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From: "Nancy Merrill" <>
Subject: Re: [LDR] Migration westward
Date: Sun, 7 Oct 2007 10:17:41 -0400
In-Reply-To: <8C9D6F8C51D4F7E-FE4-A2A0@mblk-d32.sysops.aol.com>


-----Original Message-----
From:
[mailto:]On Behalf Of

Sent: Sunday, October 07, 2007 8:58 AM
To:
Subject: [LDR] Migration westward


Early life in Ohio -
A Pioneer Letter (found at Ohio History Vol. 36, pg. 153] online
database
The letter here presented was written by Miss Rachel R. Lockwood, great aunt
of George R. Lockwood, Editor of the National Republic, published in
Washington, D.C. She emigrated from Sussex County, Delaware, to Preble
County, Ohio. In 1845 she moved with other members of the family to Miami
County, Indiana, where she became the wife of Jonathan Potterfield. Dr.
Dingle, to whom the letter was addressed, was a member of the State Senate
of Delaware. The letter was written "from New Paris, Ohio, on the
Cumberland Road." The envelope indicates the point from which it was
written and the cost of postage, twenty-five cents. The letter is a good
description of Pioneer Life in Ohio and is worthy of reproduction here in
full.

February 24, 1834
Respected Uncle,
I embrace the opportunity of writing to let you know that I am well, and
also the rest of the family, and I hope when this intelligence shall reach
you that you will enjoy good health. This is the first time that I have
availed myself of the privilege of writing you, but the long silence that
has prevailed between us I hope will be considered a sufficient excuse. It
is probable that you wish to know where we are and how we are doing. We
live in the same neighborhood in a house of our own. The site is a handsome
one; it lies in sight of a new town that is located on the Cumberland Road
within three miles of Paris (New Paris). Mother has bought two acres of
land for forty-five dollars and the present prospect [is] her situation in
old age will not be as uncomfortable as some anticipated, for she now has a
home of her own that she can dispose of at her own option and no person,
were they disposed to, can turn her out of doors. Mother is well satisfied
now. I do wish you could come and see for yourself our circumstances and
things as they really are, for unless you do it is impossible to believe the
advantages which this country does possess. The limit of my paper is too
contracted and the power of my pen is too weak to convey any correct
statement of it. I am prepared to say at any rate that our trip to the
highly favored Ohio has done us no harm. It is surprising to see the
improvement which has taken place since we arrived here. Certainly this is
the country for the poor. The prices paid for work are good in consequence
of there existing no slavery. Our people are held more upon an equal
footing with each other. A person of moral habits and respectable character
joined with industry and economy and frugality is not considered inferior to
the most opulent, popular citizens of Ohio. The prospects of the farmer are
still more flattering owing to the egress of western production by means of
canals, railroads and other great works of internal improvement.
Notwithstanding Ohio continued to be the abode of uncivilized mean and
ferocious beasts of the forests until a few years prior to this present
time, she bids fair to become a rival to the greatest commercial states of
the union. Not only of our commercial advantages have our citizens reason
to boast; we possess advantages in regard to gaining knowledge and
information which the settlers of many older states are destitute of. There
is a section of land in each township appropriated for the use of schools.
The prejudice entertained by the people of many of the early settled states
induced them to believe that the western settlers were left in a state of
ignorance and are without any intellectual improvement, but an impartial
observer will at once admit the idea to be erroneous, from great patronage
of the press not only of our district of country but of the most interesting
journals throughout the union. Our winter has been mild particularly for
the last month, we have had no sugar weather of account and if the weather
remains as warm a week or so longer the trees will put forth leaves and if
this should occur then the water will not make sugar in consequence of the
sap being up. It has been healthy throughout the winter, remarkably so at
this time. All vegetation indicates a very early spring. In common the
winter does not break until the first of March and some times the middle. I
am very desirous of hearing from the country in which you live. I think the
last letter we received from you was in the commencement of last year. I
saw some weeks ago in the Eaton Register copied from the Georgetown Luminary
an account of the severe storm of wind that visited your part of the
country. According to that statement several lives were lost and a great
quantity of property. We should be very glad to know who the individuals
were that fell victims of the violence of the storm.
The country and neighborhood has no doubt greatly changed since we left
that place and would wear less the aspect of home to us than this our
adopted country. How very strange it is that when a place becomes home it
unfolds new beauty to us and we often indulge the ardent hope that our
friends will one day dispense with their prejudices against this country and
come to remain for themselves. But I have been all too prolix. I must
conclude by wishing you and yours much happiness in this life and an
eternity of happiness in the world to come. Mother with the rest of the
family joins in sending their best compliments of respect to you all.
Please do answer this as soon as possible.

Wishing ever to remain your
Affectionate and Sincere Niece,
Rachel R. Lockwood



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