This and That

Mercer County Pioneer Woman

By Helen Kaverman, The Delphos Herald
Published:  Monday, July 7, 2008 (1 month, 3 weeks ago)
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(Part 5)

When we left Liwwat Boke two weeks ago she had just arrived in the Port of Baltimore from Germany.
Liwwat mentioned that by the Grace of God, not a single person died on the voyage. Her first impression of America was a joyful sight and a lovely land.
On Day 58 she wrote: “A long time since my departure from my home in Germany.” They had to stay on board the ship in quarantine. They were pleased when a doctor came onboard and found everything proper. The doctor returned the next day, releasing them to go ashore about 4 o’clock. “That pleased me extremely; my heart rejoiced.”
On Day 60 the ship was unloaded at noon. Their things were given one inspection…then they took their belongings to a guest house where they planned to stay until they resumed their journey. The next day they hired a driver and his wagon and team of horses to take them to Wheeling. It cost 7 American dollars. “We exchanged  some Bremen gold thalers for American silver pieces.”
On Day 62 they got underway to the West. From Baltimore they went through Elliot City, Crocksville and Lisbon and stayed the night in a family pension (a low priced lodging in a home) in Ridgeville. That cost 75 cents, including breakfast. The next day took them through New Market and Frederick “then over a great hill until the second night in an inn in Hagerstown. It was a nice place. It cost 60 cents, with breakfast, 19 cents additional.” The next day on the road was perilous and long. “We stayed the night in the inn west from Hancock, at Piney Grove. It cost 70 cents with black bread, and they made us food for the next day, also, for eating on the way. The water here is horrible and tastes like gunpowder.”
On Day 65 they traveled again over high moountains “and by afternoon heavy thunder and thunder clouds cracked between the mountains. The storm was unpleasant. The horses were frightened and so was I. The hand of God was protecting us. This eveing we stayed in a little house with a Cumberland family. The meal was the best with bread, meat, milk and vegetables.” The next day there was a dispute between the travelers and the wagoners. Some thought the trip was too slow but those people didn’t realize the difficult pulling for the horses. The passengers were getting tired and impatient. The next day brought rain showers, one after another, so driving the team was dangerous and slow. That night they stayed outside of Frostburg. The host built a fire in the fireplace and prepared the soup for the evening meal. “It was comfortable and clean.” The host spoke German very well. Her cost for the night was 55 cents, along with breakfast.
The days were numbered beginning with the first day at sea, with a few variations. On Day 67 she wrote: “The country is all mountains and valleys with thick forests and wide streams. Now we came through Grantsville, a nice village, and here we bought fresh meat and cooked it ourslves. The weather is better and the travelers as well.” The next day was a long, cruel day of 18 hours. They stayed in Farmington, a small stop with only two houses. “The night place was small. All the women slept in one room with the children.
“I was tired and a little afraid with these strangers, so I hid my money and papers in my underwear.” She even carried a little club to use if there was a fight. The next day they were late in starting because the wagons and harness needed repair. They got underway at 9 a.m. and stopped at 6 p.m. in Uniontown for the night.
Day 70 was “up and down, sideways, bouncing…my behind is bruised and sore!” They visited with other travelers, also Germans, on their way to Ohio and Illinois. That group had 4 wagons with 31 people and children. The next day she noted, “The mountains are all around us every day and we get fresh teams every day. On many hills there are extra teams of horses to help haul us up. They grease the axles two times a day.” That night they stayed in Bellsville in a good guest house. The cost was 80 cents with two meals and a food package with meat and bread for the next day. What a bargain.
On Day 72, they drove to Washington. At that location there were many wagons, horse teams and log houses. “Fresh milk and water in our jugs helped us the whole day. It was a very slow trip and the children are sour-tempered.” On Day 73 it rained and in the evening they stayed in Claysville, which was near the end of the trip. “We slept and ate well, and the outhouse with a bath was the first.”
Day 74 was her last entry in this chapter. “We have now come to the Ohio, first Wheeling and the night at McMahon’s Creek. There is a nice guest house, and we are finished with the wagoner from Baltimore. Now the last leg southwest along the great Ohio River to Cincinnati. The hills are smaller, over everything is forest. That is the end of this long leg.”
The translater of her journal said some of the dates did not add up. Some pages were missing. She possibly spent more time in Baltimore before leaving for Ohio. In her drawings was a flat boat on the Ohio River, which they used for part of the journey. At any rate, it was a rough and tumble journey.

To be continued.

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