of States; and in the course of his remarks made eulogistic allusions to the nation at large. He retired amid enthusiastic applause.

B. F. Eggleston, of this city, followed with the ballad, "Forty Years Ago," which he sang in the happiest manner, and was rewarded by the attention and the applause of the assembly.

Harrington Hendee, of Blackman, read a poem, which we regret we have not space to reproduce.

He is a

Hon. Jonathan M. Shearer, of Wayne, was introduced. genuine gentleman of the old school, and wore his silver hair in a cluster of curls behind, tied with a black ribbon. His speech, which was extemporaneous, was appropriate to the occasion and well received. At the close he sang a song entitled "The Down Hill of Life," with a great spirit. His age is 88 years. His aged but excellent wife was also on the ground. They have been residents of the county for 50 years.

F. A. Dewey, President of the Lenawee Pioneer Society, was presented and made a brief speech. Mr. D., who is 68 years of age, was a drum major under General Brown in the Black Hawk war. He has lived in Lenawee county 50 years, and judging from his appearance has a quarter of a century's lease of life before him.

Eugene Pringle, of this city, made a most eloquent address in which he urged the necessity of preserving the local history of this county and of all the counties of the State. He said those who were to come after us would not understand the philosophy by which the civilization they will inherit was molded unless they were made cognizant of the early history of the country. He said the prosperity we enjoyed received impetus from the pioneers who braved every danger and laid the foundations here for thousands of pleasant and happy homes.

H. Bishop, of Kalamazoo, read a paper urging the advisability of preserving all attainable records of the hardy pioneers who came to Michigan when it was a wilderness and made it bloom with widespread fruitful fields.

After music by the band, the daughter of Mrs. M. W. Clapp, read a succinct history of the latter's pioneer life. In 1837 her husband bought three-eighties in Hanover township, upon which she has ever since resided. Her age is 75 years.

Henry Little, of Kalamazoo, a hale and hearty man of 83 years, read an address entitled "Jacksonburgh and Jackson County, in 1831 and 1879." We regret that we are prevented for want of space from printing it. Mr. L. made a point by the assertion that "Michigan has better laws and more of them than any other State."

Dr. Robinson read a poem abounding in local allusions and pleasant personal references which was exceedingly well received. We regret that the length of our report prevents our presenting extracts from it. Hon. James C. Wood made the closing address which was made up of anecdote and personal recollection.

The following resolution presented by Morgan Case passed unanimously:

Resolved, That the thanks of this city be and they are hereby tendered to the ladies for the bounteous banquet which they have prepared here to-day; and for the ornamenting of the hall, and their kind and successful efforts in entertaining the society and its friends.

The recognition of the service rendered by the ladies was merited and fully deserved. They labored hard to make the occasion what it was a big success and all united in according success-and them the praise to which they were entitled.

EARNED HONORS.

The celebration of the 50th anniversary of the settlement of Jacksonburgh township, was also made the occasion of memorializing the settlement of the Fifield and Stevens families therein. Messrs. Fifield and Stevens left the township of Salisbury, Merrimac Co., N. H., on the 6th day of October, 1830. The western bound party consisted of Enoch Fifield, James Fifield and wife, Osgood H. Fifield and wife, John S. Fifield, George W. Fifield, William P. Fifield, Edward Morrill, John Stevens and Benjamin Wilson. They arrived in Jacksonburgh on the 22d day of October, 1830, and put up at the log tavern then kept by Thompson, and had the privilege of sleeping upon a rail floor; not a board was used in building the house, even the doors were made of rails. Enoch Fifield and Edward Morrill returned East the same fall. The remaining nine of this company. together with the Pease family, numbering eight, making a party of 17, wintered in this township in 1830-31, they being the first white people that ever wintered in this township outside of Jacksonburgh. George Fifield and John Stevens are the only two now living of the 17 that settled here in 1830 and of the little party of 11 that left Salisbury, N. H., on the 6th of October, 1830.

