Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-06-01
LOOKING BACKWARD
Fifty Years Ago: Or the Cabins of Yer.
non County

In my last the cabin was erected but
many days of hard work must be done
before the family could move in. Though
the cash outlay often did not exceed
five dollars. The doorways and " ~
dows must be cut out and holes bored
IN the end of the logs and then slabs
hewn out, bored and then primed with
wooden pins to the logs to hold them in
place The pioneer must go TO the
woods and select large oak to make
the roof boards; then go several miles
to get crosscut saw to cut the blocks
which we're usually three feet long.
They must be rossed THAT is, the bark
must be hewn Off. Then they must
be split, hearted and rived into boards.
A crotched small tree was selected for
break, the crotches being as nearly
even as possible and about six feet long.
The fro was steel blade abont sixteen
inches long and about three nches wide,
with large strong eye a. one end to
insert a good handle made of very tough
timber, and then wooden mallet usu-
ally made of a small sappling and cut
about three feet long with one end
dressed down to make the hand hold
The blocks or bolts were placed on end
in the crotch of the break, which was
heavily weighted down, and very care
fully the fro was set before the ham
mer was used, as great care must be
taken in order to get an even smooth
board. 1t was considerable of trade
and when possible an experienced per-
son was employed to do the work.
Care was also taken in the selection of
the tree. IL must be straight-grained
and quite tough, this being necessary
as a brash stick would break cross,
leaving thick places which would not
make close roof and would permit
more snow to drift through. After
wards the boards must be carefully
piled, crossing alternate layers and
heavily weighed down toprevent ware
ing This was also the time to split the
sticks for the chimney, which were
heavier than roof boards and about two
inches wide.
A track OF blazed trail had been
madelby cutting the bark of the trees
occasionally along the route through the
forest. Most every woodsman knows
this was done, but perhaps some of our
younger readers do not. This was done
with an ak by hewing the bark off a
tree about four feet, or Whereabouts,
from the ground so it could readily be
seen at some distance and was usually
about ten inches. long and three inches
wide. The public roads were distin-
guished from byways by having the
letter III" cut occasionally and the
traveller could always know whether
he was on the road by these latter
marks, which were not more than fifty
rods apart. Most Of the lumber was
| first obtained at Guess mill on Mill
creek above Sabin, and later on Pine
river at Phoenix mill, just above the
present site of Yuba.
A story is told of the owner who was
quite a successful nimrod and was q
great help in Kidding the locality of
vermin. Richland county gave bounty
on wildcats and Vernon county did not.
| AZ the county l.:s:-- -yas near his place
he was someti.nes over the line. Or
one occasion he succeeded in getting {
| fine cat just over the line but did moi
want the dogs to kill IL until after
crossing the line. He therefore has.
tened to get some strong hickory bark
and q pole to snare IL while the dogs
we're fighting it. He succeeded in get.
ing the bark over its head but the thing
luCbGItHiiEEO W 0tC kAttAE 0Aiu RttAS1 III
til it was choked to death before reach.
ing the county line.
The first windows came from Musco.
da and later from James hardware
store, Richland Center. The rock for
the hearthstone and foundation for the
chimney were usually found near. The
stone and sticks forming tho chimney
were heavily laid in Thoroughly mixed
clay mortar to make them fire proof.
Many of the pioneers cooked by the
fireplace several years before they
could get cook stove. All complies
the family move in happy, healthy and
contented. 1t was home.
ALPHEUs T. JORDAN.
La Fargo, May %.