The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-02-14

/ Otuot fsihoeu PiojoSss cootsn8 cisan0ss Va s~~
county interested in their construction, con-
siderable time and money, might be enumerated
- the project to extend the Grand Trunk
to Paw Paw and st. Joseph, but notice Of
those actually constructed, wall suffice for this
sketch. The next road built In the county ID
the Paw Paw, connecting the village with the
Central ct Lawton. THIS company WAS organ
lied in 1857 and secured and graded . road bed
substantially the whole distance from Paw Paw
to o point on the Central, about midway be-
tween Lswton ana Mattawsn. A junction at
that point was refrsed by the managers OF the
Central, aud the work went 10 waste. So much
OF the labor expended upon. thus abortive I'M
derrakrn2 being paid for by "s.ore ORDERS" 1t
was nick named the "Cahco Branch" But in
1867, the company Was reorganized, and Paw
Paw township having in the meantime voted to
bond itself In aid VI the road II WAS constructed
and put In operation during the summer OF
1867. 1t was while the grading Of this road
was being done that the Marshal Of the village
Of Lawton, levied war against the laborers
employed upon it, and entered upon . vigorous
campaign. Those laborers we're mostly lnsh
and they look great delight in visiting the
village saloon after night fall. Their co.duct
there occanoned that ofacial great anxiety, and
made HIM watchful aud nervous long after his
accustomed bed time. 1t Was useless for him
to put iP an appearance, to demonstrate and
order tho fellows of and the shop closed for
with his approach
"The mirth and fun grew fast and furious"
And If he attempted by arrest or
other measures, TO enforce his orders,
these follows, however they we're minded
among themselves, united to discomfit him,
and by means OF their numbers and resolution
were uniformity successful. 1t happened at
this juncture that penpatetic vendor Of con-
demned U. S. muskets complete in equip
ments, Appeared in the village with goodly
supply Of those weapons. Our Marshal laid
his plans brilliant, comprehensive and easy OF
execution. He would capture, in bread day,
the whole notous gang and place them IN
durance vile" and sleep again, from sun to
sun, undlsturbed by their vageries. He ar
ranged with this vendor Of "small arms" for .
loan of the requisite number OF stand" and
then summoned "ths highest and the lowest "
OF those capable Of field duty within the village
aud after no little effort, succeeded in getting
into line some OF the younger members OF the
community emulous Of the exploits OF their
fathers in the war then recently closed. With
"fxed bayonets himself at their head . start
was made for the camp Of the maleoontsnts,
located about q half mule beyond the village
limits It WAS . struggling, halting column at
the best The Irshmen espying the approach
OF tho enemy accommodated, and discovering
the posse to be novices in the art Of war, and
judging from the fash OF bsyonets that no
cartridges had been issued, prepared them
selves with sods and stones and gave the Mar
shall and his forces such a "rattling welcome "
that the column was lnstantaneously and utter
ly demoralized. 1t broke and beat preciptal
retreat to the vllage-all except the Marshal
who, with heroic spirit, leveling his bayonet
Tor charge, shouted TO his men, "come on"
run EN- down." ''the bloody when q sod
hitting him in his open mouth, brought his
cheering cries to a sudden end, and throwing
HIM off his guard, he was disarmed and captured
Not one of his men had followed him, but
reaching the village they spread marvellous
tales Of the assault and repulse, the prowess
OF the Marshal and his valiant death. This
sent some OF the less war-like citizens to the
scene of the conflict. They found the Inundated
Marshal sound in wind and limb, but himself
instead OF the foe in "durance vile." In the
evening the mischevous Irishmen brought him
over to the saloon, where he was released with
out conditions. The last act in the affair was
"bill" presented by the peripatetc vendor OF
musketry 70 the railroad contractors for dam
ages done to the guns.
In 1877 the gusge OF this road was reduced
to three feet, in order to run it in connection
with division of the Toledo s. South Haven
road that season built between Paw Paw and
SAWiohCcs ioSothcA tuo tNo ioauo hoho
line nearly thirteen miles in length-being
the first narrow gauge road built in Michigan
depending wholly upon local business for sup |
port. The success of the enterprise occasioned
more than local interest.
In 1901, the Kalamazoo 4 South Haven
r. r. was Lard through the northern portion OF
the county. Most OF the townships on the
line voted aid to its construction, but only |
Pine Grove in this county has been compelled
to pay. The decision OF the Supreme Court
such bonds not having been an
nounced until after the delivery OF bonds Of
that town to the parties advancing the money
for the road. Several new towns sprang up
on the line OF this road, Kendall, Gobleville,
and others of lesser note. Also IN 1870 4, the
Chicago and Michigan Lake Shore r. r. Was
built through the western towns, much t. the
OF the villages of Hartford and
Bangor on ito route, and giving rise to the
village Of Grand Junction. At Bangor Blast
Furnace, the second in the county, for the
manufacture Of Pig iron, was located, followed