Miss Laura Dreyling Writes Interestingly On Local Pioneer Life
(By Miss Laura Dreyling)
During my childhood and earl teens, it was my good fortune to be in pretty close touch with a number of the early settlers, and I used to listen in wonder to their tales of pioneer life.
My own grandmother had often told me stories of her experiences and when we returned north, Mrs Lieser, affectionately called Mutter Lieser, by all who knew her and her sister, Mrs. Kremer, told many tales. Later, at the home 0f Mrs. Fanny Ludwig and her sister, Miss Mina Frey, I met with Mrs. Spillmann, and Mrs. Begert Mrs. Naegele, and Mrs. Dr. Ehr, hardt, and others. All could tell of wonderful experiences.
I was greatly impressed by their faith in Divine Guidance, their optimism, and their neighborliness.
Apparently neither priest nor levite lived here – all were Samaritans. The housing problems were settled in a matter-of-fact way. Most homes consisted of but one good sized room, with a low loft over-head, which could be reached with a crude ladder. There was no floor in the loft, just a few loose planks a were placed on the sleepers, so they could get about to hang their smoked meats and strings of dried apples up. There also were great bunches of horehound and pepper, mint gathered to make tea with when colds came on. Bunches of catnip and jars of sweet camomile, blossoms were also stored here for use of the numerous babies.
Children then were considered a special gift from Heaven, and parents were proud when God gave a, dozen or more in their care.
When the old trundle bed was full to overflowing, the older boys had to sleep in the loft. Large slips were filled with soft sliced corn shucks, or straw, and if these failed, dry leaves had to answer the purpose. A few planks were added to give more body to the beds, I presume. In the cold season these impromptu beds were placed near the chimney so as to give at least a pretense of heat. There then would be a wild scramble as each boy wanted the warmest spot. The loose planks would bump and clatter and there was no peace until father threatened to come with a hickory.
No money being available for an addition to the one room, a partition was put up and thus a bedroom was made for the older girls, while parents and younger fry still occupied the trundle bed.
As the material was all green, when these buildings were put up the logs and planks soon began to shrink from one another so there was plenty of fresh air. This was very well only it did not make baking day ideal. A pot yeast was used, and when one’s yeast ran out, your neighbor would give you a cupful of “starter”. After the brewery was installed, brewer’s yeast was used. The flour was whole; the good parts had not been bolted out for the looks of the thing. The bread would rise slowly and painfully as no adequate heat could be maintained. It had to bake much longer than the bread of today, and when finally done would be dark and heavy, but highly nutritious. It was tough, however and had to be well masticated to be swallowed. No indigestion in those days. I know it took some chewing, as some 36 years ago I ate some made in this manner. It did not taste bad at all and with butter and hand Kaes or apple butter was fine, but it was a case of chew or choke. The bread pans were greased with a piece of bacon rind and if several neighbors baked the same day, the one piece of rind did duty for all the bread pans and was finally thrown to a dog. If only one used the rind it was placed in the soap grease jar, as every housewife made her own soap.