Ted Hatcher: Trader, Trapper, Preacher

By Dale Minor

Ted Hatcher: Trader, Trapper, Preacher is a work of fiction with a historical setting. It is set in the time of America’s expansion west of the Appalachian Mountains, in the 1780s through 1804, specifically in the territory that would become southeastern Ohio, focusing on the lands purchased and being developed by the Ohio Company. Ted Hatcher was orphaned as a teenager but managed to make his way in the wilderness area by trapping fur-bearing animals and trading for his existence. Before her disappearance, his mother had provided a solid spiritual foundation that enabled him to be dependent upon God and the Holy Spirit for strength and direction. That he would become a leading force in the development of the church in this wilderness area was as much a surprise to him as any he would encounter along the way.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9798891300514

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Ted Hatcher: Trader, Trapper, Preacher

Dale Minor

ISBN 979-8-89130-050-7 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-89130-051-4 (digital)

Copyright © 2023 by Dale Minor

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1

Northwest Territory

Chapter 2

Listen Good

Chapter 3

Acquaintances, Old and New

Chapter 4

Lord, Build Your Church

Chapter 5

Making It Work

Chapter 6

Justice, Mercy, and Grace

Chapter 7

Feeding and Being Fed

Chapter 8

Trust God, Take a Step

Chapter 9

Chestnut Grove

Chapter 10

Closing Shop

Chapter 11

Mentor and Apprentice

Chapter 12

New Century, New Hope

Chapter 13

Twists and Turns.

Chapter 14

Teacher, Preacher

Chapter 15

Not by Our Own Choosing

Chapter 16

Politics and Politicians

Chapter 17

Marietta Reunion

About the Author

Foreword

Ted Hatcher is a product of his environment like none other. Having been born in the wilderness region west of the Appalachian Mountains of America shortly after the end of the French and Indian War and before the War for Independence, he found himself, as a teenager, alone and forced to exist off the land in a world filled with danger and strife.

That he survived at all would be considered a miracle of our day, yet the manner of life in this country had prepared him physically, emotionally, and spiritually not only to cope but also to thrive in this world. That he had received the basics of education and a solid spiritual foundation was a testimony to his mother's diligence; his father had helped tune his survival skills. The rest came through experience and the constant presence of the Holy Spirit.

Still, it would have been unexpected for anyone to predict how this young man would mature and become not only a witness to but also a force in a world that itself was in a state of development and maturity. The setting is what was then called the Northwest Territory of America at the end of the eighteenth century, specifically that of Southeastern Ohio, at the beginnings of our nation's westward expansion. Marietta, Ohio, had just been established as a western outpost along the Ohio River and would become the oldest continuing settlement west of the Appalachians. The time span of our story begins with the establishment of Marietta in 1788 and concludes in 1804, one year after Ohio was admitted as the seventeenth state in the union.

But beyond the physical development of the land and the establishment of communities, there was also the development of the church in the region. The church became the glue that held these communities together and encouraged interaction with other nearby settlements. Ted Hatcher would find himself propelled into the forefront of religious activity and the formation of the church in the region. Even then, he understood that he was never the force behind the establishment of the church in this area but just one of the obedient servants the Lord used to build it.

Introduction

This writing is a work of fiction. Its setting and time are historical. To that end, we have tried to include the names of prominent people and places as fitting to the situation. However, we do not imply that any meetings, conversations, or activities actually happened as described.

The title, character, and those of his associates are mostly fictional. Any resemblance to actual characters is purely accidental. Likewise, the time, while drawing from historical records, does not claim to be 100 percent accurate. In fact, the mention of the establishment of certain communities within the region described has been compressed slightly to fit within the storyline.

Also, we acknowledge that the names of places such as creeks, rivers, communities, and the like may have changed since the beginning of the nineteenth century.

We do hope that you enjoy the story, and if you are familiar with the settling of the Northwest Territory, particularly that of the region called the Ohio Territory, you will find it a reasonable representation of life in that period.

