from: Wing, Talcott E. History of Monroe County, Illustrated. (NY: Munsell & Co., Publishers, 1890).
pp. 482-483 (transcribed from online copy of book at Google Books to a virtual notepad so needs to be checked for omissions, mistakes, et. al That's called editing in grown up land.)
"Son of Samuel and Jemima Hitchcock, was born in Amonia, Dutchess County, New York, February 2, 1794. When quite young, his father purchased a farm of nearly 300 acres in Schodack, Rensselaer county, and removed his family thither; but dying when Elisha was twelve years old, his mother sent him to school until he was sixteen, at which time he entered the store of Schermerhorn & Co., on the Hudson, where he remained until twenty-one. His eldest brother, who was doing a successful mercantile business in Newville, Herkimer County, immediately received him as a partner. Soon after he married Miss Christiona Spoor, daughter of a well-to-do farmer of the same town. The sudden and unexpected termination of the war with Great Britain found them with quite a stock of goods on hand, for which a high price had been paid, and they were obliged to sustain heavy losses. After mature consideration it was thought better to close the business. When matters were amicably adjusted the younger partner removed to Rensselaer County and commenced farming, occupying a portion of the homestead which had never been divided. Of their children, the first was born in Herkimer County, six sons and two daughters were added in Rensselaer County, and four sons born in Monroe County, completed the circle.
"May 1, 1834, found us equipped and under way for Michigan, father having been the year before and selected a place for home. Arriving in Albany, 363 miles on the Erie Canal took us to Buffalo, where we remained seven days, windbound, but came to Vistula, now Toledo, on the 17th, in time to learn that the man who engaged to build a log house for us had failed to fulfill the contract; however, he met us with two teams to convey us to a place within two miles of our own, where we might find shelter until one could be prepared for us. The house was one room, made of logs, the home of five persons, made us pretty thickly settled. Father bought a yoke of oxen and two cows from a drove near Monroe. A wagon and farm implements we brought with us. A man was hired, and at the end of four weeks we moved into our own house, if house it might be called, without door, window, roof or chimney. Oak boards had been procured from a saw mill nearly twenty miles distant. No uncommon sight was the passage of a company of Indians, squaws, pappooses and ponies, along a trail near which our house was built, and occassionally they camped for a few days but few rods away. Though at first we felt somewhat uneasy, yet we learned to be less fearful. But the fear of Indians and wild beasts bore little comparison to the fear that took possession of some of us at the prospective Toledo war, as the troops were marching so near us in that direction. The lapse of time, together with the horrors of the civil war that was precipitated upon us, has made that affair to appear of less significance, though their cause as President Willits says, was settled in such a way that both sides were victorious.
"The first season we were quite fortunate in escaping sickness. The coming of a couple of families tended somewhat to break the monotony that had been so apparent before.
"In the fall of 1836 our oldest brother went East to attend school, where he remained nearly two years. That winter we enjoyed the first privilege of attending school. A room was fitted up in the chamber of Jackson Hoag's log house. The room was furnished with a few benches, writing desk, and warmed by a stove-pipe passing through. The school embraced the children of two families, with our oldest sister for teacher. The long vacation seemed to have given a keen relish for study,, and school made fair advancement. That sister taught the Hopewell school, across the line, in the summer of 1837.; was married December 10th of the same year. The fall of 1840 was one of severe sickness to us; but one escaping, Henry, now a farmer in Southern Iowa. I make brief mention of our father, his illness and death, which occurred August 2, 1844. Though he had never a strong constitution, yet he was industrious at work or study, and was, at times, chosen to fill an office in town. He was elected assessor, inspector, and supervisor, as the records will show. I remember as a supervisor he opposed building such an expensive court house, as he thought the county too poor at the time. He had long suffered from an affection of the liver, but had appeared for a time more energetic than usual; had succeeded well with the harvest and haying, but he took sudden cold. His disease was ushered in with a chill which the family mistook for ague. A physician was called who decided at once that his case was a very dangerous one, "chronic hepatitis of the liver." All was of no avail for improvement. He first complained on Saturday. After Monday he was too ill perhaps, to realize much about his surroundings, and died Friday at noon, in the presence of all his family save the one who makes this record, who was attending school at Oberlin at the time. The depressing effect of the sad news was such that though surrounded by many friends, I found I must endure my sorrow comparitively alone. It appeared to me I could never study more; even the thought of opening a book became painful, and in a few days I returned home only to find that the half of the desolation and grief abiding there had not been told me. Five brothers attended school in Oberlin. The Michigan schools had not then attained their present celebrity. Nine of the whole have taught. Our borthers are for the most part farmers in Bedford. The homestead is now owned and occupied by George, the youngest. Our youngest sister, Charlotte, is the wife of Samuel Southard, farmer, near West Toledo, while one brother in business in Chicago, was recently elected for the seventeenth year in succession, superintendent of what is known as 'The Moody Sabbath School,' of nearly 2000 pupils of all ages. If any wonder why we have not made a broader mark, I reply it may be a wonder we have done no worse. While so many other incidents are before my mind, I will simply say we are still trying to work out the problem of mortal life as best we can, according to the light that is in us."
--Eliza Hitchcock Candee, South Whiteford, Nov. 20, 1889
No comments:
Post a Comment