Israel V. Harris, Wm. A. Tryon, Henry Dean, C. P. Calkins and Col. Samuel F. Butler were all pioneers of 1837, well and favorably known throughout the settlement of the valley.

William I. Blakely, Vice-President of the Old Settlers' Association, settled at Grand Rapids in 1837. He was born in Otsego Co., N. Y., June 29, 1810.

Luman R. Atwater, born at Burlington, Vt., June 23, 1810, immigrated to Georgia in 1833, and to Michigan in 1837. It is stated that he came to Grand Rapids the year of his arrival in this State, but did not become a settler in Kent county until 1844.

Gains S. Deane, born at Burlington, Vt., left that State May 10, 1837, for Michigan, visited Grand Rapids, and, like L. R. Atwater, settled at Lyons, where relatives of his wife had already located.

Aaron Dikeman settled here in 1837, and has since that period been closely identified with the business of the city. Though he is not a member of the Old Residents' Association, he was among the earliest promoters of the organization. He was the first jeweler and watchmaker who settled west of Ann Arbor.

Rev. James Ballard is said to have come to Grand Rapids in 1837; but records point out the year 1839 as the date of his coming. He was a native of Charlemont, Mass., and a graduate of Williams College, of that State. He was pastor of the Congregational Church of Grand Rapids for 10 years, and the untiring zeal and enterprise displayed by him during that time will always associate his memory with that society. His faithful and untiring efforts in behalf of his flock are clearly proved by the fact that he undertook and performed a journey of over 1,700 miles on foot and alone, through the Eastern States, to raise funds to purchase a building for a church. He has been Principal of the Grand Rapids schools, State Agent of the Freedmen's Aid Society, and a prominent, industrious worker in all causes tending to the public good.

Leonard Covell, Marshal of the Old Residents' Association, was born at Cabot, Caledonia Co., Vt., Feb. 17, 1816. Twenty-one years later, in 1837, he arrived at Grand Rapids, and since that time has continued to identify himself with its social and commercial progess. He has been interested in gravel-road construction and to him is due, in great measure, the fact that so many broad avenues lead to and from the city.

Col. Hathaway, James P. Scott, Lewis Moody, Chase Edgerly, Wm. Butts, Savoy R. Beals, Cyrus Jones, Horace Wilder, James McCray, Jotham Hall, Edward Feakin, and perhaps a few others, noticed in succeeding pages, settled in the county before the close of the year 1837.

John Wendell, owner of the lots where Luce's block now stands, carried on the mercantile business here for some time. He did not succeed, however, and the property was placed in the hands of John Ball, for Menton, of New York. He brought the first iron safe into the valley. The date of Wendell's coming cannot be

ascertained. The fact that he had a store here from 1840 to 1846, only is certain.

George Miller, James Clark, Warner Dexter, and Thomas Fraint located in Plainfield township in 1837.

Lucas Robinson, Thompson I. Daniels, Wm. P. Perrin, Alex. Rogers, Emery Foster, and John Brannagan, natives of New York, located in Vergennes in 1837.

Ira A. Danes, Matthew Patrick, Samuel P. Wolf, Charles Newton, William Van Deusen and Samuel Francisco, all immigrants from New York and Vermont, located on the northern bank of Grand river, from two to five miles west of the confluence of the Flat river, in 1837. Francisco made his first settlement in Ionia county in November, 1835.

Robert Thompson, John W. Fisk and Matthew Taylor entered their lands in Grand Rapids township in 1837.

Nicholas Carlton came to Michigan in 1837. Arriving at Detroit, he pushed forward into the interior without delay, and made a settlement near Grand river, in the township of Paris.

Alexander Clark located on section 8, Gaines township, in 1837.
Alexander L. Bouck and Andrew Bouck settled in Gaines in

1837.

Rensselaer Mesnard, Foster Kelly, Charles Kelly and Joseph Blair settled in the county in 1837.

John Harmon, Harmon Kellogg, and perhaps James B. Jewell, located homesteads in Byron township in 1837.

Andrew Watson and family settled in Cannon as early as 1837. A. D. W. Stout and family immigrated in company with the Watson family, and selected a location in the town of Cannon.

Solomon Wayne emigrated from Wayne county, N. Y., with his family, in 1837, and located near Indian creek, in what is now known as the township of Alpine.

Jonathan Thomas immigrated with his family in 1837. He was a farmer at Ovid, N. Y. In 1836 he disposed of his interests there, entered a large tract of land in Bowne township, and settled here the following year.

Israel Graves and family, of Ovid, N. Y., settled in the county in May, 1837.

Frederick Thompson, John Harris and William Wooley, with their wives and children, arrived in 1837, and settled in Bowne township.

Reuben H. Smith, Secretary of the Old Residents' Association, was born at Hamilton, Madison Co., N. Y., Sept. 7, 1816. He came to Kent county in 1838, and has since that period identified himself with its advancement.

