The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-03-26
Sstercstfng Pioneer Paper.
BY EDWIN JEROME

Edwin jerome OF Detroit, At the recent meet
ing of the State pioneer society, contributed
paper on incidents of the Black Hawk war and
the early survey OF the country.
THE BLACK HAWK WAR.
In October, 1881, Mr.. Jerome left Detroit
with surveying party composed Of John Null
let, surveyor, and Utter, Brink, and Peck for
that portion of Michigan territory lying west
Of lake Michigan, now the state Of Wisconsin.
Their outfit consisted OF a French pony team
and buffalo wagon to carry tent, camp equip
age, blankets, etc.
The first days march over a graded road
brought them to Ypsilanti, where they found
good fare, and chose the softest boards in the
bar-room floor for bed. The second day they
travelled over a worked road beyond the village
OF Saline. Then came turnpike jobbers, who
were clearing, ploughing, and scraping on the
newly laid out Chicago turnpike. They put up
at Clinton, where they had similar fare to that
gwen them the night previous at Ypsilanti.
Beyond Clinton the road was merely wagon
track or an Indian trail. They usually found
house or Indian traders hut to put up at, until
within few miles of the southeast corner OF
Lake Michigan. From this point there was
neither inhabitant nor road around the lake.
Travelling 40 miles upon the sand-washed shores
of the lake they camped one night upon the
beach. The next night they reached the far
famed city of Chicago. A terrible transform
was prevailing at the time. They put up IN the
U. 5. fort which was commanded by gener-
ous-hearted officer Besides the fort, the city
contained five or Blk log houses on French
claims all standing along the Chicago river.
Within a distance of three or four miles from
the lake the land was valued by its owners at
80 cents per acre.
A. one o. clock the next day the storm abated
and they were ferred across the Chicago river,
and waded in the water frequently knee deep,
about nine miles IN the direction of Napiers.
the last house on the outskirts of civilization.
They camped on a ridge without supper, OF a
tent, for want of wood or poles. The next day
they called on Captain Napier and obtained
one and half days rations.
On the thlrd day wearied by storms and
swollen streams, periling life each day in ford
ing streams, they reached Paw Paw grove, then
famous as the empty city OF Black Hawk. 1t
consisted Of numerous beautiful brch-bark
tents, splendidly adorned with native drawing,
among them the picture of the first Mississippi
steamer Mr.. Jerome had ever seen.
After leaving this delightful spot they missed
the trail which Napier had pointed out to them,
ana followed a circuitous route around the
south Of the big Winnebago swamps. They
stopped one night at log house, afterward
made historic by the murder OF its proprietor,
q Mr. Hall, and family also a neighbor and
famlly,-in all Is persons and the carrying
into captivity OF the Misses Hall, who were
subsequently ransomed by the government.
This act by the Indians lnaugurated and get in
full blaze the Black Hawk war of 1882.
They arrived at Galena in 20 days, The
survey was commenced and prosecuted two
days, when an extreme cold night froze the
prairie soil so deep that the requisite mounds
for landmarks could not be raised, and worl
was abandoned, to be resumed April /, 1882
Hon. Lucius Lyon was prosecuting a job OF
surveying from the Illinois state line north
ward and adjoining the fourth principal merid-
ian. The work OF the surveying party to which
Mr.. Jerome belonged was founded upon his
running east to the Indiana boundary line al
Sugar river at each tier Of townships. Mr.
Lyon left letter on the northeast corner post
OF the town, informing the Muet party of the
progress of his work, and also of the progress
Of the Indian war.
The day after the memorable Still-Man bat
Tie with Black Hawk, while the Mullet party
was crossing the Blue Mounds they met an
Indian half chef who had just arrived from the
Menominee camps with the details of the bat
tie. He stated the slain to be three Indians
and eleven whites, The long shaking OF hands
and the extreme cordially OF this Indian alarmed
Male; for the safety of his party, but he locked
the secret in his own breast until the next day.
They had just completed town corner when
Mullet, raising himself to his full height said,
- Boys 1 m going in; I'll not r1sk my scalp for
few paItry shillings." This laconic speech
was an electric shock to the whole company.
tar. jerome in describing his own sensations,
said that the hair OF his head then became as
porcupiue quilts, raising his hat in the air and
himself from to GROUND and the toy hi.
head became DIS SORE as a boil.
The Indian trail passed here from Galena to
For: Winnebago, which Mullet ran into on a
dog trot, followed by lis frightened men. At
distance OF five miles they reached Brigham's
The peaceful hamlet OF the day before was all
hustle, for large number of families had
gathered from the surrounding country to the
large lighthouse fort which was rapidly APP
proaching completion. A short distance further
on they met Governor Dodge, with so mounted
horsemen going to the Menominee camps to
have talk. All along the route to Galena
they found the settlers in the greatest excite
ment and making preparations to give their
red enemies warm welcome. At Galena the
town was picketed, and the greatest caution
observed.
Tue Blue Mound Menominee haf chief sent
nine of his tribe to slaughter the Mullet party,
aud killed two white men near their last land
mark. Mr.. Jerome said they remained in
Galena 20 days, and even during the fright the
good people Of the town found time for revel-
ry and homicide for while there he witnessed
the levee gwen By the Hon. Lucius Lyon that
secured his election as delegate to Congress,
by giving him the unanimous 600 votes Of the