The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-10-08
Mary Ann Rumsey,


The first settlement of Detroit dates so far
back as to be among the antiquities of our new
country; but it was at a much later day that the
lands in Michigan came into market The per-
lis and privations incident to the occupation OF
these lands by these pioneer settlers were not,
indeed, so terrible or romantic as those encoun
tered at an earlier period, when the adventur-
Gus few who penetrated the wilderness were ex-
posed to the fury of a savage foe, whose assaults
were far more to be dreaded than those of,the
wild beasts ofthe forest. Yetthe later pioneers,
if they had not to dispute the possession of the
soil at the risk Of their lives had their trials and
sufferings- dangers too-not the less diff
6cut to endure because the narration is rather
amusing than thrilling. They had also to strug-
gle with that feeling of isolation and loneliness
ed all the endearing ties of home, where clus-
ter those fond attachments on] y formed in youth.
Many sad hour was passed in remembrance
and regret by the young wife. in the absence
of her husband, when she had no sympathising
friend in whose bosom she could pour her griefs
Little given to repining as she might be, faith
full to her duties, and disposed to make the best
of everything, still thoughts of the loved ones
from whom she had parted for life, would weigh
on her spirits and fill her eyes with tears, brush
ed hastil ly away while she busted herself about
her household employments A touching in
stance of the hearts yearning for companion
ship occurs to memory, mentioned by one of the
female pioneers, who had been three weeks in
her new home without seeing the face of anoth-
er woman. Zone Sunday" said she, II told
my husband that beyond the thick wood, Just
in the rear of our dwelling, could see from the
upper window another log house. I wanted
him to go there with me; we went and as we ap-
preached, L saw the woman come out appear
ing to be busy about something at the back door
That was enough. l did not care to go any far
ther; we went home, had seen her, and that
satisfied me-
Ann Arbor is the county seat of Washtenaw
county. The Indian name, Washtenong, sig
nifes "grand" or 'beautiful," and Grand riv-
er takes its name from the same word. 1t was
called "Arbor,' on account of the noble aspect
of the original site of the village, which burr
oak opening, resembling an arbor laid out and
cultivated by the hand of taste. For the prefix
"Ann," it was indebted, according to undeni
able tradition, to two prominent women whose
husbands were the first purchasers and settlers
in the vicinity. Some have maintained that the
place owed its entire name to them, from the
fact that they lived, until houses could be built,
in a kind of rude arbor made by poles covered
with boughs. However that may be, it is cer
tain, that John Allen and Walker Rumsey gave
the name to the new settlement, afterwards con-
frmed by State authority, and ever since re-
tanned. Their first garden was the ground now
occupied as the public square; and here Allen,
who had considerable skill in these matters,
planted and raised a fine stock of vegetables,
enabling them to supply neighbors whom their
persuasion had induced to join their little COM
munity. The two leaders above mentioned
came in February, 1923, Rumsey being accom-
panied by his wife. This couple emigrated from
some part of the State of New York, which has
furnished SO many enterprising families among
the Inhabitants of Michigan. Some of the New
England stock, who were little proud of their
land of the pilgrims, were accustomed to say
that they had ''stopped some years in the State
of New York on their way to the West"
The arbor Or tent, which formed the first
shelter for this little party, and served them as
such for two weeks, was made of their sleig
box, with rag carpet spread over boughs of
trees, which were, of course, denuded of leaves;
for there grew not an evergreen within miles,
except a few cedars on a hill some twenty miles
from the locality. They had brought with them
a few barrels of provisions; and as there were
no regular roads all the way to Detroit, and the
travelling was tedious and difficult, they lost no
time in making treaty with the rovingIndians,
who agreed to furnish them with the regular
supplies of corn and venison. On this they sub
sisted, while they industriously prepared the
ground and planted grain and vegetables to
serve them for the coming summer and winter.
Ann Arbor''o had been the favorite dancing
ground of the Potawattomies, many families of
whom lived in the neighborhood. Their place
of council was in the light "opening' selected
by Allen for his garden, on which at this time
there was scarcely tree. Those othat now
adorn the square have since been planted; most
Of them more than ten years after.
The visits of the Indians were peaceable
enough, and generally welcome for they always
brought deer and wild turkeys to exchange for
other artices-game then being abundant in
the woods. Sometimes, indeed, when they
found none but women at home, they showed
themselves little disposed to encroach upon
hoSPlloiity' uhio. lluulstJ tobieootu oeihS
frightened at one time by their wild behavior;
but assuming a stern and commanding air, she
bade them begone, lourishing broom at the
same time; and, though they could not have been
said to be afraid of her weapon, they dill not
hesitate to obey. All the contemporaries of Mrs.
Rumsey agree in describing her as woman of
and distinguished appearance, and
of energetic character, singuarly fitted to be a
useful pioneer in a new country, where Difficult
lies and discouragements must be met with un-
Enchlng courage, fortitude and patient perse-
verance. Her commanding spect-whether
natural. or the result of a habit of being fore
most in an enterprise-was well suited to her
qualities of determination and strength of pur
pose. Her cheerful disposition, disregard of
hardships, and resolute way of making the best
Of everything," have often been mentioned with
admiration. when we had been out land hunt
ng," said Mr.. Allen, cor otherwise engaged
during the day, so that we returned late and
tired out, she was always sready forus with smiles
and good supper" By such aid and encour-
agement is it that woman-a true help-meet-
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