Ohio History Journal

DOCUMENTS

 

A LETTER FROM GREENE COUNTY, OHIO,

DECEMBER 28, 1817

 

Among recent acquisitions to the Manuscript and Archives

collections in the Library of the Ohio State Archaeological and

Historical Society is the following letter which describes pioneer

conditions in Greene County, Ohio, in the year 1817. The letter

was addressed to Nathan Fisher, Mendon, Worcester County,

Massachusetts, and was postmarked at Xenia, December 31. It

evidently reached its destination January 18, 1818. The postage

was twenty-five cents and it was directed "By way of the city of

Washington," "To be left at the postoffice at Uxbridge."

the

Xenia Dec. " 28 1817

Honoured Parrents Brothers and Sisters

As I have a convenient opportunity to write a few lines to you, I shal

inform you that I have heard from you sence I left home. I received a

letter from you on the 16 of Dec, in reading and rereading, in which you

may expect that I was verry anxious to do, I found that you were all in

good health that is in generally speaking, as for my health it has been as

good so far as in Massachusetts, I calculate to stay in the County of Green

in town of Xenia, Xenia being the County Seat, I think of setting myself

in about three miles of the County Seat it being a verry handsome place

good neighbors good sosiety good Land and a healthy part of the County.

I have purchased me a lot of Land, it lying 3 miles from the County Seat

and about one hundred and fifty rods from the little Miama, my Lot will

be right at the head of navigation, This river is not navigable but it has

become a Law that it should made so, or that is navigable, This River emtes

in to the Ohio river 7 miles above Cincinnati, the work upon the river will

begin the ensuing year and it is calculated to take too or three years to get

it completed, it is expected that the Town will be sat off about fifteen rods

west of Mr. Reads house on a handsome height of ground, his farm rises

every day I bought my lot of a neighbor of Mr. Read, it adjoining his Land.

This lot that I spoke about dos not contain but one quarter of an Acre it

(341)

• 1
 

342    OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

 

cost me Ten dollars, I calculate to set up a shop next summer if nothing

happens more than what I know of now for the purporse of makeing Sash

and other articles in which I think I can make it verry profitable. In the

winter season, Sash are from 10 to 12 cents per lite, I have made some and

I sole them at Six Cents per lite they found me shop room boards and tools,

I observed in the second letter that I wrote to you which you had not received

when you wrote to me that I had begun the building of shop at which at

this time I have got completed which I am now to work for Mrs. Reads a

building a house 24 by 16 two story high, All that I want now is health

tools and a young man to work with me, master of the trade such a one I

can give good encuragement for, As for wages they are from one dollar

to one and a half per Day a man will do better to work by the job, there is

three Barnes 40 feet each and two shops that I have application to build I

darst not engague them alone, if you can enga[ge] one to, come to this

Country, it would sute me verry [much]--it requires a man of fortitude

and ambitio[n to] reach this Country. If a young man is a going to travel

to this Country it would be the cheapest to go [to] providence or Bostton and

take watter passage to Baltamore or Philadelphia and then put his goods

aboard of a large wagon which are goine from either almos daily to Pits-

burg and thence down the Ohio river to Cincinnati, from there 60 miles to

Xenia, As for articles for family use such as Coffee tea and other notions

of the like are higher than at the eastward, but as for Corn from 25 to 37 1/2

cents per B'ishel rye 75 Do wheat 75 to 87 1/2 do oats 25 Do Beef from two

to three dollars a hundred Pork from 3 to 4 per hund, Sugar from 8 to 10

cets per lb, People generally live in this Country upon wheat Bread, Corn

for Pork and whisky As for a farmer they wouldnt do as well as mecaniks

accordingly a man that is able to purchase a large quantity of Land the

rise of the Land would more than neat him Six per cent, I say that a farmer

would not do as well a mecanick because his produce is not so ready Cash

and at low price to, Though a good farmer will secure a Thousand

Bushels of Corn in a year, The way the Reads get hold of so much mony

they have Eight hands to work at Cabinet work which is a Cash article and

they carry on the monufactareng of Clocks they carry that Business so

large that it keeps one in Buisiness in Colleting and one in pedling Clocks

and one in selling Cabinet work and setting for timber. Give my respects

to all my Relatins and acquaintances that enquire after me and I will remain

your Son Elias T Fisher

• 2