The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-02-14
AxsTORICaL skETCH or I.7.N
BURE.N- COU.vTL.
By GEO. W. LAYTON.

"~fPoAe vas, ~ al oofly uhy reSuiAtcu
by law. The old Territorial law enacts, " That
every township OF fifty or more householders
shall DO provided with good school master of
good morals, to teach children to read and
write, and to instruct them In English or
French language, % well as in arithmetic, or
biography and decent behavior" Ii also pro-
vides that School inspectors should be elected
who should examine the teachers and give
them certificates OF qualification to teach %
well as to visit the schools and supervise their
management. A we'll preserved anecdote OF
the times, will not be smiss here. In Pine
Grove township, WIN. Adair being considered .
scholar was chosen one OF the School In
spectors, aud was the only one OF the board
that quslifed-and he had very crude ideas
OF the duties he was to perform. One morn
ing shortly after his election, while Billy was
at work In his saw mil, it WAS announced that
ayoung lady Was at the house, who wanted to
see him. En- said Billy, "for what? p" To
be examined for Q certificate to teach school.
was the reply. Billy looks aghast, and logged
ly turned to his work. "Teli her to kim agin,"
said he. No, was the reply, you are sworn in
and must examine her now. Billy hesitated,
but finally stripped of his wAmpus, washed
and shaved himself, combed bis bushy, neg
leeted hair, and getting into his best clothes
and new moccasins, presented himself before
the applicant. "You are Mr.. Adair, the School
Inspector, began the young lady" 'Indads,
mum" said Billy, reaching up and pulling at
tee Gov lick that graced the top OF his head
IL have come to be examined for . certificate
to teach school," continued the lady. Ser
t6cate," echoed Billy. eyes SIR" returned
the lady made 1t be a papers, vrit'n,'
groaped Billy. Il think 1T should be-, said
she. ken ye rite" asked Billy. Eyes SIR
she replied. II must certify ye KEN" CURED
he. The lady nodded assent. "will, them"
said Billy, ''jest ye rite it out-the surtiHcate-
and let me see You do it," The applicant wrote
what she deemed to be certificate. "Rsds it
il ye will said Billy, authoritativsly. She
complied Now" said Billy, "let me see 20
write William Adair on 1t, il ye phase" The
lady hesitated but finally did as he directed.
Now" said Billy, as II relieved Of q great
burden "Will ye take that as yer surtincate
and 80 yer way?" "No." said the lady, THAT
will not do-you must sign it, or it will do me
no gcod-they will dispute it." They will"
said Billy, swelling with natural resolution,
"let me see the mon and Ill tache him better
manners" But the young lady persisted, and
Billy finally set to work to write his name.
commencing well at the left hand to have
abundant room, he spelled w. ADAIR, in
letters that nearly obliterated the finer CALI
graphy OF his petitioner. But he would baye
much preferred she had asked him to tackle
The largest wildwood in that section, or thrash
school house full Of doubters OF the regu-
larty OF his certificate. 1t was the only one
Billy ever gRve-it served we'll its purpose
he directly after resigned his Office The de-
velopment of schools in the county has been
rapid, and always towards the highest proficiency
There are now seven union or graded school
districts, and the single districts have generally
excellent houses built and maintained with
high degree OF culture and taste.
The Indians which inhabited the county be-
fore the advent of white men, belonged to the
Miamis, who were expelled by the Pottawato-
mics. The latter came from the north, being
impelled by the Menomimes, courageous aud
powerful tribe. The Ottawas also seem to
had Ia
they moved west OF the Mississippi. Families
OF both tribes, Pottowatomes and Ottowas,
even now linger in the coanty, claiming an
"inalienable right" TO possess the fisheries,
The huckleberry and cranberry swamps, and
monopoly Of the basket business He who
meets these Native Americans" fresh from
reading Cambell's "Gertude OF Wyoming" has
descended high hill with Wild and startling
prospects to dirty swamp, from which he
draws back, refusing to enter. There are some
traces Of q race older than the Indian tribes
Known to white men found within the county,
but they are OF httls value as compared with |
those found in ether seclione.
In 1886, stage hne was in operation between
KALAMAZOO and st. Joseph. As this line fol- |
lowed the Territorial road by the way OF Law
renee, 1t passed through the center OF the
county, and distributed the mail and passen-
gers with considerable regularity to the differ
ent settlements, and until the construction OF |
the Michigan Central westward from Kalams-
ZOO, this line was the main reliance for out
ward communication. From Kalamazoo, west |
ward, several routes we're surveyed for the
Central Railroad. One nearly on the south |
line OF the county, which was opposed by the
settlers, for reasons that appeared then of
great Importance, among which that oats would
bs . drug in market, a. railroads would do |
away with horses. This seems q singular srgu-
ment to be advanced by men who, in those
times, were often compelled to draw their
wheat to st. Joseph with teams, occupying
several days on the trip, and take their pay
out OF the store and bring oil they got out of
the store for 1t, back in hat, unless they took
barrel OF salt. These men lived to see them-
selves mazda waalthv thrcn thar rroxss,,ttv