COLUMBIA COUNTY OHIO - MORRIS/MILLER History Chapter 17 (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 17 Various Incidents of Building Early in the spring I returned to assist in sugar making, as that was then considered the most profitable business we could engage in during that season of the year. Finding all well and in good spirits, we concluded that we would build a new barn the coming summer, as we heretofore had gotten along with small round log cabins. The forest being near the desired site for building and our two yoke of oxen coming to an age to go into draft, it was resolved to make the effort, which proved to be a fair success. It was the largest and most substantial one in the settlement. Although built of hewed logs on a good cellar, it has stood the storms of over half a century. With ordinary care and no accident by fire, it bids fair to last another half century or more. Inspired by the summer’s success in building the barn, although it required my close application till New Year’s to drive the last nail in the roof, I felt emulous while we had a good team to go to the poplar region, about five miles north, and haul in logs as a preparatory step towards building a new house. We had not money then to buy lumber by the carload, as at the present time, But had to make all the trades we could without money. The rule then among sawmills was to saw for the half, and thus lumber could be procured without money. I was successful in my plans, and having good snows to haul on, I supplied two mills with logs that made a good yield. As the summer of 1820 had occupied all hands in building the new barn but the necessary farm work, it was concluded to defer operations in building until more land was cleared. Accordingly, the year 1821 and the former part of 1822 was spent in clearing. The three younger brothers being capable to attend the farm and advance the clearing, it was concluded as I had passes the age of 21 six months before, and had never spent any time from home learning a trade, nevertheless I had picked up much in the carpenter trade, yet I was devoid of insight in many of its principal parts, and knowing that I would have a good chance to improve myself and get some tools by spending most of the coming season in my grandfather’s neighborhood, so hoping to get a month or more at school before spring opened for business, I started in the latter part of winter. It so happened that I got a ride there, as a friend of ours wished to have a horse taken over for his daughter, who had been sojourning there, to ride home in the spring. I got along safely, but the school I had hoped to attend was discontinued; consequently I was disappointed in that respect, but as I was there, I turned in with Uncle Jonathon’s children to making sugar, as that was the most profitable business we could engage in at that time of the year. I spent the fore part of the summer employed in different departments of carpenter work, and returned on foot a little before harvest, the new barn requiring some interior carpenter work before it would be ready for reception. I found all at home had prospered well, and received as kind a reception from my stepmother as if I had been her own son. I continued at home about six weeks, finishing up the work about the new building. It was very pleasing to me to be the recipient of such kind treatment as I met with, but had I been a wild, reckless youth, likely the reverse would have been the case. As I desired to spent the autumn in Pennsylvania, I concluded to attend the Yearly Meeting at Mt. Pleasant and then go from there. Father and Mother went, as usual, on horseback, while a young Friend and myself took it on foot, traveling 54 miles the first day, which was the greatest day’s walk I ever made. About mid-afternoon on our first day’s walk, a violent storm came up suddenly from the west, and our course being directly south with nothing but forest in sight, we concluded by quick exertions we might gain its southern limit before the storm, but in this we failed, and ere we had gained a half-mile we were overtaken by a violent storm which brought down a large tree across the road only a few rods behind. Having attained rising ground, we halted and looked back to see how narrowly we had escaped. I mention this circumstance as among many others that I have experienced during a long life wherein a Divine Hand seemed strongly manifested for my special preservation. After a comfortable attendance at the meeting, it so happened that Jonathon Morris, with his stepmother and another woman, were there also. His conveyance afforded an extra seat, which I gladly accepted and accompanied them home. I engaged myself as a journeyman with David Hilles, who then carried on the house carpenter and pump-making business. I received instructions in both of these branches, particularly the latter, as that was coming much in demand in our new settlement. The proceeds of my labor were invested mostly in tools. At the approach of winter I again walked home, finding all well and in good prosperity. Early in the spring I was made supercargo by several families to take a two-horse wagon loaded with clover seed to exchange for dried fruit in the old neighborhood. This gave me an opportunity to bring home my tools. To many of the young folks now, those incidents may seem as stale history, but in those early days of settlement, we had to barter all we could without money. Soon after getting home, I got my pump tools in order for work and did a few jobs with good results, which gave me a great deal of encouragement, as I had devoted but little time in my minor days to either school or trade. Thus passed the fore part of the year 1822 with me. Early in it we three older brothers concluded that if all went well we would unite our efforts after harvest and burn a kiln of brick for a new house, which was then considered the best materials that could be used. We would thus consume much of the dead timber off the fields. Our resolution was strengthened by a sense of duty that we owed to our father, who had been so successful in bringing home such a kind stepmother and comfortable companion. Always having a desire to entertain his friends, and living near the meeting house rendered it more desirable for him to be comfortably situated for that purpose. In addition to those reasons, Father’s health had been delicate for a number of years, and never having a turn for embarking in building matters, we concluded that it we disbanded and left, that he probably would remain without a new house for life. According to our resolution, after harvest we arranged ourselves as follows: I was to prepare the mortar; Robert to mould; the two younger brothers, Levi and Samuel, the off- bearing; a hired hand to do the wheeling; Father and Isaac to attend the farm. We were favored with good weather, and ere long we succeeded in making, settling and burning as good a kiln of brick as our country ever produced. We were considered very enthusiastic, as neither of us ever had the slightest experience at brick making. Encouraged by the success of our first effort, we resolved ultimately to have a first class building erected, but to do this would be necessary to advance according to circumstances. The depreciated value of farm products could not be relied upon to get materials or to pay workmen. For such, we had to negotiate as well as we could without the prospect of having ready money to pay with. As good stone for building could not be obtained nearby, I discovered and attacked a rock on Congress land three miles off. Although sadly lacking for appropriate tools, I succeeded in cleaving it and obtaining the nicest quality, in good dimensions for range work, sills and caps. This was done in the autumn and brought home on the sled in the winter. As I was anxious to employ myself during the open part of the winter, I did several jobs at carpentering with good results. As lime could be obtained only by special preparation, we had to go about six miles for the stone; then, to make the process of burning short, we erected a large log heap in the clearing and suitably pulverized the stone and incorporated them in the building of the heap. We were successful in getting clear of the useless logs and had a good yield of lime. Only expecting to get the basement story up that season, we advanced it step by step to suit other business. We were fortunate in employing a young man recently from the east, a stone cutter and mason by trade. He wished to get himself in business and our material being of the best quality, and the front basement being mostly above ground, gave him an opportunity to distinguish himself and gratify us. By getting another mason to assist us, the basement was finished and covered over for the winter.