The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-05-05
acres of wheat for Mr.. Green, on shars,

wheat on shares, and broke the ground
for them, Breaking plains" as it is
called, is about the same as breaking
ground where there are grubs in the
openings. On the plains there is less
timber than in the openings.
In December 1887, Mr.. Southland
returned to Bangor with Mr.. Amidon
carrying part of his goods, with Mr.
Amidon's team, two yokes of oxen
The two men staid in the woods six
weeks, building shanty. Michigan
fashion in those days, for the Southland
family. Also during the time, they
made pine shingles enough to pay their
expenses back, and sold them on their
return, at Marshall. They got their
pine timber on the border of the little
lake. The four oxen found their liv'
ing in the woods, except little corn
they were fed night and morning. The
shanty was built of split Eastwood logs
the fiat side in, and it looked white and
clean; the floor was of the same ma,
terial, spotted at the ends to fit the
sleepers. The roof was covered with
pine shingles nailed to split ribs, SO uu.
even that it leaked very badly in a
shower. They had to put bark over
the shingles as soon as the weather was
warm enough to peal it from the trees
/ Mrs. Southland moved into the house III
March 1888. She rode in with Mr.
Manscll Briggs and his wife with then
horse team, and brought the four young.
est children with her. The two oldest
boys came in with Mr.. Southland and
an OK team, the same week: they
brought the remainder of household
goods, and drove three COWS and some
hogs. They had but one chair, and
that was rocking chair, Mrs. Southland
sat in that in the wagon and carrie c
the baby in her lap, and sometimes one
of the other children The first chairs
they had in their new house, except
boxes and benches, Oscar Southland
made, then boy but thirteen years old
of black ash splints and white ash frame
work Their fire to cook by was built
in one corner of the shanty, on the
ground, where there was hole left il
the split log floor, for that purpose, and
the smoke escaped through hole it the
roof, at least as much of it as did not
remain in the room. The only beard
in the house was in the door, which was
probably transported all the way from
Lynden.
While Mr.. Southland was in the woods
building the shanty, he went with his OK
team to Big Prairie Ronde after load
of corn, so as to have some ready to
feed the oxen and make bread for the
family. He left the corn on the floor
of the shanty two months, while he was
making preparations for his family,
removal. There was nobody there tc
steal it except mice and squirrels, and
they only took small share, which Of
right belonged to them, by possession
When the family arrived in March
there was no place to sleep except il
the wagon box, which was put upon the
pile of corn in the ear. They built Q
fire in the corner, and the snow on the
roof leaked through and drenched their
beds, and flooded the house all over
After providing the women with plenty
of fire-wood, Mr. Briggs went to Prai
RE Ronde after potatoes which he Dough,
for fifty cents bushel On his way
there he met Mr.. Southland and the
boys. with the COWS and hogs, they al
reached their new home in safety some.
time during the week. Mr.. and Mrs
Briggs lived in the house with them six
weeks while they were building them
selves similar one. Both families
numbered ten persons, but this was
very moderate slowing away in one
house, compared with what some of the
primitive houses held at once.
The November previous, to these two
families coming into the settlement, Mr.
Northrup, his wife and three children
moved in there and lived in smaller
shanty than either of the others, on the
present Northrup place, which is now ;
fine fruit farm. Their little settlement
which they named "Shantyville,' mum
bered three families and fifteen souls