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Note: N767 The following is a bio of John Calvin McKeen written by John Merriell, a descendant.
John Calvin McKeen (called “Calvin” by his family) was born on his father’s farm in Acworth, NH. at the time of his birth there were three children in the family from his father’s first marriage. The eldest of these was Samuel, age four, and the others were twins, Hugh, and David, age two. Two years prior to John’s birth, his mother had a son, Alexander, who died in infancy, perhaps before John was born. Following John’s birth, Mary had a stillbirth and then saw her next two children die in infancy. For this reason she lavished her love on John. He was eight years old when his younger brother was born. These are the only two of Mary’s five sons who lived long lives. They were of quite different natures. John turned out to be sensitive and artistic; Solomon was the staid, reliable, hard-working conservative.
When John entered the world the Constitution of the United States was being ratified and the first election was yet to be held. The expansion into the Northwest Territory had barely begun. John’s father was a farmer in the western part of New Hampshire near the Connecticut River. He was the first generation born in America from a Scotch-Irish immigrant family from Ulster which settled in New Hampshire nearly seventy years before John was born. Hugh buried his first wife in 1779 and almost two years later married Mary Gregg, the daughter of another immigrant from Ulster.
Education was considered essential in the Scotch-Irish settlements. Building the Schoolhouse and hiring a teacher were among the first acts in establishing a new community. John was well educated for his time, and was taught the fundamentals of civil engineering. But in addition to technical studies he developed his interest in literature, especially poetry. He wrote songs and verses and later taught his children to write rhyme.
John and Mindwell Grout were married on March 18, 1813, when this country was again at war. The fathers of these two were both veterans of the Revolutionary War who had settled in Acworth after the war. Mindwell was born there on Sept 5, 1794 and grew up in Acworth. It was not long after this marriage when they left New Hampshire and went west to New York. In 1820 they resided in Caneadea, a new settelment in the valley of the Genessee River in Allegany County. Their first two children were born before 1820, one if not both born in Caneadea. In the next fifteen years, many of the people of New England joined this migration to western New York, including John's parents and Mindwell's father. The migration was aided by the improvement of roads and , in 1825, the opening of the Erie Canal. It was in 1825 when Rebecca Amy McKeen was born. She was named for the two wives of Mindwell's father; her older sister, Mary Joanna, was named for the two wives of John's father.
In writing about family history in about 1900, one of Rebecca's daughters, Alice Candace (McCray) Walther, mentioned only these four children in the family of John and Mindwell: John, William, Mary Joanna, and Rebecca Amy. Perhaps this should be taken as sufficient authority. However, in the 1830 census of Allegany County, not only those four, but an additional son, age 0-5 years, is shown. They were then living in the town of Haight, later renamed New Hudson. One might surmise that this is evidence of a fifth child which died in infancy. It was common in this and many other families to omit unhappy events when talking about the past, so this may not have been told as part of the family history. This birth would have happened at a time which was the beginning of Mindwell's disability and may have led to her death at the age of 42. If this was the end of her physical suffering, it was the beginning of John's anguish.
For several years prior to her death, Mindwell was an invalid and was unable to perform the physical chores required to maintain a frontier household. John, being unable to do these chores and rear the children, in addition to the work of running a farm, put the children in the homes of their aunts until they were old enough to be self-sufficient. This was a considerable strain on all of the family and made an unhappy environment for the daughters. To add to the strain, the country experienced a financial panic in 1837, the year when Mindwell died. This loss was more of a shock than John could bear, and he turned to alcohol. He developed an appetite he could not control, and it destroyed any hopes he or his parents held for this talented man. He was 50 years old and would live another 32 years estranged from the children he had loved. His grand-daughter recalled being told that he visited the family of his daughter, Rebecca and Carlos McCray, in Wisconsin - about 1860- where he met some of his grandchildren. However, although they were from four to nineteen years old when John died, Rebecca's children never knew their grandfather.
John died in 1869, having lived through wars from 1812 to the Civil War. He saw the frontier pushed to the Pacific Ocean and the start of a flood of immigrants into the Great Plains. He had lived through a period of great opportunity but had not been able to use this to his advantage.
