COLUMBIA COUNTY OHIO - MORRIS/MILLER History Chapter 19 (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 19 Building Matters Continued After planting time in the spring we all resumed our work at the new building and against harvest had it up and roofed. Here it had to take another stand for a short time, as workmen and materials could not be had without some sure prospect of pay. The farmers could not rely upon getting 25 cents per bushel for their wheat, and other products languished in the same proportion; hence, it was very imprudent to advance any further under the same circumstances. It so happened in the course of the fall that an elderly man, recently from the east and a carpenter by trade, wishing to get into employment, engaged with us to take such things as he might need and could be best spared. Thus the work was started slowly, getting the outer doors hung, the cash made and the windows in before winter. In those days everything in the wood line about building had to be prepared by hand from the stump, and getting a good portion of it in before winter, the work progressed slowly and satisfactorily, our carpenter being a good workman. In autumn we did the plastering and some exterior painting. The latter was a luxury for those early times. The next spring the house was occupied by the family, and this added greatly to their comfort and convenience. The dimensions of the buildings were as follows: The barn was 30 by 63 feet, with an overshot of 8 feet and a stone cellar under the main building. The house was 28 by 40 feet, with a stone cellar 7 feet high, divided into two departments - one a wash house with one end and a front wall of stone. I have been thus particular in detailing circumstances to show the contrast between then and now. Both brothers and sisters felt that we owed this debt of gratitude to our parents and the younger ones before we left them. Father and Mother had left a pleasant home in Pennsylvania and braved the wilds and privations of a new settlement under a sense of duty to their children by bringing us away from the influences of a profane and immoral community. We had passed six years inspired with a hope that our new home had nearly arrived to a point of comfort, but our anticipations were sadly alloyed by the loss of a dear mother. Yet after two and a half years of seeming probation, we were gladdened by Father’s success in repairing the loss. We older ones having had time to duly appreciate the advantages we had derived by enjoying so much better society than we had been brought away from, these considerations rendered our obligations more imperative to see Father and his worthy companion comfortably settled in their declining years. About the time the new building was occupied, a good two-horse carriage was obtained so that Father and Mother and two of the younger sisters at least could get out to distant meetings and visit their friends with much more comfort than on horseback. Thus the family passed along comfortably along for several years. Occasionally a brother or sister would leave by marriage, which I shall note more particularly hereafter. The farm work being carried on successfully by the younger brother left Father much liberated from its cares; hence, he could enjoy the company of his friends, both at home and abroad. Mother also had her department so well organized that by her prudent and winning ways it was a pleasure to enjoy her presence and society. Leaving them for a time, I shall say a little about myself. After helping to get the roof on the new house, I had to withdraw most of my personal attention from its further progress, having provided most of the lumber on it and some for myself more than years before. Our house being a very indifferent one to live in, I resolved to tax my energies to the utmost to get a better one. Our little home was much out of repair when we went into it, and having but little means to start with, new buildings advanced very slowly. However, about four years after marriage, we succeeded in getting up a good two-story hewed log house. Although not a very large one, it accommodated us reasonably well for several years, when our increasing family called for more room, which was supplied about eight years after by the addition of 18 feet of a frame building to one end, under which was a stone walled cellar giving ample room. The barn, although a cabin of round logs 20 by 45 feet with a good shingle roof and sheds around it, stands well and is plenty large enough for the small farm, and it is in reasonably good order yet.