FLATBOATING DOWN THE OHIO RIVER
(EARLY 1800S)
By: Checkmate King 2
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A man, his wife and son, her (good for nothing) brother and his brother the trapper and explorer, set out from Pennsylvania, down the Ohio River to start a new life in the new land from a land grant from President Thomas Jefferson.
They bring with them only the bare minimum of furniture and enough supplies to start a small farm. The boat will be dismantled once they reach their destination and used to build their new home, somewhere along the banks of the Ohio River. They float down the river by day and put ashore in the evening. They'll make camp for the night, hunt and fish to stretch their food stores along the journey. Livestock is important to start a farm and sustain life. They bring with them, two horses, a cow, four chickens, a rooster, two pigs, two cats and a dog. The men take turns steering the boat while the women tends the fire and preparing the food. The boy has assigned chores to do. Meanwhile, they are watched from cover of trees and bushes along the shoreline by native Shawnee Indians. |
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