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it would be traveling out of the objects you seek in your circular.  I will, however, as a common specimen of pioneer life, state that from 1806 to 1808 the settlers there labored under many discouragements, even after openings for cultivation were made; such as want for teams and farming implements, and the want of means to procure them.  Oxen and cows were with few exceptions the only teams used; horses were rare; rough sleds were the vehicles of travel and transit, rough ploughs with wooden mould boards, with iron nosings attached for coulters, barrows all of wood even to the teeth, were their best implements, and the man that had these with a yoke of oxen or even cows was called rich.  The man that had even one cow to harness for farming purposes was considered fortunate; and those that had none of these advantages, but had to put in their crops with manual toil, were the poor, which indeed was very common in that day.  Yet with all these conflicts in the start, about 1808 they began to realize relief in return for their toils in products from the rich soil.
     But up to this time they had to endure in many cases much suffering; flour and meal commanded fabulous prices, and could not be procured nearer than Pittsburg, and for want of means many families had to resort to roots and wild game entirely for subsistence, using spice-wood and sassafras for teas, and when they could procure it, rye was their coffee, sweetened with sugar of their own make.  Salt was also very scarce and dear, so much so, that many families who had pork had to let it remain without salting all winter, using it by cutting from the whole hog as they needed it for cooking during the cold winters.  The above are some of the facts connected with pioneer life more than three scores of years ago in the upper end of this State.  In this connection it should be stated that there was one characteristic trait plainly prominent in that early day among the people.  When it was made known that any one was in need of help, they for miles around would congregate, and if it was a cabin to be raised it was done.  If assistance to roll logs was needed in a new clearing it was bestowed.
     And in many instances under my own observation when any one from age, bad health or poverty was unable to open his clearing or provide shelter for himself and family, they would on a given day for miles around come together, bringing with them their own provisions at an early hour, with axes, cross-cut saws, teams

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such as they had, and such other implements as were necessary for the occasion.  If the object was to open up a small clearing a leader was appointed who gave general directions; some were assigned to cutting up the large down timber into logs, others to hauling them together, others to rolling them into heaps ready for burning, others to cut or grub out the under-growth, and either carry  it to the edge of the ground and pile it in rows for a fence, or in heaps for consumption by fire, others to felling timber and splitting it into rails, and building fences where there was no brush fence, especially in front of the cabin, with a slip-gap for egress or ingress.  And in some instances after the ground was cleared from debris, they would break patches and plant such vegetables as would come early and afford relief to the occupants; and indeed it was frequently the case that a dense forest in the morning, would by night-fall, present quite a little field, with the standing timber girdled, surrounded with the uncouth fences already described.