COLUMBIA COUNTY OHIO - MORRIS/MILLER History Chapter 11 (published 1873) *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Maggie Stewart-Zimmerman MaggieOhio@columbus.rr.com November 5, 1999 *********************************************************************** "HISTORY OF THE MORRIS AND MILLER FAMILIES" By Morris Miller 1873 *********************************************************************** Chapter 11 Incidents of Home and Abroad A few days after our return, Uncle David Morris came over to see us. He had left home with that prospect in view, being desirous to see how we were getting along since he had left us alone almost two years ago all crowded in one house. He, with all laudable zeal and perserverance, had been a foreman among his younger brothers the season before in building a large stone mansion for their father, much of the material having been gathered from the fields some years previous. I mention this circumstance as being honorable for him to see their father in comfortable buildings before he left him, as he was then about 21 years of age. He remained with us a few days, and, seeing all well, returned home. Father resumed his school and taught until late autumn, when his term ended. Father having business over at the old home, took me along, which was a great satisfaction to me, as I always had a propensity to travel and see what I could. We got to Stokes’ the first night, finding the old couple rather lonely, as their older son had been called into the military service about a month later than his brother. Grandfather, in order to comfort his lonely friends, had sent over one of his younger sons, Mordecai by name (he being about 11 years old) to live with them and do chores during the winter. Two days later we arrived among our relatives and friends, who were glad to see us and expressed much sympathy that they felt for us during the times of alarms and troubles in the west. Father getting through with his business and short visit, returned home and spent the winter very comfortably. Our friend Stokes’ boys returned safe in the spring. As the year 1812 passed with many troubles, we hoped the next would be more propitious, but an incident occurred that year that I can not forbear relating. We three older boys had become of an age and size to be pretty efficient at clearing, and Father feeling a little better in health, we resolved to clear a field for wheat that summer. The timber had been deadened on it for some years before; consequently, it was very thick set with grubs, but we got it mostly clear in the fore part of the season. Father had arranged matters so he could attend the Yearly Meeting at Mt. Pleasant, it being the first one held there. The boys were left to heap up and burn the brush. A few days after he left, brother Isaac was sent on an errand about two miles off, on a young mare supposed to be perfectly safe, but when coming near the place the horse took flight at some hogs near by. When he pulled the reins she reared up, slid him off and fell over on him, breaking his thigh. He was soon discovered by a passing woman, who hurried to where he was going to get the necessary assistance. He was carefully carried in and word was sent to us. Not waiting for counsel, they sent for the most skilled man in the neighborhood - George Brown - as no doctor was nearer than 10 miles, and he was uncertain at that. Brown came about the time Mother and I arrived, and as soon as proper appliances could be prepared the fracture was set, and as not other injuries were apparent, it was hoped that he would get along. The neighbors prepared a bier and carried him home, but upon lifting him from the bier to the bed, a slight jar occurred, which soon subsided, and it was hoped to be all right. The weather being warm, the fracture became very painful, and on the fifth day after the accident it became almost insufferable. The bandage was loosened and the bones were found to be out of place. A doctor was sent for, but could not be obtained, and Brown was again brought. He reset the fracture, although it was a much more painful operation than the former one. By careful nursing and attention he got along very well. This occurred while Father was away and was a great trial to us all, but our kind neighbors and friends did much to comfort and assist us, so as to draw from Father when he came home and saw what happened his most hearty return of thanks and gratitude for their kind attentions. It so happened that Grandfather paid us a visit soon after Father got home, which was very acceptable at that time. The above described accident had much retarded our progress in the new clearing, yet we had succeeded in heaping most of the brush. Robert and I, feeling emulous to please Grandfather, knowing that his greatest delight was to see industrious boys, the evening being pleasant and no wind astir, we went out quietly with our torches, and, running from heap to heap, soon had a greater fire than was generally seen. A large fire then created no alarm, as it was hailed as a mark of perservering industry. Grandfather and all were highly pleased with our night’s work. His presence at that time, and our diligence, had much to do in diverting Father’s mind from despondency, which was common under adverse circumstances. By dint of perserverance we accomplished, although late, near all we had anticipated in the spring. Isaac, getting along well, left us to enjoy the winter very comfortably and some of us to go to school.