Early Wagons West

The move west really began quite early in American history. As the first settled areas along the Atlantic coast became more populated, the push west began. Daniel Boone was among those who kept moving west into the frontier.

Early Philadelphia

Another migration pattern came when some of the people who had come to Pennsylvania decided to swing southwest where land was still free or cheap. Daniel Boone's family had done this early on, when they moved from Pennsylvania into the Rowan County area of North Carolina. Many of the German families would also move from Pennsylvania to the Appalachian Mountains.

Mabry  Mill photo by Ken Christison

This is what had happened to the Moretz family in Cleared for Planting. Edgar's grandfather had moved his family from Pennsylvania to the North Carolina Appalachians and settled in the Meat Camp area, where they started a grist mill. Edgar's father, Frederick (Fred) Moretz, had moved from Meat Camp to a

Bost Grist Mill

mountain in the Linville River area when he married and wanted to farm. It is this farm that eventually becomes the main setting for Cleared for Planting, Sown in Dark Soil, and Uprooted by War in the Appalachian Roots Series.

In order to transport these families on the move, as well as goods from one place to another, the Conestoga Valley in Pennsylvania began to make a sturdy, well-made covered wagon. These wagons were

touted as "the finest wagon the world has ever known." They were first used in considerable numbers after 1760. It's construction helped keep the freight from shifting and made it especially suited for mountain roads. Some of them could carry as much as six tons.

In Cleared for Planting, the Cagles couldn't afford a Conestoga wagon for their move up the mountain, so they settled for a well-used farm variety. However, when Fred Moretz came to their rescue after they were stranded, he drove a nice covered wagon. 

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