Person:William Van Benschoten (5)

BIOGRAPHY: In the fall of 1816 William, his wife Elizabeth, two children, his parents, his brother Daniel and his wife, and sister Mary Peake migrated to Ohio. They traveled in covered wagons--the prototypes of the prairie schooners--and lived in them on the way. They were some three weeks on the road. On making Buffalo they found the roads so bad that in order to lighten their loads they left a portion of their heavy goods in a warehouse there engaging the captain of the schooner, which was to sail in a few days, to bring them on by water. William settled in Eldridge township near the present village of Ceylon, on Lot 27, Range 4. His new home was constructed of logs, the most available material at that time. He was a taxpayer in 1818, and on April 6, 1818, was elected supervisor.

The following is from the Fireland Records: "Every family was a manufacturing establishment to a certain extent. We raised flax and made thread; and the shucks of walnuts and butternuts served as coloring material. We purchased needles and pins off occasional peddlers. My first needle was a birthday present from an aunt, and for years I carefully preserved it--my only needle. The deficiency in pins was supplied by a certain kind of thorn which was plentiful."

"It was some time before we raised broom-corn, and until then we manufactured brooms by taking a hicory or maple stick of sufficient length to form the handle and brush, and making the latter by splintering the end finely with a knife and fastening the splints as ours are fastened today, with a string of flax or hemp."