The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-04-07

only recourse left was to apply to my old
father in the East The application was
made, and The saw that by scraping to-
gether the earnings Of lifetime he could
help me out, and promised to take care
that he had home in his old age.'--
The message was sent back to his early
home, and shortly after the much needed
money was received and the land paid for,
taking perhaps al the old State-of- Maine
er had accumulated through life, thereby
securing home for both father and son.
We will pass a few years and take another
look ut this western home and family to-
day, and by calling at splendid white
house surrounded by fruit trees, not nine
miles from Augusta, you will find the
same father and son, and the sons wife
and family enjoying health, wealth, and
all the Injuries to be found in the West.
He has all the wealth necessary to make
him happy, and is carrying out that
pledge to the gray-headed father, to the
perfect satisfaction of all concerned.
"The above is only an illustration of the
trials and achievements of those who came
in early times. All had their trials and
hardships, none escaped"
GUSHING CLAIMANT.
In the Stevens Point Land District, at
point near the border Of Marquette was
disputed claim, over which there was
considerable controversy. One of the
claimants,,whose name was Williams, hav-
ing obtained possession, had built house,
and was living on the land in question:
This land lying in the section Of country
over which the "Court of Claims" before
mentioned, held jurisdiction, by common
consent Of the settlers in course of time,
came before these judges for settlement.
After hearing NIL the evidence and faith
fully investigating the case, it was decid-
ed that Williams was not the rightful
claimant, and that he should yield possess
sion at once. Without being expressed in
30 many words, it was tacitly understood
ii the decision was not complied with he
should be removed by force. Being u
somewhat stubborn man, and not disposed
to comply with decision given in such
manner, the settler kept on at his usual
business for few days, and snapped his
fingers at the ruling Of the Court Of Claims,
but justice never tires nor did the zeal OF
these pioneers, in defending the rights of
their companions. The case was a some
what aggravated one, Williams having
taken possession during necessary alb
sence Of former pre-emptor and a trial
was now in store for him, hardly looked
for. One night, after the family had re-
tired band Of masked men came to
the house and demanded admittance.-
They announced that they had come to
eject the family, that they wanted as little
trouble as possible, but that resistance
would be useless, as they were resolved
to perform the business they had come
upon.
Mrs. Williams was a spunky woman,
and having gone to bed, refused to get up
for the sake Of being turned out Of doors.
There was not much parley, tho doors
were forced and articles of furniture were
speedily though carefully removed, ev-
erything movable was set out, and finally
the bed with the woman in it, was seized
by four stalwart men, and carried out to
keep company with the rest. Finally the
windows and doors removed, and the
house set on fire. The scene was such as
no other times could have Produced
The wild woods around the burning build
ing were all aglow with light, the house.
hold goods piled in confusion, the masked
men on the one hand, and the homeless
family on the other. The woman nothing
daunted, never stirred, but her sharp eyes
searched the company to try and discover
something by which to identify the mask
ers. AS IL to render the scene more i'm
pressive, shower came up, and the rain
beat pitilessly on the unroofed family
One of the maskers, man named Bill
ings, in the kindness of his heart produc-
ed an umbrella, and held it over Mrs Will
liams to shelter her from the storm. That
act of kindness proved his overthrow.
Billings was gifted by nature with enorm-
GUS white eyebrows, popularity, which.
when once seen, were not likely soon to
be forgotten. These happened to pro-
trude above the mask which covered the
lower part of his face. and Mrs. Williams
looking up caught glimpse OF them, and
was inwardly triumphant, for now she
was able to identify one of tho number
There were .neighbors who might,or might
not have had hand in this affair, but
who, the removal being accomplished,
were willing to give the family shelter,
30 they did not suffer more than they
were thought to deserve. They did not
return to the claim but sought q home
elsewhere, and indeed no one would be
likely to court o second experience of this
kind, or to again set himself in opposition
to the determined will of these resolute
men.
It only remains to record the fate Of
our kind friend Billings. A few days of
ter the events narrated, he was arrested
and identified as being connected in the
riot. He was convicted and sentenced to
thirty days Imprisonment in the county
jail, that being about the lightest sentence
within the limits Of the law. AS soon as
the sentence was passed, tax was levied
upon thetsettlers, and two dollars per day
was paid to his family during his impris-
onment. The costs of the suit were also
Iofr ,aI ,,,t he