Recollections of Samuel Evans

RECOLLECTIONS OF SAMUEL EVANS.

The only surviving members of our family are one brother and myself. Evan Evans came here in the spring of 1838. The next spring I came with my family. Our brother Jonathan came out in the fall of the same year I came. All looked new and wild. We had a body of heavy timber to commence in. We settled on what was known as the wander prairies, two miles south of Elizaville. They were wet most of the season unless we had an unusually dry summer. The prairies afforded pasturage as early as the 1st of March. This was a great relief to us as we had our farms to make. Our best plow was the jumping shovel. Our farm implements were few in number. The prairies furnished a good supply of hay for winter use. There was a good supply of game, such as deer, coon, turkeys, and smaller varieties. I never had the patience required to make a successful hunter. We had two of Kentucky’s hunters, Willis West and Grandpa Baker. Our markets were distant and milling inconvenient. We got our hand-mills going and soon got up a pot of mush out of new corn. Buckwheat was easier ground. We used bridle-paths for highways, for sometime if a crossing became muddy we would soon select another place. The loom and spinning-wheel which we depended on in those days have disappeared. The neighborhood generally came together at raisings and log-rollings. We were thinly settled for awhile, and I consider that the most enjoyable time. As population increased pride began to loom up, consequently other rulings became more manifested. Several items might be inserted, but as others are contributing to your book this will be sufficient. Ages are as follows: E. Evans in eighty-sixth year; I am in my seventy-third year.

Source Citation: Boone County History [database online] Boone County INGenWeb. 2007. <http://www.rootsweb.com/~inboone> Original data: Harden & Spahr. "Early life and times in Boone County, Indiana." Lebanon, Indiana. May, 1887, pp. 96-97.

Transcribed by: Julie S. Townsend - July 8, 2007