The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1878-12-03

the former in 1906, and the latter in
1903; aud afterwards moved to Genes
see county. Here they first met and
their acquaintance ripeDed into a mar
riage engagement. In 1927 Sally Har-
per, with her father and brothers, NOV
ed TO Wayne county, in the Territory
of Michigan, and in 1927 Chauncey
Reynolds also came to Michigan, aud
both have been residents Of this State
since that time. They were united in
marriage on the 30th day of October,
1898. by William Birtow, Esq. ard
lived in the township Of Plymouth.
Wayne county until December 1886,
when they removed to Lyons, Ionia
county. For six mouths in their Plym-
outh home they "held the frontier" aud
their westward move To the Graud River
Valley took them again into a locality
where they were among the very earl
lest settlers.
Commencing here with limited means
in an unbroken wilderness, without
roads, markets, schools or churches,
the battle Of life was vigorously fought
for more than a quarter of a century.
Something of the magnitude of their
life work eau be realized when it is
known that to the original humble pur-
chase, adjoining lands had been added
until The home farm numbered about
400 acres. aud that il was well stocked
and under high state Of cultivation.
Being covered with heavy timber this
was task not so easily accomplished.
During all these pioneer years Mr..
Reynolds, with his great physical
strength and almost iron constitution,
bringing his mechanical skill into prac.
/ tice, could move more timber and sc-
complish more in the logging fallow
/ than any man he ever met. He always
/ kept some masterly team with which he
could move every thing that could he
/ moved by such process, aud was the sc-
I knowledged champion for many miles
around. Before the days of reaper
and mowers he always expected To-
cradle from three 20 FIVE acres of the
heaviest grain per day, and cut not less
/ han from three TO four acres of grass
/ on new land between the gray II dawn
and the dropping of the evening cur
/ tains.
For several years there were NO
horses in all that region. and because
/ he owned the FIRST team he furnished
the horse power for milling, corn-plow-
ing. etc, for a large neighborhood 49,
/ Among the strange things that memory
/ calls up il the fact that from the first
/ for several years the produce Of that
country was taken by oxen IN Detroit.
a distance OF 80 miles east and 20 miles
south, or about l30 miles 10y the most
direct route; aud the family provisions
and supplies brought back. Going
/ l30 miles with an ox-tNam, which re-.
quired about Is days at best. is so diff
| ferent from the experiences Of these
latter days that il can scarcely be he
/ lieved. Times were different then. No
such thing "a ten hours for days work
/ had ever been heard Of. 1t was nearer
I twenty hours Of solid, hard service. In
/ the winter came the choppiDg Of the
uew-fallow, getting mp the coming
summers wood, hauling saw-logs t.
mill, treading out on the threshing
\ hDor all the wheat, oats, rye and barley
I raised the previous year; aud utilizing
| the long evenings by building sleds,
making ox-yokes, wooden ploWs, shei-
! ling corr, and attending the parirg
\ bees, etc In the summer il is not too
much to say that Chauucey Reynolds
/ was never satisfied uutil he had accom-
/ plisad two days work ia one, and sue
ceeded as nearly as possible. Iu getting
\ "a corresponding amount out of every
/ one under his control.
/ In early life Mr.. L. had lcarnel the
\ carpenters trade, which, for mauy years
he put into practical use. not only ia
I the construction Of his own buildings.
4 but in binding many Il the best frame
/ structures, both in Wayne aud Ionis
. unties. Though ho had no appren.
/ ticeship as "A dentist vet the necessity
seemed 80 great for somebody TO ex-
tract teeth that he purchased the nee
cssary outfit, and he says that il seems
/ curious To remember that for many
years he was called upon from all the
/ surrounding cOuntry-many walking
eight or ten miles-for the application
/ IF his turnkeys.
Mr.. REYNOLDS was also one Of the
/ pioneer Free Baptist ministers 81 the
\ State. In addition tO planning and
executing the work Of the farm during
/ the week, he had the pastoral care Of
several churches aud often rode on
! horseback from l5 Ia 30 miles ON Sat
urlay. and after preaching twice on
/ Sabbath returned on Sabbath evening
/ aud took charge of the farm again on
/ Monday morning. He was often call
/ I'd from the field To- some point within
/ A radius 81 20 miles ~ preach fuuer.
| Al sermon, aud on accouut Il his min
/ isterial responsibility lie was now and
then invited To perform the marriage
/ ceremony.
1t was because Of his responsibility
in representing the Grand River Quar-
terly meeting in the Conference of the
Michigan Yearly Meeting that he par
ticipated in 1874, in the original action
winch founded Michigan Central Col.
lege" at Spring Arbor. and which was
removed here and became Hillsdal,
College lie was a trustee for several
years Of the former and for the last 20
wears has been trustee Of the latter.
and il is little enough TO say that IL
has been a chief object Of interest with
him for more than one-third Of CEN
tury.
But IL is not 10 be forgotten that du-
ring all these 90 years he had both n
willing aud competent helpmate. She
met the responsibilities which fell To-
her lot with equal energy aud forti-
tude. Her mother having died when
sha was but four years of age, aud she
having been an only daughter, she ear
ly learned 10 care for her fathers fsmi.
ly which was comprised Of her father
and four brothers. Having had this
school of experience she readily as
snmed the duties 81 her own family. -
Her own father preferred a home with
her, aud in due course OF time her hus-
bands father was taken into the fami-
ly, where both lived aud received con-
slant care during their declining years
until their death, which was az the ripe
old age Of - and s6 years Their own
family numbered eleven children which
together with the fathers, aud the hir-
ed help in the house and on the farm,
made a family numbering ~ or 30
members. OF the eleven children nine
we're reared 20 manhood aud woman.
hood, and the youngest Of their own
children having been born before the