Imagine what Massac County looked like when our ancestors arrived. There were no paved roads, concrete sidewalks or houses awaiting them. Their roads were mere paths that Indians and wild animals had made, and they were often attacked along the way by both. They had to hack and chop their way through miles of forest where trees and brush joined making it nearly impossible to walk. There wasn't time to stop and enjoy a sunrise or sit on the banks of the Ohio to think awhile. They had to keep going. Our ancestors withstood hardships that we have been fortunate in never experiencing. Some may have lived through a flood, but its safe to say none of us endured Indians on the war path. Our early ancestors suffered famine, drought, flood, disease, cold, heat but still continued on. When they arrived they had to clear land to build their cabin, plant a garden, chop fire wood, kill clean and dress their meat. All that along with their daily tasks of caring for their children, feeding the animals, cooking, cleaning, mending candle making and on and on. We are very fortunate in deed. May we always remember those who came before us. MJ