COLUMBIA COUNTY OHIO - MORRIS/MILLER History Chapter 8 (published 1873)
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"HISTORY OF THE MORRIS AND MILLER FAMILIES" By Morris Miller  1873
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 	        Chapter 8
	
	The First Winter in the New Home

	Uncle David stayed with us a couple of days to look 
about and rest his team, as the three last days were rather 
hard on them, the roads being very muddy with many roots 
and stumps, although he got a load of pig metal part way 
back.

	Uncle Joseph pushed the work forward at his house so 
that in a little over two weeks he moved into it, giving us 
a little more comfortable room. The fore part of the winter 
was rather mild, which was favorable for both families, 
situated as we were. Although our little house was small, 
it had a good safe outside chimney at one end, in which we 
could keep up an ample fire, as a forest of shellbark 
hickory was near, and the older boys, provided with 
appropriate axes and a sled, could keep our house 
comfortable and light, as we had no glass window in it. We 
were soon visited by kind neighbors and friends, more to 
inquire into our immediate needs than to introduce 
themselves as guests. We soon began to realize what we had 
long wished to obtain - that is, a more congenial state of 
society. No broils nor contentions were the subject of 
conversation, no drunkards (were) seen, nor were our ears 
pained with the obscene profanity that frequently 
constituted the first words of salutation with many that we 
came away from. These considerations had much to do in 
reviving Father’s despondent mind. He had drunk deep of the 
cup of discouragement, and needed at that time all the 
consolation the friendly intercourse could bestow. Mother 
was gifted with a  more determined mind like her father. 
When a step was taken her motto was to go ahead with a mild 
and commendable perserverance.

	Among the first callers to see us were Father’s old 
uncle and aunt, Samuel and Sarah Shaw. They congratulated 
us with a hearty welcome, and dealt out to us such advice 
as their experience a few years before would enable them to 
give. A proposition was made by them that as soon as 
convenient their son, Thomas, and our boys should cut a 
direct road between their improvement and ours, as it would 
save half the distance in travel. This pleased us boys to 
have our axes to be called to use. It was soon rumored 
around that Father was a tailor by trade. Several of the 
young men appealed to him to make them buckskin overalls, 
as they were then called, and they would keep us in venison 
and turkey. This suited Father, as he never kept a gun nor 
indulged in the chase. Soon the proverb was the Father 
killed all his game with his needle and shears. About six 
weeks after our arrival, Mother was brought to bed with the 
birth of her eighth child. Being carefully nursed, she got 
along well.  A little after midwinter it was good sledding, 
and we were favored with a visit from William Stokes and 
his wife. He felt such an anxiety for the welfare of all of 
Grandfather’s children, (and) brought his wife purposely to 
see us, having business at the new furnace at Lisbon. Their 
visit was very acceptable. They having settled in the woods 
many years before, could counsel us in the right direction 
for our best interest.

	Near the same time, and on the sled, we were visited by 
Cousin Samuel and Susan Shaw, whom I mentioned a few pages 
back. They, too, felt anxious for our welfare and came to 
see us. This visit was also very acceptable.

	During the winter we were visited by and old Friend who 
lived near Grandfather’s and was a particular friend of his 
and of Father’s also, named William Hilles. His son, Hugh, 
and his family, had emigrated and settled on the east part 
of Hanover Township the previous spring, at a mill on the 
west branch of the Little Beaver, since known as Hilles’ 
Mill. While on a visit to them, he came over to see us. No 
person of Father’s and Mother’s acquaintance could have 
been more welcome than he, as he was particular friend of 
theirs before they were married.

	I had almost forgotten another visitor we had. That was 
Uncle David Miller, of whom I shall speak more particularly 
hereafter. He came over to see us in the fore part of the 
winter. We were all much pleased to see him, as he was a 
pleasant and quite an observant man. While he was with us 
one of Father’s hunters brought him a turkey already 
dressed, weighing 25 pounds, which Mother prepared for 
dinner.

	The process of roasting would look somewhat peculiar 
now, as we had no ovens or stoves then. The manner then was 
to suspend the roast by a cord from the mantle piece before 
a good wood fire, set a dish under it to catch the 
drippings and keep it slowly turning. In this way a 
delicious roast was effected in those early days. As our 
rough puncheon table was small, some of the children had to 
wait until the second table. While in the midst of our 
meal, one of the outdoor children called out, "Come out 
and look at the big flock of turkeys going across the 
field!"

	"Oh, hush!" said Uncle in his jovial way. "We have 
no gun and I can’t leave this to run after those who have 
legs and wings." A hearty laugh ensued and the turkeys 
passed without being pursued.

	I have hitherto said nothing of Uncle Joseph and his 
wife since they moved. Those visitants I noticed in a 
preceding page were equal visitors to them as well as 
ourselves. They were the most completely in the woods of 
any family I ever knew - the winter upon them and no 
shelter but their cabin. Their corn had been carefully cut 
and shocked before the frost. The fodder of it was partly 
converted into a rude shelter for their horse and cow; also 
for them to live on. The family keeping in good health, got 
through the winter very well considering all things. Uncle, 
although he had a gun, was no man for the chase. He soon 
found his cooper adze and drawing knife would bring him 
more game more sure and easy than roving with the gun. He 
was very good on household ware such as buckets, washing 
tubs and churns, those being in earnest demand. As his 
family was small, he appropriated a portion of his cabin to 
a cooper shop. The rails which he had made in the fore part 
of the season being partially dry, afforded staves to work 
on for the present time. A road was opened the following 
autumn to the nearest salt works on Yellow Creek. This 
afforded an opportunity to get pine from there for cooper 
work. He continued as the best workman for such ware while 
he lived.

	I have thus far neglected to mention the death of their 
second son. When he returned from his work in Ohio, he 
found his three children afflicted with whooping cough, 
which resulted in the death of the youngest son - a very 
promising child, about 20 months old. When they started to 
Ohio they had a daughter about six months old. They all 
enjoyed good health, although they had moved into a damp 
unfinished house at the beginning of a very wet winter. The 
two families got along on the best of terms, each one 
always ready to assist the other in any pressing emergency.

	As our parents’ principal object in emigrating was to 
get into better society and be convenient to Meeting, they 
soon found their fond hopes in these respects agreeable 
realized. Their children could have agreeable associates 
without being exposed to the numerous immoralities that 
surrounded them where they came from. We children also soon 
realized the happy change, several of the older ones making 
associations that have lasted us thus far through life 
without a regret on either side. At our numerous gatherings 
for raisings and log-rollings the most cordial good feeling 
existed - no drinking of liquor, no quarrelling or 
unbecoming language used, and all was good will and social 
fellowship one with another. The offices of squire and 
constable were then little sought after, as there was 
little or nothing to do in their line.

	We found it a great advantage to be so near such an 
orderly and well conducted Meeting. Our Monthly Meeting was 
held at New Garden, six miles off, that being the name of 
the Meeting. Also, our Quarterly Meeting was at Salem, 12 
miles distant. As there were in those days but few 
conveniences of traveling, it mostly had to be accomplished 
on horseback or on foot, and as the older ones fell heir to 
the horses, the younger of both sexes had to take it on 
foot. In pleasant weather many were the walks we enjoyed to 
attend our distant Meeting, all attired in homespun and 
home-made clothing, presenting a very respectable 
appearance.

	Apart from our devotional concern these monthly walks 
afforded pleasant relaxation for one sex from plying the 
mattock, maul and axe, and the other their spinning wheels 
and looms, which in those days had to be plied with 
unceasing speed.