The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-05-19
From the Coldwater Sentinel.
PIONEER JTREEEE.

1t is we'll understood, though not formally
announced IN PRINT, that, soon after the OLE
log house" was partially consumed, DR.. Alger
In the exhuberance of his generous heart
caused to be manufactured q lot Of canes from
the charred remains Of the old logs, and dis
tributed them among the early settlers. The
recipients of these mementoes Of by-gore days
and their families, paid their dero,rs to the
Doctor, on Monday evening, intending to sur
prise HIM slightly, though from the we'll or
dered arrangements about the house We think
the gallant doctor must have gotten an linking
OF the contemplated visit beforehand. How
ever that may be, about eight o'clock the com.
paly came pouring in upon him en- masse to
the number Of 100 or $50, with their basket OF
edibles, which the ladies getting up the enter
tainment had provided, in great abundance
and variety. These were spread on ample
tables to accommodate about one thlrd Of the
party at a time. supper being over, the doc
tor called on his guests to explain the reason
for the intrusion Of his domicile in such an I'M
ceremonious and unbidden manner. Judge
Fuller being called upon to answer for the
party, SAID 1t was all on account OF those canes
that they had come there that evening to re-
taliate for the Gaming he had been giving the
most Of the party present, and if he did not
like the intrusion he should not have furnished
the occasion. But, dropping the use OF trope,
in behalf OF the recipients OF those beautiful
and cherished mementoes Of the commence
the then beautiful Prairie, Gods flower garden,
where all was new, before the turf had yielded
to the pillow, or the forest to the axe OF man,
we present ourselves before you tonight in
grateful acknowledgement OF the gifts which
you, sir, have 80 literally bestowed. He then
spoke OF his first entrance upon this prairie, In
the spring OF his life, a. we'll as OF the season
in the year 1887, when the unbroken prairie APP
peared q vast flower garden. Some OF the
persons he then found here, he was happy IN
meeting tonight Others, one by one had
been moving off the stage OF life; he spoke Of
the difficulties they encountered, or the energy
and courage with which they had met and over
como those difficulties. He then read beau
tlful and touching letter from DIR. VIM. b.
SpIague, appropos to the occasion and one
from Mr.. Emerson Marsh Doctor Alger, In
in reply, said the apology was sufficient, and
that he accepted it with grateful heart and
that If he had thus contributed to their happi-
ness and enjoyment, the object sought in the
manufacture OF those canes was fully accom-
pshed. That on the morning after the fire, as
he stood by the charred remains OF the old
house erected forty years ago, his mind wan
dered back to the days OF his boyhood when
he come to this county with his father and he
remembered the men who were the founders
of this city, who came hero poor IN search OF
a home and fortune-some OF them stopping
here for the want OF means to go father. lie
remembered their early struggles with poverty
and sickness, and how manfully they had met
and overcome those difficulties, and carved for
tunes for themselves in most cases. While
many OF them had gone to their peaceful slum-
bers in the grave, many others were yet on the
stage Of action. Among the living he found
there were six who helped to raise the old log
house, forty years ago. Thus rejecting he de-
termined to present the survivors OF the early
settlers with cane made from the timber Of
the old house. and that he had already pre-
sented SO OF these mementoes, AMI found
there were still other deserving ones whom he
should not forget Hon. Harvey Warner, j..
Butterworth, Il. g. Ethrdge and ". Il. Foster
related come Of their experience IN pioneer
life, and Mr.. Ethridge read letter from Hon.
Harvey Haynes, when the company retired,
greatly pleased with their entertainment.