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“James Eastwood, John C McKeen, and Jas Davidson, from N.H., settled in the s part in 1821. The first birth was that of Mary McKeen.” (refers to New Hudson, Allegany Co.,NY)
(from Historical and statistical gazeteer of New York State, by John Homer French)
“New Hudson was formed from Rushford, as Haight April 10, 1825, and its name changed April 4, 1837. The first town meeting was held at the house of Orange Hart, May 3, 1825, and the following named officers were chosen: John C. McKeen, Town Clerk......, John C. McKeen inspector of schools”
(from the Gazetteer and business directory of Allegany County, N.Y., for 1875)
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Sunday School REPORT.^First report of Genesee Sabbath School Union held at the court house in the village of Rochester, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 1827. The executive committee's report says of Allegany: This county includes 22 towns and contains 18,000 inhabitants. Our agent visited all the towns except one, found 15 Sabbath Schools in operation, and succeeded in establishing a County Union under encouraging circum- stances. There was a desire expressed by the people generally upon whom he called to have schools established in their respective neighborhoods, and it is confidently expected that a considerable number will be commenced next spring in places hitherto not favored with these institutions. Officers for Allegany County Union were elected as follows: Hon. Philip Church, president ; Hon. James McCall, Vial Thomas, Esq., Rev. Moses Hunter, Al. \Vm. Wilcox, Josiah Whitman, Al. Samuel King, Asa S. Allen, Esq., John C. McKeen, Esq., vice presidents ; John Collins, Esq., treasurer ; Ranson Lloyd, Esq., Rec. secretary ; Gen. Samuel S. Haight, Cor. secretary
(from A History of Allegany, New York, by John S Mindard, Esq, county historian,1896)
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1850 Census - John McKeen (62) b. CT (?) is living in Bradford, McKean Co., PA with David Clark (39), Mary Clark (28), Edwin (7), Rebecca (5), Isabella (4), infant (3/12). David is a farmer. ( not certain this is our John McKeen, although the age is right. Place of birth different)
1860 Census - John McKean (sp) (73) is living in Bradford, McKean, PA with David Clark (49), Mary J Clark (39), Edward F (17), Rebecca (15), Adalaide(13), Maryette (10), Mary E (8), Lucy J (5), infant 3/12). John was b. in NH. (post office Port Allegany) John is a laborer.
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In 1821, John C. McKean settled in the south part near Spencer Lyon. He was born in 1787 in Acworth, N.H. He surveyed some of the first roads to be built in New Hudson. He was Supervisor in 1831, 1832, 1842, 1843 and 1849. He was married to Mindwell Grant(Grout) in Acworth, N.H. They had 4 children. He was named deacon of six-member Presbyterian Church in Black Creek, NY in 1822. The first birth in the town was that of Mary McKean in 1821. In 1850 he moved to Bradford, Pa. with his daughter Mary and her husband David Clark. Apparently his wife died during his years spent in New Hudson, but I can find no record of her death.’ John C. McKean died in 1870 at Bradford, Pa.
(from Early Settlement and History of the Town of New Hudson by Neva Gross, New Hudson Town Historian)
1870 U.S. Federal census Mortality Schedules- John C McKean (82) , surveyor, widowed, born in NH, died Oct 1869 of old age in McKean County, PA
U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules Index about John C. Mc Kean Surname: John C. Mc Kean Year: 1870 County: Mc Kean CO. State: PA Age: 82 Gender: M (Male) Month of Death: Oct State of Birth: NH ID#: MRT197_215958 Occupation: SURVEYOR Cause of Death: OLD AGE
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John C McKean Birth: 1788, USA Death: 1870 McKean County Pennsylvania, USA
Family links: Children: William Grout McKean (1819 - 1896)* Mary Jane McKean Clark (1822 - 1892)* Rebecca Amy McKeen McCray (1825 - 1889)* *Calculated relationship Note: John Calvin married Mindwell Grout, daughter of William Grout, Esq. and Rebecca Woodbury, born 5 Sep 1794 and died Feb 1837. Her place of burial is as yet unknown. Their first born, John C. was born 1817 and supposedly went west to the gold fields Burial: Willow Dale Cemetery Bradford McKean County Pennsylvania, USA Created by: Connie T Record added: Feb 28, 2009 Find A Grave Memorial# 34276273
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ID: I064006 Name: John Calvin (Deacon) McKeen Sex: M Birth: 13 AUG 1787 in New Hampshire or Connecticut 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Death: 1870 in Bradford, McKean Co., Pennsylvania 1 8 Burial: Willow Dale Cemetery, Bradford, McKean, PA 8 Note: All children reside in PA and IL, per The Grout Family. In about 1821 removed to the southern part of New Hudson, NY. He was Supervisor there in 1831, 1832, 1842, 1843 and 1849. Named deacon of six-member Presbyterian Church in Black Creek, NY in 1822. Died at the home of his daughter, Mary and husband David Clark, where he was living at the 1850 census. That census gives his birthplace as Connecticut.