At this meeting, June 18, 1879, were present Mrs. A. L. Bolton, a lady aged 70 years, who, with her family, was the first settler in Napoleon, where she lived 48 years. Subsequently, the same year, Morgan Case with his wife settled here also. Senator Hodges, who lived in Pulaski and Concord for a time of 43 years, was present. Melvin McGee, who came into the county in 1832, when 14 years old, and a resident for 47 years, was also present. Mr. Tripp, of Hanover, although 58 years of age, was present and seemed in the prime of life. This settler has resided on the old homestead 47 years. He came to Hanover in 1832, with his father, Abel Tripp, who located the first farm in that township. John Curtis, aged 79, who came to Jackson in 1837, was also present.

The secretary of the Pioneer Society reported a membership of 304 men and 30 ladies. The oldest member is Allen Green, of Napoleon, born in 1789. His wife was born in 1801, and they were united in marriage in 1821. The next oldest member is John O'Dell, 88 years of age, who settled in Grass Lake in 1835.

The following list of pioneers who have died in Hanover since 1874 was presented to the president of the County Society: John Cobb, died Jan. 16, 1875. He was a native of Massachusetts, and settled in Hanover in 1834. Mrs. Densmore died Jan. 18, 1875. She was a native of Maine, and settled in Hanover with her hus- ́ band, Abiel Densmore, in 1839. Orren D. Thompson died April 11, 1877. Mr. Thompson was a native of Connecticut and settled in Hanover in 1836. J. L. Hutchins died Aug. 16, 1877. He formerly lived in Spring Arbor, but for quite a number of years previous to his death had lived in Hanover. Paul Spink died Oct. 22, 1877. Mr. Spink was a native of New York, and lived in Concord until 1840. Mrs. Nathan Shaw was a native of New York, and settled in the town of Hanover, with her husband, in 1840. J. L. Rowe, a native of New York, settled in Michigan in 1835, and died in Hanover Oct. 16, 1878, nearly 86 years old. Mrs. John L. Rowe died in Hanover village June 15, 1875. She was a native of Vermont. Jefferson Drake died Feb. 16, 1879. He was born in New Hampshire. Mrs. Hannah Burdick died Dec. 31, 1879. She was a native of Rhode Island.

THE SIXTH MEETING

was held Feb. 21, 1880. Col Shoemaker and Hon. David Johnson addressed the members present and were emphatic in their advocacy of preserving a full record of the county. The speakers having concluded, the choice of officers was made. H. H. Bingham, the indefatigable secretary of the society, was elected president; B. F. Eggleston, secretary, and P. B. Loomis, treasurer. The vice-presidents chosen to represent the townships were: George Langdon, Springport; Thomas J. Stimson, Parma; Michael Dwelle, Grass Lake; John C. Covert, Napoleon; Jared L. Richardson, Sandstone; Richard Townley, Tompkins; John R. Poole, Blackman; Moses Tutthill, Liberty; Ira C. Wyllis, Pulaski; George Hatch, Spring Arbor; William Clapp, Hanover; Patrick Hankard, Henrietta; Richard Briggs, Concord; A. H. De Lamater, Columbia; Z. M. Barber, Leoni; Peter Knauff, Waterloo; Charles A. Brown, Norvell; Wm. Root, Summit; R. H. Anderson, Rives; Moses A. McNaughton, 1st and 2d wards; James C. Wood, 3d and 4th wards; S. O. Knapp, 5th and 6th wards; Eugene Pringle, 7th and 8th wards, Jackson.

The president's valedictory, contained in his address to the pioneers, was as follows:

"To the Pioneers of Jackson County:-The winter meeting of the society is held for the election of officers; to hear the report of its vice-presidents, who each constitutes a memorial committee for the township which he represents, and whose duty it is to report the death of all members of this society, and also of any other pioneers, which have occurred in his township during his term of office; the arrangements for a summer picnic meeting or meetings, and the transaction of such other business as the society may think proper.

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