A STORY OF A CENTURY AGO - REMINESCENCES OF HANNAH McINTOSH CADY "GRANDMA CADY" Contributed by Helen Ringer

Pages 4 - 7

EBENEZER McINTOSH, my grandfather was born in Scotland.
His mother was Scotch as was also his wife. He came to this country before the Revolution. After coming here the common people wished to live as cheaply as possible, and thus save to improve their buildings; but the English took ann (all) the profit and treated them as slaves. Notes were not good without the British Stamp on them. The English thought the poor should drink nothing but sage tea and coffee. Once, when the British came into Boston Harbor with a load of tea, my grandfather and his brother-in-law JAMES MAVERIC, dressed themselves as Indians, and with their tomahawks went upon the ship. There were two men on guard. They told them they had come for a tea-party and wanted a cup of strong tea. They frightened the keepers, and with their tomahawks broke open the chest and emptied the tea into the harbor.

My grandfather married and had two children, PASQUALE PAOLA McINTOSH, my father, and a girl. The son, PASQUALE did not like to work, but wished to get an education, so his father bound him out to a man who was to teach him the painter's trade. At the age of 16 he ran away from his foster parents in York state. and while rafting lumber on the St. Lawrence was taken on board a British ship, was taken to Quebec, and asked to join the English army. He refused. They then locked him in a room. and while there forced to drink whiskey, and in this condition, partly intoxicated, he was made to sign a paper of allegiance to Britain. If a soldier dared to disobey he was made an example of. One was made to march around so all could see him, then he was whipped with a cat-o'-nine tails till his back was raw and bleeding. The sight was so horrible that my father fainted. When he regained consciousness a physician was about to bleed him. He at once attacked the doctor, suspecting him of some cruelty.

My father then resolved to escape from the army. He and a companion sought a fortune-teller, and had their fortunes told. She was a veritable witch. She told him he was going to desert the army, that he was going alone and would get clear, that he would be pursued but would receive protection. He and his companion returned to headquarters, where the companion was taken sick. My father got a gray coat from a farmer's wife, which he wore over his British red jacket and started to make his escape.

 He succeeded in passing the guard-house on a pretense of going to see his aunt and carrying her some seeds. He took with him his skates, which were furnished by the British government, as skating was the soldier's only pastime when off duty. He came to a river, put his skates on, and although a good skater, he pretended to not know how. The officers, never suspecting, watched him from the bank until he struck out to cross the river. Then they shot after him, some given chase on foot. His skated we irksome, so he removed them and his boots, threw away his sword, and ran in his stocking feet; but his woolen socks stuck to the ice, so he took these off and continued bare-footed. He finally reached the American shore, exhausted, with his feet frozen and bleeding.
   He was received and cared for by our troops stationed in nothern New York. He was nursed in the hospital tent for three weeks, and when able to take up arms he was constantly guarded fro fear he was a spy, but he soon proved his valor by his bravery when sent out with scouting parties. 'Twas here that my father fought in the American Revolution.

After the close of the war he bought a piece of land near Utica, New York, investing what money he had; but as the title was not good he lost it. From there he went to Cleveland, Ohio, and lived four years in a shanty. There were 7 other houses on this "Western Reserve". It was a wild place and bears would scratch on the doors at night. This is between what was called Cleveland and Ohio City.

While in this forest he lived on roots, berries, and wild game. He was taken sick and was obliged to let the land go back to the government. He then went to Mantua, Ohio, 30 miles from Cleveland, with JUDGE ATWATER, MR. HUNNEY, MR. LOUNES and ZACHEUS & ENEAS HARNUM. He took up 400 acres of land, sold all but 180, and Judge ATWATER said to PASQUALE McINTOSH (my father), "Come to; let us go to Burton and choose wives from the fair daughters of the land." PASQUALE chose ABI CLARK for his wife.

They made a trip from Burton to my father's farm in a canoe. Judge ATWATER wanted to marry her too, and was jealous of my father, but she wrote a letter to PASQUALE with a quill and sent it by a priest, saying that she would marry him.

Soon after PASQUALE was married he went to Vermont after his half brothers, MOSES, JOHN & DAVID. His wife's sister came to stay with her. He had not been gone long when their mother, MRS. CLARK, was taken ill, and the sister had to go home to care for her. That left ABI alone and she was afraid of the Indians. MR. HUNNEY told her that they were coming to get methiglen and that she must give them some. Methiglen was a drink which the settlers made from honey taken from bee-trees, fermented and mixed with water, and while not exactly intoxicating it made one feel hilarious after drinking it. The Indians cane and she gave them a jug-full. They built a fire, danced and drank till they broke the jug, then went away one by one.