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History of New Hudson, New York
A Centennial Memorial
History of Allegany County, New York
John S. Minard, Esq. Historian
Mrs. Georgia Drew Andrews, Editor.
W. A. Fergusson & Co., Alfred, N. Y. 1896 NEW HUDSON.
BY HON. H. H. WAKELY.
CHAPTER LXVII. The first settlers within the present bounds of New Hudson were John Spencer and Joseph Patterson. Both settled in the northwest part of the town in 1847. In 1820 Spencer Lyon, who had in 1819 made a small clearing and began a log house in the south part of the town, came with his family from Vermont by way of Syracuse, where he bought a barrel of salt. The last night before reaching the place of their new home they stayed at the Rawson tavern, on the county line road, where the barrel of salt was left to pay the bill, and at the end of his journey Mr. Lyon's cash capital was an old-fashioned sixpence. He prospered at his new home, raised a large family, lived to old age, and died comparatively wealthy. In 1821 James Davidson, John C. McKean and Jonas Eastwood settled in the south part near Spencer Lyon. The first birth in town was that of Mary McKean in 1821. In 1822 Stephen Clayson and Elias Briggs and his father settled in the south part. The Briggs family came from Schenectady with an ox team and were 17 days on the road. In June, 1822, Earl Gould and Catharine Eastwood were married, being the first marriage in town. In 1821 Mrs. Graham McKean taught a school in the Lyon neighborhood.
In 1823 Jacob B. McElheny and his father, Thomas McElheny, settled at Black Creek in the south part of the town. They were originally from Easton, Pa., but had for a few years previous to coming to New Hudson lived in Dryden, N. Y. Thomas McElheny was justice of the peace for many years and died in 1843. Jacob B. McEtheny, best known as Col. McElheny, from being colonel of militia, lived at Black Creek the remainder of his life and died in 1881 aged 83. George H. Swift with his father, Wyatt Swift, from Vermont, settled on Swifts Hill in 1824, and in 1825 Nehemiah Bosworth from Vermont located on lot 55, and the same year Peter Ault settled in the west part of the town.
About 1824 and 1825 many' settlers came among whom were Samuel Blodgett, Alden Griffin, Orange Hart, James Swain, Elizur Beckwith, Lucius Frost, Amos Rose, James Jamison, John C. Casterline, Brown Dimick and Elias Cheeseinan. In 1826 Jared C. Hurd and father settled at Black Creek. Among the early settlers in the north part were Ebenezer and Silas Gere, and later Marshall Gere and father, Orlin Marsh and others from Vermont came in 1830. A barn, built by Elias Cheeseman in the southeast part of the town in the early days of the settlement, was covered with split shingles, or "shakes," fastened with wooden pegs instead of nails, the only nails then used being wrought nails hammered out on an anvil, and mostly made in England and Germany and costing 25 cents a pound.
Reuben Bennett and family settled on Mt. Monroe in the west part of the town, and an incident relating to Oliver Bennett may be mentioned. At that time the old state militia law was in force, all able bodied men from 18 to 45 years of age were enrolled, and were obliged to attend company and regimental drill at stated times, failing in which they were subject to a fine. Oliver, after due notice, failed to attend. A warrant for his arrest was procured and put into the hands of Thomas Carpenter, a fat constable of the town, who found Oliver a half mile off in the woods logging a fallow. Young Bennett, who was an athletic man, made no resistance, but was taken suddenly very sick and lay on the ground groaning in great pain. As there was no way to get any where near him with a wagon, the constable had to look after help enough to carry Bennett through the woods to the road.
Early in the settlement James Dinsmore moved in, bringing his family and goods from New Hampshire in a lumber wagon covered with sole leather. He was more than a month on the way. The sole leather proved a blessing to the settlement as no article was then more scarce.
