Read at the annual meeting of the State Society, June 14, 1833

I have been solicited by my brother, Judge Albert Miller, of Bay City, to write something of my pioneer life in what was in 1830 called the far west, and will give a sketch of my journey to Michigan, beginning from my starting place in Vermont, and stating the design of my undertaking. I was a school teacher, had kept a large school at Hartland through the winter 1830 and 1831. At the finishing of my school, the last of March, found myself in very poor health, a violent cough, and every indication of consumption which was so prevalent in that climate. Each one of my friends recommended the physician I should employ; but I had never known any one to recover from all the medical skill that could be obtained, and was bound to take a different course from those that were almost daily falling victims to the fatal disease. I had only to mention that change of climate might benefit my health. My mother, then a widow over fifty years of age, readily complied with my wish, and Michigan was the place designated as we had friends located there. My mother sold her property and got ready for the long and tedious journey the first of May, 1831. We came over the Green Mountain with horse teams; when we arrived at Whitehall where we had to wait three days for the Northern canal to be ready for the boats-two days took us to the Erie canal, then one of the wonders of the world.

Three weeks from the time we started from Vermont we arrived in Buffalo, waited one day for a steamboat; took passage on the Ohio; were three days and three nights on Lake Erie; the wind was blowing fearfully all the while, -made up my mind that I had better have stayed in Vermont and taken my chances there than to be cast away on Lake Erie. But few of the five hundred passengers that were on the boat expected to see land. At last we reached Detroit, where we stayed one day, and were met there by my brother who had previously gone to Michigan. Teams were hired to take us to our place of destination. Grand Blanc was where our friends had settled at that time. The roads were passable five miles out from Detroit; after going that distance we put up at Young's Hotel and stayed over Sunday on May 28, 1831. For amusement I went one mile through a dense forest with Mr. Young's family to visit some English people that had made a clearing that far from neighbors or a road. A few rods aside from the path that led to the place a man had been found a few days previous in a sitting posture by the side of a tree, dead. He was a stranger, the tree was marked, a stake driven by the side of it, and a white flag attached to it. Several carriages were driven out from Detroit that day loaded with people, to visit the spot where the dead man had been found.

Monday morning we left Mr. Young's for Grand Blanc; we found the roads almost impassable the mud was so deep one span of horses could not draw the wagon through; would often take two and sometimes a yoke of oxen besides. The worst part of the road was between Detroit and Pontiac. A few miles from there we went by a trail where there had been no roads made and got along passably well.

We arrived at Stony Run the third day of June. We were very cordially received at the residence of Mr. Ewing and wife who had left Vermont two years before. We remained with them till my brother could build a log house two miles from any other residence. The inhabitants were few and far between at that time. All that had previously located in that vicinity made it a special business to visit every stranger that moved into the place.

Even the few people that lived in Saginaw were interested in every new inhabitant that was located on the trail between that place and Pontiac. They had often had to take lodging in the open air on the ground when going to and from Detroit before the people began to move into the place. Seldom one person would travel alone, but they would go in groups; four or five was all that could leave Saginaw at one time in those days. In the month of August I was visiting a former acquaintance from Vermont that lived ten miles from Flint river,-one day at eleven o'clock four men rode up; they were Messrs. Gardner, Ephraim Williams, Col. Stannard, and Mr. Jewett, from Saginaw. They soon made their wishes known; they had camped out two nights, their provisions were exhausted and they had no breakfast; they were on their way to Detroit. On seeing me a stranger in the wilderness, many questions were asked, and also some observations made. There was one of the party that took a little more interest in my welfare than the rest; and on their return from Detroit made it manifest by informing me of his native place, and the circumstances that brought him to Saginaw. In the conversation it was revealed that his native place was but a few miles from my own, and he was acquainted with many of my friends; my brothers were under the same tutor that he was while in preparation for school teaching. It was Mr. Eleazer Jewett; his former home was in New Hampshire. He had been in Saginaw five years, most of the time in the employ of the American Fur Company; had a home at Green Point at the head of Saginaw river, had built a block house and lived by himself. But suffice it to say we were not long forming an acquaintance, and subsequently a wedding day was appointed which was Oct. 22, 1831, at which time the wedding took place. Now I will give a brief description of my wedding trip and show the contrast between that time and the present.

