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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY 85
from town was built to connect with the Huron River, where it would
be deep enough for navigation, was pushed with great celerity. The
basin was lined Avith warehouses in three years. More grain was taken
in and out of Milan than at any other lake port, and continued so until
they began to build railroads south and west of us, which opened up
to many people a more direct route to the pastern markets—so noAV I
Avill only say that Milan is a pleasant, quiet town to rusticate in.
In the Register of April 4, 1881, Mr. L. A. Hine of Berlin Township
gives a description of what pioneer life meant'to a Avoman in early days.
He says:
"From my earliest recollection (and I was born in 1819) and during
all my youth my mother's work Avas as follows:
"1. The house work and rearing seven children,
'' 2. Making butter, and during the hot season frbm 25 to 35 pounds
of cheese a day.
"3. Spinning and Aveaving AVOOI and flax, and making the family
clothing for summer and Avinter.
"My mother continued to do all this work alone and kept up her
laborious habits to the last, and when the death bolt struck her at
eighty-two, the stocking she Avas knitting fell from her- hands.
"Formerly farmers purchased very little at the stores, except groceries,
to a limited extent, and notions that AA'ere indispensable. Coffee
Avas not used at all. I did not taste it until nearly an adult. Tea was
only used by old women and visiting parties. Sugar AVIIS little used
and much of it AVIIS of domestic production. Cider floAved like Avater
the year round but it generally got pretty hard in July. Then
Avomen AA'ere proud of the large amount of work they could perform and
of the dignity of motherhood in a large family. One of the three Ann's
AVIIO first lived in an arbor of poles and brush and gave the name to
Ann Arbor, Michigan, was asked many years ago IIOAV many children
she had reared, and replied, 'I set out to have 12, but only had 7. I
made up for it by raising 5 grandchildren.' Then a Avoman of the
highest rank in the rural district could go several miles to church on
foot, IIOAV they will scarcely Avalk half a mile to hear a prophet."
The War of 1812 cheeked the groAvth of the settlement and drove
many people aAvay. Shortly after Hull's surrender a party AA'ere seen
landing on the lake shore, and the scarlet coats of some soldiers in the
party caused the settlers to think*that the British Avere invading in
force. The entire country-side Avas throAvn into the Avildest panic. The
people all left their homes, many of them without sufficient food or
clothing, and fled in the direction of Mansfield. By the time they
reached the state road, leading south, the only one then open, night had'
come on. The company had increased to such an extent that the road
was thronged for half a mile. About midnight the panic was arrested
by the appearance in the rear of men carrying packs, but not armed.
It was then discovered that the British had landed merely to send home