The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-07-28
Correspondence OF the True Northerner.
LOCAL HISTORY.
History Of a Michigan Pioneer.

In coroer OF the coolest aud black
est counties Of New York, lived a man
whom we c,ll Mr.. b. Barnes, with his
wife and six little children. BY hard
labor and careful economy he had ac-
quired small farm, but the sterile soil
yielded such scanty returns for his labor
that he found it difficult to supply the
wants of his family, and having heard
glowing accounts of the fruitful plains
of Michigan, and the mildness of her
climate, he resolved to go thther. The
winter of 1888 commencing with unus.
ual severity confirmed this resolution,
and, much to the CONSERVATION of his
wife and children, he one day annouuc-
ed his intention of emigratiug the fol-
lowing spring. Now Mrs. B, aud the
children had heard from a neigabor
who had been there, that the country
was so infested with wild beasts and
serpents that to live there was impossi.
BILE. A mau had died during his stay,
from inhaeing the breath of blow.
sna kc, and he FASTENED home to avoid
a similar fate as it was dangerous to 60
within several rods of them. Besides
there was Indians there who might be
disposed to massacre the settlers, But
Mr.. B. soon succeeded in quietipg their
fears, and an opportunity presenting
itself, he disposed of their little farm
for seven hundred dollars, ono hundred
of which was consumed in satisfying
the demands of creditors and removing
to small village on the Erie cana, here
he obtained employment in a mill until
the opening Of spring should enable
him to set out on his journey. But
alas for all his hopes, in an uulucky
moment he became entaugled in the
machinery of the mill and was carried
home bleeding and senseless with small
hopes of recovery. For many weeks
his life was despaired of, aud, when at
last be was able to leave his room, ii
was with the prospect of being a Grip
pie f,r life. The expenses of sickness
were fast eating up their little store, and
something must be done for his family,
so at the advice Of his wife he invested
the remainder of his stock in small
grocery store, IN which, though not very
successful, as his conscience would not
allow him t. sell Intoxicating liquors
as was then generally done, he succeed.
cd in making enough TO pay their nee
essary expenses until the Autumn of
1888 when his health being somewhat
improved he resumed his project of
going west, and with Que hundred and
fifty dollars with which to pay the ex.
penses of the journey and buy land, he
proceeded as far west as Palmyra, where
finding an opportunity to work be de
cided to remain until spring. The
winter soon sped away AID the spring
of 1884 found Mr.. B's health SO much
improved that it was with light hearts
that they resumed their journey, al
though they were leaving behind the
friends of their youth and going to the
tolls of wilderness.
One week on the canal boat brought
them to Buffalo, and taking passage on
he steamer Michigan, which was to
make the first trip of the season, they
babe adieu to New York. After a
rough passage Of three days, during
which 1t was feared that the vessel
would be lost they arrived in Detroit,
then a dirty Insignificant little village.
Here they remained for short time
with a family Of French Canadians, who,
for small consideration allowed them
to occupy part of their house. Water
was at this time so scarce in Detroit,
that people were obliged to buy it, SO
the Frenchwoman undertook to bring
water for Mr.. BIS family as she could
get it without costing her extra, having
payed for it by the year, while Mr.. B.
must pay by the pailfull. After re.
naming three days in Detroit Mr.. b.
encountered man who was just ready
to start for Jackson County, and who
consented to take him and his family
along, SO loading up their small stock of
household furniture they were soou on
their way, Mr.. b. going ahead to drive
some cattle The roads at this time
were none of the best aud Mrs. b.
having small child to carry was soon
very much fatigued, to add to her
trouble when few miles from Detroit
two of the children fell from the load
and the wagon ran over them hurting
them quite badly. Soon after this they
arrived at marsh over which was a
crossing, but so muddy as to be almost
impossible, when Nr. Graham, with
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