Chapter 1

Northwest Territory

Ted Hatch Hatcher squatted among the trees, looking down at the broad river flowing a hundred feet below his perch. He was deliberately staying out of sight as he watched the scene unfold below him. As he sat on a high ridge, he could see the mouth of Leading Creek as it emptied into the Ohio River. There were two flatboats moored among the trees, as well as at least three canoes that had been pulled up onto the bank. Ted had been watching this small flotilla for a few days now. He first spotted these boats as they floated southward along a stretch of river, which would eventually make a couple sharp turns before heading northeast for a short distance, then more north to northwest. Finally, a few miles farther on, the river took a huge bend before settling back into its general southwesterly track. The result of these twists and turns created a peninsula of sorts, a boot-shaped piece of land bordered on three sides by the river.

This stretch of river also sported two fairly long rapids, which, normally, would not have caused much of a problem for these vessels at this time of year, but there had been little snow this past winter, and the spring rains had also been light, leaving the river running a little low. Ted had surmised that these travelers would run into some difficulty traversing these areas. He had anticipated they would have to decrease the draft of their vessels by unloading the heavier animals and some of their cargo onto the shore. They would then portage these over land to be reloaded after getting past the shallows.

Ted had given thought to trying to meet up with this group to offer some advice on how best to handle this stretch of water, but at that point, they were moving away from the direction he was traveling. He was on a mission to retrieve the remainder of the traps he had set and run over the winter before returning to his cabin several miles to the north and east along the Hockhocking River. It was only because the western terminus of his trapline was along Leading Creek that he was in the area when he again caught sight of these pioneers as they completed their journey along the big bend of the Ohio and again were headed southwesterly.

At that sighting, he had assumed that their destination was farther south into the Kentucky Territory or maybe Fort Washington, which had been erected across from the mouth of Kentucky's Licking River or beyond. But the day before, as he had picked up the last of his traps, he heard some noise coming from the direction of the river and diverted his path to see what was happening. It was then that he realized these travelers had tied up at the mouth of the creek and unloaded their animals. Furthermore, they had set up a camp of sorts. They had two teams of oxen with them, as well as a couple pack mules. Also, he could see two wagons, at least two saddle horses, a couple cows, and a bull. Probably there was a crate or two of chickens as well. He could also see four men and two women, along with at least three younger children.

My, he thought to himself. They have taken on quite an adventure. I wonder if they have any idea of what is ahead. So it was; he made himself to the river bottoms and let out a shout as he approached their camp. He didn't want any nervous settlers to be surprised by his approach. At his call, the men reached for their rifles, and the women grabbed the children and hid behind the wagons.

Friend or foe? one of the men shouted.

I have only good intentions, he shouted back, and by now, he had sufficiently emerged from the forest cover that they could see he was alone except for his pack mule and that he was not carrying a weapon. As he drew closer, it became evident that he was a trapper and not likely to be a threat to them.

The men relaxed their weapons and approached him. The first stuck out his hand. I am Robert Cousins. This is my brother Andrew. These young fellows are my sons, Travis and Fred. We've got our wives and Andy's young family with us.

Ted Hatcher, he said, taking the man's hand. As you can see, I am a trapper. Been in this territory all my life. I don't get much chance to speak to white folks out here. What brings you out this way?

We're from eastern Pennsylvania, Bucks County. We decided to see if we could carve out a good living in the Northwest Territory. Our original plan was to head farther downstream toward the Illinois Territory, but tell you the truth, this river is wearing us out. We've spent three days now in a stretch, which caused us to unload and reload twice, plus if I had my reckoning right, we turned every direction on a compass. What can you tell us about the land around here?

I saw you all heading south three days ago. I knew you were in for a journey. It only took me a bit more than a day to get here by land. Now this is a pretty hilly country, but there is enough flat land and gentle slopes to do some farming. Plenty of trees and game. If you are thinking about settling here, I suggest a couple of you first scout out the area. Are you set on staying on this side of the river or considering looking at the Virginia side?

We heard of land being available in this region even before leaving Pennsylvania and learned that this side of the river was under the control of the Ohio Company. We stopped at the settlement of Marietta to get a map of the available lands and inquire about property rights and such. However, the map doesn't provide much detail about the terrain and resources. Tell you what, if you got the time, come and sit down. We might have some coffee brewing, and I'd like to pick your mind.

After settling down and getting acquainted, Andy Cousins asked, If we would head on south a piece, what might we find?

