The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1893-12-21
PIONEER DAYS IN OHIO.
HIGHLY INTERESTING INCIDENTS OF
EARLY PIONEER LIFE
Something That Has Never Before
Been owen tho Pubic.
Written for the news Democrat.

When the North west territory was thrown |
open 90 settlement about n century ago, |
there was sucn rusn OF smtgrAns across |
the Onto aud along me lakes that cry
went up from tue original States tnAtthey |
were ~ be depopulatsO; aud during the |
hundred years siuce, no region otcouuHy
IN the world has grown 30 rapidly ana
continuously in population.
Tue wagon in use III tDe pioneer days OF
Ohio wAs a veblc 10 sixteen fees long, Wltn
pnneIed sides, rising apd narrowing AZ
the ends. Tue sides were always painted
blue, and the ends red. Over tue Top was
q Rreat canvas cover. IL was known py
the name of Psunsylv Ania, Bahmore'
Conestoga, EuRltsh ana swiss wagon, tue
name douoLIeBs beiug determined 10y tne
region from which she immigrant came.
All transportation was doue oy WAGON
and so much time W ss req lired, especially
in winter aud raioy weather, TO reacn
Ohio points, that the price of all kinds OF
products was very hign, IeamSterS
generally travelled 10 company, as exHa
horses were frequently need ID 70 draw
wagon from the muu.
On arrival at the destination, the nrst
thing was the erection OF a cabin. Inc
cabins we're ali built alike. Ehey stood
with the side 10 the road, having the one
window, which was generally tue Widln
of two logs Az gable end was the
chimney, with u flrC place frC quently six
feet in width. 70 the height of the hre
place the chimney WAS conetructed OF
stones of any available character,
cSGSGHs cs%snssd .,rSw WHO ,ua el.S' mortar Above
the fireplace the material wss sticks two
inches ia diameter, and laid upon each
other like the logs in the walls, and pro-
tected with a coating Of the mortar:
The entrance was at the Tea-, through
which horse WAS driven dragging the Dig
Iogs for the hrs. The table was always
In the center of the room, being built
when the fl hoOr was laid. Ia one corner OF
the cabin was the bsu OF the old FOLKS,
generally hidden by curtain, and 10 an
other the ladder up which the children
clambered 10 their couch in the attic.
The roof wa made Of spnt shlugles, or OF
boards, held IN position by BIAns eX'eDd'
ing cross wise at Jne cone aud caves. Inc
chaiT0 were high and straight backed
made OF woven nBh ue hickory strips. Oa
the wall hung tue old style clock, not hHv'
ing the case in which such relics now
appear.
Steam was unknown as a means of
travel in those days. the impression
created by the tlcst steamboat. which WAS
called the Or US, on It's initial trip from
Plttsburg in 1911, 10 indicated uy tue fol-
lowing letter, which was written at Gin
cinpaH 10 the fall OF 1856:
"I saw the first steamboat that came
down the OHIO river. Such craft had
not been ht q I'd Of by the Inhabitants OF the
wilderness where we lived, We wers ell
taken by surprise. We heard the monster
putting and shriekinR number OF miles
away The machinery had not been
brought TO perfection, and hence thero wGs
more noise than iS made by modern boats.
Az they heard Lhe mysterious sounds al
distance some wore fearful that the Judg'
ment day had come. CONSERVATION setz>
ed many hearts. One woman I .inted with
frignt and had to be b jrne into the house.
Anxiety TO prove ito nature became more
intense AS il approached. There was no
telegraph to herald its coming and solve
the mystery. At last the monster made
its appearance and moved before us in
bodily form, Fcom its motion on the
water, its proportions and the appearance
of men on the decks we correctly coDjec-
tured that II was boat"
AT such disia ace from civilization as
tho inhabitants of Ohio then were, the
furnishing Of the home was confined to
necessary articles. Ia addition to those
mentioned, there was large wheel for
wool, the small one for fax and the
hAtchel stand for combiug fl *. Light was
made by lard lamps, which were metal
vessels four inches long, two wide and en-
inch deep, having spout from which
protrudsd wick. Filled with lard they
would furnish light for 4 evening. One
hung on each side of the Fireplace, aud
others, shaped like tureen, were for
standing aud carrying. OccAsionlly could
be found q lighting taper used largely In
the east. 1t consisted OF q small taper
slipped into cork having hole in the
center, aud a brass covering over the
bottom. Thia was tlOated in n glass or
other vessel filled with water, ai.I would
furnish light during the night. Beds
were furuisbed with feather ticks, both
for lying upon and cnVerlets.
The fireplace was the central feature of
every house. All cooking was done by
the open fire. Stoves did not make an
appearance in the state, until about 1880
The first stoves contained great mass of
metal and were known sF tens
plate, ffom the mstal being in
ten pieces. These stove6 bad q rotary top
and q revolving oven, gu ned by crank,
so that the contents of the oven could be
brought directly over the firs. When one |
was brought into the State, settlers gath |
cred from miles around TO see II bake. |
which IL did very poorly. The frat price |
of these stoves was sixty dollsrs, which |
soon fell to twenty five, and the Improve |
ments corresponded to the amount OF |
reduction Ia price. With the open |
fire the cooking utensils were |
generally confined 80 large end
a small pot and a dutch oven.
The latter vessel Was an iron pct having |
closely fisIing lid, and Tben uAet, glowing |
wood embers we're pilSd around Gnd over |
II aud tine contents thus baked. Among the
dsinties prepared over 5b,nv 1Ss open open
and the ash cake. The latter was of
wheat flour, and cooked by being buried |
in the ashes. Tue Johnny cake was OF
cornmeAl, and was placed upon "a Dparl /
kept for Ihe purpose and baked. In many /
places pewter dishes we're used Instead OF
uueensware. Children, as a ru'e, ale ~ /
tne second table, aud were compelled 30 |
stand while eating. Ordinarily the means |
OF obtHinin9 fire wAs by She tlndeT-Sox or |
the uteel. The tindertbox corresponded |
10 the malch-lafe Of the present, being in- |
tended for carrying in the pocket. IL was |
q tin box four inches long, an inch vide |
aud deep, and divided into three comparl- !
ments. the FIRST being for tinder and 'hs |
other TWO for sulphur matches and hiut. |
Ia the front was steel wheel with q |
Rrooved axle. A round strap wac passed |
over the groove and loosely held between |
the fluaers grasping the box. When |
pulled with the other hand IL caused |
rapid revolution of the wheel, TO which |
the flint was applied, throwing sparkS |
upon the tinder. The steel was simply . |
rod curved at one end for n handle, which |
was struck against the Hint. lt hung by |
the fire. place, and was for use in she |
house.
The inability to dispose of farm pro
ducts, and the consequent scarcity OF /
money, are the features OF business life. |
OrdinariIy n Spanish dollar was cut into |
five pieces and each piece passed for q |
quarter. Curious as IL seems, coin In |
come wau secured very largely through |
trade with Chiua. Ginseng root, which /
was pleatlful, was gathered and taken |
east, where IL was exported to China, coin |
being paid for IL. Freight rates to and |
from the east, varied greatly, ranging
from three and Ave cents up 20 even thirty |
and fifty cents q pound the hupdred |
miles. A bushel OF wheat was given for |