There was a wagon road as far as Flint river, and I had the benefit of a ride the first ten miles, and put up at the residence of Mr. John Todd to wait for a boat to take us to Saginaw; but not for a steamboat-we were entirely off from that line. But we waited for the men that came from Saginaw to row the boat, to cut down a big pine tree on the bank of the river and make one, that was far superior to any that could be obtained at the place. It took five days to get the boat finished in good style, every one was well satisfied with their work, and all seemed to rejoice that I was going to have so nice and safe a conveyance.

The night before I took passage in the new boat, there was an arrival from Saginaw. It was Mr. Gardner Williams and his wife, on horseback, with a Frenchman leading a pony loaded with a tent, blankets, and cooking utensils. They were conveyed across the river long after dark; they were on their way to Pontiac. That was the third day after they left home. The first day they got as far as Cass river, and were paddled across in a small Indian canoe. The horses had to swim. They made a fire by means of a flint and steel, pitched their tent, had their supper, and took their lodging under the canopy

of the heavens. The next day they went as far as Pine Run, and had the same fare as the night previous.

When they arrived at Mr. Todd's they fared somewhat better. Mrs. Williams and I occupied the only spare bed, and the gentlemen had the privilege of spreading their own blankets on the floor; but the Frenchman that escorted Mr. Williams, and the men that were going to row the new boat down the river, had to pitch their tent on the outside; the house was so small there was no room for them.

The next morning when we were about to separate, I was congratulated on account of the superior facilities I was to have on my bridal trip, it being considered preferable to riding on horseback. There had been heavy rains. and there was standing water in some places; it was not safe to ride through it, and the guide would have to go a long way around to chop away the fallen limbs so the horses could pass, and after much delay they got on the right trail again. After the description given of the horseback ride, I was quite delighted with my prospects. Every one spoke very cheerfully about it too. On account of the high water the boat would glide smoothly down the river. In due time the boat was ready; I, of course, had the best seat; it was made of blankets nicely folded. Everything was just right, all seemed cheerful and happy. There were three men besides my husband, and I began to think there was considerably novelty in such a trip.

We had not gone far before I heard some talk of driftwood, and soon had a full understanding of it. The boat would often shove on to trees that had fallen into the river, and it would take hours to get it released, and get started again; the men would frequently have to get out into the water up to their waists and lift with their whole strength to remove the boat. This was a common occurrence for three days, and then we came to a place where the river was filled up entirely. We had to unload the boat and get the Indians to draw it a long distance on the land, past the obstruction, and launch it into the stream again.

The Indians had anticipated the arrival, and prepared themselves for the delightful task; they had previously assisted in the same performance, but this time it was the heaviest boat they had ever encountered, therefore the more excitement. The night was very dark when we passed from Flint river to the Shiawassee, and the novelty of my wedding trip began to wear off somewhat after sleeping on the ground four nights, and only a tent for a shelter. But I was frequently cheered, and told that it was only four miles to the mouth of Cass river, then we would soon be in Saginaw river.

The Flint, Cass, Shiawassee, and the Titibawassee all unite in one stream, that forms the Saginaw river; at this place was my future home, a fine block house situated on the bank of the river at the head of navigation at Green Point. Several of Mr. Jewett's friends came as far as the mouth of Flint river to meet us, and all concluded it would be better to pass our own home and go two miles farther and stay at a public house kept by Col. Stannard; we were kindly received by all; we received some bridal calls that were novel in the extreme. There were a few half French people here that were partially civilized,-and all anxious to see the bride. They would stand and wait for a door to be opened, and if they could get one view, would go away quite satisfied.

In three days I was conveyed to my home, in a canoe-that was the only way of riding; no roads had yet been made in the place. My home looked

very pleasant to me after the little excitement I had, riding in the new boat down the river.

I soon became accustomed to the new life I had undertaken, and was bound to cast aside every obstacle that might mar my happiness, and succeeded in everything except the fear of the Indians. I had formerly read so much of their wickedness and murder, in time of the war, that whenever I saw a group of them with tomahawks in their belts, it would send a pang to my heart that I could not overcome; notwithstanding I was so frequently told of their innocence. In time I got accustomed to their habits, and learned to speak their language-it lessened my fears somewhat, but I never got to admire the race. There were very few people in Saginaw at that time; all lived in block houses; the timber had been taken from the Fort for building dwellings, but a part of it was standing yet. Every one was cheerful and happy, not a murmur was expressed at the privations we were all subjected to, but we all made the best of it.

