Your posting was very educational, and I thank you. Mary in Tx. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Errol Cross" <ecross@siteconnect.com> Subject: RE: [OHHURON-L] migration routes > Actually the reason was land. While your ancestors may not have purchased > land when they arrived in Huron Co., they needed support from those that > did. > > My research centers around Washington, Essex, Erie, and Clinton Co., NY and > Rutland Co., VT. But I understand that the conditions in most areas of New > York were the same. > > The land in New York was quite shallow, especially the land in Upstate New > York. By the 1830's the land in Washington Co would not grow grain without > "manuring". > > The Erie Canal opened the interior of the country. Grain and Wool could be > grown in Ohio, IL, WI and other places and shipped to the east coast cheaper > than it could be grown there. > > In addition there were new breeds of sheep that came from England that > produced finer wool. The demand for course wool fell and the farmers that > produced it could not sell it. The new breeds were expensive and not > available in the New York interior. > > With the invention of the Cotton Gin, Cotton began to over take the wool > industry. Even the way wool was spun changed from hand spinning and weaving > to mechanized spinning and weaving. In the 1820's farmer could buy a couple > of spinning wheels and hire the local women and children to make cloth for > him. By the 1850's, he had to set up a factory. With all the other changes > this was impossible. > > Then there were the Irish. Living in Ireland was tough. So when the > immigrants came to the US, they would work for less pay then the locals > would. Because they did not make much, they didn't spend much on things > other than food. The Poor House rolls reflect the increase in Irish > population. So not only did they work for less, but when they could not > support them selves, they lived off of the locals. > > I am not sure that the economists consider it a depression, life in New York > State was depressed. > > Farmers left for the Midwest in large numbers. Some with free land from the > Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Some to Cheap land ($1 an acre during > the time when farm land in Washington Co., NY was selling for $10 an acre). > When the farmers left, there was no one for the shop keepers to sell to, so > they followed the farmers. > > When the farmers and the shop keepers left, support people like accountants, > lawyers, doctors, even government employees had to. > > As the population grew in the Midwest, the need for transportation grew. > Canals, Railroads, and highways were developed. Canal Contractors and > Maintenance people came from Northern New York. Railroad and Highway > builders came from all over NY, PA, and VT. > > Once the Canals were dug, boat builders were needed. After the railroads > were built, Engineers, Rail Yard People, Conductors, and other support > people were needed. As the Highways were completed more wagon builders were > needed. > > These folks ate, they sat in chairs, and walked in shoes. So you see, even > if your folks did not buy land when they got to Huron Co, land was the > reason they came. > > Errol and Valerie Cross > Home Page http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~ecross/Index.htm