Letter from Aurelia Butler: (Courtesy of Dick Wright)
Feb 29. 1916
Salt-Springs Road
East Syracuse, N.Y.
Mr. E. K. Warren
Dear friend
Your kind letter and the very interesting articles written by the Hon. Henry
Chamberlain and various other early settlers of Three Oaks and vicinity has
caused me to think a great deal. And to wish for the ready pen of a good
Historian that I too might tell of some of the joys and sorrows of early
Pioneer life. After some thought it seems best to begin with some dates and
facts concerning the James Paddock family that I belong to by marriage.
Though they settled just south of the Michigan state line in Indiana, they
were always closely associated with Michigan people.
In 1835 Mr. Paddock and his brother in law Julius C. Tappan, who were both
natives of Onondaga County New York, started west prospecting. The journey
was made by canal and on foot. They were pleased with Indiana. They looked
La Porte County over. The nice rolling prairies had no charm for them.
Like many other early settlers they thought where trees did not grow, crops
would not. They wanted to be sure of wood and water. They continued to
look until each man found a tract of land much "like old York State" with
hills, valleys, large trees, springs and rivulets, which they invested in.
They made small improvements, cleared a place - built each a log cabin.
Then Mr. Paddock returned to N.Y. leaving Mr. Tappan in charge of both new
homes. The next year, 1836, Mr, Paddock started west again with two horses
and a covered wagon, his wife and four boys: Irving, Steven, Albert and
Morrison. Besides his own family were Mathew Paddocks wife also Ami Sheads
wife and one child Candace. It was a long hard journey of from 4 to 6
weeks. Especially hard for the mother with four little boys, the eldest
six, the youngest a babe. Hard for the father too being guide, teamster and
caretaker.
Thankful they were August the 17th 1836 to be at the end of their long
journey - to rest in their new log cabin in the dense forest.
There were several families that settled in this vicinity early as 1834.
The Conners, Charlie Murrow, Sylvester Shead Sr., the Loves and others that
have all crossed the Bar. People were neighbors tho miles apart. Its
impossible for the people of today to realize what hardships our early
settlers had to endure. Now the Paddock family began to realize fully what
a pioneer life in a dense forest meant. The horse team was sold, oxen
bought to take their place as they were considered best for logging and
working among stumps and roots. The land was heavily timbered with all
kinds of trees, large strait and so tall one had to look more than once to
see their tops. They had to be felled, chopped or sawed into logs, rolled
into heaps and burned, mostly as there was but little sale for lumber, very
little being used for building then. Log houses were fashionable then with
split logs for floors, stone and mud chimnies, home made doors and
trimmings, hinges and latches of wood, a string of leather or cord passed
through a hole to lift the latch from outside. To lock the door the string
was taken inside - but the latch string was always out to friends and
neighbors, for they were a social people.
Had evening visiting and refreshments were served, tho sometimes there were
only potatoes at hand. To make variety they were cooked different ways -
roasted, mashed and fried with salt, and a cup of tea or coffee. With dip
candles, sometimes a button or little stone tied nicely in a bit of cloth
trimmed so as to stand in a saucer of lard would substitute for a candle.
Then again a bright fire on the big mud hearth furnished the only light.
Going to mill and waiting for the grist to be ground was at least a two days
job. Oxen moved slowly. Then waiting their turn and the water wheels
sometimes turned slowly too. Sleep in their wagon and live on cold lunch,
often getting home after dark the second day to the great relief of those at
home. For there were unprincipled people then as now and wild beasts were
frequently prowling around looking for something to devour.
Andrew was the first Hoosier baby - then Emily - Mrs. Ingersol later -
followed Harvey, Thomas, Annie, Lucette - Mrs. J. Wood Smith, Malissa who
died in infancy - last John, mean time the older children had grown to be
very useful.]
In those days there was a great deal of ague and bilious fever which reduced
some which reduced some so low that they succumbed to more fatal diseases.
One winter Mr. Paddock was a victim and was sick several weeks. It was a
hard struggle for life, also hard for the little family. But he had youth
and vigor to resist the more fatal fevers and was ready to work in the
spring. Some of the younger boys went barefoot that winter and in mild
weather wadded in the little ever running creek just back of the house, and
enjoyed it too as they frequently told their children about the great sport
it was, and that the water was always warm as it flowed from under little
hills and banks of snow.
Those brave men and women worked, there were no idlers. Their food and
clothing was all home grown and made. Even their sugar and syrup came from
the grand maple tree. No factory made garment then, wool picking, carding,
spinning, doubling and twisting, weaving, making of all the garments,
knitting, milking, butter and cheese making - with all of the general house
work kept the women and girls busy. No maids or nurses then. Men and boys
worked - not on the eight or ten hour system either. No factory made
machinery. Farm implements were largely hand made often by firelight in the
kitchen. Perhaps a little circle sometimes, tho some men excel along
special lines. A nice ax handle was the price of some. An ox yoke and bow
with the good fitting bow pin. One man I knew excelled in to make a good
syceth snath or cradle for cutting grain was much more difficult and the man
that could do a good job at either was hard to find. The shoe and boot
maker was much sought after and had more than they could do to make and
repair for the neighborhood. Each man had to furnish his leather, both for
uppers and sole. The shoe maker made his wooden pegs. Families had to take
their turn getting shod up for winter. Often results were unsatisfactory.
A ________ a great deal when a child could not start to school until his
boots were made. William and Jacob Martin were the shoe makers from New
Jersey.
end part 3