Well, I can tell you. With the river as low as it is, if you continue on, you ain't done portaging over the shallows. For a river as wide as it is and considering how much water it will carry in a rainy year, these upper reaches of the Ohio are mighty shallow. Also, much of this side of the river is bordered by high cliffs, such as those you just passed. Some of that is back a piece, leaving a stretch of land between the cliffs and the river. But a lot of that is in the floodplain, and you would always have to be keeping an eye on that high ground as it affords a good place for Indian attacks."

Indians, are they still active here?

"Not much now. This place used to be full of Shawnee and Miami, some Delaware, Pottawatomie, and others. But most of them have moved north and west from here. About twenty-five years ago I hear, British Lord Dunmore came in and made it a little tough on them, plus the more the Indians had to compete with the settlers for game and such, the more they moved westward. However, there are some friendly natives who have stayed as well as a smattering of renegades around who like to make life miserable for settlers, especially if they can steal a cow or horse. Also, they have developed a taste for white man's liquor, and they get pretty wild after having drunk up. You can get by pretty well if you just keep your eyes and ears open.

There was that one incident about seven or eight years ago. Apparently, a band of savages got upset after hearing about some Indians that had been killed a good piece west of here and took revenge on a settlement about thirty-five miles up the Muskingum, a place called Big Bottoms. Killed a dozen or more settlers. This caused a buildup of the army here, and like I said, there ain't been much trouble since.

So how far would we have to go to find another good tributary to take us into the interior of the territory?

Have you got that map handy?

After taking a look at it, Ted continued, This shows what I had heard. The western edge of the Ohio Company lands follows the Scioto River. I've only been that far a couple three times, but it is a good stretch of water. Its mouth is about eighty to ninety miles downriver from here. And there is a lot of good bottom land along that. Now if you are really up to some traveling, some sixty to seventy miles north on the Scioto is a large prairie the natives call Pickaway. There are a couple settlements up there. A fellow name of Massie started the one. I think it mainly goes by its Indian name, Chillicothe, and a bit north of that is one called Westfall. I've heard that some Kentuckians have driven a herd of cattle onto that prairie to graze. So far, I've heard of no real problems, but one of the largest Shawnee settlements around used to sit on those plains. I suspect that most of them have left by now. However, I feel sure there are still a few native families trying to stay put and live in their traditional ways.

We noticed a fair-sized tributary coming into the Ohio back in the big bend area. What is that?

That was probably the Shade River, what some folks call ‘Devil's Hole.' There's a low valley upstream a short ways, which was once the home of some mean Miami braves. I guess that is how it got that name. The river breaks into three branches after that, and most of the land is heavily forested. Some of the largest oaks and walnuts you'll ever see. Also some huge chestnut trees. If a person was up to some serious land clearing, there are stretches in there that would make some good farming land, and you'd have more than enough lumber for all your buildings.

Where do you live? Robert asked. I assume you don't spend all your time out in the woods.

I was raised along the Muskingum about three miles north of Fort Harmar and that new settlement they have named Marietta. But since I was fourteen years old, I have been trapping, and for several years now, I have maintained a cabin along the Hockhocking just above the first waterfall north of its mouth. I was getting ready to head that way when I heard y'all. I'll spend the summer up there, sell my furs, raise a garden, and get my traps ready for running them again in the fall and winter. I invite you up that way if you choose to wander about.

Where does this, how did you say it, Hockhocking, come into the Ohio?

Less than a day downstream from Marietta, and half a day before you got to the first shallows, you had to portage around a couple days back. The head waters of that stream are north, northwest of its mouth, so the lower stretch flows mostly from west to east before breaking to the south again. Do you remember seeing a fort on the Virginia side? It would have been just about a mile south of the mouth of the Hockhocking.

Yes, I remember seeing what looked like a stockade in the trees, but to tell you the truth, we were concentrating on getting past some boulders in the river about then. Besides, most of the time, we were hugging this side of the river. And I do remember that river coming in. I first noticed some clearer water mixing with the muddier Ohio. There was considerable brush around its mouth, and it looked like a small creek from our vantage point.

That is one of the features which caused me to build up there. He chuckled. Limits the stragglers coming upstream.

Obvious, you get around. Are there many settlements in this area?

