The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-03-10

eastern bank OF the river to find the most feas
ible crossing-place. They crossed in safety
water from three to four feet deep. They
camped out that night six miles before reaching
Jonesville, tired and hungry, not having TASTED
food since morning. The night was frightfully
dark, and at midnight drenching rain SGT in
which defied their every exertlon to obtain SUI
ficient shelter TO keep dry under. Ono OF the
company had Ratchet which they put N re-
they held over their heads all the latter art of
the night. They crossed the st. Joseph River
in an Indian hunting canoe, and IN tbeir at
tempt to go over I've or ak at once they got
upset in four feet OF water and had to wade
across at last. They reached the land Of their
stunned, and got nice breakfast at Mr..
Jones hotel. THIS was the first food they had
tasted since thew left Tecumseh, and had trav-
eled forty miles in wagon, on foot and by
water; 1t il no wonder that their appetites
were somewhat capacious.
To the next house log tavern kept by Mr..
Allen. the distance was some nine miles, and
to tho next 1t was twenty miles to the house Of
q French trader named Beaubeaugh, on Cold
water river. He was dealer in calico, whisky,
tobacco, and Indian trInkets. Here there were
some doings which the Indians celebrated by
getting drunk with their better halves. This is
an arrangement which seems quite appropos,
as 1T leaves no room for upbraidrngs on either
side. On this occasion they had imbibed too
freely, and Beauoeaugh was obliged to keep
out of their sight or bis life was in danger
They wanted more whisky than safety to out
siders would permit. at stated times the
Sauks and Fox River Indians went to Maiden
to receive presents from the British Govern
ment, and at these gatherings they were made
dangerous with iire-water, and would some
times stab each other. Their route was by the
Chicago Indian Trail; this had been worn
down to the depth OF three feet in many places
by the constant cutting OF the ponies feet.
Before pursuing tneir journey from this
point our prospectors bought Of Beaubeaugh
Indian moccasins, which he assured them would
be easier for their tortured feet With this
change OF feet dressing they continued their
gis Prairie, and where the present thriving
village OF Sturgls now is there were but two
families, one named Sturgis was keeping log
hotel; here they made but a short tarry and
continued their search to White Pigeon Prairie,
these points being from nine to fifteen miles
apart, without a single house on the way be-
tween. Three of the company staid at the last
named place to get work where o MIR. Sabra
kept hotel. Here again they had enough to
do for awhile to attend to sore and blsterec
feet, the moccasins leaving them in a worse
than boots. When they got yell
enough to walk again SIX OF the company scat
tered in variety OF directions. and the re-
naming three stad through the summer
Hamilton Phelps being one Of the three.
MIR. Sabra had 40 second floor to his house,
except few scattering boards that he hauled
all the way from Detroit, where he went with
four horse team after all his provisions. Our
pioneers were employed in q sort OF home
made saw mil, without water or steam power,
with what is called whip saw, to manufacture
boards for Mr.. Sabra's chamber floor. The
10 very well for this mill with slight variations.
HIS was a carriage with one wheel, that run
backwards and the horse was a man" This
saw mill was perpendicular arrangement and
he power was two men-one Of them stand
ng on platform about four feet from the
ground, and the other in PIT below, at the
other end OF the saw; 1t is after this manner
hat ship timber is sawed, tho length or boards
ne eded making common saw mill Impractical
9le. Mr.. Phelps and his companions being out
Of cash and out OF employment, took this as
IN ony cna1ce to replenish their empty peck
ets. At that time there were none OF the
Michigan lands in market, and no surveys had
been made. Mr.. Phelps took squatters
,lalm of eighty acres and returned to Ohio in
.he fall.
The following summer the lands came into
market and the land Office was at Monroe. The
quatters' claims were sold at auction by DIFF
errnt law from sny now in existence. There
we're but very few instances Of higher bids
han the Government price OF ten shillings per
cre. About this time Meeks of Pennsylvania
coated here with plenty of money, which he
ent at q moderate rate to squatters But for |
iis kindness and lenIty. many families would
rave suffered for common necessities. One |
nan took up bis land claim with but single |
,istareen left after getting here. rhe nearest
nil was at Fort Defiance, Ohio, and the time
t took to go With oxen was from six days to
wo weeks.
Two years after the commencement of our
narrative, Mr.. Phelps cane to Michigan again, |
nd brought with him boots, shoes, and leather
o sell; the Indian troubles had begun to as
ume threatening aspect, and white men
we're drafted wherever found, for safety and
lefe.ce. Michigan was regarded wild waste,
.most out OF the world and most of the east
I'm people considered 1t a ca'amity and de-
usion for their friends to be eDticed for any
eason into such God-forsaken marsh pit, and
lot few of them have never, to the present
ay, surrendered tnat idea. Mrs Phelps never
expected to see her husband again alive, when
he Indian difficulties commenced. On his
9 ,ond trip he overheard his name called as
able to the draft, and immedptrly returned;