The true northerner., 1871-11-03


which seemed to change the future for
tunes of, not only the boy forever, but
the whole large family of brothers who
afterwards bore so prominent a part III
the settlement Of the wilds of South
Western Michigan. The master of the
vessel in which John landed at Quebec,
wanted he should return to Ireland as a
cabin boy, which he would have done,
if he had not seen him whip unmerci
fully Malcom, the former cabin boy
Not wishing to subject himself to the
same inhuman treatment, he sought
other employment The first six
months he drove team for thcsmall con
sideration of ten dollars a month and
board. Then went to the new township
Of Moores, which is now an important
Station on the Ogdensburgh and Rouse S
Point r. r and took its name from
Gen. Moore, of Plattsburgh. Here he
made potash and hauled goods from
Hrbbard's landing, deposited there by
the Schooner Eclipse. The one grand
idea which possessed the soul of the
Irish boy, was to get his fathers large
family out of "the land of Egypt" in.
to the American Canaan, flowing with
milk and honey" For this object he
labored, as none can labor who have not
definite purpose. Not that they we're
in absolute poverty whore they were,
for with all the oppression and Difficult
ties under which they labored, they had
the common necesssries Of life, and
means to pay the expenses of the long
journey, but they wanted the assurance
that they were going to better them
selves by the change. 1t was seven
years before the parents emigrated to
the new country, with some OF the
younger children, but during that time
some of the older brothers came to Prai-
RE Ronde, where John had taken up
land. Previous to this, however, in
1928, he purchased, or preempted land
in Washtenaw county, near Ann Arbor,
and subsequently in Keeler, near Tobias
Byers first purchase, at the west line,
which has been referred to in former
chapter. The seven years spent in New
York State, from 1921 -2S, Mr.. N 8
bitt worked in variety of capacities
anJ places, doing to the best Of his
ability whatever came IN his way. This
is according to the suggestions of p. T
Barnum in his directions to the highway
of wealth. While young men are wait
ing for a more congenial and lucrative
employment, the only sure road to it is
in graspng the first opportunity that
presents Waiting for something to
turn up" Micawbcr fashion. has been
the ruin of many young man. Once
in his seven years serving, jacob like
and for a similar purpose, for, what in
dustrious young man has not his
"R achep 10 his minis eye, Mr.. Nesbit,
cooked six weeks for a gang of forty
men who were building Hotel in the
ChatauQua woods for Mr.. Ransom, who
had been burnt out. While there, a
large black bear met him in the forest
face to face, an he climbed the nearest
small tree for safety until Bruin was
tired OF waiting for him. This time il
would not have paid to "come dowu out
Of the tree" too quick, Working west
ward, the last two years in n. Y. State
Mr. Nc.bitt worked for an old farmer
IL Monroe county two years, an honest
/ Dutchm IN, and this was about the i'm,
that Michigan's praises were being
sounded from the East, and the western
fever was extreme ely contagious. Tha,
the enterprisiug Nesbitt caught it, wa.
no marvel, for it is that class Of mer
which Providence selects to do the great
work of forming new States in the howl
ing wilderness While the remainder
of the Nesbitt family were crossing the
Ocean, aud finding their way to Western
Michigan by the Lakes aud with team
for it was in 1923, before the iron
horse had neighed his frightful scream
west of the valley of the Hudson-thc
three older brothers, John, Robert and
Heury were building a log house on
Prairie Ronde, for their reception.
The subject of our sketch remained