WASHINGTON COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA - MORRIS/MILLER History Chapters 1 - 10 (published 1873)

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"HISTORY OF THE MORRIS AND MILLER FAMILIES" By Morris Miller  1873

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       	        HISTORY OF THE 
			
           MORRIS AND MILLER FAMILIES



                      By    


		Morris Miller

		    1873

Copied from original; edited to make more 
readable and to incorporate author's corrections, 1967.


	            Chapter 1
	 	
        EARLY ACCOUNT OF THE MILLER FAMILY

	I, Morris Miller, being over seventy-four years of age, 
have had it on my mind for some time past to leave, for the 
satisfaction of posterity, a short history of my father's 
and mother's families.  I am now the oldest of my father's 
family now living so far as I know, and with one exception 
the oldest of my mother's.  She has one half-sister (if she 
is yet living) about seven months older than I am.  My 
account will be almost entirely from personal recollection, 
and I will be at some loss for precise dates, but their 
defect will not much impair the interest of the account 
which I conclude may be interesting to those now living and 
their posterity.

	Tradition avers that Robert Miller, my grandfather, and 
a sister came over from Ireland somewhere about 1747.  They 
being young, served a short period for their passage, as 
was customary for many to do in those days who emigrated to 
America.  They settled in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.  The 
brother (at what date I can not ascertain) married in a 
family by the name of Shaw.  The sister I have no tradition 
of, nor farther back of the Shaw family more than they were 
early settlers there and connected with the Nixon families 
of whose origin I have no knowledge.  They were members of 
the Society of Friends, and I suppose that Mary, which was 
the name of my grandmother, lost her right in (the) Society 
by marrying contrary to its rules.  I am not in possession 
of the dates of their marriage or of most of their 
children, consisting of four sons and five daughters; viz., 
as far as I know, James, Mary, Robert, Jane, Samuel, Levi 
and Hannah.  Two more sisters, traditions says, married and 
emigrated to the State of Kentucky at an early period, of 
whom we have no reliable account.  Nor am I able to place 
them in the order of the family as I could wish, having no 
record to apply to.

	James married Mary Phillips in Bucks County, 
Pennsylvania, and emigrated to Washington County, Pa., at 
an early period.  To them was born six sons and one 
daughter; namely, David, John, Tacy, Eli, Robert, William, 
Ephriam and Joel.  They emigrated to Columbiana County, 
Ohio, over fifty years ago.  David, John and Tacy were 
married before they came; Eli, Robert and William married 
in Columbiana County, Ohio.  Ephriam married in Virginia and 
lived there a few years, and as his brothers John and Eli 
emigrated to Highland County, Ohio, he moved there also, 
where they lived to a good old age and left a posterity of 
whom I know but little about.  Tacy lived the latter part of 
her life in Jefferson County, Ohio, and left a posterity 
now very much scattered, as is also William's, who lived 
and deceased in the eastern part of Columbiana County.  Joel 
while young enlisted in a military expedition up the 
Missouri River, and never was heard of more.  Robert married 
Nancy Shaw, she being the daughter of Samuel Shaw, of whom 
I shall speak hereafter, as I also shall of David Miller.  
Robert, much of the latter part of his life, was afflicted 
with rheumatism, as was his aged father before he deceased, 
and consequently did not live to so great an age as his 
parents and most of his brothers and sisters.  His widow is 
still living, about seventy-four years of age, and enjoys 
herself around among her four very respectable children.  
She is the only one of James' children's companions now 
living that we know of.  

	Mary, the eldest daughter, married a man by the name of 
Nathan Walton, he being one of a large family of whom I do 
not know the origin.  They were very respectable members of 
the Society of Friends, and from what I know she became a 
member after marriage instead of him being disowned for 
marrying out of meeting.  He was a lame man, having been 
hurt while young in one hip, so that from thenceforth he 
was a cripple, but enjoyed life reasonably well to an 
advanced age.  He first used a cane, and then a crutch.  In 
early days he wisely learned the tailor's trade, by which 
he made a comfortable living.  He had a pretty fair 
education for those early times and took great delight in 
reading.  They had no children.  It so befell the Miller 
family that they were bereft of parents when the youngest 
were quite small.  I recollect hearing my father say that he 
could just remember his mother, and that his father lived 
but a few years afterwards.  Here a dark era follows in 
which I have no tradition whether the family were dissolved 
or kept together for a time.  One thing I recollect hearing 
was that what schooling my father got was by going without 
a hat.  From the best I can glean I infer that Mary and her 
husband, Nathan Walton, became the guardians of Jane, Levi 
and Hannah, they being the youngest.  Sometime in the year 
of 1794 or five they emigrated to Washington County, 
Pennsylvania, and purchased a small farm about four miles 
southwest of Brownsville (then called Old Fort.) Father 
drove the team, and I remember of hearing him say that on 
one descent on the western side of the mountains he had to 
take his horses and go a mile to get a small tree to make 
fast to the hind end of the wagon to steady it down, as 
locking the wheels was not considered secure enough.  The 
rule was for each descending wagoner to loose from his tree 
and leave it in the road, and the next one that came along 
had to cut it out or get by it as he could.  I mention this 
circumstance to show the contrast of crossing the mountains 
then and now.

	We will now leave the three sisters and their youngest 
brother here and notice Robert and Samuel.  Robert I knew 
little about.  He came to my father's house in the summer of 
1804; he tarried with us a few days, after which I 
recollect of hearing but little more of him until 1808 
(when) he married and brought his wife to see us.  I believe 
they never had any children.  They resided in Washington 
County until the War of 1812, when he joined the 
Pennsylvania troops and deceased in camp on their march to 
the west.

	Samuel remained in Bucks County, the place of his 
nativity.  He made a visit to the west, I believe in the 
autumn of 1808, to see his brothers and sisters.  I have no 
knowledge of the time he was married, nor to whom, and do 
not know whether they ever had more than two children - a 
son and daughter.  The son's name was William.  He married in 
early life and was a good mechanic, a chairmaker by trade, 
but of the extent of his family or how long he lived I have 
heard nothing more for many years.  The daughter, I believe, 
never married.  Her name was Sarah.  When about forty years 
of age she made a sojourn with us here in the west, of a 
few months, and a few years after another of a longer 
tarry.  She was a very pleasant woman, and much liked 
wherever she went.

