Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1932-02-04

and waved when younger and
smaller ones bowed to every breeze.
The tree of our story had been
known to do the same, but that had
been many years before the time
when the writer, with a pencil fash
ioned out of the wood of tree,
which perhaps had sprouted, had
grown to maturity, and been trans
formed into pencils since the tree
Of our story had been SO rooted and
grounded that it, SIS the mighty one
of the neighborhood. bowed not, ey-
cept on great occasions occasions
when there was great commotion in
the neighborhood.
Let Us stop here to tell you that
this tree was not chosen because i
stood quiet while younger ones
seemed to get all worked up with
every passing breeze. not on ac-
count of its size, but ON account of
its age. While age may count for
little or much with men-all owing
10 the man, the age Of this tree
would have meant nothing to the
writer, had it been during any 9th
er period Of the worlds history.
Perhaps we should say that Morgan
county folks of the period of which
we shall tell were too busy to give
much thought, much less to worry
about the rest of the world. While
men of education had long since
settled the question of the shape of
the world, and folks had accepted
the theory that the world was nor
only round, but went around leav-
ing the minds of the inhabitants
free to discuss other, if not more
important questions.
But the story will first concern
members OF the human race who
lived died and no one knows
where their ashes rest.
We refer to the red man who
roamed the hills and valleys when
our tree was a saplins We might
say here, that we De not care to 80
back to the cave men, as We have
always had the idea that there has
been enough guessing about these
folks.
When NE would have our story
start, the red man followed the val
leys having no fear Of white men,
they had never heard the crack OF
the white mans rifle. Then a.
tine went on. and the white men
began coming from the Virginias
the red men changed their course
and travelled the long ridges They
did this that they might be able to
have a better view OF the country
and its inhabitants. The white man
has always been called wiser than
men of any other race. So far as
we can remember, this statement
has always been made by a white
man.
Bear Run
The years rolled on, the tree
grew high into the air, the roots
spreading out sand into mothe;
earth that they might support the
tree in storm, as we'll as when all
was quiet. We want to stop her,
to tell you that the tree was located
on the bank OF a run (Bear Rum j..
And some Of you wonder why they
called it Bear Run, and we want to
tell you it was not a misnOmer as
the bears roamed up and down. and
had their dens in the great sand
stone lodges along the hillsides.
Even today at least one Of these
dens is still a part Of the scenery O.
the valley This being true story.
we do not hesitate to give names
and locations. The den referred to
is on the farm of G. 2. Roberts
two miles north of Meigs. These
rocks are known as the copperas
rocks. Many visitors come here
each year. This is one place where
YOU can visit without paying. The
bears continued to inhabit the val
ley for several years after the COM
ing of the white man with the Ions
rife. Old men use to tell us in our
boyhood Of their hunting and trap
ping experience. In fact, memories
keep rushing in. until we do not
have time to check and place them
in their rightful place. Our friend
T.. w. Leland once remarked, tha!
he would rather man would tel
him a lie and tell it quick, than t
be all day telIing the truth.
With the coming of white mel
came the erection of homes per
manent homes While they Were
only log cabins. they were homes
sweet homes. and while we not ever
minated our story concerns th'
men and women who occupied these
cabin homes they and their off
spring, down to the present time.
Bristol Township People
Those Of our readers who hav'
followed us through our penci
pushing career, will not need to b.
told that we are starting a story o
the men and women who have car
ried on in Bristol township, AM
gone on to other fields, as we'll a
those who have entered into rest
according TO the preacher. Will
we shall tell of men who have gain
ed prominence in church and state
attained wealth and honor, we shal
also tell of those who have writte1
their names in memories album
through their kindly ministrations
as well as of the few that the Lor'
only knows why they were per
mitted to cumber the earth.
Starting back with the first set
tier, we come down through tn
years and tell of their offsprin
here and elsewhere that have file
their niche. And we want to sto