Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1913-01-28
SOME OF THE P|O-
NEER DWELLINGS
The Way the Early Settlers Of Ham
ilton County Builded Them
selves Homes in Which
to Live.
PIONEER DAY HOSPITALITY.
Some of the Arrivals in 1854 -Da.
vid Beach Walks to the City
Of Des Moines.
PIONEER DAY HOSPITALITY.

From the History of Hamilton
County: The settlers were mostly
poor and unable to buy lumber suf-
ficient for their wants, and as the
revenues of the county for the first
year after it's organization did not
exceed $1,000, it will be seen that
there were no means at hand to Sc
cure bridges. Houses were built
from cellar to garnet without sawed
lumber and in many instances with
out nails The logs were of round
or hewn logs, the openings between
them being chinked up with strips
of wood and daubed with
mud The floors and doors were
made with "puncheons' split out Of
logs and dressed with an ak. The
roof was made of Shakes" rived
out of logs and held in place by
weights laid over each layer OF
"clapboards. Some were fortunate
enough to have glass windows. but
even this luxury was denied to the
many. In which case Stats we're
fastened across the windows and
creased paper pasted over them.s In
some cases even this was not done,
and the openings were left open,
and were closed only when severe
cold weather demanded it. Large
holes were bored into the logs which
formed the wall Of the house and in
to these seasoned stakes were driv-
en-, extending into the room far
enough to support bed, and some
times two or three hunks Of this
kind were made one above the 9TH
er. Slabs or "puncheons' were fixed
against the wall in the same manner
for cupboard and water bench.
Chairs were made without backs,
though some settlers could make
rough ones without bottoms. Every
log cabin had its huge open fire.
place-for stoves were not used by
the early settlers-where great log
fires We're built, and upon the broad
stone hearth the good wife and
sturdy daughters did the family
baking. When good. -four or corn
meal was to be had, what grand
light bread or corn pone these pion-
eer danes could make, and many a
pioneer mouth will water at the rec
objection. Suspended from the crane
over the fire was chain with a.
hook, upon which pots and kettles
were hung for cooking. Coffee, corn
bread. venison, crab apples and
hominy were the substantials Of life.
Wheat bread, sugar, etc., were lux
iries, to be set out on holiday occa-
sions or when company" came. and
not infreauently they were taken OF
The table before the children tat the
second tablet got at them. Some
times, however, lump of sugar was
given a hungry little fellow to give
IN idea of the good things he too
,ould enjoy when he grew up and
became company"
The rough and rugged lives, thus
.nvironed by such uninviting con-
iitions, were filed with much kind
less. and it was rare indeed that the
needy passerby failed to obtain free
shelter and relief.
The rude doors were fastened by
! wooden latch on the inside. AL
tring was attached to this latch
md passed out through a hole in
he door, which upon being pulled
rom the outside raised the latch. |
70 draw in the string was to lock
he door securely. These latch.
trings We're always out to the new
omer and neighboring settler. It'll
vas the sign Of hospitality, very
'earty invitation to call often being