[Milan Twp., Erie County, Ohio]

MEMOIRS OF TOWNSHIP [MILAN TWP.]
by Mrs. B. Williams.
from the FIRELANDS PIONEER, Nov. 1858

  Feeling interested in the present meeting,
as an early pioneer, with pleasure I present
a few facts: leaving others to judge of the
real interest.
  My father came to and settled in this
part of the State in the year 1811, pur-
chasing the farm known as the "Sayer's
Farm," laying one mile-and-a-half west of
Milan village, on the Huron River; our
nearest neighbor being Capt. Charles Parker 
owning the farm now belonging to Mr.
Horton. Next came David Abbott and
Jared Ward: these being the only neigh-
bors until we reached Pipe Creek, seven
miles north from us.
  Where now stands our thriving town of
Milan, in all its beauty and modern civili-
zation, was at this time only one large, 
luxuriant, grassy platt, about two acres in ex-
tent, containing three or four solitary huts,
known as the "Indian Village," with here
and there a peach tree, and a few gooseberry
shrubs, placed there by some thoughtful
red man of the forest.
  Our roads and highways were mostly
Indian trails. Cleveland was the nearest
place where merchandise could be procu-
red. In purchasing our teas we paid from
five to three dollars per round, according
to the quality.
  Printed muslins, which can now be had
for six cents, then cost seventy-five cents
per yard. Cotton factory, by the bale,
fifty cents per yard.
  Our first grist-mill I cannot now recol-
lect, but usually, for a long time each fam-
ily possessed a mill of their own individual
property, consisting of a piece of perforated
tin, fastened to a piece of wood hewn from
some neighboring forest tree, for plank or
board was an article almost unknown here
in those days. Upon this construction we
managed to prepare our Indian corn for
use. Also were our domestic and house-
hold articles formed and fashioned from
the same rude material. The year follow-
ling this (1812) was Hull's defeat, when
we all fled for safety. The evening of our
departure many of the surrounding inhabi-
tants had assembled at Capt. Parker's to
hold council - men, women and children,
numbering over sixty. At sunset news
reached us that the British and Indians
were landing at the mouth of Huron river.
Capt P. thinking it most prudent to shun
all roads, we crossed the river just opposite
his house, taking our course up the east
branch of the Huron. At nine o'clock at
night, being ready to take up our march,
request being that the least possible noise
should he made - a low whistle being the
signal in ease of necessity - Captain P.
himself volunteering to be our guide, with
axe in hand, cutting our path, my mother
following next in the rear, carrying his gun.
Our procession moved slowly on. The
night was dark and cloudy; consequently,
our guide getting bewildered, thought it
more prudent to halt until morning; at the
same time each man was to stand sentinel, or
guard, with guns by their sides, ready for
action in case of an attack from the enemy,
while the poor women and children passed
that whole long, dreary night, in garments
perfectly saturated with water, fires being
impossible, both from fear of discovery, and
the dampness of the forest, it having rained
for three days and nights in succession pre-
vious to our flight. Our position can bet-
ter be imagined than described. Memory
loves not to linger long over this period of
my pioneer life. The next morning, at
day-break, we again commenced our march,
passing one house only (then uninhabited)
until we reached Mansfield. This journey,
I with others, many of whom were sick,
performed on foot, without bonnet or shoes,
these comfortable articles, in the hurry,
fright and confusion, having been left be-
hind. Arriving at Mansfield, we found teams
which conveyed us to Mt. Vernon. The
spring following, we returned: found a
block house, built upon the farm of Capt.
Parkers, where we spent the greater part
of the summer, while the men, in compa-
nies, armed, went to plant, cultivate and
raise their crops. In this way were their
days spent, while each passed the night
standing watch, ready for any emergency,
while women and children sought their
couches, feeling that they might not see the
dawning of another morning's sun. This
summer passed, which was one between
hope and fear, Perry's Victory not having
been gained until the 10th of September fol-
lowing, many memoriable instances occur-
ring when will long be remembered by the
early pioneer - such as the massacre of the
Snow Family, and many others; I having
many times seen, and years after, the blood
and marks left upon the stump where one
child's brains were dashed out. This same
stump for many years stood, and was poin-
ted out to the traveler, as a sad relic of the
horrid deed. Many other heart-rending
scenes I might relate, but upon this occa-
sion, propriety and time forbid.
  Of one thing only let me assure you,
many a brave man's heart beat painfully
in those days for the safety of the weary
mothers and tender babes of those memo-
riable times. Ah! little do the youth of
the present age know of the toils, hardships
and privations which their forefathers en-
dured, while they now are reaping the re-
ward which the early settlers of this broad
and beautiful land secured for them.

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"Notice: the above material is Public Domain (no copyright)."
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Ted Reising
tedohio@yahoo.com
Dec. 15, 1998
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