COLUMBIA COUNTY OHIO - MORRIS/MILLER History Chapter 6 (published 1873)
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"HISTORY OF THE MORRIS AND MILLER FAMILIES" By Morris Miller  1873
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         	        Chapter 6
             Selling and Purchasing in Ohio

	After this interview with his uncle and aunt, Father’s 
mind was turned to look favorably on trying the west. 
Although he had not been to see it, he concluded that if he 
could dispose of his farm without sacrifice it would be 
better for his family, and run the risk of being suited 
elsewhere. Accordingly, he held it for sale, and near the 
close of the following winter he received and accepted an 
offer of purchase, and agreed to give partial possession 
the first of the fourth month, 1810, reserving a portion of 
the house for his family for a few months and a pasture 
field for his stock until they could be disposed of; also 
his winter grain which he expected to harvest and market 
himself. No sooner was it known among his neighbors that he 
sold with the prospect of leaving them than an earnest 
inquiry was made by many as to whom he had sold and what 
was the character of the purchaser. They then manifested a 
strong desire that Father and his family could have 
remained among them. They said, "Your temperate and 
peaceful habits were beginning to have a good influence 
over us, and we hoped for its continuance."

	A few days before the purchaser and his family were 
expected, and old friend of Father’s, who lived a few miles 
away, but neared the Meeting than Father did, came in 
apparently to remonstrate against Father selling and moving 
away. He was quite elaborate in enumerating the 
disadvantages he would have to encounter before he could be 
comfortably settled again. This coming from a Friend fell 
like a thunderbolt on him, but it was too late to revoke 
what he’d done.

	Some allowances was to be made for this Friend’s 
remarks, as he did not wish to lose Father’s society, and 
being thus far advanced in age, could not well pull up and 
go along, but such remarks as these from a great many of 
his neighbors and old friends sank deep in his mind and 
caused a serious inquiry whether he acted wisely or not. 
Only one defect appeared to reproach him. That was, it 
could have been more prudent to have prospected in person 
for a new home before he could let go of the one he had. As 
the way it was arranged, his family could be exposed among 
strangers several months before he could get a new home. 
But of this concern he was partially relieved when the new 
occupants came on. We found them more congenial than we 
expected. Considering the number of their family and ours, 
we got along all in the same house remarkably well. The 
parents were advanced in age and imbued with true Christian 
principles. They soon observed that Father’s mind was a 
little disposed to despondency, and feeling a deep sympathy 
for our case, conducted themselves in the most prudent 
manner towards us.

	As the selection of a new home is an important account 
in life, it was concluded that Father and Mother should 
both go, as Mother’s mind was the most to be relied upon 
for perseverance. Accordingly, when the roads got good, 
their horses made ready, as on horseback or on foot was the 
only modes of then traveling, being assured by the new 
comer that their children should be well cared for during 
their absence, they set off on their journey and in three 
days arrived at their old uncle’s in Hanover Township, 
Columbiana County, Ohio.

	I shall now leave them to look around while I bring up 
another subject partially connected with theirs.

	It had been Grandfather’s (Isaac Morris) expectation 
after his mother’s death that when his son Jonathan came of 
age and wished to settle, a portion of his land should be 
allotted to him for the present time, and as Jonathan had 
married in the autumn of 1807, it was necessary that Joseph 
Dutton, who had married his sister Mary, and lived on it 
for several years past, should look out for a new home. 
Accordingly, early in the spring of 1810 he resolved to go 
to Ohio and take a lease of non-resident land and make a 
home, not having the means to purchase with at that time. 
He had a good trade and happened that the quarter-section 
which he worked on lay side by side directly east of the 
one that Father and Mother, after looking around for a few 
days, concluded to purchase, thus affording the two sisters 
the pleasure of being near neighbors. The new Meeting House 
that Aunt Sarah Shaw had so particularly described the 
building of the previous year, stood adjoining the 
northwest corner of Father’s purchase. Considerable 
enthusiasm prevailed in the vicinity while Father and 
Mother were looking around. No person was better calculated 
to entertain and keep Father’s spirits up than his old Aunt 
Sarah Shaw. She knew almost everyone in the settlement and 
could introduce strangers with the best eclat of anyone in 
it. As this quarter of land was owned and partially 
improved by two brothers who were not members of the 
Society, although inclined that way, it being between their 
home and the Meeting House and they had a great desire for 
Father to possess it. After mature consideration, the 
purchase was effected, one of the brothers to give partial 
possession the following autumn and the other the ensuing 
spring. In all, there was about 30 acres of cleared land 
and all under good fence, with two small orchards on it. 
The best house of the two was near the center of the farm 
in a beautiful location for farm buildings. It was a hewed 
log structure, 16 by 18 feet, one and a half stories high, 
shingled roof and one glass window containing nine lights. 
The other improvement had a house one foot less each way, 
cabin roof with five feet of a projection in front and a 
corresponding platform below caused by the projection of 
the sleepers of the house, which formed what was termed a 
porch; a rough structure of logs at the back of the house, 
called a lean-to, about eight feet wide, shed roof from the 
west of the house, no window, a single door to each 
apartment, only one of them had a door for its opening, and 
it was of split ash shaved with a drawing knife. A small 
barn of round logs about 20 x 30 feet with an oaken floor 
in it, and a small stable at each of the improvements were 
the scene of the buildings, and these all cabin roofed 
except the first mentioned house, and with the exception of 
the two doors and a few strips of window casing in the 
first house there was not a vestige of sawed lumber in all 
those buildings.

