The Ligonier, PA "Echo" issue of 15 March 1893

Old-time Recollections. No. LXXIX.

Mr. Editor: -- I will close my valley history with a summing up, or rehearsal of some items worthy of notice and thought, that I hope may be interesting to your increasing readers. This history combines a regular advance of arts and sciences of near one hundred and fifty years, from the first settlers about the middle of last century, till the present time, being the last decade of the present century from the time the valley, as well as all western Pennsylvania was a howling wilderness, inhabited only by Indians and wild beasts, and covered over with the most majestic forests, of the waving and swaying of all kinds of timber by the heavenly blasts of the wind, from the time no cleared land was seen until all nearly is opened out by the stalwart man with axe and mattock, and turned into well improved and good producing farms. Thus from a wild waste the valley has become a "fruitful field" abounding with every good thing to support man and beast. In this period is also the most immense advance in all mercantile interests and systems of transporting produce and merchandise; being from the packhorse on Indian paths over the mountain, to wagon road, turnpipe, canal and railroad. What next now. When a few pack horses could supply the west, and now thousands of tons are required. From the time a few colonies reaching back one length to the "back woods" from the sea coast, or ship landing, till now the whole continent is filled up with nearly fifty states from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans. The news bearing facilities are not behind in all the advances. I can remember, when the election returns of this state required from a week to ten days to learn the result, and now they may be known by midnight of the same day, also almost from any part of the world in a day or two. In all pleasantries of comfortable living, no less advanced, with regard to heat and light from the immense woodpiles to be chopped up, to supply the fires to coal burning in grate and stove, to gas without ash or smoke and to start the fine fire, only need spigot or faucet joined to gas pipe, and with lighted match you have your fire blazing. Let me say the match lighter is a grand thing, for I can remember when two or very fine shavings were used to start the fire, from a flash of powder from the rifle gun lock. Also an old German lady with steel flint and [*unclear*-ed.] to start her pipe, but hard to make a blaze in that way. It was an object of great interest in those days to get a start of fire from a burning tree struck by lightning, as it was said that kind of fire would never die out. The coal and carbon oils, as well as manufactured and natural gas, also electricity, is a great advance from the old tallow dip and snuffers to keep it bright, as well the unsavory smoking lard lamp by the kitchen jamb.

Also in reference to the implements of farming conveniences, there is notable advance, what

was before my day of construct of plow cannot say, but the metal plow of all forms and steel constructions is surely a high improvement on the old mole board, with sheer scaulter to only turn a furrow of 9 inches and get over only one acre per day. Also the gang plow of the best form attached to wheels, on western prairies, with a man seated on top, with 4 to 6 plows attached to wheels plowing from 10 to 15 acres per day, driving 2 to 4 horses in the plow team, and in the taking off the harvest and preparing for using and market, is wonderful advanced from sickle to cradle and then horse power reapers doing ten to twenty acres per day; of the threshing business no one of my age but is well acquainted with swinging the flail alternate strokes 2 and 3 together, but two better than three, or even one for speedy work and then cleaning grain, from large sieves, coarse and fine, and when covered with large tow cloth sheets, handled by two persons, to blow away the chaff, while one man riddled the grain through the sieve; to finest hand wind mills, on to the steam thrashers that thresh and clean the grain, and bag it measured ready for the market. In the kitchen conveniences also is much advance, to save the women of much heated toil, from baking over hot wood fire with good sized round oven with flanged lid to pile on hot coal and ashes, and then set on the same to bake, one loaf at a time to the cooking stove to bake 4 to 6 or even to bake a dozen loaves at one heating. For these things we should be very thankful to the Creator of all things and render praise and thanksgiving to heaven daily and hourly as we receive continued blessings. I can remember when it was the custom to keep whiskey in the house to take drams, yet it never was of father, and to callers the same and when whiskey was only the price of a bushel of rye 3 "leventy bits" and pure distillation and not any delirium tremens, of such whisky, as in use at the present day, when three or four gallons are made from one, by a system of rectification with all manner of poisonous compounds of drugs. When however the temperance wave spread over the United States, started by the inimitable Rev. Lymen Beahers of Mass. in the 2d decade of this century, it took fast hold on Ligonier valley, and created a magnanimous reformation, and dram drinking was no more popular, nor in any case endured by respectable families of the valley. I should yet add of home production and manufacture of garments for the household of wool, flax and toe when sound of many spinning wheels were heard in the house from morning to night and loom clatter in weave shop, all of which is now handed over to the spinning Jennys and patent looms run by steam power.

A NEIGHBOR