Many of the first settlers brought into the wilderness a few "head" of cattle, and a serious trouble was to get them through the first winter; settlements had been made earlier on the Genesee River, and usually a small amount of forage could be got from there, but the main dependence was "browsing." Trees were felled through the day, the limbs lopped off and scattered around for the cattle to eat off the buds and small branches. Toward night the brush was snugly piled to be burned the next spring, when the land could be cleared for corn, oats or potatoes, but there must be no neglect, snow or blow, it must regularly be gone through. One man relates that he wintered nine cattle in this way by dividing one small bundle of oats among them each day.
The oldest person born in New Hudson and now living in the town is Lucius B. Lyon of Black Creek.
New Hudson was set off from Rushford April 10, 1825. The town was first named Haight, after General Haight of Cuba, who in consideration agreed to donate to the town 100 acres of land lying near the center of the town, but afterward proposed to give a contract only for the land so long as it should retain his name. The people became disgusted with his evasions and in 1837 changed the name to New Hudson.
The first town meeting was held at the house of Orange Hart, May 3, 1825, when were elected James Swain, supervisor; John C. MeKean, clerk; James Jamison, Elizur Beckworth, Silas Gere, assessors; Samuel Bell, Jacob B. McElheny, Samuel Blodgett, commissioners of highways; Lucius Frost, Amos Rose, James Davidson, overseers of the poor; Ephraim Briggs, John C. Casterline, school commissioners; Alden Griffith, collector; Brown Dimick, Alden Griffith, constables; Elias Cheeseman, John C. McKean and Samuel Blodgett, school inspectors.
THE SUPERVISORS since have been: 1826, '28, '30, Alden Griffith; 1827, John C. McKean; 1831, '32, '42, '43, '49, Jacob B. McElheny; 1833, '35, Silas F. Littlejohn; 1834, James Swain; 1836, '37, '41, A. R. Allen; 1838, '39, '56, Calvin Allen; 1840, Eleazer Carr; 1844, R. H. Loomis; 1845, '46, Calvin Swift; 1847, '48, Leonard Nichols; 1850, '52, Isaac Spaulding; 1853, '54, C. F. Truesdell; 1855, C. H. Sayres; 1857, '60, '64, '73, N. D. Bell; 1861, '63, '67, '69, S. L. Davidson; 1865, '66, J. Q. Vaughn; 1870, '71, '76, '84, H. H. Wakely; 1872, George Clark; 1874, '75, '82, '83, H. P. Ricker; 1878, B. F. Johnson; 1879. '80, Squire Vaughn; 1881, L. B. Lyon; 1885, '86, A. S. Thompson; 1887, '88, J. B. Sayres; 1889, '90, '91, Elbert Bennett; 1892, '93, '95, Clarence Ricker; 1894, Freeborn Gee.
John C. McKean, first town clerk in 1825 and 1826, has been succeeded by: 1827, Fred Westfall; 1828, Truman Phelps; 1829, '30, 36, Isaac L. Andrews; 1831, Silas F. Littlejohn; 1832, '35, A. R. Allen; 1833, '34, '37, '42, '46. '47, '53, '54, '56, 62, Reuben E Loomis; 1843, '49, '52, Leonard Nichols; 1844, '45, M. T. Atwood; 1848, E. F. Bard; 1855, George E. Allen; 1863, '64, J. E. Caldwell; 1865, '67, '70, '73, '74, Gilbert E. Loomis; 1866, Seneca Allen; 1871, Nelson Alexander; 1872, George Clark; 1875, '76, L. B. Lyon; 1877, B. F. Johnson; 1879, A. M. Waterbury; 1881, Frank Case; 1882, Melvin Crabb; 1883, '84, '85, Frank Lyon; 1886, '87, C. S. Westfall; 1888, '89, '90, '91, Clarence Ricker; 1892, A. B. Larabee; 1893, '94, '95, M. J. Dunn.
Population, 1830, 655; 1835, 1,065; 1840, 1,520; 1845, 1,296; 1850, 1,433; 1855, 1,451; 1860, 1,316; 1865, 1,219; 1870, 1,142; 1875, 1,147; 1880, 1,034; 1890, 978; 1892, 1,028. There are 22,200 acres in the town. The equalized value of real estate in 1895 is $347,958 of personal property $42,795. The total amount of taxes spread on valuation $4,387.89. Value per acre $15.67. Work on the Genesee Valley canal was the cause of the population being greatest in 1840. The houses of the first settlers of New Hudson were like most first settlers in a wilderness, made of logs chinked up and plastered with mud. A chimney made of stone or sticks and mud with a large open fireplace served to warm the house and cook by. A few feet above the fire, across the chimney was placed a pole, called a "lug pole," on which a long iron hook was hung, called a "trammel," the lower end having holes in which a smaller hook could be raised or lowered to hang a kettle on. Some (few) had a crane fastened in the jamb of the fireplace, which could be swung out from over the fire, and would also serve for more than one kettle.
