GREAT MIGRATION.

  THAT YEAR, 1819, ALSO WAS THE YEAR OF THE GREAT MIGRATION WHEN HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES LEFT THEIR NEW ENGLAND HOMES FOR THE OHIO VALLEY.  BETWEEN 10 AND 15,000 PEOPLE HITCHED  UP THEIR OXEN OR HORSES AND WENT WEST.  IT WAS A BRUTAL, EXHAUSTING JOURNEY, MARKED BY ATTACKS FROM INDIAN, AND FROM BANDS OF HIGHWAYMEN.

MANY DIED ON THE TRAIL.  THOSE WHO REACHED THE OHIO VALLEY MET FURTHER MISERIES.  DESPITE THE GREAT FIELDS AND FERTILE PLAINS, WHOLE FAMILIES SICKENED, SUFFERING CHILLS, FEVER AND "GREAT SHAKING OF LIMB AND COLD SWEATS." THEN IT WAS FOUND THAT "THE FLAT RICH ALLUVIAL PLAINS WERE COVERED WITH A MALARIOUS ATMOSPHERE."  ONLY A FEW RETURNED.  MAINE FELT THE IMPACT OF THE GREAT MIGRATION, AND ALTHOUGH MEXICO DID NOT SUFFER TOO MUCH, NEVERTHELESS IT SLOWED THE GROWTH OF SMALL TOWNS AND VILLAGES.

IN 1819 WILLIAM KING WAS GOVERNOR OF MAINE.  HE OFTEN WAS SEEN ON THE PORTLAND STREETS, A FLASHY MAN WITH A FLASHIER FOUR-WHEELED CARRIAGE AND A HANDSOME PAIR OF MATCHED HORSES.  THIS WAS THE FASHION FOR THOSE WHO COULD AFFORD IT.  THE "AVERAGE PERSON" OWNED RIDING HORSES AND THE WOMEN ROAD BEHIND THE MEN OF PILLIONS.  THERE WERE MOUNTING BLOCKS NEAR CHURCHES AND PUBLIC HOUSES, HITCHING POSTS, WATERING TROUGHS AND IN THE LARGE CITIES "FANCY" LIVERY STABLES.