OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List *********************************************************************** 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. *********************************************************************** OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 99 : Issue 249 Today's Topics: #1 Medina Co. History Part 8 [LeaAnn Rich Subject: Medina Co. History Part 8 Historical Collections of Ohio Henry Howe LL.D. Getting Mails and Supplies For The Pioneers One of the men who often related incidents of the Hinckley Hunt was quite fond of relating the experiences of the early settlers of that part of Medina County where he first settled. The settlement was about thirty miles from Cleveland, which was the nearest post office, as well as the nearest point where supplies of any kind could be obtained. The men of the settlement took turns in going to Cleveland regularly each week for mails, medicines and such light supplies as were indispensable. An Air-line route had been established by surveyors and trees well blazed marked the track. The trips were made on foot. A large haversack was used for carrying the mail and supplies. This, with a rifle, comprised the outfit of the weekly messenger. Upon one occasion, when this informant took his turn, he had the then solitary Cleveland gunsmith change the old-fashioned percussion "pill" lock to the then new "cap" lock, as unscrupulous dealers were in the habit of mixing mustard or turnip seed with the little percussion pills, which they so nearly resembled that it was impossible to detect the cheat. The result was that much game was lost and much vexation caused by mis-fires. Upon the trip in question, when the messenger was about half-way to Cleveland, he discovered that he was being gradually surrounded by a very large drove of wild hogs, immense numbers of which then roamed through the forests of that region. Discovering a large fallen tree ahead which had turned up by the roots, he hastened to and climbed upon the same, perching upon the high roots some fifteen feet above the ground. He was not a moment too soon, for the hogs had closed around him and some of the old boars, with their tusks protruding from their villainous jaws and the froth dripping from their mouths, attempted to climb up the roots upon which he was perched. He lost no time upon firing upon them whenever he could fire his rifle, which he had to snap eight or ten times for each discharge, because of the preponderance of seeds among his percussion pills. However, he killed a dangerous boar at each discharge. As each one fell, with a slight squeal of distress, the others would go and smell the blood, actually placing their ugly snouts to the bullet-hole. They at once began to utter a peculiarly ominous grunt and one by one withdrew from the scene and the messenger hastened forward, reaching Cleveland at late hour. Early next morning he had the lock of his rifle altered, provided himself with proper ammunition, and with his mail and other supplies (medicines, etc.), started on his return trip, hoping to have a little more experience with the wild hogs. He reached the scene of the previous days episode and counted the result of the same, finding sixteen dead boars, but no live ones about, nor did he see any except a few at a distance. -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V99 Issue #249 *******************************************