The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-09-08
OF the True Northerner.
LOCAL HISTORY.
RCiRg RfcOiicctiOns md Eemf3escfRc'
Of the E0rIN ltPffIerS.

RCiRg RfcOiicctiOns md Remf2cscfRccS
Of the Early settlers.
There is perhaps no township in Van
Buren, county having SO recent an organ
ization as Deerfeld, which is situated on
the Lake Shore, north of Watervliet in
Berrien county, and in some respects, it
has a singular history. The territory
comprising the township was taken from
Bangor and South Haven, and organized
in 1S56,Fwhen majority of her inhab-
itants were temporary comers, in the
lumber interest. Including these there
were but thirty voters at the first town
meeting, which resulted in the election
of VIM. A. Dell Supervisor, Myram
Fish, Town Clerk Draper Fish, Treas
urer and John Hunt, Justice of the
Peace. At this time there was not
permanent and straight road in the
township; the one most travelled was a
trail from Watervliet to So Haven, so
crooked that its meanderiugs 10 avoid
impossible places, alternately described
all the points of compass, making the
distance full twice that of the "air line"
The first huddle that bore a name in
the township, was that of Paulville,
near the Lake Shore, and probably this
place had an identity before that of the
township, by several years and here the
first school was kept, by Miss. Hannah
Hawks, before any district organiza-
tions. AT that period the place must
have been very obscure, for as late as
the war of the rebellion, the dense hem.
lock woods along the Lake Shore be-
came quite famous as retreat for "ske
dadleIs' and deserters. Here their
camp-fres cleaned, unobserved by vigi-
lance committees and recruiting Officers
About twenty soldiers went to the war
from the township, though the war COM
menccd only five years after Deerield
was known as township.
The first settler in the township was
Benonia Young who went there il
1915, eleven years before its organiza.
ton. Mrs. Young died about the year
1888; during the nine years of her oh
scure life, she did no, leave the rude
home but twice; once was to attend q
funeral in Watervlict, which was the
only time she saw a white woman in
five years Mr. Young and his wife
were the onl y settlers there until 1852,
when a Mr.. Peters went there. Next
Matthias Farnham and farther than
this, our record, which was furnished by
j. l. Packard ESQ, does not state what
families settled. until the year of the
township organization 1886, at which
| time Mr. Packard commenced life III the
wilderness, on the line of Watervliet
From that time until the present, The
population has steadily increased, though
many years of the last fifteen, have
been years of struggle and trial for those
pioneers. There are several instances
, of children being lost over night in
these forests, which were at the time
eztremely affecting to anxious parents
The first was Hiram Fish's daughter
in 1895, fifteen years Of age. She wa'
going from Mr.. Youug's house home
o only distant ouc mile. Ia this cas-
: there was no alarm until the next day
: as her mother supposed that she hi,
/ staid over night at Mr. Youngs. Sh,
. took thc wrong path, and in her effort
{. to find the way wandered long distance
q When darkness shut over her, and sh
? had no hope of finding her home, phi
o losopher like she made the best cf he
. unhappy lot. Seeking the leeward sid
IS of the upturned roots of fallen tree
in the excavation she made a bed q
leaves which she sheltered with bushe.
.e resting against the wall Of dirt brougl
le up with the tree roots. With her apro
for musqueto screen, she laid down t
unpleasant reflections, and perchance t
sleep. With the protection and blcs
ing of the AllFathcr she enjoyed
quiet rest, and awoke but once durin
the night. A hard thunder shower di
turbed her but a short time and b,
thick shelter kept her nearly dry.
g the morning the sun arose clear an
brilliant, and the young girl awoke an
commenced again her search for hom