Bonnie Belmont: Life and Love Along Scotch and Pinch Ridge (Belmont County, Ohio) During the Days of the Underground Railroad and Civil War - Softcover

Cochran, John Salisbury

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0876504004 ISBN 13: 9780876504000

Publisher: Pierian Press, 2017

Synopsis

Bonnie Belmont Life and Love Along Scotch and Pinch Ridge (Belmont County, Ohio) During the Days of the Underground Railroad and Civil War From the bonny ridges of southeast Ohio, the beautiful Ohio River Valley unfolded, revealing Wheeling (then still Virginia) and the market house on the east bank. Young Jack Salisbury, a Presbyterian boy of distinguished Scottish ancestry, and Minerva Paterson, a young Quaker girl, grew up amidst this bucolic splendor. From their earliest years, Jack knew Minerva was special, and never missed an opportunity to walk her home from school, though far out of his way. In contrast to the beautiful hills and valleys, life on the farm was governed by routines and never ending toil: daily chores, the seasonal planting and hoeing of corn, the cutting and thrashing of oats. But the seasons also brought apple parings, corn huskings, cider pressing, and the making of maple syrup, all social opportunities for Jack to spend time with Minerva. Then there were the literary programs, spelling bees, debates, singing school, and just friendly gatherings, which were enjoyed by both Jack and Minerva. Jack, as a young boy, frequently helped his mother carry butter, cheese, eggs and other farm products the two miles to Martin’s Ferry. By way of a ferry, they crossed the Ohio River to the market house, where his mother stood all day, in the cold of winter and the stifling heat of summer, selling her products for a few pennies. On one of these occasions, Jack wandered to the other end of the market house, and witnessed an event that changed his life. An auctioneer was standing on a platform, selling four slaves: a middle aged mother (Tilda Taylor), her beautiful, almost white daughter (Lucinda), her darker son (Mose), and another young man (Sam). Jack watched in amazement as their local Quaker miller purchased the mother, and as Maxwell, a Mississippi plantation owner, drove up the price of Lucinda, determined to have her at any price. But agents and conductors of the Underground Railroad also were watching the auction, and plans to rescue Lucinda were beginning to form. The future of these four slaves, and the Underground Railroad, became intertwined with Jack’s future life. This was but one of two fateful encounters. The other occurred on a beautiful evening as Jack, by horse and buggy, was driving Minerva home from the Quaker meeting house in Mt. Pleasant. In a clearing they encountered a Gypsy camp, at one side of which was a beautifully decorated wagon with the word “Queen” painted on its side. As Jack and Minerva gazed upon the scene, the door of the Queens trailer opened, and down the steps came the most beautiful woman Jack had ever seen. She approached the couple, and for a moment, stood looking at them. Presently, she said, “You love each other, and that is all you need to know.” But Jack, scornful of fortune tellers, enticed her to say more. In carefully chosen words, she said, “Your love, like pestles on a rose, will scatter before the storm.” Jack was deeply troubled by these words, and it would be years before Minerva and he would understand their true meaning. John Salisbury Cochran, following the Civil War, became an accomplished attorney and judge. C. Edward Wall is an author, editor, publisher, university library director and historian.

Edition details

• Publisher: Pierian Press
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 0876504004
• ISBN 13: 9780876504000
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 260
• Editor: Wall C. Edward