Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/44

 COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES try north of the river and ihcir posterity com­ prises the bulk of the population m the northern townships. There are also a large number of the descendants o f tiie Connecticut settlers to be found in that locality. In Locust township a considerable portion of the population is of Welsh descait, and they are among the best of the farm ers of the county. In Conyngham township there is a la ^ c population o f foreigners o f many nation­ alities, the predominating race being Slavonic. These arc employed principally in the coal mines. FIRST SETTLERS OF T H E COUNTY

T he evolution of the present prosperous com­ munity from the raw material of the past is a story o f romantic and enthralling interest, l l i e casualties in the founding o f an empire by war are not more numerous than those endured by the founders o f a community in the wilderness, peopled by savages and wild beasts. T h e different members o f Columbia county’s pioneer society came from widely separated localities; they were led to emigrate by a vari­ ety o f motives, and they differed as much in social prejudices, habits and conditions as in nationality. T he common object o f all w as the planting o f a new home, where patient, persevering (oil would gain a moderate compe­ tence for old age and provide greater advan­ tages fo r the growing families. There w as no established rule fo r success in this venture, and the unbroken forest contained enough d if­ ficulties to develop the individuality of the pio­ neer to the fullest. T h e selection o f a home site w as determined l a t e l y by accident. T he chance acquaintance w ith a speculator, or the story o f a friend or relative who had emigrated to the new pur­ chase, led to the removal of the listener to the sam e section. V ery often, as is the case in present days, the purchase was made before exam ination; in some cases a careful tour o f inspection was m ade; while in other instances the fe v e r of immigration lo new territory seized the head of the fam ily, and without ade­ quate preparation the household was broken up, property sold at a loss, the few portable household goods placed on the backs o f horses, and (he trip begun without definite aim o r des­ tination. W ith the difficulties o f travel, the amount of goods brought narrowed down to onlv the nec­ essaries that were easily carried! Carts and wagons w ere taken only as fa r as Sunbuiy. Beyond there, and in other routes into the

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county, the packhorse was the only means o f transporting goods. Sometimes oxen and cows were taken, and their ownership w as an evidence o f wealth. One man was offered all the land he could see from a considerable emi­ nence fo r one cow, but refused to make tiie deal. The locations were dctcnnincd by the con­ dition o f ilic ground and the class o f trees upon it, and its nearness to water. M any grievous mistakes were thus made, as the forest growth in this vast empire of the west bears little rela­ tion to the character o f (he soil. Some of the best land in the county was left to the wild denizens of the forest, while poorer soil in apparently better locations w as eagerly seized upon. The location once settled upon the fam ­ ily w as to be provided with shelter, and for this the abundant timber supplied the materi­ als ready to hand. But the hewing and .shap­ ing of the trees into the fonn o f a home was the work o f men, and few of the present gen­ eration would voluntarily u k e up the labor of constructing a log house with the crude and simple iropTemcnts of their pioneer ancestors. Each fam ily was a company o f architects in itself, and but little aid w as needed to erect the first rude home. When more pretentious struc­ tures came into being they were the result of (he united labors of the entire neighborhood, expended during one of the famous old “ log rollings.” With willing hands to assist the house w as built one day and occupied the next. "Setting to rights” w as not a laborious process. A few wooden pegs driven into the logs su f­ ficed to hang a scanty wardrobe, and two larger ones over the fireplace supported the rifle and powder horn. A puncheon floor—a later lux­ ury—and a loft were deemed unnecessary until the long winter evenings and stormy days pre­ vented outdoor labor. T he most important part of the home was the ample chimney o f stone, which in this cli­ mate w as placed at (he end of the house, with a broad mouth surmounted by a wide mantel, upon w hkh accumulated most of the visible treasures of the household. T his great wide fireplace was found in every home, some of the more pretentious having one at each end of the house. In it were hung the pot-hooks and hangers, and the “ spit” of the old country would sometimes be found there also. Upon the massive and ofttimes artistic “ firedogs” rested the hoax'}' logs that threw out a glorious blaze and serx'ed for both warmth and light. Here stood the "tin oven" and the older "Dutch oven.” within which were baked the com pone and johnnycakc. In the ashes were put the