The Newtown bee., 1906-07-06
Ten Pages.
LITCHFIELD COUNTY.
WASHINGTON

The lOllOWluk lutcICoUAuS 1OooOA Aoso been received from Matthew Nettle- ton: The state of Ohio was first set tied in the southern part near Mari etta by the Moravians and the north ern part some time later by home seekers from the eastern states, more especially from Vermont, Massachu- setts and Connecticut, as after the war wherein the British burned sever al towns, the government set apart the "Western Reserve' to reimburse the sufferers. The portion, part of the western reserve of Ohio, called Medina county, was settled largely by families that came from Litchtield county, Conn. The names are familiar with many, such as Alcott,l Bronson, Clarks, Blakeslee, Warmers, Weltons, Smiths, Sanfords, Burnhams, North rops, Nettletons and many others. Many of these families came by OK team, being six weeks on the journey. Upon selecting homestead the women staid by the fire of logs while the men rolled up log huts into which they moved with visions of happy homes. They had the music of wild beasts to charm them to sleep and the bears and wolves made it necessary sometimes for the women to know how to use gun and if short of meat they could use it to kill deer or wild turkey for dinner. Their nearest neighbor sometimes was three miles away. In 1916, Mira NorthrOp came to Ohio and selected home. He re- turned to Washington, Conn.,, and taught a singing school and married one of his scholars, Abigail Nettleton, daughter of Daniel Nettleton, ST. In the spring they started for their new home in the "far west," as it was then known. MT Northrop was not of a rowing disposition for he died at the age of 96 on the farm where he first To- cated. Soon others wished to see the thew Connecticut, among them the writer's parents, Nathan Nettleton and wife, Serene Logan, daughter of Matthew Logan. They came by pub lie conveyance, being two weeks on the way. The early settlers brought their principles with them as of more value than their goods and the family altar was erected even before the home, as one good Methodist is re- ported as praying so '. loudly that neighbors supposed him treed by the wolves, but found him beside a big oak tree thanking God for his blessings. This community heard that home missionary minister was coming that way and word was sent out to come together in the morning. A goodly number gathered, cut the logs, split the shingles, erected a church, made seats and upon the ar rival of the minister at p. m. held preaching service and this church stood for years. The privations of the early settlers can at this day only be imagined as many of them, like the writer's mother, were raised in homes of plenty. Cooking was done by the old freplaces and brick oven. The fruits were wild grapes, crab apples and wild plums. True, they raised citrons for sweet meats and pumpkins
 or turnips took the place of apples in
 the mince pies. Then you did not
 hear from the old home very often fol
 postage was 25c to Connecticut. Well
 do remember being sent to the barn
 to hunt eggs enough, at five cents
 dozen, to get "a letter out of the post
 office from my grandparents (postage
 due on delivery). The carriages to ride
 to church were sometimes OK carts
 often heavy lumber wagons, but the
 whole family went if not sick. May l
 add that time has brought great
 changes and now we have most mod
 ern things and ways and the old art
 cast aside and sometimes we heal
 principles and family altars are rele
 gated to the past also, but we hope moi
 always.