PASQUALE went most of the way to Vermont on foot, but when he was ready to return he bought a horse. He and the boys took turns riding, he was gone about 6 months.

The only way they had to of grinding their corn was in a mortar which my father had made out of an oak log. He had burned and chopped it out till it would hold a bushel of corn. He hung the pestle on a swing-pole and pounded his corn into meal. The people came from miles around to use his mortar.

The squaws were to good to ABI. They brought her venison, bear's meat and oil, and she would give them bread. Once, when my father left my mother while he went to replenish their food supplies, some Indians came every night and sat on the door-step till morning, when they would skulk away. All the time my mother was in mortal terror, for the fear of herself and babies. When my father returned the Indians told him that they had protected his white squaw.

There was one shoemaker who went from house to house to make up the family shoes. They were made of cowhides and calfskins that were tanned by the settlers. Sometimes he would get around till January. The children would have to go barefooted till he came. No young man or boy ever had an overcoat. Their hats were all made at home, of straw braided and sewed, then pressed on a hat-block. All the clothing of the household was made at home. The women and girls commenced to card and spin in the soring, then weave and make up the garment for winter, each family growing their own flax and wool. When there was nothing to do at home the girls would go to school in the summer. They were never idle.

The first school house was a log one with a large fire place. It was built in a hollow beyond the old "brick tavern". The seats were made of boards with holes in the ends, and sticks for legs. Sometimes a stick would fall out, then the scholars would sprawll all over the floor. The teachers were severe and sometimes cruel. The parents paid the teacher. If any were not able to pay their children's tuition they were helped by the more fortunate neighbors. We learned to knit and sew at school. A spelling book was the only book I ever studied in school.

About the first of my schooling, MINERVA TWADLE, and myself were on our way to school one day, We had to pass through a dense forest. When looking back we saw a large beautiful dog following us. We tried to coax him to us, but when we halted he halted also, but continued to follow us a long distance, staying just about as far behind. We met MINERVA's uncle before we reached the schoolhouse. We told him about the dog, and he asked to go back and show him where the dog was. We went and he at once knew the tracks to be those of a large bear. He followed and killed old Bruin, who weighed over 200 pounds. The safety of the children can be understood only as the ground literally covered with acorns, which had satified the bear.

My father and mother lived and died on this farm at Mantua, Ohio, They had 11 children two of whom died in Childhood. My father would have enlisted in the Indian war but for my mother's pleading. She was afraid he would be recognized by the Bristish. This would have meant hanging to nearest tree as a deserter.

I, HANNAH McINTOSH CADY, was on April 29, 1909, one hundred and one years old, and have all my faculties except sight, which alone is imperfect.

                                        ********************************************************************
  HANNAH McINTOSH CADY was married to PETER CADY, Oct. 18, 1832 at Mantua, Ohio. Four Children were born to them, 2 girls and 2 boys, all of whom are living at the present time. PETER CADY was a cooper by trade and had a shop in the town of Mantua for about two years after he was married. He then bought a farm about 2 miles from the village, moved his family there, built a shop and continued work at his trade in addition to his farm work. In 1857 MR.CADY sold the place, and with his wife and children emigrated to Michigan, settling in Monterey, Allegan County. He built a saw-mill which he operated many years. In 1880 the CADYS sold their household goods and went to live with their children. In 1892 Mr. CADY died at the age of 93 years. Mrs. CADY continued to live with her daughters and sons. At the present time her home is with Mrs. SAMEUL GUYOT of Allegan, who is her oldest child. Her other daughter is Mrs. WILLIAM WHITE, and her sons are GEORGE W. CADY & L. Y. CADY, both of whom were in the Union army during the Civil war. The sketch of Mrs. CADY's early life, herein printed, is practically as she dictated it. The portrait is from a photograph taken after she was 101 years old.

  (The above record was typed from the printed booklet now  (in possession of HANNAH McINTOSH CADY Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution of Allegan. She was a member (of this Chapter which was named for her after her death.)

Ephraim Clark Bible Record
Grandfather of Hannah McIntosh Cady

Return To Home Page

All rights reserved.
This site may be freely linked to but not duplicated
in any fashion without my consent.
The information on these pages is meant for personal genealogical
research only and is not for commercial use of any type.