	Now we will speak of Jane, she being the next oldest.  
About the year 1797 she married a man by the name of Jacob 
Hormell, he being a pioneer in early settling of Washington 
County.  He was somewhat in advance of her in age and owned 
a pleasant tract of land adjoining the purchase of Walton.  
It afforded a very pleasant home, in view of her elder 
sister.  In process of time there was born unto them five 
children, two sons and three daughters.  Their names were 
John, William, Nancy, Prudence and Catharine.  They all 
lived to be men and women and married except William, who 
deceased when about 21 years of age.  Catherine and Nancy 
have also deceased.  They went west, and their posterity is 
very much scattered.  John resided on his father's homestead 
and raised a very respectable family, which I believe are 
mostly settled near him.  Prudence married William Shaw and 
settled in Columbiana County, Ohio.  They, too, have their 
respectable children settled near them.  Jacob and Jane 
lived to a good old age and were gathered home among their 
children.  Hannah, the youngest of the family, I believe, 
married in the year of 1798 to a man by the name of Thomas 
Ball, who had resided in Greene County for some time, and 
was a blacksmith by trade.  They settled on a near farm near 
by Nathan Walton.  Thus, the three sisters were located near 
each other, and for many years enjoyed each other's 
society, but in process of time two of the families became 
restless and wished to sell out and go to Ohio as their 
brother-in-law, Levi Miller, had done in 1810.  (The reason 
for his doing as I shall give in detail hereafter.) Nathan 
Walton, feeling the effects of age, wished to be neared to 
his former apprentice, as Levi had lived with him about 
seven years  before he was married ( the proverb afterwards 
was that he had served seven years to the tailor trade) and 
making him his agent to sell his farm, and moved to Ohio in 
1814, Levi having purchased a quarter-section of partially 
improved land one-half mile west of where he had himself 
purchased and moved to four years before.


                	Chapter 2

	   EARLY ACCOUNT OF THE MORRIS FAMILY

	The history of the Morris family is to me a little more 
obscure as to the time of their advent to America.  
Tradition says that they and the West family came from 
Wales to Pennsylvania at an early day.  We find them first 
in Chester County.  Jonathan Morris married Mary West, the 
daughter of      West, she being the elder sister of the 
London painter, Benjamin West, so widely known in history.  
Their eldest daughter, Sarah by name, was the subject of 
the young limner's first effort at portrait painting, and 
is thus related:  The mother of little Sarah having come to 
her father's on a visit, at a suitable time in the day the 
two mothers concluded to take a walk into the garden, 
leaving the babe in the cradle with the young Benjamin to 
watch it and rock the cradle if needed.  The child reposed 
quietly, and the lad Benjamin got his little fixtures for 
drawing, and when the mother returned he had the portrait 
of the child so completely taken that it was the great 
admiration of the all who beheld it, and stamped on him the 
character of a natural artist.

	So far as I have been able to learn, the children of 
Jonathan and Mary Morris were: Sarah, Isaac, David, 
Jonathan, Jesse and Mary.  Sarah married a man by the name 
of Thomas Hattan.  They settled in Virginia and resided 
there.  The other four eventually emigrated to Washington 
County, Pa., at what respective dates I can not ascertain.  
Isaac married a woman named Hannah Perkins.  Tradition says 
that Isaac in his boyish days was a little singular.  His 
parents being in limited circumstances, he refused to go to 
school, saying that he felt it was his duty to help his 
parents, and consequently, he never learned to read or 
write.  After marriage they resided a few years near 
Fredericksburg, Maryland.  About the year 1780 they 
emigrated to Washington County, Pa., on pack horses, and 
settled about 11 miles southwest of the town of Washington 
on the head of Buffalo Creek.  Here they resided for several 
years, during which time they buried three children.  Two of 
them were twins and deceased in infancy.  The other, I 
believe, was a son of a few years of age that I can not 
place among the others.  The six children remaining were 
named as follows: Deborah, Sarah, Mary, Jonathan, David and 
Phebe.

	From this era I am much at loss for correct information 
for a few years, as neither of these six children are now 
living, and as I can find no record to assist me, but from 
best tradition, the father sold his possession on Buffalo 
Creek and purchased a tract of land on the Monongalia River 
about 20 miles east of Washington and seven miles up the 
river from Brownsville, it being in the settlement of the 
Society of Friends, they having established a meeting there 
some years before, calling it Westland Meeting, it being 
the farthest west of any of the meetings of their Society.  
Near this meeting resided a family by the name of Lewis, 
belonging to the Society, and it so turned out that Isaac 
Morris made suit to one of the girls, Elizabeth by name, to 
become his wife.  Having settled the matter between 
themselves, Isaac deemed it prudent to ask her parents' 
consent, his mother having been raised a Friend, and he 
(though not a professor) always had a high regard for the 
Society and the order.  He accordingly laid the subject of 
their intentions before the parents.  The father, whose name 
was Samuel, thus replies, "Why, Isaac, if thee marries her 
out of the Society they will disown her."

	"Oh," replied Isaac, "I never knew an instance of 
that kind where they bettered themselves in marriage."

	They got married, and she made up with her Friends for 
the deviation of marrying against rules and retained her 
right of membership and lived a very consistent member.  Her 
husband dressed plain always and used very plain language, 
and kept a free and open house to all her Friends, the same 
as their numerous relations.  In process of time to them 
were born nine children -five sons and four daughters, 
namely: Samuel, Isaac, Hannah, Lewis, Mordecai, Rebecca, 
Oliver, Elizabeth.  The youngest died in infancy.

	Although the father of those 14 living children had 
rather refused or omitted getting a school education 
himself, he was not unmindful of his children in that 
respect, but he endeavored to give them as good an 
opportunity as was afforded in the common schools of those 
days.  As soon as the older ones could read reasonably well, 
he took an interest in a small library a few miles off so 
that all leisure hours and long evenings were generally 
devoted to someone reading for his benefit, being gifted 
with a quick, perceptive mind and a good memory, so that 
the saying frequently was that he and his family were 
better informed of the world's doings and its former 
history than many having the advantage of an ordinary 
education in their youthful days.  This little item of Isaac 
asking his father's consent to his marriage I have verbatim 
from my grandfather a few months before his death.
	
	We will at present leave Isaac and his family on the 
farm and look a little after the other three youngest 
brothers, the sister and mother.  We have no tradition to 
tell us when or where Jonathan Morris deceased or when 
those four children with their widowed mother came west to 
Washington County.  I can only say of them what I know 
personally.  As early as my memory serves me, David Morris 
was keeping a hotel in Washington.  His house was for many 
years the principal hotel of the place.  He was well 
qualified for the business and much regretted by the public 
when age admonished him to leave it.

	His children, I believe, were five in number, three 
sons and two daughters.  The sons' names were Benjamin, 
David and William; the daughters were Louisa and Eliza.  His 
family belonged to the Presbyterian Church and always 
deported themselves very worthy members, although they kept 
a hotel and probably liquor in it, yet the latter was kept 
so completely under control that it was never allowed to 
mar their characters or shade their business.  The sons were 
educated for professional men.  Benjamin, the oldest, 
studied medicine, and, after a lapse of years, married a 
widow woman, who, with her former husband, had settled in 
New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas County, Ohio.  She was the 
daughter of Adam Jacobs, a successful merchant in 
Brownsville in the early time with whom the Morris family 
were well acquainted.  As the property of her former husband 
remained unsold in Ohio, they concluded to occupy it, and I 
believe in 1827 Benjamin and his wife moved to it.  The 
property had been damaged by fire about the time of her 
former husband's death.  The refitted it up, designing it 
for a hotel, as the Ohio Canal was then being constructed, 
it was thought to be a favorable locality for the hotel 
business.  In 1828 I was called on by Cousin Benjamin to put 
in a pump for him at his hotel.  It so happened at the time 
that his aged mother-in-law was abiding with them for a 
season.  My mother had been intimately acquainted with her 
in younger days; their store in Brownsville, was the place 
where mother then dealt; I always had to go along and 
assist her.

