. Husking corn
was a fall and sometimes winter occupation. Stock had to be cared
for and fed. Flax for home-made garments was raised, pulled up by
hand, spread, rotted, broken, skutched, hackled, etc. All this
work of the farm I pursued with regularity and assiduity. My father
dying when I was fourteen years of age, and my only living brother
(Benjamin F.) being married and on his own farm, much more of the
duties and management of a farm of above two hundred acres devolved
on me for the more than six succeeding years while my mother
continued to reside on the homestead.

My education was commenced at home and at the log district schoolhouse,
located on my father's farm. The beginning of a child's schooling,
by law and custom, was then at four years of age. Thus early I
went to school, but not regularly. It was then rare that a summer
school was kept up, and the winter _term_ was usually only three
or four months, at the outside. The farmer boy was needed to work
almost the year round, and even while attending school, he arose
early to attend to the feeding of stock, chopping fire-wood, doing
chores, etc., and when school closed in the evening he was often,
until after darkness set in, similarly engaged. The school hours
were from 8 A.M. to 12 M. and from 1 to 5 P.M. Saturdays were days
of hard work. The school months were busy ones to the farmer boys
and girls. Spelling matches at night were common.

The schools were, however, good, though the teachers were not always
efficient or capable of instructing in the higher branches of
learning now commonly taught in public schools in Ohio. But in
reading, spelling, writing, English grammar, geography within
certain limits, and arithmetic, the instruction was quite thorough,
and scholars inclined to acquire an education early became proficient
in the branches taught.

At school I made progress, though attending usually only about
three--sometimes four--months in the year. But I had the exceptional
advantage of aid at home from my father and mother; also older
sisters, who had all of them become fitted for teachers. My natural
inclination was to mathematics and physical geography rather than
to English grammar or other branches taught. While engaged in the
study of geography my father arranged to make a globe to illustrate
the zones, etc., and grand divisions of the world. Though then
but twelve years of age I aided him in chopping down a native linden
t