Not so much as what I would call a settlement, just a family here and there. To tell you the truth, I try to avoid most of them. I've been a loner for so long that I prefer my solitary, just me and the Lord.

Oh, you are a Christian man. I consider that a valuable trait. Makes me think even more highly of you.

Are there any preachers nearby? Nellie, the wife of Andrew, asked. She had been sitting quietly, listening to the conversation.

"No, ma'am. Not that I know. If there was, it might be with the Dyes. They are on up this here creek, maybe fifteen miles or so. That name is spelled with a Y. D-Y-E. There are two or three cabins nearby, and I think they are believers. Then a little farther upstream, there is a large family name of Carpenter. I don't know the name of others in this area. Oh, wait! The last time I was here, I ran into another feller up that way. I think he goes by Crawford or something like that."

It sounds as if it might be worth our time for a couple of us to scout on up this stream to see what we can find, Andrew stated. I, for one, am ready to put in some time on land, and I suspect our women would appreciate some time doing some washing and airing out the bedclothes and such.

I agree, Robert said. Mr. Hatcher, would you be willing to guide us upstream?

I really need to be getting back to my cabin, and I don't really think you need a guide. There is a good trail along the creek. Follow that, and you can't miss those folks.

Well, can you spend the night with us? I'd like to pick your brain a bit more. Besides, I think we owe you a good meal as payment for sharing your knowledge with us.

Ted agreed and spent the rest of the afternoon telling them about various features of the area, where to find game and good fishing, and places they might avoid. He also showed them on their map where they could find salt licks as well as some iron ore and coal deposits. He told them there was an iron furnace along Big Sandy Run, two days' ride north and west. If you don't mind me marking on your map, I can show you a trail leading cross-country from here to my place on the Hockhocking and then onto Marietta. It is a lot shorter than following the river, he said.

I can see how that would be true. Andrew commented, This map shows that the river takes a lot of twists and turns, but you don't appreciate how much until you've navigated it. I hope I never have to do that again.

While they were talking, the younger boy and one of the girls in the group came up from the creek bank with a nice stringer of catfish and a couple bass.

Looks like we'll have fish for supper, Robert said, turning to his sons, Travis and Fred. He instructed them to help the young'ns clean them and get them ready to fry.

While they were eating, the conversation continued, and at one point, Sarah, Robert's wife, said, I think I heard you say earlier that you had been trapping since you were fourteen years old. Are you willing to tell us your story—how you came to be in this area?

Yes, ma'am, in some ways even I am surprised I am still here, he said. "My father, Milton Hatcher, was a soldier stationed at Fort Pitt. He arrived there in about 1759 to fight in the French and Indian War. He had a good friend named Jim Dalton. They both had some close calls and often said they were amazed that both had survived. Then one day, in '64, when they were out cutting some trees, there was an accident as they were felling a tree. When the tree hit the ground, the trunk kicked back, pinning Jim against another tree and killing him. Jim Dalton had a wife who was with a child at the time of his death. My father felt somewhat responsible for Jim's death, even as there was nothin' he could have done to prevent it, but he promised to look after his wife and her child.

"Dad had long planned to muster out of the service when his hitch was up and was developing a plan in his mind for traveling on down the Ohio into the wilderness area. Even though the war had resulted in this territory being ceded to England, there were still a number of French in the area. Most of them trappers and fur traders. So there remained a lot of tension among these folks, as well as the continuing conflicts with the Indians.

"Anyway, as he spoke about this dream with Irma Dalton, Jim's widow, she let it be known that she wanted to get away from Fort Pitt and the memories of her husband's death. She gave birth to a daughter she named Irene, and then, in 1766, my dad married her, and they departed the next spring for wherever this old river would take them. I guess, like you all, they got tired of river life by the time they reached Fort Harmar, so they poled their way up the Muskingum until they found a suitable spot about three miles upstream near where Duck Creek joins the river.

My dad built a cabin and cleared land for some farming, and we lived off the land. I think the main reason they stopped when they did was that I was about to be born. I was born at the end of October of '67. My mom wanted to name me Theodore. Dad thought that was a sissy name, but he agreed to naming me Ted so long as I would never be called Theodore. He chuckled and could see the Cousins men nodding in agreement.

