The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-04-28

from Lawrence the water was so deep
in the road that in many places it run
into the wagon.box, and before they
reached the place of their destination
the darkness of night set in, and they
found their way only with much diff
Guilty and danger. On this same road,
years afterwards, Charles u. Cross and
his wife got upset in the water and
came near drowning; Good Samaritan
like, Mr.. b. babe them to come in and
larry over nig hit, which they did, At
another time man attempted to cross
Cedar Creek with a span of valuable
iron gray horses belonging to Il widow
lady in the neighborhood, and they were
both drowned. When day light ap-
peared two gallon jug of whiskey was
found in the wagon, which revealed the
situation of affairs.
But, we hasten with our narrative
and leave the comments on this valuable
article of common drink for the reader
to make MIR. Bennett and his wife ex-
pcrienced all the deprivations and in.
conveniences incident to pioneer life
their nearest white ncighbor was Clark
Pierce and family, then and now resi-
dents of Geneva, where the present
Hooker Post Office is located one mile
and half from the tanne-y at Jericho,
Mr.. b. went down the river on his fat
boat a few times to transport green
hides from South Haven, and on his
first "trip, about three miles from home,
he was surprised to hear the growing
of rooster in the woods Surprising,
by the familiar sound, that some new
settlers had come in he looked them up,
and found part of the tribe of Ottawa
Indians there, from Mackinac, making
sugar. They camped there awhile, in
the spring, every year, making sugar,
fishing and hunting These Indians
were always friendly and reliable and
would assist the white man in necessity
as soon as the redskin. Once, while
Mr. b. was on a trip to Sonth Haven,
in his fat boat, the provision box for the
company of men was left in his fiat boat
and the provisions were spoiled by a
drenching rain. One of the Ottawa
squaws cooked them nice break fast of
pork, venison and short.caka. with most
delicious coffee, which tasted the best of
any meal they remembered of eating
for years. Probably this was accounted
for by the old adage which says that
hunger is the best sauce" The In.
dams at this camp came up the Lake
from Mackinac in two boats, which
were engaged by Mr. b. to transport
the remaining hides from South Haven
to the tannery. Thus the Indian neigh.
bors and their large boats were made
useful, and were also source of no lit.
tie amusement to the white folks of the
settlement. The new empty house was
opened for their evening dances, and
they brought their music with them,
and made the nights merry with their
sport. Music has in it charm to
smooth the brow even Of the most un-
cultivated savage. At this time it was
very difficult to get help to carry on
the varied branches of the work of the
tannery. They wanted twenty hands
at once to peel bark in the hemlock
woods. One of the men travelled scve
raj days and engaged only Two hands,
and he was so discouraged trying to
find help that he would not make an.
other effort. Mr.. B. resolved to try
what could be done with the Indians
for help, though they were entirely un
vcrsed in all the ways of white mems
work. The Ottawas had returned to
Mackinac, and the only alternative was
to call on the Pottowottomies in Bangor
and Hartford, where there is still rem
nant of the tribe Mr. Bennett engaged
twenty of these uncultivated sous of the
forest, and, by p tient teaching, they
learned the trade of peeling bark. They
made camp in the woods and brought
their women and provisions, and worked
for dollar per day, boarding them
selves. They were always peaceable
and industrious, only when they lmbibed
too freely of whiskey and it is even 50
with some pale faces; not all, we are
sorry to acknowledge. This successful