The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-04-07
correspondence Of the True Northerner.
LOCAL HISTORY.
Being RecOliectiOns and "Reminiscences
of the Early Settlers.

who said that he believed he coul,
preach better sermon than his minis
ter did; whereupon the pastor kindl.
offered to exchange places with him ON
sunday, and take his place in the pew
while the self.suf6cient deacon entered
the pulpit. After stammering his text
which was in the book of Job, and {
few inchorent sentences, the perspiratior
rolling from his face, he returned to his
accustomed seat, and modestly requested
the minister to exchange places with
him once more and that was his first
and last attempt at preaching There
was more acork in it than he had sup.
posed. If it were possible for the pres
ent generation, reared as they have been
in luxury and abundance, to exchange
places with those who prepared the way
in the arts, science and agriculture, they
would then know what it is impossible
for them to believe nor, that it was a
work which summoned every energy OF
body and mind, and that constituted in
their natures genuine manhood and
womanhood, which their more delicate,
and less enduring offspring can never
know. 1t is an evident law of nature,
that toll and suffering have matured and
directed the noblest energies. Poverty
has nourished the greatest heroes, In
deed, almost the only heroes whom His
tory chronicles and gratitude remem-
bers. And, that soul only can be call
ed noble who, in defiance of the most
formidable impediments, has put forth
efforts, which have put to fight every
obstacle. 1t is the fiery trial that
brings out the shining gold, and it is
labor under difficulties which brings out
the capabilities of men.
David II. Manley, now merchant OF
Decatur, came to Michigan, with his ia
theirs family in 1884, then only fifteen
years of age. Mr. Adrian Marley,
father of the subject of our present
sketch, came from Steuben county, N.
Y, to Michigan, stopping first a short
time at Ann Arbor. There were elev-
en- in the Manley family, and the state
of their finances was much the same as
nearly all the pioneers, after the ex-
pense of moving. The purse contained
but two shillings,,and was here replen-
ished by borrowing five dollars of Mrs.
Manley's brother, with which they con.
tinued their journey to Kalamazoo
This village in embryo, contained but
three framed houses, and few log
buildings the best corner lots were
sold for twenty-five dollars. Mr.. Man.
ley brought to this state, two teams,
one of horses, and yoke of oxen.--
With these he got jobs of teaming, haul
ing lumber with the oxen, to Mark
Hewson's sawmill, two and half miles
south of Kalamazoo. The horses were
put on the road conveying passengers to
St. Joseph, for forty dollars each trip,
payable in wild cat money" During
this year, which was the only year they
lived in Kalamazoo, these teams and
drivers earned one thousand dollars.
Enough of this was changed into gold,
to purchase an eighty acre lot, of an ex
oloring speculator on the line of Kee- !
er, in the township of Hartford, oppo, a
lite the present Olney farm. Mr.. Man '
ey purchased this at five dollars only
n advance of the government price, and I
lid not 90 and see it until he moved
lis family. Instead of the "well wa {
cred timbered land that his minds eye t
ad pictured from the spectators glow n
ne descriptions he found a tamarack o
wamp. This, in the final result, was t
10 calamity, for when the "iron horse" "
egan to make the earth tremble in f
Western Michigan, these lands at once IL
dyanced in value for its wealth Of e
imber. The present year a contract &
las been made, to furnish five thousand
abroad ties, from forty acre lot. Join o
ne this swamp formerly owned by Mr. 4
Ianley. Draining makes this the best /
IF meadow land, after the timber is ia. L
Ken off. Thus we sec the truth daily 0
verified, that no country or individual y
has all the good qualities, so evenly dis t
.ributed over the earth and justly Il
neted out to all of Adams race t
Joining this eighty acre lot, Mr.. Man t
lev nurchased another FORTY aores which u