The Geography of the Ozark Highland of Missouri Volume 7 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1920 Excerpt: ...of logs or stone over a spring, provided a cool and sanitary place for the storing of perishable food. The timber supplied a great number of pioneer needs. Furniture was made from black walnut, cherry, or sassafras. The water maple and butternut furnished dye for homespuns. From the sugar maple "long and short sweetening," that is, sugar and syrup, were made, as well as vinegar. In the hollow trunks of the sycamore grain was stored. Hickory furnished wagon-tongues and handles. Oak was used for shingles, boards, cooperage, and wagons; red cedar for shingles, churns, and chests, and almost any long-grained wood for fence rails.5 PRODUCTIVE OCCUPATIONS The activities of the pioneer were not directed toward the production of specialized commodities. Because of his isolation he was forced to produce whatever things were necessary to the sustenance of his family, or as many of them as possible. The intermediate climate of Missouri, the favorable association of forests and grassy tracts, the abundance of springs, the many mill sites, and the varied mineral resources enabled the pioneer in most localities of the border regions to live in almost complete independence of the older sections. This diversity of resources was more important then than now, and caused many sites to be more desirable for settlement to the pioneer than they are to the farmer of today. Hunting and fishing.--Few of the American settlers were hunters or fishermen by avocation, but almost all of them supplemented their living by these means. Venison, bear meat, wild turkey, and wild honey were an important part of the food supply of the pioneer.6 Deer were common along the Missouri River until well after the Civil War. Fish were taken in quantity by nets and traps, especially on creeks...