The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-12-11
EsIMCT COUNTY.
Choppins aud Raising Bes'

Crhe editor OF the Petoskey Demo
crat gives the following account Of his
visit among the Hillsdsleites who have
recently settled in Emmett county
Their friends hereabouts will be glad
TO hear from them.)
Mr.. Pat Burns, Of Pleasantview
township, decided TO have a chopping
bee. and thinking that we were an ex-
cellent chopper, sent rs an invitation
TO attend, and Of course we accepted,
and in company with our wife who was
mounted on a very fine pony, while we
were mounted on a noble steed that re-
minded us OF the horse that Mark
Twain rode in his travels in the Holy
Land, which he named Baalbec. We
struck into the woods, and our "devil'
thought we presented the appearance
of Napoleon crossing the Alps" when
We left the city of Petoskey.
We halted to rest AZ the residence of
A. l.. Hathaway, n short time, then
pursued our journey through the
woods until Wa brought up at the resi-
dence of Mr.. A. j. Hart in the 8. e.
corner Of Pleasantyiew, where we par
took of dinner and then pursued our
way TO Mr.. Burns, where we found
about twenty men at work chopping
down trees, which were falling very
rapidly in all directions. We enjoyed
ourselves hugely in seeing those trees
coming down, making n hole 10 let the
sunlight into those old woods and re-
duce that fertile land to n state Of cul
I,,N -, q -,
girls and boys gathdted from the sur
rounding country. and the ''sole" stir
ring strains of two violins were heard,
then the fun began in earnest, and a
pleasanter party, or more social, well
behaved company We have never at
tended than this one. And wa.nny
say right here that we doubt il Sere
is a county in the State of Michigan
that has as high a grade of intelligence
among its residents, according 10 its
population. as can be found in Emmett
county. Here at this gathering in the
woods, where two years ago the sound
of an ak had never been heard, we
found gentlemen and ladies who would
do honor TO any parlor, or any society
ia the land, which certainly is contrary
ID what our ideas OF new country
were, when we came into this county,
but we are depressing.
We must not forget the excellent re-
freshments for the ''inner man" set be-
fore US, as we are good at that, il we
amt much on the chop, and we did
credit to our reputation at this time,
aud Judging 10y what we saw during
that trip mp in that country at this
time, there is no expectation OF a fam
ine in that section this winter.
Friday there was TO be house rails
ing on piece Of land on Sec. ! Town
35 north OF Range west, just located
by Mr.. Phillips, and we were invited
10 attend and see log house go up,
and 1t being our first experience in that
direction, we enjoyed IL very much,
and a person wonld hardly have
thought that many of those boys were
dancing into the I'VE sma' ours" the
night before. to have seen some of
their antics. while congregated at this
place the next day. We partook Of
dinner at the residence OF Mr.. l.. ID.
Post on Section 80 Pleasantview. where
we found that Mr.. Post has not been
idle since he has been in the woods.
out has a fine clearing and under good
cultivation, where he raised good crops
last season, and expects to clear more
land before spring, and have into crops
next season.
On cur return home we took differ
ent route, and came west on the Town
Line between Little Traverse and
Pleasant View, which we had no diff
Guilty in following by the aid Of the
compass until we came 10 road run
ming south TO the State road. which
brought as 10y the residences OF Will
son, Converse and others with whom
we have not the pleasure OF an acquain-
tsnce. We stopped 10 rest at Mr.. Will
sons, and looked over his clearing,
which We found 10 be large one when
we take in consideration the short time
he has been there. He showed us a
stack OF oats and a stack Of wheat,
which he has not thrashed yet, also a
corn crib with about $50 bushels OF as
good corn as we care to see, both dent
and the smaller kinds.
On this trip we formed the acquaint-
ancs Of Col. Lusk, Mr.. Boynton, Mr..
Deitz and others, and we hope to be
able TO renew that acquaintance at no
distant day, and although we may diff
er with some OF them politically, we
DO not differ In the general welfare and
prosperity Of this, our future home,
Emmett county.