that the first settlers suffered
for the absolute necessities of life
food and raiment. This was not the
fact. The people sixty years ago had
an abundance Of more wholesome and
better food than they have now. They
had plenty of comfortable clothing,
but food and clothing cost a great
deal Of labor, as I may be able to
show. Their houses were very un-
comfortable, and there is where was
the greatest drawback to enjoyment.
Corn, in its various forms, consti-
tuted large portion Of the food Of
humans and animals It's cultivation
and use were quite different then from
what it is now. There were then, as
now, great many varieties of corn,
from the little flint colored popcorn,
with ears not larger than mans
finger, up to the great white corn,
with ears nearly as thick as a mans
arm.
Corn would readily become mixed
Plant row Of white corn, and then
alongside of it row of yellow corn,
and the product in each row would
have white and yellow grains on the
same ear. This was caused by the
blossoms, if such they might be called,
on the tassels,- falling upon the silks
of the ears in the adjoining row.
Nearly every ear of corn had regu-
lar rows Of grains. There were very
rare exceptions, where the grains
the grains were all mixed up, and nc
regular rows. 1t is rather remarkable
that there never was an ear OF corn
where the number of rows of grains
could be divided by 2, and leave re.
mainder That is, every ear contained
s, 10, -, IA, or 16 rows, as the CASE
might be; but neUer, Z. 9, II, 13, Is, &c
The corn crop was not only Of grea
Importance to the pioneers, but it il
Of immense value now. It has beer
estimated that the corn crop Of 1873!
was Of greater value than the cottol
crop; that there was two THOUSAND
millions of bushels produced in th
United States. One peck Of corn
when ground into meal, will make al
the bread a healthy man can eat in
week One bushel a month, or twelv
bushels year. The crop of last yea
i. would make bread for every man, wo
man and child in the United State
for more than three years. Two sue
crops, if not made into whisky, bu
sold for bread, would pay the Nations
debt Corn makes the most nourish
: ing, wholesome and best tasted brea
of any grain known.
All the corn raised by the pioneer
was used for food for humans and ar
imals. There were distilleries in thos
}, days. There were two in Madiso
Township sixty years ago, but l d
not think they used bushel Of corr
. They made their whisky of rye, a cor
siderable quantity of which was the
n raised.
;. There was no general market fc
s corn, but the pioneers often bough
i. and sold few bushels among then
selves. It was measured, or counte,
One hundred ears of average. si7
would make bushel of shelled corr
+ Three fulls Of half bushel measure
heaped, or four level full, would max
=, bushel Of shelled corn. Cribs we1
I measured. One cubic foot, Of 172
e inches, would come near making
s bushel of shelled corn.
t Some three quarters Of centur
: ago, the Ohio Legislature enacted tn
following law: