Taken fron the paper; THE KITTERMAN NEWS Vol. V111, No. 3, Dec. 1900 SOLOMON KITTERMAN was born near Floyd county, Virginia, November 15, 1802. He was a plain farmer boy helping his father on the farm and learning the trade of blacksmithing. His chances for education were very limited, but he learned to read and write and had a good knowledge of arithmetic, keeping his blacksmithing accounts in a maner that would be a credit to the artisans of today. One of the interesting features of his early life was muster days when all the able bodied male citizens gathered together to exercise in training of arms. He always took active part on these occasions and was one of the buglers. Often after the days work was done he would take down his bugle and would go out into the yard and play piece after piece until the surrounding woods rang again and again. No dought there are many interesting stories that could be recalled of his earlier years if but the time and attention were brought to bear upon them, which I hope this short sketch may bring forth as it has been prepared from what notes could hastily gathered. In 1829 Solomon came to Wayne county, Indiana with his two brothers, Philip and -------------. and stayed about eighteen months working at his trade of blacksmithing while here. Correspondance was an expensive luxury at that time, it costing fifty cents to send a letter from Indiana to Virginia. While here he wrote to Levica Slusher whom he married on his return home, on June 28, 1831. The whole trip was made on horseback, as was also a subsequent trip he made from here in a short time after his final location in Indiana. After his marriage they lived in Virginia for seven years working at his trade. In the fall of 1838 he with his wife and four children moved to Wayne county. Like all early pioneers they endured many hardships. The traveling in those days was quite different from now and the journey of a few hundred miles in a heavy three-horse wagon over mud roads through a country very thinly settled, took a greater amount of courage than the average young couple of today have. The day of rubber tire buggy, bicycle and automobile were unheard of. To add to the discomfort and to the trials of the trip all four of the children were suffering with whooping cough and the season of the year added to hardships. They were six long weeks on the road and during that time spent only two nights under a roof. One of their great difficulties, or so we would consider it, was kindling of the fires, for matches were unknow at that time. The necessary articles for their purpose were flint rock, powder and tow made from flax, and a pocket knife. A small bunch of the tow sprinkled with power was first laid on the ground. Over this was held the flint and struct with a sharp downward stroke with the back of the closed knife. The sparks thus produced, would fire the powder and thus the tow and soon a bright fire would be blazing, around which the meal was soon cooked. They came by way of Eaton, Ohio, and stopped a short time with his brother Daniel. While here they encountered a severe snowstorm. They then came on to Indiana and moved into a cabin on Phillip Kitterman's farm. This was a typical cabin of the times, with its stick chimeny, puncheon floor, and a clapboard door. He worked at first trade that winter for Mr. Neil, who ran a shop in Pinhook or what is now known as Jackson's Hill. He bought a farm of 160 acres on which he lived, but didn't get possession until spring. He built a small cabin of round logs and clay floor. The house into which he afterwards moved was a large double one, in which they lived until 1859. In 1860 he began to make preparations for his new home by burning a brick kiln. The mud was ground by oxen being driven round and round the mud pit until the clay was thoroughly mixed. The oxen would often become tired and lie down. When all attempts to get them up on their feet was in vain, a chain was looped around their horns and by hitching a horse to them, they were soon hauled out on solid ground where after resting a short time they were driven back to resume their work. The following summer and fall he built the brick house, still standing on the home place. He used the log cabin he first built as a blacksmith shop, doing almost all the work for the surrounding country. He hauled his iron from Cincinnati, Ohio. For this trip it would take several days. He would haul a load of corn or other produce to the city and back with the iron. After he got home he would work it into various aarticles needed by himself and neighbors. He made his own horse shoes, nails, hinges, and in fact all the things he needed in the shop, working from long before day until late at night. The greater part of the land he bought was a heavy growth of timber. That was very hard work, only those who have had a like experience can realize the vast amount of labor it takes to clear a piece of land. From such products they raised on the farm and what he earned in his shop, he supported a family of ten children of whom nine are still living. He added to the farm until it contained 280 acres. That admid all the trial of a pioneer life he was always jovial and happy, always ready and willing to oblige and accommodate others. In Politices he was a Democrate. In his religious belief he leaned toward Universalism. Thus he spent his life on the farm and died at the age of 72 years in 1875. Obit for Tabitha by Mrs Alta King, Spout Spring, Va. 24593. Levica Slusher Kitterman, Indiana, Passed away on January 20, 1897, age 84 years, 10 months, and 11 days. She was born on March 9, 1812 to David and Nancy (Cox) Slusher. She was united in marriage with Solomon Kitterman on June 29, 1831, Floyd Co. To this union was born 12 children, 7 sons and 5 daughters, her husband and three children have preceded her, leaving nine children, 23 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild, 3 sisters and other relatives and friends to mourn their loss. They came to this County (Indiana) in 1838, stopped for a short time with a brother, then settled on the farm on which she died. She bore many of the privations of those times, but was ever thoughtful of others. lending a helping hand to those in need; but her work is finished, her labor ended and she has gone to reap her reward having expressed as much only a few days before she departed this life, by saying how happy she would be when the Lord would take her in his arms and take her home. While her loss will be deeply felt in the home and community, we feel we can but say "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." ------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. 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