CHAPTER IV.

REMINISCENCES OF EARLY SETTLEMENT.

One of the results of pioneer organization is shown forth in the following series of old settlers' recollections. That within six years, such a number of historical papers could be collected from the pioneers is equally a subject of surprise and congratulationsurprise, because for a period bordering on half a century, such an important labor was forgotten, and congratulation for the reason that the influence of the organizers of the pioneer society, and the tendency of such an organization to effect some good, drew forth from old settlers a statement of their coming and their stay. No one but he who knows what the want of a pioneer history is can thoroughly appreciate such memoirs; yet enough will be found in the pages devoted to them to interest and instruct.

JACKSON COUNTY IN 1830.

Henry Little, a pioneer of Kalamazoo county, and well ac quainted with the early history of this section of the State, read a paper at the pioneer anniversary meeting of June 18, which was subsequently lost; and to gratify numerous friends he has reproduced it for publication. It will be read with much interest. He

said:-

"It affords me great pleasure to be with you upon this very interesting occasion, to exchange friendly greetings and congratulations with you, and to listen to the recital of pioneer experiences which you passed through during those diversified and trying scenes which marked your progress all the way onward and upward, from the first log cabin to the crowning glory of the achievements which are now so conspicuously apparent all around us as to excite the admiration, if not the profound astonishment, of every beholder; while seeing our populous county, with its productive farms, manufacturing interests, thriving villages, and this beautiful city, all having sprung into existence within the last 50 years. While Jackson is justly celebrated for the intelligence, morality, thrift and enterprise of its inhabitants, its uninterrupted growth and prosperity, its beautiful public and private buildings, and its excellent public institutions. It is not renowned for great antiquity. Jackson is a young city, and still in its infancy, but what an infant! There are still some persons remaining with us who well remember when it was born. I distinctly remember the time when that little youngster which had been christened Jacksonburgh was being cradled or nurtured in its little

rude log crib or cabin.

But that child grew with astonishing rapidity, and soon became an active and precocious youth, and the next moment he was a mature man; and after a brief space of time, a few revolutions of our earth, instead of that feeble, tottering child, a powerful giant, walked forth by his own inherent strength, dispensing his favors in all directions and commanding the respect and admiration of all. I had known many villages in the Eastern States which were 150 years old, with but 5,000 or 6,000 inhabitants, and we supposed that a much longer time would be required in this county to reach similar results; but by the magic power of science, aiding and impelling forces in these modern times, a city, a nation, is born in a day!

"In the early days of Jacksonburgh, the old Washtenaw trail was the only traveled route from East to West through this section of country for many years. Between Ann Arbor and Kalamazoo county, as then called, the log-cabins of the pioneers were located only upon the Indian trail. The distance between those primitive dwellings as found by me 48 years ago, was 14 miles in some cases and 7 miles in others, with no improvement whatever between them. Mr. Allen was located at Grass Lake, from which place an unbroken wilderness extended ten miles to Jacksonburgh, where a wide belt of heavily timbered land extended up and down on the east side of the river. When we passed over that route the river had overflowed its eastern bank, and the water extended over that low timbered land about 80 rods, partially concealing many large and small stones, and many large roots of trees, which caused our wagons to be contorted most fearfully, as they plunged up and down and rocked from right to left. By much time and careful management three of our wagons passed over without much harm, while two wagons became fast; but by the assistance of Mr. Blackman and two pair of oxen, they were brought over. The bridge across the river was a rude structure of logs, and the east end, being much lower than the other, was under water. At that time (1831) Jacksonburgh contained about a dozen logcabins. Among the number was that of Mr. Blackman, the double log cabin, used for a tavern by William R. Thompson, Hiram Thompson, the postmaster of Jacksonburgh, Mr. Hogan, the merchant, and Mr. Richey—a schooll-house and blacksmith's shop-all being of logs.

"While stopping a few days with Mr. Thompson, I learned that he was about to send out teams to White Pigeon Prairie for flour and other provisions. Therefore, two of my teams returned to the East and Thompson's took their places, the postmaster of Jacksonburgh having charge of one team, and Mr. Richey the other. Do you still send out ox teams on a three or four weeks' trip for your provisions? And do you now obtain your meat as you did a few months later, when Mr. Thompson brought a drove of 100 hogs from Indiana? As we had good teams, good weather, and no detentions, we made the run to the place now called Galesburg in six days; two full weeks having been required in passing

from Detroit to Galesburg. We stopped over night with Mr. Allen, of Grass Lake, Thompson Blashfield, and Roberts at Sandstone Creek, Crane and Abbott, a few miles west of Rice Creek, where the Rev. John D. Pierce was located; having stayed over night at every cabin on the route from Grass Lake to Rice Creek, except at Jacksonsburgh.

In those good old times, the latch-string always hung outside every door, if they had a door, and however poor and destitute the inmates might have been, they willingly entertained all travelers, who were then very few. Some of the dwelling places on that route were nothing but shanties, sheds or pens, without doors, windows, floors or chimneys, and no furniture except such as was made on the premises; the whole outfit being novel apologies for human comfort. The picture is not as gloomy and disheartening as some might suppose; but it is a very hopeful and encouraging state of things for those times.

"In 1832 Roswell Crane, formerly of Jackson county, called at my residence on Gull prairie, and informed me that he had located near to, and on the west side of, Battle Creek, and was therefore my neighbor. It was very gratifying to learn that I had a neighbor 14 or 15 miles in an eastern direction; because J. D. Pierce at Rice Creek had thus far been my nearest neighbor in this direction. Whoever thinks that the movements of the world are slow, let him compare matters and things of the present time here with those of a few years ago, when it might have been said that even since the dawn of creation, when the morning stars sang on that glorious event, that the greatest part of Michigan was unoccupied, unknown and avoided, because it was supposed to be a pestilential waste.

"It is within the recollection of many persons still living, when Ann Arbor was the extreme west end of the habitable world, beyond which the sun went down into a bottomless morass; where the frightful sounds of yelling Indians, howling wolves, croaking frogs, rattling massasaugas, and buzzing mosquitoes added to the awful horrors of that dismal place. But very fortunately for us, that illusion was dispelled, so that out of that worthless region there arose one of the most beautiful, productive and prosperous States in the Union. Michigan has the largest lakes, which are literally alive with delicious fish, the best climate, soil, crops, minerals, timber, schools, colleges, churches, laws, smart old men and women, bright boys and good girls.

"While we have a grateful sense of rich profusion of the various inexhaustible natural resources of Michigan, I am not at liberty to withhold the merited meed of praise from the hardy, energetic, persevering pioneers who patiently submitted to great and long continued hardships and privations; while they utilized the great works of nature, by converting a great wilderness, previously the abode of wild beasts and wild men, into fruitful fields and gardens, so that it became a land of corn and wine, and of the finest of wheat, a land of milk and honey. They beautified the face of nature with the decorative works of art; founded cities, villages,