To David M. Waid dmwaid@provide.net and other WAID researchers in Crawford County. Here is the information I found on Pember Waid in the "History of Crawford County, PA, 1885." "Two objects attract the attention of the people as they pass the homestead of Mr. WAID, and those are the large field spoken of and a big wood-pile. For twenty years or more there have been several hundred cords of stove-wood of various lengths piled up in the woodyard all the year round, so that when the dry wood was removed the green might take its place. Some years there have been as much as 400 cords on hand at a time, and never at any time less than 200; so "WAID's big wood-pile" has become a sort of proverb. It is worthy of remakr that this wood is generally hauled into the yard during the winter and cut by hand with the cross-cut saws during the spring before farm work opens. Orlando WAID and Franklin I. WAID, Mr. WAID's oldest son, cut fifteen and a half cords in one day, -and our subject, with other help, split and corded the wood and measured it, perhaps the best day's sawing ever done on the farm. Mr. WAID says: "I have hired men who can cut more wood in a day than I can or ever did, and I have been frequently asked: 'How much did you ever cut in a day?' On March 10, 1865, my brother George N..required some wood cut, so with an ax I cut, split and piled two and three-quarters cords of eighteen-inch sugar-tree wood; and next day I cut, split and piled three and one quarter cords same kind of wood. Do you ask me if I think I ever did a better day's work? I believe I did. On the day I was thirty-five years old Henry Smith and I set out in front of his residence and grocery, on the corner of State and Grove Streets, Meadville, nine sugar maples, quite large trees, all of which grew well and now greatly add to the looks of that part of the town. Life is desirable when we do good. I think it was in the spring of 1870 that I had the pleasure one day, along with my brethren, of setting out twelve trees by the State Road Church, nearly all of which are now living. (The sheds were built in December, 1879; the house repaired and new style windows put in, in 1882. The first house was erected in 1824, the present one in 1847. I understand there was a log schoolhouse in which meetings were held years before 1824, and it is said on good authority that the first meeting held in this community was about seventy-two years ago at, Edward Douglas' place, about one mile northeast of the State Road Church.)" Thomas W. Grayson, Esq., of the Crawford Democrat, when he and his wife called on Mr. WAID two years ago, said, on looking over the farm: " It is one of the grandest farms in the county; such clean fence-rows and beautiful fields; and that large field looks like a young prairie! (This was soon after haying). “Farm life," adds Mr. WAID himself, " includes more than mere agricultural labor, for it offers opportunities, if embraced, which bring greater peace and happiness than any other occupation, or as great, at least." Mr. WAID does his farming on the same principle he does his voting-acting in each the best he knows how, and then trusting the result with Him who doeth all things well. Mr. WAID's first vote (in 1854) was challenged, and his chagrin may be imagined when he had to confess he had no property -not even a cow, So in this instance he voted on his age, being twenty-one years old the 23d of April that year. After that his wife allowed him to call the cow, which was her own for benefit of both, his property,,. and it was accordingly assessed to him, since when he has had no difficulty in casting his vote. It is written, " Seest thou a man diligent in his business; he shall stand before kings, he shall not stand before mean men." Years ago, when he first plunged into practical farming, our subject would sell the hay off his farm, and some people advised him not to do so,as he would soon impoverish the soil, but he did not stop there; he tried to be more "diligent in business," and so returned to the farm one of two loads of manure for every load of produce taken therefrom, and as years have rolled by, he has increased the number of loads of manure, which accounts for the present fine condition of the land. Mr. WAID and his family, like other farmers who have raised a variety of crops, have made the growing of hay the main specialty for the past twenty years. During the last twenty- five years our subject avers they have taken off the farm and teamed to Meadville market as many loads of wood and as many tons of hay as any one he knows of, and nearly an equivalent in manure has invariably been returned to the soil, thereby increasing the productiveness of his land. in December, 1865, Mr. WAID sold hay, only a few tons, from $28 to $30 per ton. These were the highest prices obtained by him. The lowest sum he has any knowledge of having been fetched as $3.50 per ton. Hay brings at present (winter 1884-85) from $12 to $13." "Prof. A.B. Hyde," says Mr. Waid, "who was connected with Allegheny College twenty years, but who is now in Denver, Co., would greet me thus: 'How do you do, happy farmer?' and the suggestive appellation was so true I could not go back on it. I miss him now, but I often think of the man who spoke those words. In childhood and youth I loved the company of good men, and when I had an opportunity I sought them out, in order to hear their counsel and profit by what they would say. If I were to go on a journey and had never learned anything of the way, how glad I would be to converse with some faithful friend who had already traveled that way; so when we find men who have been a little more successful than ourselves, we are anxious to know how they managed it. I want to be doing something today that will bring good, now or in the future, and I know if my motive is right, and my action is good, it will bring the object sought. You want proof? 'Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.' Youth, if you would be safe, do not lose sight of the old landmarks. in some of the short speeches at our wedding and birthday celebrations, some of my friends, with Dr. Weter in his remarks, said, 'F.C. WAID is a man who is noted for attending to his own business and letting other people's business alone.' In my reply to that statement I have this to offer. In my school days I read of two men - one who attended to his own business, and the other who neglected it,and frequently meddled with his neighbors' affairs. Well, the sequel is this: the man who minded his own business is said to have made a thousand a year, while the other man failed to make a comfortable living. And since the reading of that story I have tried to imitate the man who made the thousand dollars. A tree is know by its fruit. There stand in our front yard a short distance fromt he walk that leads to the house, two large pear trees, one on the right hand, the other on the left; they were probably set out sixty years ago by Pember WAID, and have borne fruit since my first recollection of them. They are thrifty and in good condition, promising, unless some misfortune happens them, to bear fruit for the sixth generation. My two eldest grandchildren have eaten of their fruit, and for aught I know the sixth generation may." There is also a pine tree on the east side of the walk set there by our subject's eldest son over twenty years ago. He brought this tree from the forest, more than a mile distance, and did all the work himself in transplanting it, as the other members of the family cared nothing for it. But the tree grew, and now they value it." More to follow! Kathy Brubaker Volunteer Genealogist Linesville Historical Society kbrbkr@toolcity.net