Reminiscences as recalled by Elizabeth Boyd and Cary
Roger Frisbey at their farm home--Rustic Retreat--
Clay twp. LaGrange Co. Indiana February 2, 1923
[They are talking about their parents coming to
Indiana when they were children and the Boyd
cabin mentioned is the one built by James and his
sons when they first came to Indiana.This was in 1842 to Elkhart twp. Noble Co.and in 1854 to Clay twp.
LaGrange twp.]
When we came to Indiana, the country was new and most of the farmers had small patches of land cleared and
it kept them busy to make a living and pay for their
homes.
The Boyd's log cabin in Clay twp. had one room with
two beds at the end of the room. They were
beautiful beds with trundle beds underneath for the
children. At the other end of the room was a cupboard and a ladder to climb upstairs which was one big room with a low ceiling. The stove was in the middle on one side and a table and chairs constituted the
furniture.
For lights, they used a saucer in which was a "slut
wick" made of cotton and tallow and burned not to
brightly. Later it was an iron lamp holding a tin of
lard or tallow. This had a spout to open on top with
a rag pulled up through the spout and lighted at the
end. Later yet they made candles of tallow in moulds.
There were no carpets on the floor but it was kept
spotlessly clean. They lived on milk and butter and
ate lots of corn bread. They had a good garden and
there were no potato bugs. As trees grew and produced they had apples and other fruits.
But wheat was raised and had to be cut with a cradle, raked and tied by hand, then thrashed with flails.
Later the threshing machine came along, threshing the wheat but leaving the grain and chaff together.
Still later came the separator and the farmers were
happy. Farmers who had wheat to sell had to draw it
to Ft. Wayne, In., about 50 miles away and got from
40 to 50 cents a bushel for it. Corn was the main
crop and sold for 15 to 25 cents a bushel.
In clearing up the land, farmers would cut down
timber, make what rails they needed for fences and
burn the rest. Lots and Lots of timber was burned
that today [1923 remember] would bring $50 to $60 per thousand feet.
There was a tannery at Lima (now Howe) and they used
white oak bark with which to tan. In the spring when
the bark peeled they cut down large white oak trees
and peeled the bark by the card.
The first sawmill came after we had lived there
awhile.
There were lots of wild game in the forest.... deer,
turkeys, geese, ducks, prairie chickens, quail,
pigeons, and pheasants. Also, there were wolves,
foxes, badgers, ground hogs, wild cats, skunks,
weasels and squirrels. A good hunter could go out in
the woods and come home with a deer or a turkey.
Cattle and hogs lived in the woods and marshes in
summer and farmers went to the Hobbs, Spaulding and
Newton marshes to cut hay for the winter. Hogs would
get wild in the woods, have their young and in the
fall farmers would look them up for pork for the
winter. Hogs were worth $2.00 to $2.50 per hundred
pounds and a good two year old steer or a cow $12.00
to $15.00.
Buggies were a rare thing in those days and people
often went to church in wagons drawn by oxen.
There were no public schools and if people wanted
schools, they put up a log cabin, paid a teacher by
subscription and there were good schools with dandy
school marms that the kids just loved. I (Cary) began my first school, teaching three months for $13.00 per month at the old Saylor School on Bethel Street. The
three month license was issued by Prust Cory of Lima.
Elizabeth attended the LaGrange Collegiate Institute
at Ontario and later taught until we were married.
(Elizabeth was the daughter of James and Catherine Boyd and Frances Dekker's Mother)
[Given to me by Frances Dekker]
With 18 children, the older ones were married and had children before their parents younger children were born. The only time all of the children were all home at the same time was at the wedding of Elizabeth Boyd and Cary Frisbey.
Catherine Boyd was a kind, good natured woman who was always called upon by her neighbors in time of sickness and trouble and was ever ready to go to their aid.
She washed, carded and got the wool ready for the spinning wheel and made most of the children's clothing and much of the bedding for her large family.
She was never known to punish the children. A short reprimand in a kind voice was enough to get them to mind or do what they were asked. Her house was immaculate and she took pride in her beds.
James Boyd was a hard working, industrious man and for truth and honesty none surpassed him and although not a wealthy man, the needy always found shelter beneath his roof and the beggar was not turned away from his door.
When the neighbor boys and girls came in for an evening with his children, they could make all the noise and have all the fun outdoors they wanted, but woe to the unlucky fellow who dashed through the house if he had gone to bed.
As grandfather and grandmother were very strict about going to church, the youngsters took advantage by having a grand good time while they were gone. They had heard their parents talk til they had a clear idea of how to conduct a church meeting. One boy was "Jimmy"; Aunt Mary was "Katy" grandmother's nickname; another was "Preacher Miller"; one was "Sumney" etc. and they held a lively meeting. Uncle Jake was the clown among the boys and Aunt Mary the lively one among the girls. At this meeting "Polly was the church member brought before the elders.
He was quick of temper but never held a grudge and would not lie down at night without forgiveness to all. His axiom to he children was "Never let the sun go down over your head being angry at someone."