	Everything looked prosperous there for a few years 
while the canal was in progress.  After it was finished the 
place did not improve as was anticipated.  They grew 
dissatisfied and went to Columbiana County, where they 
resided for a time, and I believe finally settled in 
Pittsburgh.

	As my business away from home after the spring of 1832 
absorbed my attention from what was transpiring among my 
relations much more than in former years, I have but few to 
appeal to now for information.  David, the second son, was 
intended in his education for a lawyer, but he failed to 
rise to distinction, and when I saw him last he was abiding 
with his cousins in the vicinity of Brownsville.  He 
appeared to be devoid of energy in everything he had 
undertaken.  This was the last time I have seen or heard of 
him, which was 1841.

	William, the third son, after his father's death, went 
south, married in the family of an opulent planter and 
became a slaveholder.  Neither have we heard anything of him 
for many years.  The eldest daughter, Louisa, married about 
the year 1818 to a doctor by the name of Blair.  I only 
remember of seeing her once.  That was at her Uncle Isaac 
Morris' in the summer of 1821.  It being cherry time, her 
Uncle Jonathan Morris had got up a new one-horse pleasure 
wagon for his own convenience, and for the first time using 
it, he brought his niece and her two small children on a 
visit to her uncle's.  At the time I was at my grandfather's 
and was much pleased to see the kind attention that was 
bestowed upon her and her little ones, all of which was 
richly merited from the amiable appearance of the mother 
and the artless prattle of her babes.  When they were ready 
to depart after their few days' sojourn, grandfather 
crowned their vessels of cherries with bunches adhering to 
the twig on which they grew, saying, "Show the folks in 
town how things grow in the country." I have been thus 
particular in detailing those incidents to show the good 
feeling that existed between the two families, one 
considered the aristocracy of the town and the other the 
cultivators of the farm in its plainest and economical 
style.

	Eliza, the second daughter, I never knew personally.  
Report says that after her father's death she and her 
sister Louisa and family moved to Pittsburgh, since no 
correspondence to my knowledge has been had of them.

	Jonathon Morris, the third brother, as near as I know, 
was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and never settled in 
life, but made home alternately among his brothers and 
sisters.  He drew a pension, but at what amount I know not, 
nor do I know how or where he was disabled, as he always 
appeared to me sound in body and limbs.  I have heard it 
said that he was one of the carpenters in building the 
first court house in Washington.  I mentioned above that he 
had constructed a pleasure wagon for his own convenience.  
He afterwards built or had built a small market boat, as 
two of his brothers with whom he resided lived near the 
river, one six and the other eight miles above Brownsville, 
their place of marketing.  The little craft would float down 
without effort and could be propelled by one person with a 
light return of freight very easily.

	His last effort at mechanism was cane-making.  He would 
procure dogwood grubs, the stem for the shaft and the root 
for the head of the cane.  The more crooks and curls the 
head had the more it was admired.  When neatly dressed and 
varnished they made an elegant cane.  He presented each of 
his brothers and nephews with a staff and favorite crooks 
and fine finishes denoted the different esteem he had for 
each recipient.  He was reasonably well informed and of 
strictly moral and temperate habits, went well dressed and 
made himself agreeable wherever he went.  He lived to a ripe 
old age and was gathered home among his relatives in peace.

	Jesse Morris, the fourth brother, settled in a little 
village called Fredericktown on the west bank of the 
Monongahela River about eight miles above Brownsville, at 
what period I can not ascertain, but suppose it was about 
the time that his brother Isaac settled near the same 
river, two miles below.  He was a carpenter by trade and had 
a family of several children, but I can not recollect the 
names of more than two.  The eldest was a daughter called 
Sarah, and the next was a son, Benjamin by name.  In our 
childhood days we were much together, being near the same 
age, and living in sight of each other, although on 
opposite sides of the river.  When father moved to Ohio it 
broke off our intimacy, and from that them I have not known 
much about them.

	In the War of 1812 this father (Jesse) was called into 
service and went out with the Pennsylvania troops in the 
autumn of the same year, and deceased in camp on their 
march to the west.  Thus the family experienced the 
desolating effects of the war, and being in limited 
circumstances, they were scattered in all directions.  
Benjamin, the only son, engaged on the river, first as a 
hand on the various crafts, and afterwards as super cargo, 
which implies an employee to take charge of the crafts and 
cargoes for others.  He continued in this service for many 
years.  He never married, as I know of, but always had the 
honor of providing well for his aged mother while she 
lived.  I have not heard of him for many years, but suppose 
he is now dead.  I was informed a few years ago that some 
remnants of the family yet resided near Brownsville.

	Having given a short sketch of the four brothers of the 
Morris family, I will now say a little more about the two 
sisters.  Sarah, the eldest, married and settled in 
Virginia.  Although apparently separated by distance from 
her brothers and sisters in the west, there were frequent 
opportunities of correspondence by emigrants going from 
their immediate neighborhood to Columbiana County, Ohio, 
then called the far west.  These emigrations occurred about 
the years 1805-7, and it was known that Isaac Morris kept 
what was termed a Quaker tavern, which is a free open house 
for all Friends and relations that chose to call.  Among the 
emigrants of that vicinity were the families of Stanleys, 
Crews and Cobbs.  They generally called on their way out, 
and thus the brothers could often hear more satisfactorily 
from their sister and his family in that way than by 
letter, which was in those early days expensive and 
uncertain.  It was a great satisfaction to Isaac to have 
those emigrants to call, as he could neither read nor 
write, and he richly enjoyed communicative company.

	I never knew the number of Sarah Hattin's children, 
having only heard the three sons spoken of - Jesse, Edward 
and Pleasant.  I had the satisfaction of seeing Jesse in the 
autumn of 1812; made a trip with his team to western 
Pennsylvania and having turned to go home, called at his 
Uncle Isaac's and my father's, and I came from Ohio while 
he was there.  He appeared to be a man of energy and 
business, but I have not heard much from him since.

	Edward came over to the west in the spring of 1811.  If 
I am not mistaken, he made the journey on foot.  He 
sojourned in Ohio during the summer, most of the time with 
his old friend (as he called him) Littleberry Crew, he 
having been near neighbor of his (Edward's) father in 
Virginia, his two eldest children being sons about the same 
age of Edward.  They went to school together and it seemed 
more like home to him than among his relations.  Being a 
wheelwright by trade, he made the wood work of a new wagon 
for his friend Crew that summer and returned to Virginia 
the following autumn.  Mary, the youngest sister, married a 
man by the name of Thomas Townsend.  Whether they were among 
the first emigrants of the Morris families to the west I 
never learned.  When I first knew them they were living on a 
farm a little west of Washington.  That was in the autumn of 
1812.  They afterwards moved to Belmont County, Ohio, and 
settled on a farm a few miles northwest of St.  Clairsville.  
I visited them in the autumn of 1821, since which time I 
have not heard much from them.  I believe their principal 
object in moving to Ohio was to get more among the Society 
of Friends, of which they were members.  So far as my memory 
serves me, they had but three children, one son and two 
daughters.  The son was near my age, and like myself named 
Morris after his mother's maiden name.  In the fore part of 
the summer of 1821 he spent some weeks with his Uncle 
Isaac, where I was sojourning at that time, but for the 
last 50 years or more I have heard nothing definitely from 
them.

