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With some of the discussion going on about Jeremiah Dominy and his settling in Ohio, I thought I'd post an excerpt from Newton J. Dominy's book:
"He [Jeremiah Dominy] moved with his parents from Three Mile Harbor, (known as DOMINY'S POINT), Suffolk County, Long Island, to Beekmantown, Clinton County, New York, in 1796.
In his early manhood days, be had the lust for adventure. The Legislature of his state, in 1794, authorized the building of the great Genesee Road, connecting the Mohawk Valley Road on the east with the Niagara on the west, stretching across the state. It opened up and provided an important communication link for the thriving settlers and hardy pioneers pushing into the Ohio country in the North West Territory.
After his marriage to ABAGAIL NORTON, he and his wife, and her parents (Mr. and Mrs.
James Norton), started on their westward course in 1810, with their axes, two yoke of oxen, two cows (to supply milk for the children), four horses, two wagons, and their rifles with a store of ammunition. This was considered the necessary equipment of that day, for them and their families.
Assured of land of exuberant fertility providing amply for their wants, they pushed on, regard less of their fatigue, through unexplored regions and tangled forest, guiding themselves by the sun only, reposing at night on the bare ground. One stood guard while the other slept.
They crossed numberless streams with their wives, children, and luggage, on rafts made of grape vines and logs woven together, drifting considerably before landing could be affected on the opposite shore. To their trouble was added impending danger of being murdered while asleep by prowling Indians.
They denied themselves the comfort of fire and light so they could not be easily detected in the darkness when night was on.
After about a year of this hazardous journey they landed at Worthington, Ohio, late in the fall of 1811; there residing with the family of Mr. Buell until they could purchase their farms and build their cabins thereon.
Jeremiah and his father-in-law (JAMES NORTON) purchased about 300 acres of land in what is now Darby Township, Madison County, Ohio, (although at that time the county had not been organized) which was a part of the north-west quarter of Franklin, from Daniel Sullivant for one dollar and a quarter per acre.
This land was all in virgin forest, without a stick of timber being cleared therefrom. His purchase was then about a 100 acres of land. He had no tools and only five dollars in money left. He built his tools to farm with, also his cabin of round logs 18 x 28 feet. In one end was a large fire-place, being built of mud, logs, and stick chimney for the smoke and fire to find its egress through the roof. This fire-place was used not only for heat but to do cooking in, such as baking corn pone and wheat bread on a white ash or white oak boards before the fire, also a large crane swung outward to hang the kettles on for cooking their meals. This chimney was daubed with mud from four to six inches thick to protect the logs from fire. The cabin was chinked and daubed also with mud.
This cabin consisted of one room which was used for all purposes, greased paper was pasted over apertures in the walls which served as windows and admitted light poorly.
There was no floor therein, but as his family grew he improved his log cabin. To better its condition, he added sleeping quarters on one side for the children, puncheon floors were provided."
Scanned & converted from:
Title: Genealogical History of the Dominy's Family
Author: Newton J. Dominy
Publication: August 15, 1926, Dublin, OH
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