Harriet Pittenger
Myself and husband left Harrison County and arrived in Richland County in the year 1833. We arrived in the county in the evening at the place called Charles' grist mill. The place I will never forget, for when crossing the bridge there my husband's brother, who was the driver of the Pennsylvania wagon, drawn by four large horses lost control of the horses and the wagon was thrown overboard with all the occupants which consisted of my mother-in-law, myself and my sister-in-law. The latter and myself had with us our two small babies which were both drowned during the accident. There being quite a number of men handy the rest of us were saved and kept over night by Isaac Charles. The babies were taken to Samuel Charles' home where he made a coffin large enough for both and they were buried in the Osborne graveyard. After a couple of days we were able to go to Henry Pittenger's where we stayed for two weeks. Their house being quite small, we moved into an open log house which my husband had built. This was in January, and very cold weather to live in a house that was not even daubed to keep cold out. This was in Franklin Township where George Tucker now lives. We lived at this place for 18 years during which time we had four children born to us. We lived in the large woods and could tell several startling events that happened while there, but as this is simply a sketch of my life, I will not relate every narrative. By hard work my husband cleared the farm, which was 80 acres and by myself with the loom we managed to pay for the farm. Then we sold the farm to Jacob Landis for $2,200 and bought the farm where Henry Pittenger now lives and paid $2,600 for 104 acres of land. Later we bought the John Francis farm, one mile from Pavonia, for $7,000 and lived there 14 years and there my husband, Isaac Pittenger, died at the age of 72 years. Then I moved back with my son, H.O. Pittenger.
From The Mansfield Semi-Weekly News, February 16, 1897