	Having in the few preceding pages given a short history 
of the children of Jonathan and Mary Morris, I shall speak 
of their parents.  I have no precise dates of their births, 
marriages or deaths.  The birth of their second child Isaac 
Morris occurred on the 31st of the first month, 1751.  At 
what date the father Jonathan Morris, deceased I have no 
knowledge.  All I know of the mother is from personal 
recollection.  We have no tradition to tell when she 
emigrated to the west or with which of her children.  My 
memory serves me as far back as 1803, when she was living 
on a detached portion of her son Isaac's farm, and his 
third daughter living with her.  She was then about 18 years 
of age.  She continued there while her grandmother lived.  At 
or about the age of 20 she married a man named Joseph, a 
cooper by trade.  They all lived together.  He attended to 
the farm and occassionally to his trade.  Of him and his 
wife I shall speak more particularly hereafter.  Thus the 
grandmother, as she was always called, was very comfortably 
cared for.

	I regret much that I can not give her exact age, but 
from the best date I can obtain she was upwards of 70.  I 
always heard her spoken of as being a very healthy woman 
and one much esteemed in the circle of her relations; also 
as a skillful midwife.  She had three grandchildren called 
Benjamin, after her brother Benjamin West, the London 
artist.  She deceased in the autumn of 1808 while on a visit 
at Washington.


         		Chapter 3

	FIRST ACQUAINTANCE OF WILLIAM STOKES

	As I mentioned on a preceding page, the delight that 
Isaac Morris manifested in entertaining emigrants and 
hearing orally from his eastern relations, I have so far 
omitted one particular cast that should have appeared 
before.

	About the year 1797 a man in London by the name of 
William Stokes, a particular acquaintance of Benjamin West, 
wished to emigrate to America and requested West to give 
him a letter of introduction to some of his relations in 
Pennsylvania.  Stokes' plan was to come over himself and 
leave his wife and two children until he made a purchase 
and some improvement and then send for them.  West, having 
full confidence in the energy and honesty of his friend 
Stokes, gave him a letter of introduction to his brother 
Samuel West, who then resided near the old partition of 
their father's.  Stokes arrived with the letter and was 
kindly received by Samuel, who was always pleased to hear 
so directly from his brother Benjamin.

	After considering Stokes' object in all its bearing, 
they concluded he had better go west and relocate, as the 
territory of Ohio was then opening to settlers.  Samuel 
advised him to take a letter of recommendation to his 
nephew Isaac Morris in western Pennsylvania, he being a 
farmer and having been a resident there for ten or twelve 
years, he thought he would be the most suitable person to 
assist him in selecting a location.  Stokes took the letter 
and wended his way over the mountains on foot until he came 
to the residence of Isaac Morris.  It being autumn and the 
roads good, he got along very comfortably in his long walk.

	As he was an entire stranger, he presented the letter 
to Isaac Morris, who, not being educated to read, requested 
to read, requested Stokes to read it for him.  On hearing 
its contents a very hearty greeting ensued, so glad was 
Isaac to hear from his old uncle that he lost no time in 
testing the stranger's sincerity.  He could not read 
letters, but possessed a vivacity of discrimination in 
reading a stranger through, as quickly and correctly as 
those skilled in the rudiments of higher education.

	As the shades of evening were drawing on and the kind 
courtesy of welcome given to the stranger, Isaac wished to 
be excused for a little time.  He had some fires in a field 
below the house that he wished to right before it got dark 
and he would be in presently.

	"May I go along?" said Stokes.  "Oh, no," was the 
reply, "thee must be weary from thy long journey, and 
perhaps hungry.  I will be in soon and we will have some 
supper."

	"Nay," said he, "I am not much tired and would like 
to go along."  So Isaac consented and off they went.  Their 
job was a very particular one.  The surface of the field was 
of an oval form and in full view of the house with the 
public road between them.  In taking the deadened timber off 
Isaac had planned it so that each trunk should butt off the 
stump, we he wished to have the ground entirely free from 
stumps; hence, it took more frequent attention than common 
log heaps.  They got through with what was in process of 
burning and returned to the house and enjoyed the evening 
with much satisfaction as their little work had rendered 
them social.  Isaac was an early riser, and being awake next 
morning watching for the first ray of day, observed an 
unusual light beaming through his chamber window.  Rising to 
learn the cause, he beheld his fires in the field all aglow 
in the most brilliant manner.  Stokes had risen quietly and 
had the fires in the elegant trim.  He was asked why he had 
thus troubled himself.  He replied, "I expect to settle in 
the woods and I want to learn all I can."  That 
circumstance established a friendship between those two men 
that no deed or event was allowed to interrupt.  Isaac was 
so well pleased with his guest that he proposed to him that 
if he would sojourn a few days until he could put his farm 
work in shape to leave, that he would go over to the 
territory of Ohio, where they could probably make the most 
judicious selection, as a Land Office had recently been 
opened in the (then) small village of Steubenville.  They 
crossed the river near that place, made a selection and 
purchase of a tract of land about 11 miles north of 
Steubenville, in Knox Township, a little south of 
Knoxville.

	Whether Stokes remained there at that time to build his 
camp and commence his improvements, I have no knowledge, 
but the current impression is that he remained there about 
a year and then went east to meet his wife and children and 
conduct them to his intended habitation.

	I have thus introduced William Stokes to my readers.  As 
he was widely known to the Miller and Morris families, we 
shall speak of him hereafter.


		        Chapter 4

	MARRIAGE OF LEVI AND DEBORAH, WITH OTHER INCIDENTS

	Having in the preceding pages given a short outline of 
the families, I shall now devote a few pages to show the 
connection that came between them by marriage.

	Levi Miller, as before observed, was the youngest son 
of the Miller family, whose history I had not carried out.  
While he lived with his brother-in-law, Nathan Walton, he 
made acquaintance with Deborah Morris, the oldest child of 
Isaac Morris, which resulted in marriage early in the 
autumn of 1798.  Their first residence for the pending 
winter was in a small house on the land of Nathan Walton.  
The next spring they rented and moved on a farm in Fayette 
County in sight of her father's on opposite sides of the 
Monongahela River.  They lived there about six years and had 
four children born to them: Morris, the oldest, was born 
the 27th of the 7th month, 1799.  The others have not got 
their exact ages.  Their names were, respectively, Robert, 
Isaac and Nathan.

	Having brought the history of my parents to the time of 
my birth, I shall henceforth in speaking of them call them 
father and mother, and Isaac Morris, grandfather, which I 
have omitted heretofore, not out of disrespect but 
partially for brevity of writing.  I shall note more 
particularly the various circumstances of my grandfather's 
and father's families in order in which they occurred, as 
my memory enables me to state them with more accuracy than 
the events before.

	My mother being the oldest and first to marry, took 
with her to live the youngest sister Phebe, she being about 
nine years old.  She lived with them about ten years before 
her marriage.  Mary, the third sister, as I said before, was 
living with her grandmother at my earliest recollection.

