The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-07-14
Correspondence of the True Northerner.
LOCAL HISTORY.
Reing' RccOlIGctfOns and "Reminiscences
Of the Early Settlers.

er or later bring times changes to all
places and people, We congratulate the
people of the township of Columbia,
and especially that part of it known as
the hamlet of Breedsville, that it has at
last fallen into the line of sure progress,
towards wealth and prosperity, which u
large majority so richly deserve, by their
untiring enterprise and labor, even be.
yond their means to accomplish in the
way of public enterprises, that which is
a sure guarantee of success to any peo-
pie. From the commencement of their
settlement in the wilderness they have
had many and weighty obsticles with
which to contend One, in particular
which was common to all this locality,
that of the fever and ague, which did
not spare the aged, the youth, nor the
of the county of Van Buren, made
more rapid progress in clearing away
the forest and inducing settlers to make
homes with them than the northern
part. Less labor was involved getting
start for life, III the Openings" and,
as is quite common, in sparsely settled
districts, each neighborhood had its Pc
culiar art in putting its best side to
view to the unweary emigrant, who was
looking for a home and fortune, in the
untried, far-off, land of expectations, by
some never realized, and by nope, ex-
cept through seas of deprivation, diff.
cultics and dangers Therefore, the
difference in places at this early stage
of our history, was not great, Breeds.
Vile had fine water privilege on Black
River, which was much better in an
early day than its present showing
would indicate. One Of the scares"
often presented to the traveller north
ward bound, was, that if the person ad-
dressed was so insane as to 60 into that
part of the county, his most safe way
would be to provide himself collins for
the whole family before going in, as they
would surely be brought to a speedy
death by starvation in that dense forest
and no way would be provided in the
extreme poverty of the place, for 4
death burial. Thus many were deferred
from going into those northern towns,
who mighth have made good homes
with only the common and inevitable
obstacles incident to pioneer life, wher-
ever the brave make strike into the
woods. But we will bring our lengthy
sketch to close by brief reference to
the present, and probable future Of
Breedsvillo. Since the completion of
the Lake Shore Rail Road, the spirits
of the business men have revived, and
if the spirits at the bars Of the saloons
have received corresponding impetus
and elevation, it is only the natural re-
suit of that hateful combination of cir
cumstances, which seems to be at pres,
ent the inevitable result of the addition
to business, and the gathering togcth er
of outside forces which never have a
tendency to bring into disrepute the in
toxicating bowl. If the pretended
friends of law and order and Temper
ance, would use only half the exertion
to suppress the sale of Intoxicating
drinks, that the rum power does in
bringing it before every young man IN
the community, the places which deal
destruction to all the business enterprises
would be forever closed. But now how
different If couple of men made
mad by rum comes into this little quiet
village, as two did from South Haven a
few days since, with young livery
team, and abused them by running them
at least a dozen times through the
streets in a hot sun, with the thermome-
tor above 90 degrees, they stand and
look on and laugh. A stranger to both,
asks "why are not those brutcs arrested
at once, if for nothing mere, for abuse
to those beautiful young horses" co.
says quiet man, past middle age, look.
ing over his spectacles, I'VE have no or
ganized village and consequently no vii
lage laws, we can't do anything with
them" "Then take them to Paw Paw"
says the excited stranger. "That wont
pay" adds the easy man. If you have
no organized village, my good sir. you