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84 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
good health. Grandfather and one of the uncles came out the year
before and built the double log house.
Crandfather Avas a sufferer from the depredations of the British
by fire at NorAvalk, Connecticut, and this land Avas granted him, then
called NCAV Connecticut. Soon after their arrival one of my aunts Avas
taken very sick and uncle had to go to Detroit on horseback for a doctor.
My parents and an uncle and their families came in 1819. The Erie
Canal AVIIS not finished. They came Avith three Avagons and were six
Aveeks on the road. They built a frame house opposite Avhere the Catholic
school building IIOAV stands and had been in it but a short time
Avhen they Avent to visit the aunts, who came in 1816. One child, four
years old, Avas left at home with thegirl. He amused himself by SAveeping
about the fireplace and set the lwoom away in an unfurnished room
and the house AVIIS all ablaze before it AVIIS discovered, and Avhen they
came back they found only smouldering ashes—but the ever hospitable
home of Ebenezer Merry took them in, until they coilld convert the
cooper shop into a house in Avhich to stay, as it AVIIS mid-Avinter. I have
six large spoons of mv mother's that Avere raked out of the ashes the
next morning after the fire.
My brother James had a cub bear for a pet. They had to kill it
Avhen it Aviis five months old, as it began to SIIOAV ifs wild nature and
Ave Avere afraid of it.
Deer Avere very plenty in the Avoods and they Avould often come up
to our back door, but the least noise Avould frighten them aAvay.
T remember seeing Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Chapin, .Mrs. Saunders and
Mrs. Henry LockAvood with their foot stoves, coming to church in the
old yellow,schoolhouse, which AVIIS used for "meetings."
The industries of .Milan consisted of saAvmills, grist mills, lannery.
shoe shop, blacksmith shop, pottery, ashery, cooper shop, hat shop,
harness maker's shop and one country store, containing tin.* postoffice.
Doctors kept their OAvn drugs. There Avas also a carding-machine and a
rope-walk. This AVIIS a long IOAV building from street to street, and they
tAvisted the rope by means of a large and small Avheel, turned by hand.
It-Avas a grand place for us girls to go and have a good race, which Ave
Avert* privileged to do to our heart's content, provided AVO Avould agree not
to get our hair tAvisted in the ropes. At the side of the building AVIIS a
big kettle of tar and it bad a lever that Avent round and round to lift
the ropes out of the kettle. This AVIIS where Ave took our rides, by taking
turns pushing each other around—and the tar compound afforded us
plenty of chcAving gum.
About this time Huron Institute Avas built and began to flourish,
bringing in many students. Also the old brick Pesbyterian Church
AVIIS built, and began to flourish. Rev. Overton Judson called it his big
red baby. Business greAv, more stores and different industries sprung
up—Avarehouses, AA'hich had been gradually added, received a neAV
impetus, and the canal, Avhich had been so successfully begun Avas
carried on through much opposition and many discouragements. There
was no such Avord'as fail Avith the projectors and the four miles of canal