	Sarah, the second sister, remained single for some nine 
years after her oldest sister married.  She made her home 
mostly with her father and stepmother; occasionally with 
her sister in time of need, as a nurse.  It may be proper 
here to remark that a good understanding generally existed 
between the older children and the stepmother.  I being the 
oldest grandchild, yet recollect with vivid memory the 
pleasure I enjoyed when a visit was anticipated to 
Grandfather's.  We children were as cordially received and 
as kindly treated as if we were all her own.  That friendly 
disposition continued with her through life, as the writer 
had frequent occasion to witness.  The two sons of the first 
wife - David and Jonathan - remained at home until they 
became of age.  Their father's farm consisted of about 300 
acres of land, situated on a bend of the Monongahela River, 
much in shape of a crescent, subdivided by two deep 
ravines.  The "up river" portion contained 90 acres; the 
middle portion 160; the other 50.  The middle portion had 
but little broken land and lay in good shape for farming; 
the other, although very good land, was more broken and 
difficult to access, but offered very pleasant sites of 
habitation.

	The middle portion had a public road running through 
it, which was a good advantage.  The buildings were about 
ordinary for the times.  When Grandfather came to it the 
house was a structure of hewed logs, a story and a half 
high, affording three rooms below and the same above.  The 
front door was entered from a platform about seven feet 
square, with comfortable seats on each side of the passage.  
The seats being strongly backed, afforded a pleasant place 
to sit and converse.  From the ascent of the ground on which 
the home stood, it required some half a dozen steps to 
reach it.  From the platform three-fourths of the farm could 
be seen.  Near three miles off the fair river like a silver 
sheet was in prospect, the spectator being over four 
hundred feet above it, while on either side near a half a 
township of farms and beautiful woodland, with the little 
village of Fredericktown (three miles off) were in full 
view.  That place has always been the scene of dearest 
associations to me, it being the place where my parents 
associated in marriage, and many other like associations 
that have occurred since.  It was from this point that my 
young, or I may almost say my infant, mind acquired its 
first impulse for general observation, which has never 
failed to attend me through a long life.  As I have so far 
digressed, I must say a little more about the features of 
the farm.  Immediately north of the road (which ran east and 
west) rose an elongated conical shaped elevation of ground 
containing about eight acres.  This was denoted an orchard, 
and was partially planted at an early period with the 
(then) choicest of fruit, as flour and apples in those days 
were the staple articles of the farm.  Grandfather being 
very economical, improved this orchard to its full 
capacity, and as a favorite for a variety of fruit, he gave 
the cherry tree particular attention.  Apart from having an 
ample number of trees of different varieties near and 
convenient to this house for family purposes, he resolved 
to plant a row of Morello trees east of his house on the 
roadside - a tree in each corner of the fence.  The planting 
of this row was in progress for several years, as his 
little nursery failed to produce trees sufficient to plant 
it in one year.  When they had grown to an age for bearing 
they presented a beautiful appearance, and were so widely 
famed that the next map of Pennsylvania recognized and 
marked the place as Cherry Lane.  The row was about a half a 
mile in length.

	I should have mentioned above that the completion of a 
new barn was accomplished in 1804, several years before 
planting the cherry row.  When he came on the farm the barn 
was a poor concern.  It was made of round logs, cabin roof 
and no cellar, as it was then termed.  Feeling in 
circumstances a need to build for the encouragement of his 
boys, who were then rising to be of considerable help, he 
resolved on putting up a good building of hewed logs, as 
frame had not then come much in fashion.  It was 60 feet 
long, 26 feet wide and (had) and overshot of eight feet set 
on a stone cellar for stabling under the whole building, 
and covered with shingles.  The erection of a new barn added 
much to the comforts and appearance of the farm, as it was 
then considered one of the best improved and regulated in 
point of industry and economy of any farm in the 
neighborhood.

	I will now leave my grandfather and his family and 
speak of my father and mother in the following chapter.


	        Chapter 5
			
            INCIDENTS OF MOVING

	I left my parents a few pages back on a rented farm in 
Fayette County.  They remained there about six years, having 
prospered as well as could have been expected under the 
circumstances.  There was always a good understanding 
existed between them and Grandfather, each one ready to 
assist the other in time of need when it lay in their power 
to do so.

	I yet look back with the most pleasing and perfect 
memory on the enjoyable times that we used to have when 
Grandfather and his boys came over to assist us in planting 
and harvesting time and Father would go and help them in 
return.  Father was considered an expert in stacking grain.  
One year before the new barn was built he stacked 
Grandfather's crop of wheat, which amounted to 1,300 dozen, 
all of which had to be stacked, as there were no barns nor 
threshing machines to take it out in the field in those 
days.  Great is the contrast between then and the present 
time in many of the operations of farming, yet I can not 
look back without feeling a veneration for those good old 
days.  The entire ignorance of the presence rendered us a 
blessing over what we then had.

	Father feeling that he would like to be on property of 
his own, his family having increased to four sons and being 
anxious for their future welfare, he and Mother concluded 
they had better look out for a more permanent home.  
Accordingly, in the autumn of 1804, Father made a purchase 
of a farm in the southern border of Greene County, about 
ten miles distant from Grandfather's.  His antecedent's name 
was James Adamson, an acquaintance of Father's and a son-
in-law of Nathan Heald, one of the first settlers of 
Columbiana County, Ohio, and Adamson wished to go there 
also; consequently he was easy to deal with.  The land was 
good and was conveniently located for farming purposes.  The 
buildings consisted of a new two-story stone house but 
partially finished inside, yet it was tolerably comfortable 
to live in; and an old decayed log house and barn.  In the 
spring of 1805 they moved to the new home, and being 
favored with reasonably good health, got along with the 
concerns at the farm as well as could have been expected, 
but they were not long in discovering that they were not 
among the congenial class of society which they formerly 
enjoyed.  The neighbors seemed kind in their way, but they 
must be indulged in their way or they were not friendly and 
social as neighbors should be.  To tell about them in the 
fewest words will be to day that a still house was nearby, 
and was generally kept in full blast to supply the home 
demand.  No gathering for harvest or any other purpose on 
the farm could be convened without the promise of an ample 
supply of liquor.  Even an isolated hand to work on the farm 
could rarely be obtained without the condition to have the 
bottle along with the water pail.  Father not being opposed 
(when he first went there) entirely to the moderate use of 
liquor, flattered himself that he could give his hands a 
little and keep it under control.  One day (I believe it was 
in his second harvest after moving there) in the midst of 
his largest field of wheat, three of his men got into a 
dispute about which was the best man and all stopped short.  
One man kept hold of his sickle for defense.  The second man 
took up a stone, and the third man ran to the fence for a 
stake.  Thus they arrayed themselves for battle.  After 
abusing each other with all that profanity could bestow, 
they were at length prevailed upon by Father's entreaties 
to drop their difficulties and resume their work, which, 
after a little entreaty from the other hands they agreed to 
do, and kept quiet until noon.  After the first table had 
eaten dinner and the second was in progress the quarrel was 
renewed in the yard, and Father had to leave his table 
precipitately to prevent violence among the inebriate 
combatants.  I give this as a specimen of the state of 
morals in that locality.  So frequent indeed were such 
occurrences that little attention was given to them by the 
law, as clean-handed parties were too scarce to put it in 
force.  I believe this was the last attempt that Father ever 
made to have several hands to assist him in his business, 
and from thenceforth he abandoned the using or giving of 
liquor to hands employed; consequently, he had to get along 
best he could by exchanging work with some few who would 
engage to work without liquor.

