Year: 1869

in the county Of Hamilton, Ohio. ana removed
from there To Miami county, in the same Stale,
at the age OF thirteen years, which was IN tne
spring OF 1914. Previous to our removal OBJ
tained my little education in log cabin school
houses, where the highest branch taught WAS
arithmetic, AMI in that branch was not lar ad-
vanced when left for my new homo. Then even
the great city of Cincnatti was but 4 small place
10 what it is now; then but few STEAMBOATS, ran
on the river. aud well remember many OF Ire
lu1crous stories told about them before any one
had passed down the river. 1t was rumored 'hat
steamboat was in progress OF building some-
where up the river, and would soon come down,
and the next thing was that as some persons
were along the shore, they saw something away
up the river about the size OF a mans bat, and


in an instant it passed down stream anu was
out of sight, aud they could not imagine what


it was, unless it was steamboat. IN our new
home which was log cabin rs was our neigh
bors, we saw all the privations and incidents to
or in frontier lie, for truly Miami county was


then on tn c frontier; from the north east corner
of the county to lake Erie there was not
a white inhabitant All was dense forest


inhabited only by wild beasts aud Indians many
of whom l have seen, for they roamed about


from place to place ard some times near the set
tlement, and while the men would hunt the game
the sQuaws nude baskets and brought them TO
our cabins to trade for bread and other food,
and in one OF these trades it was that some look
offence at man by the name Oi Dllbone, wh0m





and killed him and wife. Dense as the forest
was, we went into it with will and cleared up
our farms, and sometimes we had to go in search
OF grain and when we were so lucky as to hnd a
grist OF wheat for the present. we hardly knew
where the next was to come from. AS Tor meat
we frequently went TO the woods for game which
was plenty At that time only the high ground
along the river and creeks were selected to settle
on, as large amount OF land lying between


from the natness OF the country, was thought to
Iii, at
part OF the year; but time has proved the reverse,
for have seen those vacancies filed up, those
forests eveled, those wet places reclaimed ny
drainage and now have become the best produ-
cling farms in the country. We then knew every
body Tor miles around, and were on the most IN


innate terms and ii any one had cabin TO Duild'
stable or log barn, or rs the Yankee used to say
sOme piles to make the whole force turned out
and the work was done.


Then you might run the line on the north OF
the county to the west and very soon you were
beyond any white settlement, for Indiana was
not then settled so far north, but one and an


other came and pushed ur ther and further out
until now it is filled up 10 the Lake ana all
around the chain of lakes TO Detroit. Cnicago,
and on and on to where no one thought OF then,
so that now the settlement reaches. or VIII soon
reach IRON Ocean to Ocean. In regard to reli-
gion, the different denominations were repre-
rented, and met in private houses, or their log
houses of worship; yes, and have been TO meet
ing in Piqua when they had their log ho"ses,
and in summer we met in the grove or barn lor
worship, and then our Sunday -go.to meeting
clothes were in accordance with fur hCuses--all
of our own manufacture from flax aud wool, and
the raw cotton, and then when we took hold OF
Il lady clothed in lusey of her own make, we
had an armiul Of health and frmness. The
preachers OF those days were those who were
| raised up among us and having been raised IN
the woods as il WERE and like myself, not hav-
| inu hn ntlvo tn p( an pln sometimes
made mistakes by using words that did not con-
vey the idea intended, and one know, when
he was about to announce his text, said "Breth-
rem and friends, design add essng you day
from few words of that eminent Apostle, JOB"
But they were Jealous and energetic, and many
were brou gh into the churches whose lives were
characterized by q gody life and p'ous zeal Tor
the cause OF religion, but now we see tney must
60 to come institution of learning before
they can preach. Don't understand me to un


dervaluc the education OF Il preacher, no, no,
but the one want, is one that is genuinely con-
verted to COP, and has the call. mean one that
feels like the eminent apostle Paul did, when be
, said "WOc is me il preach not the gospel"
When all these meet in the man, we have man
OF power, and one whom COP blesses with seals
to his ministry.


When became of age, also became a voter
and then the name OF parties were but little
, known, so little that did not know by the name
, whether | was q Whig or Democrat, but as Is
my custom, | examined the pr inciplcs OF the
parties from the revolution down. and saw plain
, ly that the old Federal party, with John Adams
at its head were in favor oil limited monarchy
, while the other party the Republicans were for
free government. and al the reelection OF 1hos.
Jefferson the people went in Tor Democracy.
| then took sides with the Democracy and have
remained there ever since. But in them days we
looked at the qualifications of men as they ap-
pearcd before the public for Office, together with
their honesty, until it was the case we had to 80
into line. Then there was some honor in those
who clectioneered, they did not mis- represent as
now; give specimen. When Miami was as
sociated with Darke in electing representative,
two men in Miami appeared before the public
for the station, and one from Plqua went into
Darke to speak for his FREUD and luckily found
a company OF lOg'rollcrs in Il clearing where he
told his erraud. He said there were two candi-
dates in the field and named them, and as they
were in manner unknown to the company, they
honestly inquired OF him as to their honesty and
, other qualifications, whereupon he replied (:
"Gentlemen, they are both good men, and will
s do their endeavors to serve the people well; |
have not q word to say against either OF them,
, but gentlemen, MIR. Jenkson is we'll inread
man. therefore ieel very 'contercnt' he will suit
5 us the best as he is the best 'deormed' man."
Then ii was that as general thing both par
ties stood firm and square on the constitution,
revered its provisions, scorned to receive a
bribe or do mean act yet true to the principles
OF federalism, they favored the capitalist when-
, ever they had the power to make the laws regu
lating the tariff ana banks. You, SIR no doubt
will remember when they made the law that cap


talists, who would invest in internal improve
ments should not be obliged to pay taxes on their
capital, while man who was iorehanded enough
to lend his neighbor hundred dollars had to
pay a tax on 1t. And thus it has been all the
way down from the commencement of the Federal
} party. They have always hated the Consttu.
ton and It has been in their way and aas alas,
have lived tosee the time when they,.by sopbisry
and fraud, have broken over all hounds, and un-
der cover Of war which they inauguIated, and have
cried rebellion, rebellion, an" union, and there
by deceived the people aud tried to impeach
, their own choice Tor a Vice President who by
law became President; and all for doing MS
duty; and who are now taking measures to tai +,
the power from the States to regulate their own
| affairs as to The right of suffrage by proposing
the Fifteenth Amendment, so called, which ii
ratified, opens the way for such times as Amer
lea has never yet seen. o how l wish every
s State was as fully aroused to sense Of their
danger as California is.