The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-03-17

To fulfill the stipulat,ons Of the contract Mr.. |
Allen employed MIR. Reynolds to start the Job
on horseback from Lawrence TO st. Joseph on
New Years day, as bleak and windy day ~
Michigan can boast. Theroad was horrible and
the situation anything but enviabe. He reach
cd the junction Of the Paw Paw and st. Joseph
rivers at night-which was as far as he could go
with bis horse-there being no bridges over
large or small streams, nor any place for re-
freshments for man or horse. For over an
hour Mr. Reynolds hallooed and shouted for
some one to come over the river with boat
after him and the mail. lie rallied man at
last, after nearly perishing with stiff north
easter blowing a gale upon him. The horse
had to be left over night without shelter or
protection or food for twenty-four hours. The
next morning double team with wagon and a
man were waiting to be rowed across to st. Jo-
seph. He shared his horses feed with Mr.. Rey-
nolds shivering and half famished horse, and
this was all that the bearer Of Uncle Sans
dispatch had to eat until his arrival at Law
renee, on the same day, late in the evening
This was Mr.. Reynolds first and last trip with
the United States Mail.
On the fourth day of july 1886, the marriage
of MIR. Ephram Taylor with Miss Emehne Gibbs
was solemnized at Lawrence, under peculiar
circumstances. The time chosen for the cere-
mony was in the morning and a messenger
was dispatched to obtain the services OF Rev.
Mr.. Warner, who was not, as 1t was ascertained
authorized by the laws of Michigan to perform
marriage ceremonies at that time but who IN
formed the messenger that there was but one
person in Van Buren, County who could do 1t,
and that was Judge Monroe who was then on
his way to Schooicrsft. On receiving this IN
formation the messenger started in pursuit OF
the Official and overlook HIM somewhere in
Kalamazoo County and brought him back, where
they arrived at the dwelling OF the brides faith
err at nine o'clock in the evening and made the
.wo oue The scene of this marriage WAS in
double log house, occupied several years by
Mr.. Gibbs, on the rise Of ground just west OF
the steam MILL and probably the second mar
rage in Van Buren-Elijah Goble and Eliza
Title being the first. The bridal dress was OF
pure white muslin. and the next May day she
was clothed in the same garment for the burial
This was the first death in the town OF Law
renee.
Capt. Barrett's experience in pioneer life has
been a singuarly eventful one. He moved
from the sterile state of New Hampshire to
the wilds of the Paw Paw Valley, nearly forty
years ago. with wife and several small chill
dren. His first purchase of land WAS two eighty
acre lots near the village OF Paw Paw, before
there was framed house in Van Buren, Coun-
ty. He cut the first stick Of timber that was
ever cut on it, fenced it with his own hands and
the other. Capt Barrett believes that he has
broken more new ground than any other man
in the State OF Michigan, sometimes nearly q
thousand acres in year. His team consisted
Of nine yokes OF oxen, every one OF which knew
his name and quickened his steps when he was
particularly addressed by his appropriate title.
When one was found persistent in tagging, az
! ter repeated lessons with the CAD he was imlne-
diately sold and more tr actable animal sub
stituted, until the long train were the pride OF
| their owner, and each one had a vast amount
Of self-respect. TO this day the old mans eyes
glisten when, in the long ago remembrance,
that favorite staff Of well-trained oxen stand
before his minds eye. Their names are all yet
present to him, and, as we were very much
amused by his repeating them, We will give
them to the.reader and give HIM chance for q
smile. Mig and Duke Buck and Bright, Brir
and Berry, Jim and Larry, spot and Spark
Charley and Ned, Bill and 10, Sam and Ez
! ID hos ft1rp ad
out nights to feed and drink, their range waf
from six to eight miles from the lot where they
worked As soon as day streaked the cast Capt
Barrett mounted well trained pony and col
lected the oxen for their days work; forming
them in line they would go the nearest route
to where their Jokes lay in the field and each
would readily walk under his end OF the yoke
and walk steadily and patiently through TIT
newy-turned furrow. Some Of these oxen ht
put out to keep through the winter for thel
work and cut hay on the river bottom for thu
remainder. He built the first framed house
built In the County and sold 1t off from thu
ground to one OF the new settler for o yoke o
his favorite oxen and a few dollars in money
While he was building another house he moves
bis family into his horse-stable and then bull
another house from growing trees In just tw'
weeks to day, from the sale OF the first, an
his family were moved into it.
The subject of our sketch drove the frs
team that was driven through from Paw Pay
to Little Prairie Rondc and on his return
which was through the swamps west OF Lawtol
he was chased by wolves and panther III
wild screams of the latter rent the air in
frightful and discordant yell. Capt. Barrett
first speculation was buying barrel OF whisk
. for five York shillings gallon, and selling
out to poor erring humans for fifty cents
pint His profits were over one hundred do
lars to the barrel. We forbear comment o
this way of making money except to remln
|, the reader Of the old adage which speaks {
= getting money over the devils back" etc. Il
this case the adage has been fulfilled withor
putting too literal construction upon it.
His team was the first one driven throug
from Paw Paw TO Breedsville. to move Nj
Brown and family-Smith Browns father
!. whose christian name he does not recall. Tw
yooro after tb,a ba did some teaminp with