	We children were then coming to an age to go to school; 
hence, it gave our parents a great deal of anxiety, as no 
school had been kept there for a number of years.  An old 
school house dilapidated beyond repair and a small frame 
meeting house were nearby.  Father suggested that propriety 
of having school resumed and kept in the meeting house, 
which had not been much used in years past for meeting 
purposes.  After almost a year's consideration Father's 
measures were adopted, and a young man was employed as a 
teacher who had traveled some and could read and write, 
which were the only branches then aspired to.  He was 
engaged to teach a year, and Father agreed to board him, as 
he lived most convenient.  His term commenced in the spring 
of 1806, and proved rather a success for the time being, as 
it advanced many from the alphabet to comfortable reading 
and writing.  It was a little amusing, and would not 
scarcely believed, that in the beginning of the school the 
teacher had a class of girls, very near women, stammering 
over their ABC's.  It was a wonder to us little ones who had 
been taught our letters and some spelling at home how 
children of their size could escape knowing their letters 
so long, but such was the state of society there, and as 
Father had declined the use of liquor, he had but little 
influence over them; consequently, the school was not 
resumed again while we remained there, and the opportunity 
we afterwards had was at a very inconvenient distance.

	The reader will imagine from the substance of the last 
pages that our new home was not as pleasant as could be 
desired.  Father and Mother had always before moving there 
enjoyed more congenial society.  Although they were not 
members of any religious denomination, yet they had an 
especial regard for the principles of Christianity, and 
when convenient, made it a specialty to attend meetings for 
divine worship, and as those of the Society of Friends were 
the most convenient and many of their relations and most 
particular friends being members of that body, had their 
influence to draw their minds that way, and feeling a 
parental interest for the welfare of their children as well 
as themselves, concluded to request to become members of 
the Society of Friends.  Father's mind had been particularly 
drawn that way for some years past, as the following 
incident will show.  As I said before, Father and Mother had 
been concerned to attend meetings when they could, and 
particularly when a traveling minister had a meeting.  On 
one occasion they were after meeting introduced by some 
friend to the minister as Levi and Deborah Miller.  On 
hearing the name Levi, the minister grasped his hand very 
cordially and said, "I hope thou wilt prove to be a true 
Levite and favored in sincerity to become a bearer of the 
Ark of testimony."  Father received those remarks with a 
deep solemnity, believing that they came from a divine 
source, as he was well enough versed in Scripture to duly 
appreciate them.  I never heard them mentioned but once, 
then by my mother as a secret which she was telling a 
friend, and I have kept it until the present time.  The 
request, after due course through the order of the Society, 
was cordially granted to them and entered on the minutes of 
the Westland Monthly Meeting.  This I believe took place in 
the summer of 1808.  One circumstance I have omitted.  Our 
youngest brother Nathan, got so badly scalded at a sugar 
boiling that it proved fatal in a few days.  He was a very 
promising child, and hence it was a bereavement for us.  
Phebe, mother's youngest sister, coming to an age of 
maturity, accepted an offer of marriage and left us the 
following autumn after our brother's death.  This was felt 
as another bereavement in the family.  Mother was widely 
known as a choice butter maker; hence, the absence of her 
sister was much felt in that department, and as female 
assistance was difficult to obtain, of a suitable kind - 
not that enough could not be had to do the work all right, 
but such was the state of morals that no prudent parents 
would feel comfortable to have their children exposed to 
the profanity and vulgarity that many of them indulged in.

	After we had requested to become members of the 
Society, the hitherto disagreeable monotony of our home 
society was often very pleasantly relieved by the visits of 
our Friends.  Such visits had a very beneficial influence 
oftentimes on those who chanced to be with us, so that our 
home circle gradually improved a little for better.

	Although our comforts in society seemed a little 
improved, yet two serious disadvantages remained in our 
present location.  One was we were ten miles from any 
established meeting, with a very hilly road and a dangerous 
stream of water to cross that had neither bridge nor ferry, 
and the only pass was to it except by crossing the 
Monongahela River in two different places but by a less 
hilly road.  Another, and the most serious one, as our 
parents estimated, was the demoralizing state of society 
with which we were surrounded.  Father had lost all hope of 
seeing it soon bettered and to have his children much 
longer exposed to what he had seen in the few years past 
was too far from his sense of duty and justice towards them 
to be reconciled to its continuance.  Thus concerned, they 
concluded that they had better look out for another home, 
and the question where it should be was the next problem to 
solve.  The land near their relatives and adopted meeting 
was held at too high a price for them to hope to exchange 
their home for a desirable one in that locality, and to 
brave the privations of the west as many were doing they 
did not feel inclined to do.

	Father's health had been on the decline for a few years 
past.  He had for many years been the subject to slight 
attacks of dyspepsia, which had increased in the last two 
years so as to depress him both physically and mentally.

	While this important question was resolving in their 
minds, we were visited by father's old uncle, Samuel Shaw 
and wife, from Ohio, early in the autumn of 1809, they 
having sold their farm in Westland neighborhood about three 
years before and gone to Ohio and settled in the woods.  
They gave Father and Mother such a favorable account of 
their new home that they listened with much attention.  
Uncle was married three times.  His third wife was 
remarkable for her talent of quick perception and 
volubility of description.  She dilated much at heart on the 
progress of their new settlement and the cheapness and good 
qualities of the land, and above all the good state of 
morals that prevailed with all classes.  She was most 
particular in describing the building of their Meeting 
House.  It was hewed out of the woods - built in the woods - 
and the timbers so fine for splitting that it was 
comfortably floored and neatly seated, all of split timber 
independent of a sawmill.  Although but a lad of ten years, 
I remember almost verbatim the conversation that passed, 
feeling an interest then, as well as my parents, in having 
better society to associate in, when at our last school we 
were held in derision by our schoolmates for not 
participating in the obscene vulgarities that they indulged 
so freely in.

	Father always had full confidence in his uncle.  
Although he was one of but few words, yet what they were 
always sincerely intended.  They proved a turning point to 
the question that had occupied our minds, but we did not 
wish to act precipitately, but consider the matter 
maturely.


         	        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.


		        Chapter 7

	      INCIDENTS OF MOVING TO OHIO

	Father and Mother feeling a little cheered by 
Grandfather's report of their new purchase, used all 
diligence to bring their business to a close and go away in 
the following autumn.  Their wheat harvest was to cut, 
thresh and make market of, and such personal property as 
they could not take was to dispose of.  We all found a busy 
time in getting ready.  Uncle Joseph Dutton came in from 
Ohio to attend to his harvest and make ready also, having 
cleared about three acres of land, planted it in corn and 
potatoes, then split rails and fenced it, after which he 
raised and roofed a log cabin on it.  This I give as a 
specimen of a new settler in the woods in Hanover Township 
in 1810.  As neither Father nor Uncle had teams capable of 
taking them to their new home, it was necessary for each of 
them to employ a team for that purpose.  For a few years 
previous Grandfather's boys on his large draft.  The boys 
were emulous in this to imitate the five-horse teams then 
so common for heavy hauling.  Their team consisted of five 
steers, the two spans with a usual yoke and the fifth with 
a half-yoke, a pair of traces, back bands, etc.  They were 
all noble animals, and trained to the word of command, 
presenting a fine appearance.

