Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1890-01-09
PIONEER LIFE.
HOW EARLY SETTLERS LIVED. WHAT
THEY DID, AND HOW THEY DID II.

younger citizens of the present time
realize what was the hOme-life OF our
fore-fathers of one hundred years ago,
or even that of a much later period
when the "silver grays" of the present
were sturdy young pioneers pushing
their way into this then western wilder
ness, Drawing privations and hardships,
and overcoming what now seem TO be
insurmountable obstacles. And mas
much as the generation of the present
are enjoying the fruits of their labors
which have lightened burdens to an
untold degree, the writer of this sketch
and such as may follow it will feel am
ply repaid for research and labor If
| these articles become the means of over
adding any information concerning
this most remarkable period of oul
National and State history which is III
fact the history of almost every town
ship or neighborhood
HEAT AND LIGHT.
During these early years no iron
stoves were in use. Benjamin Frank
lin invented the first iron framework
that was used as stove. This was a
very rude affair, and at first was sort
of iron fireplace which communicated
with the chimney. Later an oven was
added, and the closed top of the stove
with griddles soon followed The oven
was of the elevated" pattern well re-
membered by our grand-mothers. This
was closed oven placed on the back
portion of the stove. and the heat from
the fireplace in front passed directly
between its walls to the pipe which was
situated on top of the oven.
Previous to the introduction of these,
the fireplace and Dutch oven were in
universal use. and they were continued
to much later period. In many in
stances these open Gre-places were hugh
affairs and the hack log" was often SO
large that it took the united strength
of several persons TO drag it into the
house ana place it on the ''andirons."
On all festive occasions this large log
was carefully selected, perhaps i'll con-
conformity with the old-fashiOned GUS
tom of preparing this foundation for
the fire which WAS then called the
"yule-log"
Baking was done either in bake-pans
or bake-kettles hung on cranes over
this fire place, or in tin or sheet iron
bake-Ovens--a tin contrivance which
resembled a box about three feet long,
one foot deep and one ard one-half feet
wide, with one side open to the li;e.
Loaves of bread were placed in this
and set before the bed of Goals in ths
fireplace The dutch oven" was in
troduced by the Hollanders at an early
date. and its use continued until long
after the introduction of stoves. 1t
was usually built on a foundation about
four feet high and was constructed of
brick or slaves of oak overlaid with
heavy walls of clay intermiyed with
straw to hold it together. 1t vas half
oval in form, had door in trent and
an aperture at the back througn, which
the smoke escaped. In this hot fire
was built and after the wood had been
reduced to Goals and the thick walls
thoroughly heated, the Goals and ashes
were carefully raked out and the JTead.
81 Johnny cake" or Indian bread was
thoroughly baked by the heat from the
walls.
In this manner our grandmotAers
produced sweet and wholesome FOOD
that is not equalled to-day by that made
from the most celebrated brands,O of
roller process, a fact that will be alb
stantiated by those who have had The
pleasure of partaking of it i'll the gced
old time when our prandfathers and
were boys and girls.
Meats and game were cooked in q
similar manner, and also by means VI
the spit" an iron or wooden instru-
ment upon which the meat was placed
before the Goals of the Fireplace, ant
over dripping pan" which was so
named from Its use to catch the drip
pings from the juicy meats thus pre-
pared.
The chimney was usually built from
the ground up. and on the outside of
the building. 1t was a huge affair,
usually about eight feet at the base.
and deep enough to form the open fire.
place. This in many instances was
constructed from sticks of oak split
)ut, with the "froe," an iron instru-
nent for irving out hoops, slaves and
and which was the INSOFAR
lble companion of the early settler.
These stakes or oaken strips were
placed upon one another in layers and
The framework then covered with q
leavy coating of clay mortar, except at
he corners from which the ends of the
sticks protraded.
While it is true there is more COM
'ort to be derived from the use of our
modern base-burners and elegant and
cook stoves and ranges, yet |
t is very doubtful if they are more
conducive to good health than the open |
ire place of the olden time, for this fur
lished a permanent means of thorough |
yentilation,as all impure air was drawn |
Up the great chimney. 1t is quite prob |
lble that this may account in part for
he rugged and sturdy race of men and
women who peopled the state at that
lime.
Matches. lucifer matches" o.
oco-fOco matches as they were
irst called, were not in use, and
it therefore became necessary to keep
fire continually, or go to the trouble of
starting one by means of the flint and
steel which was necessary adjunct to
every well regulated household. This
was done by striking the flint with the
steel and catching the sparks by means
of piece of dry punk" From this
the fire was kindlel. 1t frequently
happened that rain or snow had beat
into the great open chimney. thus put
ting out the fire and wetting the hearth.
Because of this and similar accidents
it frequently became necessary for the
boys to run to neighbors, perhaps a
mile away TO borrow fire and it was