Pontiac was the nearest postoffice and no mail carrier; it was only by particular favor that we got our mail brought to us. Sometimes it would be many weeks without an opportunity of sending or receiving our letters. There were no roads here-all the way we could ride, was on the river in a canoe. Some weeks would often pass that I would not see a female friend. I was necessarily brought in contact with many things that the young ladies of the present day would hardly think they could endure, and it is not expected of them.

Mr. Jewett was the only surveyor in the place, and business often called him from home for days at a time; I could seldom get any one to stay with me. I was subject to many annoyances from the Indians, who had been praised to me so frequently for their innocence. They would come and steal corn from the crib, and rob the garden, and hen-roost; but they would do it only when they knew I was alone.

At a late hour one night when I was alone, there was a call from the opposite side of the river. Some man wanted to come across. I informed him that there was no one to set him over. He said then he would lie down and die; he had been riding all day and could go no farther. I had never paddled a canoe across the river yet; the night was very dark, but I concluded to make the attempt to set him over. Put a candle at my window for a guide to come back, took a canoe, and succeeded in reaching the opposite shore, by often calling to know where to land. Found Mr. Phineas Braley there; he was hardly able to get into the canoe. He had been taken with ague and fever on the way; he got in and led his horse by the side of the little boat, and I paddled them across at the hour of midnight. A good many strangers came from the east in 1831 to purchase land. I would often have the benefit of entertaining them.

Among our guests were Doctor Little and Mr. Hermon Ladd, from Avon, State of New York. They admired the country very much, bought a large quantity of land, and designed settling all their children in Saginaw. They praised me for my bravery and the sumptuous fare I had given them, and said many encouraging things about the future prospects of the country; among the rest they said to me: "You may live to see a steamboat come up this river; it is not impossible." They never expected to themselves, but were in hopes their children would. It did not prove a very extravagant idea when they imagined that I would live to see a steamboat come up the river.

I have seen very many; and I have seen all the improvements, from a wilderness to the present. I was one of twenty-six inhabitants that lived in Saginaw, no other person here now that has been in the place as many years as myself; am now in my seventy-eighth year, living with my only daughter, the first white child born in Saginaw. She is the wife of Doctor N. D. Lee. My husband has been dead seven years.

SHIAWASSEE COUNTY

MEMORIAL REPORT

BY B. O. WILLIAMS

EBENEZER F. WADE died at his home in this city on Nov. 13th, 1882, aged 72 years. He had been confined to his house several months, and from the nature of his disease-Bright's disease of the kidneys-his friends entertained but little hope of his recovery. The funeral services took place from the Universalist church at 2:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, under the auspices of the masonic fraternity, of which order he had been for many years a prominent member. Elder Knickerbocker, of Wayne, formerly of Corunna and an intimate friend of the deceased, conducted the funeral services.

Mr. Wade was one of the pioneers of Shiawassee county. He came here from Western New York in August, 1843, and settled on the north 1⁄2 of the southeast fractional 14 of section 7 in the town of Burns. In 1848 he removed to Corunna to live, having been elected county clerk. For the last 30 years he has carried on an extensive boot and shoe business here. He was a man of strict integrity and benevolent to the needy. Last April he cele brated his golden wedding anniversary. His widow is the only surviving

member of his family.

Mr. Wade was born May 30, 1810, in Franklin, Mass., died Nov. 13, 1882, aged 72 years, 5 months and 14 days. He was a member of the State Pioneer Society, and at the time of his death its Vice President for Shiawassee County.

GEORGE W. SLOCUM, of the township of Middlebury, died at his home in said township October 12, 1883, aged 72 years; had resided there forty-four years, and was one of the first settlers of the town, and universally respected; was born in Manlius, Onondaga county, New York.

CHARLES WILKINSON, settled in the town of Venice, Shiawassee county, 1840; removed from Monroe County, New York; first settler in Oakland county; died upon his farm January 10, 1883, aged about 76 years.

JAMES ANDERSON, of Corunna, died January 21, 1883, aged

ESQUIRE JOHN B. VAN DOREN, of Owosso city, died February 9, 1883, aged 80 years; settled first in Oakland county, Mich.; was born January 8, 1803, State of New Jersey.

DANIEL BROONS, of Owosso city, died January 10, 1883, aged 76 years; born in Seneca county, New York; had resided in Michigan forty-nine years. FRIEDRIECK FRIESKIE, of Owosso city, died February 14, 1883, aged 90 years. He was a Prussian soldier under Blucher at the battle of Waterloo. ALANSON CRAWFORD, of Owosso city, died January 17, 1883, aged 71 years.