Mrs. Dix had inherited many
letters written by General Washington to her grandfather, and they were
all written in a tone of sincere friendship.
Mrs. Dix's eldest brother, Mr. Nahum Ward, was one of the early
settlers, if not one of the founders of Marietta, Ohio. Mr. Dix went
to Marietta, where he was given some employment by Mr. Ward. Neither
Mr. Butler nor Mr. Dix senior, had any knowledge of business, and I was
employed by them at a small advance in my pay, to sell the stock of
goods, and close the business of the store. After such sales as could
be made, the remainder of the stock was sold at auction the 23d day of
November. During the preceding night there was a fall of snow, and the
company came to the village in sleighs. The winter was severe, and
the snow continued to cover the ground until the 18th of April, when
the stage coaches for the north went on runners for the last time. The
summer of 1836 was so cold, that the corn crop was a failure. During
the year following corn brought from New Jersey sold for $2.50 per
bushel.
In 1835 the town of Groton was a place of much importance relatively.
It was the residence of several men of more than local fame. Timothy
Fuller, the father of Margaret, was living there. He was a lawyer of
considerable distinction, and he had held important public positions.
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