A large part of the town when first settled was covered with a growth of excellent pine timber and much pine was burned to clear the land for crops. For some time after the first sawmills were built in the town the only market for lumber was to deliver it on the bank of Oil Creek at Cuba to be rafted and run to Pittsburgh or Cincinnati and the price was $6 per M. for clear pine.
In 1826 William Andrews opened a tavern at Black Creek which was kept up for more than 20 years, and had the reputation of furnishing excellent fare for that date. Soon after a store was opened at the same place by Nelson McCall, furnished with a small assortment of every class of goods likely to be then in demand.
The first sawmill was built near the north line of the town by Ebenezer and Silas Gere in 1827 or 1828. The next year James Davidson built a sawmifi in the south part of the town and others were built soon after in different parts.
The first doctor in town was Calvin Allen from Vermont who, for a time after coming, boarded at the Andrews tavern, was married soon after and spent most of his life at Black Creek.
From the opening of the Erie canal Buffalo was for many years the base of supplies for New Hudson, although the people often went to Hammondsport for salt. After the Genesee Valley canal was finished to Mt. Morris, most of the lumber and shingles were taken to that market, and most kinds of goods brought in from there.
There was originally a fine tract of pine timber lying along the north border of the town which was bought up by John McGraw of Dryden, who, in the early fifties, built a sawmill near the north line of the town and for some years did an extensive lumber business at that point, shipping the lumber at Caneadea on the canal. A considerable village sprang up about the mill and was called McGraville. After manufacturing the best of the timber the tract was sold to Albright & Kelly of New Jersey, and a store was kept in connection with the lumber business by John Thompson.
After the lumbering was finished the tract was sold to William Simpson of New York City, who cleared up the land and devoted it to stock raising, and for many years the farm was famous for the fine Jerseys bred there, which were sold and shipped to all parts of the United States. The farm is now owned and managed by William Simpson, Jr. A few thoroughbred cattle are still kept at the farm, but for a few years past the farm has been almost entirely used for raising and training horses. He has about 175 horses and colts, all from trotting breeds. The farm consists of 1,300 acres and is amply furnished with convenient barns, and has for exercise a half-mile circular track, while for winter use there is a covered track onefourth mile long and 24 ft. wide, shingled, sided up, nicely painted and well lighted on both sides. The horses are all kept at the farm during winter, hut in summer a part are taken to other points for training. The farm is at present under the care of James Hurley and E. F. Ives. Mr. Simpson is at the farm but a small part of his time, but aiways has in charge obliging, intelligent men who are especially attentive to visitors. About 20 men are employed in care of the farm.
New Hudson belonged to the Holland Purchase, and the first contracts for land in town were made by William Pinkerton, Jonathan Dodge, Daniel Dodge and Ebenezer Horton. This was in 1806, ten or twelve years before any permanent settlement; and it seems none of the parties ever made any improvement, and it is probable that the land reverted to the company for ack of payment. It is generally conceded that the Holland Company was very lenient about exacting payment of the first settlers for their land. Their practice was to "article," or contractthe land to purchasers, stipulating certain payments, but the settlers had few means of obtaining money, but soon began raising cattle and every fall the company would send around an agent to buy the cattle and credit the amount on their contract. The company would collect the cattle in a drove and drive them to some eastern market.
From about 1830 to 1850 a considerable business was done in manufacturing deer skin gloves and mittens by residents formerly from Gloversville and Johnstown. The skins were partly picked up in Pennsylvania and some were brought from the south; among the persons engaged in the business were Spaulding & Carpenter, Rorabeck & McElheny and Sloan & Jamison. The skins were dressed, then cut up and given out to women to be made up by hand.
