The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-11-24
WHOLE NO 500.

P''""' WV AA"i ioou, Ihcn llflub dI
GOurd Neck Prairie, took the contract
of furnishing the mail to the scattering
South Havenites, once week on horse
back. This was in the year 1888,
when the whole country was 80 wild
that he was in danger of losing his lie
by wild animals. He made the pcrilous
trip but once, and could not find the
Post Master, aud carried the mail back
to Schoolcraft and thus ended the fool
hardy undertaking. Some time during
that year or the next, Mr.. Pierce made
a horseback trip over the same route to
South Haven, and went into Mr.. Pot
ter's house, which was near the Byers
mill, to rest and get warm. In few
minutes the horse got frightened aud
broke his bride aud ran away taking
the back track to Schoolcraft. Without
hat or coat, Mr. Pierce started in pur.
suit Of the runaway horse, and went in
that same plight to Paw Paw, aud there
only heard of his stray horse without
the sight. There hc borrowed hat of
MIR. Dodge the hotel keeper, and walked
back to Schoolcraft, distance of fifteen
miles. A long walk for a short visit !
These long and lonely horseback rides
and walks were a common pastimc with
these hardy pioneers. On one occasion
Henry Mower Ed Mears and Mr.. Hew-
son werc away in the woods looking land
near the mouth of the river, when, some.
where on the river bank, Mecrs got
away from the rest of the company and
could not find his way back. In his
wauderngs for several days, crossing
and rccrossing his own path many times,
he got 80 tired and foot.swollen, that he
had to cut off his boots and throw them
away, with his rifle and blanket, so that
be could walk easier. This was in
November and the snow was six inches
10 depth. The only food he had IN the
whole time three or four days-was
some kernels of raw corn that he found
in shanty where horse had been fed.
More than one of these hard years in
the early history of South Haven, Mr..
Pierce lived entirely alon, in a shanty;
his worst troubles, as he informed the
narrator, was trying to make his bread,
which woulG never "riso" and the mil
lion mosquitoes which paid him daily
and nightly visits. His many lonely
hours we're passed in singing, making
speeches to the owls and bats, his only
listeners, and writing rhyme. One of
his effusions parody on " Sweet Home"
would make an interesting record. As
iutimated in the beginning of this chap
ter, it was not until about the year 1850
that any progress was made in this new
settlement. Between the mouth of the
river aud Schoocraft there were almost
no inhabitants. There was OH that road
of fifty miles one little settlement of
lawless Ku Klux" called Owlsville
from their nightly dcprcdations to the
L., nd
The first permanent buildings in
South Haven were erected by Mr.. Mar
vim Hannahs and Joseph Sturgis in the
years 1850 and 81, mill, tannery, etc.
Not long after the National Hotel was
built, and from that time till the present
the business of the town has steadily
increased. Captain Hcndryx, was en-
ploycd as an agent to furnish supplies
for the hands and oversee the general
Gnancocriug, for which labor he was
cmiucntly fitted During the several
wears that he was in the employ OF
these cntcrprising men, Hannahs and
Sturgs, their business was nearly all
over the country. The tannery at Jor-
icbo, in the town of Geneva was built
about this time and also the grist mill
at Lawrence. Captain Hcndryx, mount
ed on his faithful horse Crazy Jane"
was the ruling spirit that kept this
" harp of thousand strings" in tune
The most difficult help to obtain in
these times was housekecper in the
boarding department. To supply this
important position, Mr.. and Mrs. Hen
ry Hogmire, then living at Brecdsvillc,
were obtained to take charge. We of.
ten hear about the right man in the
RIGHT Mace" but Mrs. III. was the