	David, the oldest son at home, having been the most 
energetic in getting up the team, was its general driver.  
Being about 19 years of age, (he) felt ambitious to see the 
west, and proffered to take Father and his effects to their 
new home in Ohio.  Uncle having employed a horse team and 
being ready a week sooner than Father, started on, as the 
horses and oxen would not keep together on the road.  I may 
seem prolix to the general reader to go into a detail of 
moving which is of so frequent occurrence, but I expect to 
be pardoned by the many who feel interested to know what 
their parents passed through before their time.  There were 
three boys first, the eldest a few months over 11 and the 
youngest a little over 8 years of age; then two sisters and 
a little brother about two years old.  Mother and the three 
youngest had to take their passage in the ox wagon, which 
was tented over with a linen cover which was customary in 
those days.  We three older boys were to drive the cattle 
and sheep, there being four of the former and 12 of the 
latter.  Father attended to the two horses and a spring 
colt.  This afforded alternate riding for the boys.

	Thus disposed and arranged, we left Grandfather's house 
the morning of the 5th of 11th month, 1810, with several 
others bearing us company a few miles.  The weather had been 
propitious and fine for some time before, and was then, as 
we hoped, in the midst of an Indian summer.  As it had only 
been smoky a few days, we anticipated that it might last 
until we would get through.  But in this hope we were 
disappointed, for scarcely had our friends bade us adieu 
and turned back until it began to rain, and continued 
raining all that day, rendering it difficult for our 
barefoot team to get along, but being well trained we 
slowly advance, making but 14 miles that day.  The next day 
was also partially raining, consequently we only made 15 
miles, and that might met the team that had taken Uncle 
Joseph and his family out to the west before us.  We were 
glad to hear of the comfortable getting along of Uncle and 
his family, as they had better weather for their moving 
than we had so far.  The night passed with considerable 
rain, which continued during the day, but we journeyed on 
through rain and mud, making but nine miles that day, being 
checked a little before night by high water.  The rain 
abated in the evening, and by the next morning the stream 
could be crossed.  We journeyed on that day without any rain 
and with partially clear weather; consequently, we moved 18 
miles, coming within three miles of the river.  Starting 
early the next morning, (we hoped) to cross it before it 
got too high, but when we reached it we found it in all the 
majesty of one of its highest floods - five feet higher 
than ever known before by old residents.  Thus we were 
delayed as it was imprudent to attempt to cross it that 
day.  The weather was pleasant and numerous observers were 
there from the adjacent country to see the flood.  By the 
next morning it had abated about eight feet, and mostly 
clear of drift, the ferrymen concluded to venture out with 
their boat, as they had no steam poser then to assist them, 
and the boat had to be poled up the river a considerable 
distance before striking across so as to make a landing at 
a proper point on the opposite side.  By proper arrangement 
our team and stock were safely got over, but it consumed 
near the whole day, whereas with an ordinary stage of water 
one-fourth of the time and labor would have been 
sufficient.  We had no sooner found ourselves safely over 
the river than we were told that a landslide occurred, 
obstructing the road near the mouth of the Little Beaver 
River, so that no team could pass on the direct road to 
Lisbon; consequently, our only alternative was to ascend a 
very precipitous road to the heights above and then to take 
a northern road leading to Achortown and Fairfield.  Our 
team by dint of perserverence scaled the winding road and 
finally reached the top near dark.  This was considered the 
most critical adventure we made in the journey.  Staying at 
a private house on top of the hill, we resumed our journey 
the next day, which was partly rainy, making about 11 
miles.  As there was no bridge across the Little Beaver at 
Achortown, we lost a sheep in driving through the stream.  
We passed through Fairfield and Lisbon, reaching the 
residence of an old friend of Father's named William 
Skelton, who emigrated and settled, some years before, 
about one and a half miles northwest of Lisbon.  We were 
kindly received by them, as Samuel Shaw, Father's first 
cousin, married Skelton's daughter Susanna, about the time 
that Father and Mother were married, and having lived in 
Greene County about two miles from Father's until two years 
since, when he and his family moved and settled near his 
father-in-law.  They hearing of our arrival, came early in 
the morning to see and welcome us to our new home.

	We spent the night very comfortably with our friends, 
hoping it might be the last that we should be out on the 
tedious journey.  To our dismay, in the morning we found 
near an inch of snow on the ground, which made it more 
uncomfortable traveling, as the mud was deep before, but it 
did not rain or snow that day, and we wended our way 
through.  As we had been expected for a few days past, a 
lookout was kept for us, and when the singular ox team made 
its appearance, we were met and welcomed by those who would 
be our near neighbors.  Never were such courtesies bestowed 
more fitly than those were at that time, as we presented a 
very jaded and weatherbeaten appearance; also felt much in 
need of comfort.  Our little house had been occupied by 
Uncle Joseph and his family since their arrival, and would 
have to continue so until they could prepare their cabin 
fit to live in, as there was no vacant house or room to be 
had there in those days.  So we had to nestle together as 
well as we could.  The two families numbering 13, old and 
young, made it pretty thronged in an apartment less than a 
rod square inside.

	We all had been favored with good health on the way.  
Uncle returning from his work at dark found the house 
crowded - all glad to see each other.  The long evening was 
spent very socially, mostly in recounting the incidents of 
each other's moving which contrasted very strongly.  One had 
very pleasant weather and a comfortable passage, while the 
other could claim but little of either.  Uncle David, the 
teamster, was also much pleased that he had brought us 
through safe, as much depended on his prudent management.  
The singularity and nobleness of his team commanded the 
admiration of all who saw them.


 	        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.

		        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.

        	        Chapter 10

	       THE INDIAN ALARM OF 1812

	The year 1812 was a very eventful one for us.  Father's 
health being rather delicate, he was solicited by the 
neighbors to teach a term of school during the summer.  As we 
had a three-months' term taught the previous winter, it gave 
a stimulus in the new settlement to have one in the summer 
also.  Father and Mother feeling anxious for the advancement 
of their younger children and there being no schoolhouse yet 
suitable for small children to go to in the winter season, 
and the little one in which is had been kept being nearby, 
Father concluded that by employing a little help we three 
older boys could get along with the farm while he taught 
school.  Accordingly, the school was commenced in the spring, 
getting along for the first three months very well, being 
composed mostly of small children.

