Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-09-15
THE GAZETTE.
THURSDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER Is, 1859.
TECUMSEli, MICH.
From the N0rrich aurora.

Inc lecuMsen tMlchlgan) Cnleltaln re-
lates the following, showing how that village
got its name:
"When Musgrove Evans, Austin E. Wing,
Col. Charles j. Lsnman, and several other
gentlemen from Monroe were partaking Of q
rural dinner, in quite primitive way under
the branches Of q spreading oak that grew
in the centre Of our old village ground-this
was in 1896, before our village had name or
a permanent white inhahitant-the question
arose, what shall we call this embryo Will
agey Several names were proposed and
rejected, as being too romantic, far-fetched,
or meaningless. Musgrove Evans at last re-
marked
"Why not call it Tecumseh?"
"That will not answer" replied one Of
the party; "Tecumseh was British Indian"
Thee is mistaken" quietly answered
friend MusgrOve, who was a member Of the
Society of Friends; "Tecumseh was natures
Indian"
That's fact" exclaimed Wing, "and
one Of natures noblest specimens of o man."
This emphatic remark decided the question,
and before rising fran their rural repast our
village had q NAME"
The above extract from the Detroit Ad-
V0EuSCI Va kuC 1Olu luStout, w
mind pleasant "reminiscences; and, being
one of the persons named, to correct few
immateral errors, and to enter little more
into detail than the writer has done, will
afford me more pleasure than fear will be
derived by your readers.
The object Of the exploring party was to
find sufficient water power, good, well situa-
ted contiguous land, and desirable loca-
ton for future village and settlement.
Musgrove Evans was the master-spirit;
A. L. Wing, afterwards a Delegate in Con-
gress, was the financial man; and, as the
agent Of the government, it was supposed to
be my bounden duty to aid in disposing of
the public lands. There were also others
Of the party who felt an interest in the en-
terprise and who were glad to aid in its pro-
motion
Some days were spent in meandering the
River Raisin-in taking the necessary water
levels. and in engineering generally.
The land was found to be attractive, and,
every thing proving propitious, it was deter
mined that location should be made and a
suitable lot should be purchased, the price
it will be remembered being one dollar and a
quarter per acre. This being determined,
the name of the contemplated village natural
ly was discussed, as the party, after hard
days work, lay in camp with their feet to
the fire.
The objection to the name of Tecumseh
was not that he was British Indian, but
that as an ally of the British he had fought
against US in the war Of 1872, and that it
was not desirable to perpetuate the name of
q bold and relentless enemy Of the United
States. But it seemed favorite selection OF
Musgrove Evans. and the party cheerfully &C
coded to his preference.
Tecumseh was indeed great man. A
warrior and an orator, in his fine person were
united those high qualities which form such a
character.
He considered the white man the natural
enemy of the Indian, and he watched with
jealousy his advances Westward. Before
the war of 1912 he held council fires in all
the Western and Southwestern country, and
eloquently urged the formation of an Indian
Confedersey which would fix limit beyond
which the white man should not pass. In
the various treaties Of our Government with
the Indians he was the Magnus Apollo, and
urged the Indians not to allow their title to
be extinguished, but scrupulously to prevent
all encrOachments of the white man. Ills
policy was fixed and understood, and upon a
memorable occasion he endeavored to enforce
it. He stated that it was the wish Of the
white man to drive the Indian toward the
setting sun until he reached the Great Lake,
1.-THE Pacific and then to push him from its
bank, and, Indignantly throwing himself up
on the ground, said that the sun was his
father, the earth was his mother-he would
repose upon her bosom, and let no man dare
disturb him.
At the battle of the Thames, in Canada, he
fell, "a was said, by the hand Of the gallant
Col. r. M. johnson, of Kentucky; and when
soon afterwards saw his graveit was demo-
ted by q rough flagstaff or stake rudely PAIN
ted in stripes, somewhat like BARRIERS pole.
But the village which perpetuates his
name was commenced and began to thrive;
stress were laid out, dwellings and stcres'
and mills and churches, and schoolhouses
were built, and inducements were held out
inviting settlers. Few who have not ex-
perienced it can estimate the labor and de-
priyation and nerve requisite to form new
settlement. A common sympathy influences
all, and all feel that they must depend upon
each other for aid and support. | remember
well being one Of party which travelled
thirty miles upon Ill Iuuidn VOL w. $3.50
was no road) to aid in raising grist and
saw-mill at Tecumseh, then an embryo,
now q large and fourishing village; and
many a barrel Of choice -four there manutac-
tured has been consumed in this city.
Musgroye Evans was intended by nature
for pioneer. Ofgreat physical endurance
with o large and full heart, and with nerves
like steel, he was mild and unpretending
in manner, and Quaker by education and
principle. :. :
Not less SO was his wife, who shared in all
his better qualities. She was most excel
lent and amiable woman, possessing strong
and decided traits of character, and was
sister of the late Gen. Jacob Brown, OF the
United States army, SO much distinguished
in the war of 1872. Musgrove..wasa surveyor
BY profession, and had long been in the en-
ploy of French nobleman, LIE Ray de Clau-
mont,) who owned large tract Of land IN
the Black River Country, New York, then
wild and remote region, from which ne re-
moved to Michigan. Their houses, rude
and of logs, was the seat of hospitality and
Kindness, was open to the aid and eneour-
agement of the sick, destitute, and dishear-
tened. Two of their sons, gallant youths
and inheriting all the noble qualities OF their
A 40 nj m.