Handbook N-P - Fulton County Public Library

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well, by all pulling together for good. Then came the exciting time of 1840. About all I
remember of it is the hurrahing for “Tippecanoe and Tyler too.”
About that time Father bought a two-year old colt for $25.00. With it and the old
Pennsylvania horse, he commenced farming on a small scale. Later he got another horse and
advanced by slow degrees until 1844, which was the campaign of Polk and Clay, which I
remember well. They had what they called “fandangoes,” and “rallies.” There was one at
Hagerstown and Gov. James Whitcomb was to speak. I was anxious to see a Governor, as I
thought he would be an exrardinary personage, but to my great surprise he was just a man like
other men, although said to be very intelligent.
By that time father had acquired a little money and began to look about for a permanent
home. He heard of what was then called Tippecanoe country, so he came to Fulton county late in
the fall of 1844. He looked around for a time and bought eighty acres north of Tippecanoe river,
in Newcastle township half a mile west of where the Lutheran church now stands. It was a dense
forest, covered with tall timber of beach, walnut, oak, ash and other varieties. One-half acre was
cleared and had a brush fence around it. In 1845, about the middle of October, we started for our
new home. We were five days on the trip, passing through Munceytown (Muncie), Jonesboro,
Marion, through Indian reservation, which was then a thick forest, the road almost impassable, and
arrived at Peru. That was the last pay day for the Indians, for their lands. Broadway, from the old
bridge to Main street, was full of drunken Indians, both bucks and squaws.
The next day, being Saturday, we arrived in Rochester about dark. We were unable to
find a place to stay on account of our stock, which consisted of five horses, four cows and six
sheep, so we started north. Father being over the route before, remembered that there was a house
just north of the river, then called the old Polk place, now owned by Wm. H. Deniston. No one
lived there, but seeing a light still farther north, we went on and came to what is now known as the
Scott farm. Wm. T. Polk lived there then. Here again they refused to keep us, but on explaining
the siuation, and expecting to become neighbors, he kindly let us stay and we became close
friends. It was about nine o’clock by that time, and having had nothing to eat since noon, it is easy
to imagine we were a hungry set. After supper we went to bed, or rather laid down to rest.
The next morning, being Sunday, about four o’clock, father and I started up the river to
the farm of James Richter, across the road from my home farm, to ask them to prepare breakfast
for the family and teamster. At about nine o‘clock they arrived and all had breakfast. We were
very anxious to land at our own place, so father, my older brothers and I started out. It was a mile
and one-half, mostly through the woods. When found, it was as described before. We were well
pleased for it was the first foot of real estate we ever owned. The next day we looked for a house,
and found a log cabin just west of our land and moved in the same day. After procuring some feed
for the stock for the winter, we began the building of a house on our land and employed a number
of men for that purpose at 50c a day. The house was of hewed logs, 20x24 feet, one and one-half
story, with clap-board roof nailed on, something quite new in those days. We had three rooms,
two down and one up stairs. For a number of years that was the best house in the neighborhood.
We moved into it some time in February, 1846.
After preparing the ground for spring crops, garden and orchard, we rented some fields a
few miles south of us, where there was cleared land. By this time our money was again all used
and we went to hunting ginseng which brought 28 cts. a pound. The same now brings about $6.00
a pound. In this way we were able to procure some groceries and much needed clothing.
Our crops did fairly well, but one crop never failed for seven years, that was fever and
ague. At times we were all down but mother.
Wild game was plentiful, consising of deer, turkeys, squirrels and other animals. I have
seen from two to three deer in a drove, but as there were no hunters in our family, they were of
little use to us.
There were no laid out roads east of the Michigan road. If we wanted to go in any
direction we blazed a road, cut the brush and bumped over stumps as best we could. With all
these privations, people enjoyed themselves as much as they do now.