The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-01-20

was only commenced, by cutting trees
From st. Joseph to the place now own
cd and occupied by John i. Harrison
in Hamilton, there was but one cabin
that was about nine miles from st. 10
seph and occupied by a Frenchman by
the name of Rulo. Sabina Stearns lived
in the next, on the Harrison farm -
Here Mr., Byers staid the first night
walking by trail from st. Joseph
Previous to this, however, John AND
James Nesbitt, brothers, had taken up d
lot of one hundred and twenty acres
near the east line of the township OF
Bainbrldge, and had a shanty, boarding
themselves. They obtained their pro
visions from Little Prairie Ronde. In
June of this year, Mr.. Byers bought
five and half eighty-acre lots at the
Government price-ten shillings per
acre--a part of it at his present loca-
ton and part six miles further vest
For this he paid in cash, which took
nearly his last dollar. With few dol
lars he went back to Livingston Co., N.
Y, walked good share of the distance
to save his money. He staid four
months at his old home in Livingstone
Comfy and then induced his brother,
David Byers, and Isaac Long to try
their fortunes with him in this new ter
ritory. In October, they all three came
in here together. Mr.. David Byers and
Mr. Long made purchase in the town
of cambridge. The former six miles
west of Haydon's Corners, and Mr..
Long located near the Sister Lakes,
where he remained but one year then
went back to his former home and died.
While Mr.. Byers was away on his re
turn trip to New York State, Mr.. Kee-
Ter came into the new territory and
bought the tract of land of Government,
now owned and occupied by John
Roosevelt. There he built small frame
house with log shanty attached, and
kept hotel several years. His daugh.
ter Elmina now Mrs Phelps, several
years pos t-mistress in Decatur-was the
first young lady resident of Keller She
married Theodore i. Phelps, then a
resident of st. Joseph Mrs. Phelps
is now a resident of Denver, Colorado,
and still owns comfortable estate near
Decatur. She is a woman of that per-
severance and sterling worth which fit
her for any station in life, where tickle
fortune casts her lot.
In the fall of 1885 Mr.. Byers put up
a log shanty on his new lot, in the west
part of the town, and made home at
Mr.. Keeler's. Having no time-piece
he would sometimes work till it was too
late in the day for his six miles walk
to Mr.. Keeler's and such times he
slept, when building, under hogshead
on the ground, while the wolves have
walked around him rending the air with
their wild and terrific shrieks. By
scattering salt in a hollow, near his
cabin, he enticed deer within easy rife
shot, and in that way supplied himself
with venison. Sometimes he would
start for Mr.. Keeler's late in the after.
noon with whole quarter of We nison
cut in pieces which would draw around
him drove of hungry wolves. Throw
ing out piece at time to his pursuers
he would lose it all before reaching his
home. In that year he chopped some
for Mr.. Keller and assisted him in |
building About the same time Mr. Free
man had come into Hamilton, as we be-
Iieve, and took up land near Chrsties
Lake, where the Christie farm now is.
During the winter Mr.. Byers worked
for him chopping, etc. Vert to Flow
srfeld, near Schoolcraft, a distance Of
forty miles to mill. Their living was
on corn and wheat bread and
pork. The settlement on Little Prairie
Ronde raised some wheat more than
hey needed for home use, which found
! ready marSe; in st. Joseph that year
It one dollar per busheI, where the new
ettlers obtained supplies. After home
n the wilderness was prepared for them
dr. Byers' brother and sister, BOTH un