Solomon L. Withey, born at St. Albans, N. Y., is one of the old settlers, having arrived at Grand Rapids in 1838. In 1848 he was elected Probate Judge, in 1860 State Senator, and in 1863 was appointed Judge of the United States Court of this district.

Abram W. Pike, born at Cincinnati, O., Oct. 5, 1814, came to Grand Rapids in 1838 as an employe of the Port Sheldon Company. Jacob Barnes, born at Stowe, Vt., April 22, 1825, came to Grand Rapids with his father in 1836. He was connected with the Grand Rapids Enquirer until 1850, when he moved to Detroit and purchased an interest in the Free Press. In 1854 he disposed of his interest in that great journal, and returned to Grand Rapids, where he was connected with the Enquirer until 1856.

'Squire Barnes, the head of the Barnes family, arrived here in 1836. He was one of the first justices of the peace here, and a most estimable citizen.

Dr. Arba Richards, born at Hartford, Windsor Co., Vt., March 30, 1803, settled in Vergennes, Kent Co., Mich., in 1838, and died at Lowell, Aug. 11, 1870.

Fred A. Marsh, of New York, married Miss Olive Guild, daughter of Joel Guild, in 1838, and settled one mile north of the present village of Cascade. This early settler was killed by a fall from his wagon in 1856. Mrs. Marsh resided on the old homestead

until her death in 1867.

Bold adventurers preceded the Americans in the occupation of the aborigines' domain. The Frenchman and the much-loved Wemitigoji-mekatewikwanie, or French missionary, dwelt among the savage bands in the first instance, and visited occasionally in the second. Each acted a part well and earnestly; nor should that beroic woman, Madame La Frain boise, be forgotten. Under her civilizing influence barbarism lost half its malice, and through her was prepared to receive the American mechanics of republican States. What the Frenchman began was completed by the American pioneer. They entered the land unaccompanied by many of the articles of civilized life, yet they lived in perfect peace amid their uncouth and semi-barbaric surroundings, drew both health and happiness from the fertile soil, and lived to see one of the most prosperous divisions of the State offering greater benefits than even they conceived in their brightest day dreams.

The following verses taken from the writer's scrap-book, speak, as only poetry can speak, the history of the pioneers and old settlers:

Oh, bright were the hopes of the young pioneer,
And sweet was the joy that came o'er him;
For his heart it was brave, and strong was his arm,
And a broad, fertile land lay before him.

And there by his side was his heart's chosen bride,
Who want and privation knew never;
From kindred and home he had borne her away,
To be guarded and cherished forever.

A drear home for a bride is the wilderness wide,
Her heart to old memories turning,

And lonely and sad and o'erburdened with care,
For kindred and sympathy yearning.

Then stern was the task, and long was the toil,
Vain longing for all that was needed;

Yet bravely their toils and privations were borne,
As the wilderness slowly receded.

But the years rolled away and prosperity came;
Wealth and ease on frugality founded;

Now the husband and wife tread the down-hill of life,
By brave sons and fair daughters surrounded.

CHAPTER VI.

PIONEER REMINISCENCES

Always speak well of the dead, and at intervals spare a good word for the living. In speaking of the past, and particularly when retrospecting, it is well to observe the fact that the good deeds of those who died, the sacrifices they made, the trials they endured, and the heritage they handed down, should all be recorded on the page which never dies; while the evils which circumstances linked with their lives, should be passed over lightly or allowed to sink into oblivion.

In the preceding pages much information of an entirely historical character has been given, yet the story of pioneer days would not be complete unless a few, at least, of the stirring reminiscences of olden times were added. For this reason the following sketches have been written or collated to form a sequel to the Indian and pioneer history. Each story will doubtless be accepted by the old residents as a true exponent of the event of which it treats, and though extended in some instances where additions were suggested, or abridged where necessary, the facts have been retained unmntilated. It forms the chapter of pioneer reminiscences distinct from the personal reminiscences to be found throughout the pages devoted to biography, and will be found an instructive and interesting section of this work, bearing the same relation to history as a flower garden to a farm.

RIX ROBINSON'S ASSERTION OF SUPREMACY.

A year had not passed by since the new trader of the American Fur Company had established his post at Ada. The chiefs of the Otchipwes, Ottawas and Pottawatomies were friendly to him, and he even shared the good feelings of the great majority of the men and women of the three nations. However, there were a few sa vages who could not fully appreciate the white man, and desired his removal. To effect this they exercised a good deal of caution, and in case their efforts failed they were to call upon Nin Mindid, the most powerful Indian in the valley, to enter a contest with the trader, subdue him, and by this means destroy his influence over the Indians. After months of effort the conspirators failed to make matters so disagreeable as to cause Robinson's evacuation of the post. They called upon Nin Mindid to perform one of his great feats, and extend to the trader a material beating. The savage accepted the task, but, before entering on its accomplishment, came