Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1932-03-03

Montrose. Mo. He never married.
Conrad, single, address Creighton
Mo-: Charles, who died at the age
of two wears, is buried at Meigs.
Folks Just a little older than the
writer, tells us Henry and family
had a public sale at the present
home of G. E. (Bub) Anderson, just
south Of the old Bristol store, be
fore leaving for the west. As we
remember the story, they had colt
that was not bringing what MT.
Iindimore felt it should, so he kept
If And as they started, one OF the
bows rode it, following the rest or
the family, who went in covered
wagon. Whether he rode it all the
way. or traded it off on the way
we never knew. Perhaps some one
who made the trip in a covered
wagon. will send us incidents of
the trip, that we may make it part
of-we came near saying our
story" but we would rather say
yours All we are doing is to
arrange it as best we can. We are
giving Mr.. Durbin list of names
of Bristol folks away from nome
that he may send them samples of
the Democrat. If you know of any
one who knows of things we should
know, won't you tell them we want
to know about them.
Somewhere we said we thought
the Baptist church was the first one,
another that was a close second, II
not the first, was the beginning OF
the Meigs church. The first build
ing was on the Robert Whitehouse,
now the Stanley Ray farm, in Sec
ton "a, which is along Meigs creek,
and near the Meigsville township
line. From here they moved to the
present Meigs cemetery ground,
where a two story building, not only
served as meeting house. but hall
as well We remember OF hearing
the old folks tell an incident OF
the late Sarah Sprague who was the
biggest woman ever living in the
township. This is a broad state
ment. but those who knew Mrs.
Sprague when she was at her best,
will bear us out in the statement.
It was told that on the occasion W.
have in mind Mrs. Sprague came IN
late-when the crowd had gathered
in the I'D stairs of the building.
When she entered, the building
shook and creaked and the folks
showed their fright, which offended
Mrs. Sprague, who left the building.
In our Meigs cemetery story, we
told of Mrs Sprague, but we feel
we failed to exhaust the subject.
, We suppose some folks will laugh
and say a big subject. Mrs. Sprague
as we told you, was the last wife OF
Samuel Wilson. After his death she
married D. M. Sprague, and here
hangs a tale. AS we remember the
story. D. NJ had made date b,
mail for his first visit. In some way
he word got out, and the neigh
bors knowing she had never seer
him, decided to play a joke on her
SO they dressed the late John Nc
clothing to match, and he called al
the home. and introduced himself
as Mr. Sprague, when Mrs. Spraguf
REPLIED THAT calt be, as Mr
Sprague is in the house now They
were Just little late. Mayhap W.
have told you, but we feel 1T VIII
stand repeating. Sally Spraglf
could beat Heinz baking beans
We may tell you more about these
folks later in the story.
Wild Game
In the early days, game was kill
ed not only for food but for pro
lection. The wolf was one of tht
worst foes of the early settlers, anc
now as we are in the third anf
| fourth generation, what a change
The game is protected by salariec
official. Squirrels, rabbits, coons
skunk, mink, opossum, muskrat anf
weasel, comprise the animals pro
tected SO far the ground hog has
not been protected, and is quite
plentiful Quail and pheasant ar
protected, and only lately we learf
that it has been found that thu
crow is the worst enemy OF the
quail,
In our childhood grandmothal
Ray had the only flock of pea-fowl.
in the township. Where she go
the start we don't remember o
ever hearing. The male birds Were
noted for the beautiful feathers II
their tails. These birds were semi
tame-that is they would come IL
and eat with the chickens, theI
leave for the woods, where they
nested. The feathers were mad
into brushes and sold for a goo'
price. The male bird would hide
after losing his plumage until new
crop grew. Many a seeming mar
or boy has had his hair stand III
when he disturbed these birds j
passing through the woods at night
Their cry was shrill and piercing
and the more so in the stiffness 0
the night. Much has been related
by the forefathers of the fishing il
the creeks.
Small Streams
For the benefit of our western
readers, We feel we should tell then
, that three creeks are all calle
Meigs. Big Meigs, while windin
here and there, and seemingly yer
crooked, only touches seven sec
tions. The Muttonburg branch goe
through four sections, and the on
called Little Meigs only touche
one section This is the one on tn
, east side, where the first settle