In 1856 the Genesee Valley canal was finished through to Olean, and for the next 20 years New Hudson had a convenient market for its lumber, shingles, wood and bark. There are at present three postoffices in the town, one at Black Creek, one in the north part of the town called New Hudson and one in Marsh Settlement, called Marshall. There has been since early in the settiment from one to three stores at Black Creek, and usually one at McGrewville, now called New Hudson. There are at present seven cheese factories in the town. The first religious meeting held in New Hudson was at the house of Jonas Eastwood, Methodist preacher at Black Creek in 1831, who continued his labors for some years, and, in 1827, organized a Methodist Episcopal society. The meetings were usually held in the schoolhouse for the next ten years, when a church was built by the society, which ever since has had the services of a pastor; and have always had, and still have, a large membership. In 1848 an addition was built on front of the church with a belfry and bell. Again in 1881 a vestibule was added to the church, and new windows were put in and a furnace was put in the basement. This church has always been known as the "Black Creek M. E. Church."
In 1822 a Presbyterian society was formed at Black Creek with six members by Rev. Robert Hubbard under the care of the Presbytery of Bath. A church edifice was built the next year. The Rev. Reuben Hurd was the first pastor. In 1831 some division took place, a portion of the members joining a society in the north part of the town. In 1825 the society numbered 11 members. In 1833 45 members. Somewhere about 1828, by the efforts of the Littlejohn families, a Presbyterian church was built at the center of the town, which a few years afterwards was moved to Bellville in North Valley, where for some years religious meetings were held. After a time the church was abandoned and was some time ago torn down and removed. In 1844 the Presbyterian churches at Black Creek and North Valley re-organized and are now known as Congregationalist.
A Methodist Episcopal society was early formed in the north part of the town. It built a church edifice and maintained religious services till recently. At present the church is rented to the Baptist society, which has been kept up since 1828, but has never owned a church building.
A Wesleyan Methodist society was organized July 7, 1885, at North Valley with W. A. Stanfield as pastor. They hold their meetings in the district school house. They have 11 members, and their present pastor is Rev. G. W. Sibley, president of Lockport Conference.
The religious societies of New Hudson inherited to a great extent all the strict doctrines of the churches of Europe. The Presbyterians preached and practiced the doctrines of Calvin and John Knox, the Baptists thought it sacrilege to relax the practice of close communion, while the Methodists strove valiantly against any innovation of the teaching of Wesley and the simplicity of worship of the early fathers. An incident will illustrate this feeling in the Methodist society at Black Creek. After it had become strong in membership and had built a church some of the members wanted to introduce choir singing. Other members bitterly opposed it, urging that the congregation should do the singing "as genuine Methodists had always done in the past." This raised a contention which lasted for some time, but, in the end, a choir was organized and peace was partially restored for a time, but the worst was yet to come. In time the leader of the choir wanted to use a bass-viol and discard the "pitch pipe." This proposition was, by a part of the members, thought to be a horrid desecration of God's house, and. a contention was again raised that lasted for weeks. However, at a special meeting the bass-viol carried the day by a majority vote, most of the younger members voting in favor of it. On the next sabbath the big viol, six feet high; was carried into the choir. After the regular service was over the "class" or "speaking" meeting followed. The choir leader, himself a member of the church, placed the big "fiddle," as it was called, up in the corner of the church. When Brother Hargrave, a good zealous member, arose to speak, he turned to the big bass viol, shook his clenched fist at it, and cried out, "Thank God, my wooden brother, you can't speak in class meeting."
Both the Methodist and Congregational churches at Black Creek are well sustained and seem in a prosperous condition.
EARLY TIMES AND HOMES. - Wm. Guilford, an aged resident of White Creek, sends us this description of old times and old things that is worthy of preservation and applies as well to the early settlers of New Hudson as to those of any other locality: "Seventy years ago in this part of the county a few settlers had located along the creeks. They had a few acres cleared so as to raise a little grain and cut hay enough for a few cows and their ox teams and some had small flocks of sheep. What wool they could get was made into cloth to clothe their families. This, with what flax they raised and made into cloth, had to supply their every day clothing. All had to use strict economy to get along for money was hard to get. In this vicinity there was a heavy growth of timber of beech, maple, basswood and white ash, with some splendid black cherry and scattering pines of size and quality not to be excelled. Upon the hillsides there was almost a dense forest of oak and pine. But there was then no way to get much money out of timber. But few mills were within reach, and no markets to encourage any one to make much lumber. It did not look as though a century's work could remove the timber from this woody country. Several times in my boyhood I have stood by one of the old log houses and listened to the howling of wolves."
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