The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1947-10-09

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Concluded from page u
tions and were alike terrorized by
the Indians.
Most "frst" settlers were interest
ed only in hunting, pelts and the
game. They thought little of the
development or farming and desired
isolation. Few wanted neighbors
nearer than five or ten miles. Too
thick settlement disturbed the game
and when settlers began to flock in
the game was quick to disappear.
"Half-faced Camps"
AS a consequence the first cabins
were built by the hunters themselves
without neighborhood help and were
"Half-faced camps"-log cabins open
in front and with only three walls.
AS more pioneers came into the
wilderness their cabins were built
with assistance of neighbors in "rais-
ings," and their small patch of land
was cleared by clog rollings." These
were social events in the settlements
and always were followed by big
suppers and plenty of whisky, fur
nished by the neighbor who had so
been helped.
There was a system to pioneer
"raisings." First the settler would
go into the forest and select, fell and
cut in measured lengths the strong,
even young trees which were to
comprise his cabin walls. They would
be dragged to his building lot and
piled on the four sides where they
were to be used. Then wide, tough
clapboards for the roof were rived
from even white oak blocks and put
near the logs. Then the neighbors
were notified.
Everyone Comes
They came with handspikes and
axes and the anticipation of much
enjoyment. Each neighbor had a jot
he was most adept at and the
cabin usually was up before twilight
Some raised the logs to the places
they were to be used; others notched
and fitted the ends; others placed
the clapboards and put on the roof
poles. Then came the big stick-and
mud chimney, the log Fireplace anC
mud hearth, and the chinking of the
cracks between logs with mud.
Then supper, the liquor, and the
raising was over. The light work
saving out a window space; fran
ing it and fixing on the paper win
dow, creased with bears grease t,
make it transparent; the woodel
door, wooden hinges and the latch
string, was left to the cabin owner
Furnishings of the cabin wert
meager. There was a pole bed will
laced thong springs in the corner
The mattress was a tanned buffalo
hide. The table was a split log Will
four legs and the chairs, rounds Gu
from log into which legs had beer
fixed-just three-legged stools.
Dutch oven, large pot and skillet
followed wooden dishes and a few
pewter tea and table spoons were
the household outfit.
Patch Cleared for Corn
Usually a small patch surround
Jig the cabin was cleared for corn. Il
the settler had a horse, its harness
was of leatherwood bark and the
collar of plated corn husks, sewec
together. If he owned oxen, wooder
yokes We're used. When possible hi
plowed the ground with a shove
| plow-it was better among the roots
They ground their own corn in 6
hand-mill or pounded it with pestlt
and mortar, sieving it into flour
Out of the finer they made breac
and mush, and out of the coarser
boiled hominy.
Their meat was bear, venison anC
wild turkey. 1t was difficult to raise
hogs or sheep because of the wolves
and bears. Consequently pork anc
wooien clothes were very scarce
Buckskin, homespun and linsey-wool
sey were worn by both sexes.
And so began every county ir
Ohio, it was a wonderful life if g
settler could survive the wilderness
the Indians, the hardship and pri,
vation.