The settlers first lived in temporary shelters, on a site near a
good
water source, and consisted of either half-faced camps or caves. The half
faced was a lean-to erected between trees with the walls formed by lashing
branches and saplings together, with one side open toward the fire. The
caves were not natural caves but holes dug into the side of a hill, with the
sides supported by sod and saplings. the floors of both were packed earth.
Permanent homes were built as soon as possible, but were only
started after barns for
the stock, and pens and corrals were built. Then came the house....
The early homes were of log or fieldstone, and usually only 1
or 2
rooms, with a fireplace in one wall that was used for heat and cooking. As
the farm prospered these structures were added onto as the family needed the
room, and the early structures are hard to date, for the residents didn't
carve dates on the first buildings. The datestones seen today are
generally
on additions, not the original building.