Plainview Centennial by Forrest S. Hogue cont'd Nearly all of the names recorded here are all found in a school register of the early 1850's which is in the possession of Mr. West. It will be displayed during our program. The houses and other buildings of our early settlers were typical of pioneer times. Some of the earlier ones wre of round-log structure being later replaced with hewed logs. Windows wre made of oiled papers. The floors of split-log, the roofs of clap-board and the fire place of stone with "tobacco stick" chimneys. Cooking and heating were provided by the large open fire place which would accommodate huge logs as fuel. Cooking and living funiture wee of the simpilest. Beds, tables and chairs were home-made as was also the clothing for old and young. The food was chiefly home produced, plentiful and wholesome without regard to vitamin content. there was an abundance of Wild game. The streams were full of fish uncantaminated by oil or refuse. Domestic animals ran at large during the earliest era of settlement. Eliza Thompson, an aunt of Asher Beardmore, told of hunting cows on the Pickens farm one mile west of the school house. She had followed the sound of the bell for some distance until it became early twilight. Upon hurriedly rounding a tree she came within arms length of a large bear which was contentedly eating his supper of wild berries. The cows weren't driven up until the next morning. Eliza was seven years of age when this incident happened. Mrs. Oliver Sloan, the mother of Grandma Emma Hogue related a somewhat similar occurance. She was sent early of a morning to a neighboring cabin to "borrow fire." While hurrying through the thick timber, she came upon a sleeping bear. Returning hurriedly to the cabin, she called her father who succeeded in killing the beast after following it for some time. (My note-Mrs. Oliver Sloan was Mary Zillah Dailey, the daughter of Vincent Dailey and this incident probably happened in Seneca Twp., Monroe Co., Oh, where she grew up. She was the grandmother of Forrest S. Hogue, who wrote this article) Social and religious activities of our fathers were centered mainly around the home, the church and school. We are led to believe that these institutions exercised a greater influence upon the lives of the people then they do today. We may explain this from the fact that they had but little competition from the many other interest and agencies of our modern life whcih we consider essential to our comfort and pleasure. Religion was a serious matter with them. They felt that they needed it and used it in their every day lives to combat the discouragements of their hard envirement with a hope that lay beyond the vista of their years. May we not say today that our most priceless heritage from them is the faith and moral principals resulting there from which they willed to us. The school house was probably the greatest social center of the neighborhood. Here were held the "spelling bee" and the debate. McGuffey's speller was committed to memory in preparation for these events. Old and young took part. Saying "pieces" was also a part of the program. Political and religious questions were discussed by the speakers. A later innovation was the Geography Singing School which was introduced into our district by Miss. Susan Walters about the year 1860. Log rollings and raisings, tobacco stringings and corn huskings, the play party and the dance (where religious views permitted it) at the various homes. The younger set particularly made the most of these occurances. "Sparkings, settin-ups, and Weddins" were in process of formation from such meetings. Weddings and bellings were often made the occasion for a complete neighborhood holiday. If you girls and boys don't know the meaning of some of the terms used ask your grandmother or even your mother. The words are probably not defined in your school dictionary. Please go to post #3