The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-01-06

u NOuii Sh'u SOv uiouHA toi'S SO~'
enough for family use" 1t is my
opinion that, if the quantity used here
now, had to be brought with oxen that
distance, it would require the forces of
all the cattle ranches of Texas and Col.
orado to supply the demand
Before this depression, was about to
describe the cabin Of the Thonpsons
and Kirks. They lived but two seasons
n Niles, and then moved to Pokagon
about two miles west Of the place now
known as Pokagon side track, on the
Michigan Central Railroad. The cabins
there were built of logs, little larger
than the first, aud the roof was made of
long split shingles, called tow shakes !
the significance Of tho term We will
leave the reader to conjecture as we
were obliged to do. The chimn,y OF
the aforesaid structure was six or eight
feet vide at the base and on the outside
Of the building it was built of mud
and sticks.
The second time that Mr.. Thompson
wcn, to Fort Wayne after provisions,
be purchased new mill and brought
with him, which was great improve
ment on the scooped log and pestle at
Niles. The new one was simply a pair
of stones, cut round, and eighteen inches
across, propelled by spring pole fixed
in q rib of the cabin. This not only
ground the grists Of the family but of
the other settlers for years after. The
salt and other necessary family articles
that Mr.. Thompson brought with him
from Fort Wayne, only lasted until his
settlement on Pokagon prairie. His
next supplies were purchased in Detroit
under difficulties He walked the en-
tire distance Tone hundred and eighty
mi4s) with a gun on his shoulder, aud
a sack of provisions. Hisroad was by
the Chicago Indian Trail. He hunted
and camped by the way His first pur-
chase of salt was ten barrels; he also
Ibought foar, tea, coffee and whisky,
supplying the Indians and all the white
settlers. His supplies were shipped by
a schooner from Detroit TO St. Joseph,
thence up the St. Joseph river to Niles
by water craft called "peroque >
an Indian canoe made Of the trunk of q
wbitewood tree thirty feet in length
From Niles his stores were hauled with
oxen to Pokagon, and the merchant
walked back to his homo as he wen,
from It, with bis gnn and provision sacl
across his shoulder, after being absen
three months--from June to September
His store was a she'd by the side of hi
cabin, and his weighing was done viii
) steelyards; Fairbanks scales were NJ
where then.
Seven successive years he supplie(
the Indians and whites with these ar
!, ticles he treated the Indians will
kindness and they regarded him as
Q father; they called him "Mushtomcook.
He induced many other settlers to thi
, country and in three years there wa
quite gathering Of Inhabitants frou
, different sections in this large territory
In the fall Of 1923, the 10th of Octo
! Der, Mr.. Elijah Goble, now of Decatur
came to see the country and made \ lc
, cation on Little Prairie Ronde; ais
Mr.. Gard and Mr. Rich came with hir
and built their cabins in the spring c
1929 on what is now called Gard
Prairie. Mr.. Gard and Mr.. Rich ha
, families. George Titles family cam
\ three years after, and Mr.. Goblc mai
ried the ED st daughter, SISTER
c Clayton Title, Of the Decatur Hous,
:. Mr. Goble's cabin was the second on
J. built in the township Of Volinia, Ca'
$ County, and his marriage at Decatu
r. September 2S, 1888, was the first on
O in Van Buren, County; all this count
d being attached to Yolinia township
o Cass County.
II The first town meeting after its o
K gonization in 1882, there were twent.
5 six voters, and Mr.. Goble was electc
= constable and assessor; his jurisdictic
, extending over all Van Buren, Count
10 The first attachment in the county W
Of made by Esquire Shaw in favor of job