At the beginning of the present century, the township was covered with a heavy forest growth. There were gigantic maples whose spreading tops had waved in the storms of centuries, and whose massive trunks having no marketable value were relentlessly consigned to the flames. There were also the tall, towering pines whose trunks had never been disfigured by the "KingŐs Mark." Intermingled with these, were many varieties if humbler growth, all of which must give way to sunlight and civilization.

The removal of this imposing forest growth required courage and muscle, both of which the pioneers of the township possessed in large amounts. The felling of the trees was generally performed in the month of June.

Armed with his favorite axe of polished steel and keen edge, the pioneer commenced his attack upon that portion of the forest that came within the scope of the yearŐs plans. After careful inspection of the configuration of the ground, and the inclination of the trees, he chopped into both sides of each, on a strip of one to two rods wide, and of indefinite length. One of the giants of the forest with widely spreading branches was then felled, which, descending with great force, carried with it the trees next in range, and these, in turn, carrying others, until all that had been nitched reached the ground with a terrific crash. This in the vernacular of the period was a "drive." The breaking of the strong, course fibers of the trees, subjected to this irresistible force, was sometimes heard on a clear, still morning, two or three miles away, and was strikingly suggestive of human agony.

The next step in clearing land was the dropping of the limbs from the prostrated trunks of the trees, with the axe, the only tool which has not been radically changed in form within the last hundred years.

The limbs and leaves were packed together to facilitate the burning when the torch should be applied in the coming autumn, or more frequently, in the following spring. When the large amount of combustible matter was believed to be in condition for a "good burn," fires were stared at different points.

The terrific roaring of the flames, as they leaped from point to point, rising above the surrounding tree tops, and the dense volume of smoke that shut off the light of the sun, lingered in the memories of our fathers until the end of life.

The "felled pieces" having been cleared of the leaves and small limbs by fire, the work of hand-pilling was next in order. This meant the piling by hand of the larger limbs and brands that had not been reduced to ashes. When these piles were burned, the land was ready for the reception of seed, from which sprang the first crops, embracing corn and subsidiary crops, such as potatoes, beans, and garden vegetables.