Family:Charles Loomis and Olive Hatch (1)

In 1818, early in January, a company of about forty men, women, and children started from Vermont with ox and horse teams and sleds. The snow was deep. The horse teams would go ahead about as far as the slow oxen could travel, then locate for the night in cabins by the way, tumble the bedding from the sleds on to the floor, and sleep almost any way. In the morning the ox teamsters had their breakfast first and were started on their way. Those remaining did up the work and perhaps some baking, then followed on with the horses, pass the oxen, and find a place again for the night. There were many young people among them and they had a jovial journey. They reached Hiram in March. The snow began to thaw the day after they reached their destination. The following are some of the women: Mrs. Anna BRUCE UDELL, Olive LOOMIS, Mehitabel LOOMIS, Elsie JOHNSON, Misses Nancy, Polly, Lucinda, and Sarah UDELL, Miss Fanny JOHNSON, Chloe LOOMIS, etc., etc. Mehitabel LOOMIS became Mrs. Symonds RYDER. ("Memorial to the Pioneer Women of the Western Reserve," edited by Mrs. Gertrude Van Rensselaer Wickham, Woman's Department of the Cleveland Centennial Commission, 1896. ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/oh/portage/history/Hiram.txt)

By 1840, Charles and Olive are living in Hiram, next door to their daughter Mehitable Loomis Ryder, and several doors down from their son Charles. They have several young people with them, too young to be children.