	About midsummer our new settlement was thrown into much 
excitement on account of the war that had been declared in 
the early part of that year.  Its results were looked upon by 
many in the west with a fearful anticipation; first, the 
Indians of the west having espoused the British cause, and 
secondly, the surrender of Hull at Malden, rendered the 
western frontier defenseless for the time being.  In order to 
restore a military force, every exertion was assumed by 
officers to raise recruits.  While these exertions were in 
progress many got terribly excited and imagined that the 
Indians that had been with us the previous autumn knew all 
about our location and could come in and murder us while we 
were asleep.  Some two or three individuals imagined in the 
late twilight that they had seen Indians skulking through 
the brambles, and ran in all directions to give the alarm, 
really believing that they had seen the Indians.  So general 
was the fear that no one hesitated to believe it, and soon a 
hundred and five men, women and children rendezvoused at 
George Brown's, he being the most prominent citizen and in a 
central locality.  All passed away quietly, no enemy 
appearing that night.  The next morning they all dispersed, 
after passing a resolution that no gun should be fired that 
day except in self-defense.  The rumor of the night did not 
reach our habitation, and we were glad that we had been 
missed and had had our rest.  Father went to his school, 
while we with a runner came to the schoolhouse telling 
Father that the enemy was within 12 miles of us, killing and 
burning all in the way; also, that they had burned Salem and 
would soon be on us.  Upon hearing this, Father sent the 
children home and hastened to the meadow calling for us to 
stop work and bring the horses instantly, as the enemy was 
likely to be on us soon and we must flee for our lives.  So 
sudden was our flight from the field that the hired man did 
not stop to take up his garment.  We were soon at the house 
with the horses, which were quickly saddled.  Mother and as 
many of the little ones as could ride mounted and we were 
off for the public road, arriving soon where Hanover now is, 
at the converge of several roads.  Soon our company increased 
by others, some on foot and some on horseback, like 
ourselves, as those that had wagons took no time to hitch to 
them, and there being no riding vehicles then in the 
settlement, all were either on horseback or on foot.  A very 
brief consultation was held, which resulted in (a decision 
to get) across the Ohio River as soon as possible.

	It has ever since been a subject of admiration to me 
how so many could have gotten the word and been fleeing so 
soon, as we had not advanced more than three miles until the 
road was filled with a hurrying mass over a quarter of a 
mile in length and increasing as we went.

	Uncle Joseph and his family happened to get with us 
soon after we started.  There were six of them with one horse 
and ten of us with two horses.  The weather was pleasant and 
the roads good.  Each mother had a babe of about three months 
old, which necessitated them to ride, often with two of the 
smaller ones on behind each horse.  Having advanced about ten 
miles and coming to the Steubenville Road that led south, 
Uncle Joseph suggested the propriety of the two families 
taking that road and going to our friend Stokes' and get 
some refreshments, as we had neither provisions nor money 
with us, and the river being but a few miles from there, we 
could cross it if necessary.  This suggestion was acceded to 
by Father, and we took that way without many others knowing 
our object.  Most of the road being through the unsettled 
forest, we were but little interrupted in telling people the 
cause of our flight.  We arrived at the salt works on Yellow 
Creek about nightfall, and concluded to rest ourselves there 
and wait until the moon rose, as we were within seven miles 
of Stokes'.  Our arrival, and the cause of our flight, 
created much consternation.  The proprietor of the works was 
away at New Lisbon, as every country town was then in a 
foment, using all diligence in raising recruits for the 
frontier.  We were kindly received, and such refreshments as 
were at hand freely bestowed on us.  It was deemed prudent to 
cool down the boilers at the works and be ready to go if 
word should come from Lisbon to confirm our report.  

	A little after midnight we resumed our journey.  The 
moon having been up about two hours enabled us to see our 
way in crossing the creeks, which we had to do several times 
in the first two miles, as there were no bridges then.  We 
arrived at Stokes' about daylight.  They were much surprised 
on seeing us at that hour and expressed more than usual 
sympathy for us on hearing the cause of our coming; also 
expressed a hope that we might not have occasion to go 
further.  They kindly and quickly relieved our present 
necessities, as we were much fatigued and hungry.  That day 
was one to be remembered with them as well as ourselves.  
Their elder son William was a captain of a military company, 
and that was the day they were to rendezvous at his father's 
house and commence their march for the frontier, their 
provision and baggage wagon being prepared the day before.

	Everything was in a general excitement, although the 
best of order prevailed.  The company assembled with many of 
their friends and relations.  It was a scene not to be 
forgotten to witness the parting of near relatives on such 
an occasion.  Their captain took them through a short drill 
and then addressed them in a brief but very appropriate 
speech while standing on his father's doorstep.

	A little after noon Henry Boyles arrived with his rifle 
company.  Soon afterwards they all marched off towards 
Steubenville.

	Father Stokes was not at home, being absent to procure 
some necessaries for his son, so that we did not get to see 
him.  Not hearing anything from behind us, we remained there 
that night and were kindly cared for, particularly after the 
companies had left.

	We were comforted a little in our adversity in meeting 
there with Uncle David Morris direct from his father's, (he) 
having arrived there the previous night.  It was cheerful for 
us to have his company and gloomy for him to find us thus 
situated.  The evening was passed off without hearing 
anything.  Early the next morning Father and Uncle Joseph 
started back.  Reaching the salt works, the proprietor having 
returned from Lisbon the day before, informed them that the 
alarm was false and that no real danger had existed; also 
(that) all that fled had returned to their homes the day 
before.  Glad to hear such good news, they hurried back to 
gather us up and go home.  Our good friends with whom we were 
staying were also glad to hear the result, and furnished us 
with eatables to refresh us on the way.  We started and 
traveled until evening.  Stopping at a private house until 
the moon rose, we resumed our journey and got home the next 
day about three o'clock in the afternoon.  We found 
everything about as we had left it.  Our kind neighbors who 
had got back two days before us had cared some for our stock 
and milked our cows.

	It was late in the evening after the alarm had been 
given before it subsided and word came that it was false and 
no danger to be apprehended.  As some few courageous men had 
not gone, a message was sent in the night to those who had 
fled.  The messenger found the first company at McKaig's 
Mill, about eight miles from Hanover.  They having started 
late, stopped there for the night.  The large company had 
come within a few miles of the river and halted on a farm, 
using the barn and all the shelter they could get to pass 
the night in.

	They all received the message with gladness and soon in 
the morning were on the road for home, yet a fear prevailed 
that the alarm had been started for the purpose of a general 
pillage, but that subsided when each one found his effects 
undisturbed by any trespass that would have led to such a 
conclusion.

	It remained for some time to be a moot question how the 
rumor got into the shape it did.  After the disturbed stated 
of our country, the west became a little more settled by its 
frontier being defended by a military force, and (as) the 
general facts in regard to Hull's surrender became known, 
the most probable cause of the rumor was thus solved.  After 
the surrender an exchange of prisoners took place and the 
British then having the command of all the fleet near there, 
used it to bring our prisoners over to American ground, and 
the vicinity of Sandusky being the nearest point, they 
disembarked them there.  The people at a distance seeing the 
vessels land and their members come ashore, took the alarm, 
supposing they were British and Indians landing to invade 
the country.  Having heard of the surrender and knowing the 
frontier to be defenseless, their interference was that the 
enemy was right on them.  The alarm gained ground as it 
advanced among the sparse settlers of the country then, and 
(there) being no regular mails through the country to carry 
correct reports, it was believed that through this medium 
the rumor originated.

	This was the last trouble of the kind we experienced in 
our net settlement.  It was not creditable to us thus to run 
at a false alarm, but since it has occurred, I record it as 
a matter of history contingent to a new settlement.


[contunued on miller02.txt]