Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1873-07-22
The COuntcrfcitcr.
AN EVENT IN THE EARLY SET
ELEMENT OF MICHIGAN.


The first settlements along the
Grand River, in Michigan were
made in 1S34-55. In the latter
year party of pioneers, consist
ing of four families, who were in
search of new homes in the then
denominated region the Gar
den of the West" and who had
penetrated the forests and made
their way through tho oak open
ins of the country for nearly two
hundred miles beyond the settle
ments, campod one afternoon on
the sloping banks of swift run
ming stream, which proved to be
Grand River,-one of the princi-
pal rivers of the "Peninsular State"
flowing west and omptying into
Lake Michigan, and which now
holds the precedence in size and
Importance, as well as in the beauty
and fertility of the country through
which it runs.
They are knowing" with their
families and their household goods
the lares and pcnates around which
clustered all the memories and joys
of home. 1t was in the early sum
mer, and the fragrance and beauty
Of thousand new and strange
| flowers and shrubs charmed the
senses of the tired travellers. The
covered wagons were drawn up in
convenient proximity for the nights
bivouac, and the hungry cattle had
been tethercrd to satiate them
selves on the fresh and uncroppet
herbage. Some of the younger
members of the company had ex.
tempoiized angling outfits, and re-
paired the river to secure q "mcss'
Of fresh fish for the evening meal.
The company supposed they
were so far beyond the settlements
that no white man had ever before
set eyes upon the spot around
which clustered so many beauties,
and which they had already deter
mined to select for their home. Nc
fairer spot in the wilderness could
be found. The land was rich and
would be easily brought under cul-
tivation. The evening meal had
been prepared and spread upon
the green turf, and the several
members of the party was seated
on the grass and ready to enjoy
the repast, when they were some
what surprised by the approach OF
a stranger who rather unceremoni-
ously stepped into the circle. The
intruder was dressed in the Indian
garb. A large, gaudily-colorcd
bandanna was wrapped around his
head, and his blanket hunting
coat, was held together by huge
belt of wampum. His buclsfir
leggings and moccasins were pro.
fusely decorated with beads and
the colored quills of the porcu.
pine. He would have passed for 9
rather formidable savage, had not
physiognomye betrayed him. There
was no mistaling the sinister-lool1-
ing American countenance, though
it was sun-burned and tanned 10y
exposure to almost the color of 9
genuine savage.
"Good evcnin, strangers" said
he, without any attempt at con.
ccaling his race, "ye pear to be
joyin, yourselves"
"Ya'as," says Deacon Beers, who
from force of habit, was generally
the self-constituted spokesman OF
the little company on such occas-
ions, "the Lord has scattered his
blessings around here with such q
lavish hand that only infidcls could
help enjoying themselves"
"Wa'al' answered the new conner,
81 don't set much store by scatter
ed blcssin's and sich like, but when
you come right down to good hunt
in and fishin,' / calc'late these Dig
gins aint to be beat. But whar
yer goin' to anyway, and whar dye
come froml"
1--WE have come many weary
miles, in search of just such q pic
ture of paradise as this, the Lord
willing for good, and we shall go
no further" answered tho Deacon.
The hunters brow had been
growing darker during this reply
of Deacon Beers and his coun-