Day 8:
Our final day in Athens/Nelsonville

Today we are a little weary from our many days of travel but anxious to visit "Martha's Hosue.  As you recall, when Christopher died Martha married Silas Bingham.  Silas had been a successful military man and well known in the area. Their home, now called "The Silas Bingham House" , has been restored and placed on the Ohio University campus.

Because the house is used as a welcome center, we were able to walk in and walk around. They had a book about Silas Bingham from the Bingham family. We put a copy of Martha 's ancestry page and a copy of a story about her marriage to Silas in the book.  Although the furniture and items were not original family pieces, many were of the period.

We decided not to visit the Culter Building on the University campus because it wasn't the original. The original building was built in the 1800's and was the first building on the campus. Our 3 times great-grandfather, Martha's husband Christopher, provided the lumber for the building. 

So instead we went to the Registrar 's office to investigate about land contracts. We know that Christopher J. (our great grandfather), sold his land adjacent to William C. and moved to Nelsonville to work the Poston farm. The plan was to eventually get a better farm of his own.  Grandpa's writing shares memories of life as a kid on the Poston farm.  At the Registrar we found records of Christopher (3 times grandfather) buying and selling land.  We have to contact Hocking county and Nelsonville Library to search for properties of Christopher J. Herrold.


Next we stopped at the White 's Mill. This mill was originally owned by Christopher Herrold who passed it to his son, Joseph Herrold (William C.'s older brother).  i believe that our stories state that William C. helped out at his brother's mill growing up.
The store keeper at the mill was very nice and showed us around, telling us about the equipment they had on display that was originally the Herrolds.

This is a picture of the original Herrold Mill. It did not have a wheel, but used a system similar to a lock (with doors that opened for the flow of water). Mr. White owned the mill when it burned (accident from the grain dust). The items below were saved.

Mill (the mill stone is inside) 

We believe Christopher and Martha brought this with them on their Pioneer journey.

Grinder (for refining the flour)

From the mill, we headed north on Plains Rd. to Porter Ln.  At this intersection the land forms a triangle. This land was owned by William C Herrold. Christopher inherited one acre of this land. Our grandfather was born in the new house soon after it was built.  We did not see any remnants.

At some point, William C. moved to Amesville and had his own mill.

After a few hours of rest at the 1850 house, we decided to take a ride through Union Furnace and over to HideAway Hills. (Bill & Lorrie's parents had an A-Frame cottage in HideAway Hills when we were all growing up).  Union Furnace is a depressed township much like Haydenville.  Nothing that look like houses or farmland which matched our pictures.
The drive to HideAway Hills was full of reminiscing about our childhood experiences.  Many stories and many laughs!!  The HideAway Hills security guy wouldn't let us drive up by the house.....disappointing.

Reflection: We all agree that this has been an amazing adventure!!!.
We have grown closer to our ancestors, recognized their strengths & qualities.....including those we have in common with them and learned more about each other.  We are blessed to have had this time together.