I think I had a very good life for the first fourteen years, he continued. "I learned the ways of the woods. I had friends who were Indians and learned some of their language. My mother taught me to read and write, and she made sure we celebrated the Lord's Day every week. She read the Bible to us daily and played a big part in my development in the faith. We had a very good life going for us.

"Then one day, when I was out hunting squirrels, I began to notice how quiet it was getting. There wasn't a bird chirping or anything. This generally was a sign that something was afoot. Either a storm was coming, or there was some danger on the ground. I hurried back toward our home, but when I got there, I found nobody around. It was really eerie—no sign of a struggle, nothing to indicate there was anything amiss except that my parents and my sister were not there.

"At first, I assumed they were out picking late-season apples or something, but when they hadn't returned home by dark, I started to get worried. The next day, I checked the whole area, and the only clue I found was a piece of cloth that looked as if it had come off of my sister's dress. I also saw tracks along a small creek, which l was sure were made by moccasins. That was the same year as the massacre at Big Bottom, but nine months later. So I became all the more convinced that Indians were involved. I took one of our canoes and went down to Fort Harmar to report what had happened. They sent out a scouting party, but after three days, they came back and reported no signs of them or even any recent Indian activity.

"Gradually, I became convinced that they had been carried off by Indians. Yet it was so strange. Most such raids I had heard about were violent affairs. Bloody attacks with the houses burned and animals slaughtered or taken away. But none of that was evident. I assumed that the nature of their disappearance meant that the raid had been carried out by Indians they considered friends. I also knew that it was most likely that the women would have been married off to a buck. My sister, by that time, was sixteen, and my mother was an attractive woman. I have assumed my father had been killed. I just knew that if he survived, he would have made it back to me.

Let's see. That was in 1781. What year is it now?

Seventeen ninety-eight.

"Okay, that sounds about right. I was just checking the notches on my walking stick, so it's May of '98, right? That makes me about thirty years old. Well, that's not important. Back to the story.

I looked up the Indians I had been friends with, and they claimed they knew nothing about my family's disappearance, and I believe they were being truthful. I knew I couldn't stay in that place as those who took my family might come back looking for me. My Indian friends offered to let me stay with them. I considered that, but in the end, I took a horse and a mule and loaded up everything I thought I would need, gave the rest to the Indians, and headed west.

That had to be at the start of the winter. Where did you live?

"I had run some traps in the area for a couple years, and I figured I could eke out a living trapping. And I knew some areas where I might begin. But I also felt that I had to get farther away. So I kept working my way westward until I came into the area of the Hockhocking, where it had turned back to a more north-south track, probably fifty miles upstream from the Ohio. There were some caves in that area, and the ground was high enough that I could look out over the landscape and see if anyone was approaching. I settled there, hunted, and trapped for my existence. I made a series of lean-to shelters near the river and did most of my trapping along the Hockhocking. My only trips back to the Muskingum were to Fort Harmar, where I had to go to sell my furs.

After two seasons of doing this, I had become sufficiently familiar with the area that I decided to build my cabin where it is now, lower on the Hockhocking. So it's been thirteen or fourteen years that I have been operating out of that location.

That is an interesting story, Mr. Hatcher, Sarah said. Don't you get lonely? Don't you ever desire to have a wife and family?

Now, let's not get personal, her husband responded.

I don't mind, Ted said. I guess I was lonely at first, but I had been used to spending a lot of time alone, even as a very young boy. I kind of enjoy the solitude. There is so much to see and hear and learn when it's just you and the Lord's creation. And I have learned to hear the Lord speaking to me in many ways. He is my constant companion.

That is exciting, the lady said. I would like to learn to hear the Lord more in my life—for our lives.

I think it is a matter of spending time with Him. You just get your mind quiet, speak to Him as you would your closest friend, and then listen for His response.

How does the Lord speak to you?

In many ways. He uses all our senses to communicate with us. He speaks to me through His Word. My greatest treasure is my mother's old Bible. I have about worn it out since I retrieved it from our cabin. He also speaks by the ways He guides my path. I think He clears obstacles we may never know even existed. He speaks to me just as an inner sense, words I hear through my heart more than my mind. And there are times when I hear His voice as I would yours. This happens when I am able to get especially quiet. He also speaks to us through dreams. I haven't learned to interpret dreams much, so He usually wakes me up in the middle of the night to talk to me. And I think He even communicates with me when I am able to smell the world around me, and sometimes, I believe I can taste Him in the air.

