Annals of Platte County, Missouri - Paxton
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1837 l FISH. crushed were gone. while those I cut up remained. I lived in this cabin three months. and seellle(l my land by preeinption. FISH. As in most new countries. fish were abundant. The creeks were stocked with perch and catsh; and, with these, buffalo, bass, and eanipbellites were found in the lakes and larger streams. The Falls of Platte was a favorite resort for shermen from abroad. I have sometimes seen. at one time, a hundred per- sons shing at tl1e Falls. At the spawning season vast quantities of large catsh, unable to pass the falls, would gather in the rapids below. In the riles I have seen the tails and ns of large sh so close and numerous that a spear cast in would often bring a sh to the shore. Venturesome watermen would go under the dam with a grabhook. and harpoon large sh lying in the crevices of the rocks. As butfalo and catsh were coming down the river. great numbers were caught in the trap set at the foot of the falls. The water-wheels of the mill were sometimes stopped by them. But from year to year they became less. Beans Lake and other lakes of the county still supply quantities of bualo fish. Traps and seines are prohibited. IBIPRO VEMENlS. The rst homes of the settlers were rude huts constructed of round logs. daubed with mud. oored with puncheons. and cov- ered with elapboards held down by weight-poles. The chimney was of logs to the arch. and then of laths lled in with mud. The door was of clapboards. and the latch-string. night and day, hung outward: for the pioneer is both fearless and hospitable. But. as soon as lumber Could be procured. these cabins were sueeeeded by warm l1eWe(l-log houses. with plank oors a11d stone ehinineys. Stoves came in later. CLEARING LAND. Prairies were neglected. but farms were opened in the timber witl1 much labor. All trees under a foot in diameter were felled, and cut into lengths of ten feet, for rails. The brush was piled, and the large trees were girdled. For these services 2315 per acre was the usual price. As the trees decayed and fell. they were dragged together and burned. Log-rollings were common. The rule was. You help me and I will help you. . jug of whisky and a general notice of the day brought together a merry crowd. The larger piles of logs were covered with rock. to be burned into lime. FAR.[lN("r llIlLE)IlC."lS. Rlaeksmiths used ehareoal. made from burning large piles of timber covered with dirt. I made many of them. for one of my servants was a. blacksmitl). Many a bar-share and (ary plow he made. The moldboard was made from a twisting oak. which