Annals of our ancestors; one hundred and fifty years of history in the ...

ii6 ANNALS OF OUR ANCESTORS
sight — a wagon with letters written upon the cover. The
brightest of the children told at sight that there were upon
both sides the words "Free Soil." How we did wonder at
the expression, but concluded it had a political meaning.
When the occupants of the wagon saw us all lined up, they
looked pleased as they passed on. When school was out that
day we ran home, to find that same "Free Soil" wagon in our
yard under the walnut tree. On entering the house there
were Uncle Robert Utter and Aunt Susan, their daughter
Araminta Butterfield and Dr. Butterfield, and their grandson
Webster Butterfield. Oh, what a happy event! Uncle Robert
told us that during their journey they had on two occasions
been refused a night's lodging because of their "Free Soil"
advertisement.
Our cousin, William Utter, was the other child of Uncle
Robert and Aunt Susan, but he was so near the age of our
father that we always called him "Uncle" William. His
wife was a daughter of Samuel Rogers of Kentucky, and our
parents liked to recall that they introduced Uncle WiUiam to
Elvira Rogers. Indeed, it is a well-known family tradition
that while William Utter was employed in the construction
of the first railroad built in Indiana he wrote a jesting letter
to his uncle, our father, suggesting that he should select him
a wife. This father proceeded to do in the person of Elvira
Rogers of New Antioch, Ohio. When Uncle William saw her
he promptly made the choice his own. He had often come with
them upon these trips; but this time Cousin Araminta and
her family were with them, which was an unusual pleasure.
It had been a custom of years for these good Utter relatives
to make us this visit. They would prepare for their tour by
getting out the covered wagon, and after loading in bedding
and provisions they would start for our home; after a visit
there they proceeded to New Antioch, where a lot of relatives
and acquaintances lived. To do this they had to travel fifty-
five miles beyond to Clinton County. What interesting
stories they would relate concerning the adventures of their
trip; and their descriptions of the country and people were so
good that their conversation was a joy. I see them yet as