That's amazing, Mr. Hatcher, she said. I want to hear more, yet I know you are desirous to leave right away. May I impose on you to spend the night with us and then delay your departure long enough to lead us in worship in the morning? I would like for you to pray for us as we make decisions as to where we are to settle and for our protection as we travel on.

By now, Ted understood that at least the women of this family were hungry for a word from the Lord, and they certainly needed prayer covering, yet he paused for a minute or two before replying. I think I can do that. I am not a preacher, and I have never tried to lead a worship service, but I think the Lord will show us how to proceed. It will be my honor to do what I can.

After finishing their supper, the men talked further. This time, it was Ted who had the questions as he inquired as to what they knew about the Ohio Company and their plans for the lands on that map.

After Britain had defeated the French, and then Independence was won from the British, the new American government had an interest in populating the area, mostly to secure it from French incursion and to secure it from Indian violence. A series of forts were being developed along major rivers and other key areas of the territory. The Ohio Company of Associates had been formed in Boston in 1786 under the leadership of Rufus Putnam, Benjamin Tupper, Samuel Parsons, and Manasseh Cutler for the purpose of developing the land. Their first purchase was a million and a half acres covering the lands north and west of the Ohio, extending from the Wheeling area to the Scioto River. In 1788, they set up operations north of the mouth of the Muskingum River and across the Muskingum from Fort Harmar. There, they began the development of what they intended to be the capital of the region. They named it Marietta.

Robert pulled out his map again and showed him the detail of their planning, which included divisions called sections and townships. Parts of some townships, he said, were set aside as ‘school lands and ministerial lands,' plus two complete townships were set aside as College Lands. This showed considerable forethought and the seriousness these people took to the task at hand. It was evident that they planned to be successful and that these Ohio lands were to be an important part of the nation's future.

As he scanned this map, Ted could see the major rivers and creeks, and they mainly looked about right according to his travels. Pointing to one of these, he said, "This would be the Hockhocking. My cabin is about here. See how, if you were to go upstream from the Ohio, you would go west a short distance, and then the river turns north. Then up here where this creek comes in, the river turns decidedly west. There's a good salt lick up that stream. So I just call it Salt Lick, but I think the government men have named it Federal Creek. When I was last in Marietta, I heard that Ephraim Cutler, a son of that Manasseh fellow you mentioned, had just bought six hundred acres up that way. I know a tanner up there, name of Ames.

Anyway, the Hockhocking retreats to the west into that area your map says is College Lands and then bends northward again. I've only been above that area maybe fifteen or twenty miles. There are a couple rapids a person would have to portage around, but it's a good canoeing stream. And there is a settler here and there up that way. Probably more trappers.

Ted paused and studied the map further before asking, What is this line here? He pointed to an irregular line running diagonally across the map from northeast to southwest.

That is the Zane Trace. A road that has been cut from Wheeling to Maysville in Kentucky. It is named after Ebenezer Zane, who laid it out and promoted its building. We were told about it when we got to Wheeling and considered traveling overland on it, but it was brand-new then, and we thought we would be better off nearer the Ohio where there was likely to be more settlements.

That is interesting. It looks as if this road crosses the Hockhocking a bit farther north.

Yes, we were told that Ebenezer Zane had plans for building a settlement where his road crosses that stream. I didn't know the name of the river until you told us, but it is marked on this map.

The more I look at this map, the more I see. I have explored some of that area. This road looks like it runs really close to that prairie I told you about north of Chillicothe. There are a lot of old Indian mounds around there. One across the Scioto from Westfall, and upstream just a bit is a huge, large circle joined to a large square and a scattering of small round mounds. I've also seen one that is pretty close to where this road goes that is in the shape of a cross. Some strange things to see. I wish it was a little closer, as I would like to explore that area more. Of course, Marietta is laid out right on top of some of those old mounds too. They have to have been there for a long time. In some places, there are trees growing on them that have to be a couple hundred years old. People smarter than me still haven't figured out who built them or why.

"Maybe the next time you are at Marietta to sell