	I have been thus particular to show the present 
generation how the first settlers in this now favored land 
had the make the first beginning.

	After concluding the purchase and arranging to have the 
hay cut on the shares and a four-acre field of wheat sowed 
in the fall, they returned and found us children getting 
along as well as could have been expected.

	Much interest was manifested by relatives and friends 
on their return, to know how they liked the country and 
what they had done in the way of suiting themselves with a 
home. As but one family had gone from their immediate 
locality heretofore, it being the Shaw family, which were 
before mentioned, all were anxious to hear how the accounts 
would agree with that they heard the previous autumn.

	Grandfather, always manifesting a deep interest for the 
welfare of his children, and as the two of them were about 
to locate there, concluded he would like to see for 
himself, and wishing to make a visit to his friend Stokes 
in Jefferson County, he concluded to go that way, as it 
would divide the journey in three days’ ride, it being 60 
miles to Stokes’ and 30 from there. Arriving there and 
acquainting he is friend with his mission, Stoked feeling 
such a friendship with him, soon agreed to go along. So 
they started, and as Grandfather was well acquainted with 
the Shaws, they went there and were cordially received. 
They made their home with them during their short sojourn.

	Having satisfied their curiosity in looking over the 
newly purchased land and progressing lease, they found in 
their entertainer, Sarah Shaw, one gifted in argument in 
favor of the settlers. She could amplify with much 
earnestness on the advantages that the Miller family could 
derive by coming there. First, they would have so much 
better society for themselves and children; and secondly, 
they would be so much nearer meeting than before. "Ah!" 
said Grandfather, "I consider it as essential to their 
prosperity for Deborah to have a market for her butter as 
for Levi to have a meeting to go to, and I do not see any 
prospect of a market in this wilderness very soon!"

	Having gratified their curiosity of looking around, 
concluding that all things reported themselves favorably, 
they bade their friends farewell and left for Stokes’. Here 
I must digress a little and give the reader a further 
account of William Stokes. As I said before, he went east 
to meet his wife and children, and returned with them early 
in the autumn of 1799. His children were two sons, William 
and John. Their respective ages were then seven and nine. 
They sojourned a few days with Grandfather and then 
journeyed on to their new home in Ohio, where, by 
persevering industry, they had cleared out a farm, planted 
an orchard and elevated themselves from their first rustic 
log cabin to a comfortable hewed log home situated on the 
public road running from Steubenville to New Lisbon. Thus 
it was frequently the recipient of many of the first 
settlers of Columbiana County in passing to and from the 
Land Office in Steubenville, as in those early days public 
houses were few and far between.

	Hence, the name of William Stokes was known to many in 
Columbiana County before he made the visit there with his 
friend. How often Grandfather had been over to see him in 
the 11 years previous to this time I have no means of 
knowing, but a most friendly intercourse was always kept up 
between them.

	I remember in the winter 1804-05 their son William came 
over to Grandfather’s and went one term to school.

	The reader will pardon me for this digression, but I 
wished to place Stokes more plainly before you. This ride 
of these two men was repeated almost every year for 22 
years, Stokes always keeping an open house to all of 
Grandfather’s relatives and friends.