COLUMBIA COUNTY OHIO - MORRIS/MILLER History Chapter 9 (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 9 Father’s Promotion in Society, and Other Incidents As Father was known previous to our removal to several of the members of New Garden Monthly Meeting, and there being a vacancy of an elder in that Meeting, after due consideration and course of discipline, the station was conferred on him, which he accepted with deep humility, not expecting such promotion at that time, as we had only been members of the Meeting a few months. This circumstance had much to do in dispelling the despondency of Father’s mind, and he began to realize that he was sincerely appreciated by his friends, and being naturally of a magnanimous disposition, concluded with divine assistance to faithfully attend to the trust thus conferred. It was like a stepping stone to bring him into the Society. He eventually became a very efficient member in the faithful discharge of the various requirements of his office. He was held as a wise and discreet counsellor in matters of deep interest. As his position as an elder brought him more immediately into the company and acquaintance of traveling ministers it often became his duty and always his delight to bear them company from one meeting to another, and sometimes he was there companion on short journeys. Thus he began to realize what the ministerial Friend had said to him years before, "that he would become a true Levite and a bearer of the Ark of Testimony." These encouraging circumstances and seeing his children getting along in the paths of rectitude cheered him in the belief that he had done wisely in making the move he had, and also prepared his mind to endure with Christian fortitude the trials and disappointments that yet awaited him, as will appear by the sequel. The first winter was rather tediously passed away, but an early spring let us out at sugar making. This our parents had done much at in both their former habitations, and our new home possessed good groves of sugar trees, which for many years after was an important business with us, (we) having brought over several kettles for that purpose, and the former occupants having made troughs that served until we boys could ply our axes for that purpose. We eventually enlarged the business by the addition of a few more kettles and a comfortable house to boil in, so that in a good season we could make upwards of a thousand pounds of sugar. We found this to be more profitable than raising wheat, which in those days sold for 25 cents per bushel, and seldom money at that. Besides, we had all the land we could clear and farm apart from the sugar groves until grain raising became more important. Thus (we were) regaled in early spring by the sweets of our new home. At ordinary moving time we went over to the other improvement, which afforded a much better house. In a few years we built an addition to it, 16 feet square with a porch six feet wide. The whole length them was 34 feet. Both apartments a story and a half high afforded bedchambers above, so that we were then in a very comfortable style for those times. The summer passed away with many circumstances both prosperous and adverse to us, which I shall pass over with one exception, as follows. A party of friendly Indians, 32 in number, encamped in the valley about two and a half miles below with an object to trade with us - the women to make baskets and the men to kill deer meat, which they exchanged with us for such provisions as they wanted. All passed off with good feelings as long as they remained there, which was only a few weeks.