, 1880-08-01
BYGONE DAYS.
st. Joseph, Michigan, in 1884 and
in 1880.
Heu Ar. John L. Wilson Got into Chicago Forty
sir Fears ago.

sir fears ago.
To the Editor Of Ihe Chicago Tribune.
| CHICAGO, July 26.-lntending during Il
summer to visit many Of the "settlements
that were around Chicago over forty veal
ago, methought I would cross the lake to S
Joe, after forty-six years. absence, and b
gin from that point. 1t was in the latter pal
OF April, 1884, that we landed at Detroit, an
took the ''stage" for Chicago via Nile:
The vehicle above named reseMbled the all
bulance OF 4 more recent date. The road t
1psilanti was
| 4 "C0RDURoY,"-
that Is, it was made of logs laid crossw1se,-
and the builder had taken diaboficai peas
ure, apparently, in putting little log insid
big one, all the way,-probablyw with yiey
of retaining immigration in Detroit, insteat
Of forwarding it westward. Pounded
almost to jelly, we seriously contemplated d
taking a return trip, so nearly prepared wer,
| we for the cemetery, and wishing to be buriet
within the bounds of civilization; but, OF
coming to the first little prairie (Bronson's,
believe), we became reconciied, and had nc
turn over with plow the stones OF thai
farming land.
The passengers were booked for Niles, a
the 1naii-letting was from Detroit to Chicago
'4three times a week." on horseback; but the
contractors had put on a stage-1ine to Niles
to carry passengers, and from thence west
ward they got along as best they could. To
wait whole week for chance to get a ride
to Michigan City was intolerable. with no
prospect Of getting beyond it except by walk
ing to Chicago.
WE WALKED IT
the succeeding spring, with the late Thomas
Church, from Michigan City, beating the
stage,-at which he was very much rejoiced.
Two other routes were open to us: to take
another "corduroy" to the mouth of the
St: Joe, distant TWENTY-FIVE miles: or to buy a
the mouth Of the river, 1fty.two miles. In
company with two old :. salts" we chose the
latter, and, purchasing black-walnut log,
followed out. Of Jacob Beeson, then. the
had no saiD.. The river was high, and on a
"bender, for in bent nearly all the way,
first to one side, and then to the other, max
BY land.
St: Joe was wee small place then, and
much afraid Of its big brother across the
water. containing at that time less than 500
inhabitants, outside Of the "gnrrisnn lit
has now 5o0,000). Three small schooners
piled across to carry passenger Only one
was on the other side,-
THE WESTWARD Ho,''
Capt. Gilbert. She had been New York
pilot-boat. Taking out her masts and ballast,
she had been brought through the Erie
Canal to do duty as above described. This
was the beginning of emigration by land and
water to Chicago in those days. Soon after
from Buffalo. This was long, long before
the day Of railroads
The wind was blowing almost gale for
several days after our arrival. There were
no piers then at St. Joseph or Chicago, and.
we had to bide our time when the little craft
could jump over the bar at the mouth Of the
river. We remained in the family Of John
+. Porter, who was the first warehouseman
there. Newberry tE Dole's Corner Water and
1g ons s sd Hasn my bsoae our
saltwater ducking:gun with us (and know
Ing how to use il, we, spent. the time
IN shooting ducks, of which there
nocst n9rnas e s hs9s d 1sdng and rG the @ 9ne
[nsula between the lake and river, then COW
cred with heavy timber, now occupied by |
beautiful residences, was alive with pigeons. !
The wind 1ulling somewhat, six Of US
CHARTERED THE rho" |
for. $50 to take US across,-all Of us good |
swimmers, as We thought we might need all |
80 - ~ ~ ssSAN t@t9
3ar: tseenhg doWn tne saals, 11le little cratt |
,o5 n aowm tne avef lqSt bounced over the
With the blue above:
And the blue below:
It was p. m. when we set ail,-the matches |
we're battened down, pilot-boat fashion; and !
We literally ran through the waves, not over
hem. The water was nearly ankle deep on |
ieek, and the scuppers we're put to theE ut
most capacity to carry Off the water.
She seemed to dare the elements 10 strife.
Aud walked the waters like a thing Of life.~
Anchorinc off the mouth of the river fit then
mptied at the foot of Madison sfreet> va
ame ashore in q small boat and ianded ut
Fort Dearborn.' From the river to Madi-
on street, on the east side of State. was m
rail fence. and from State IN Afadi |
on to the lake, the same. This was ttThe !
ies erVatlon," occupied by Government
rQops lto Keep the Indians ottl, and was
ultivated oy thenl IN all kinds or garden
ass" fassng the lone sentinel" at the
are, we came TO the fence, up one side and
[own the other OF which there was pair Of
teps: AZ tne 1ooC OF the outside one and
yer the S!ougn - was narrow board foot
r,ldge, Wlnch led to the Village Of Chicago
ne , remnants OF several Wab -saW-Ees