The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-06-30

made In lS43 with Great Britain more OF
our territory, lying to the extreme north,
was taken from us and given to England,
in the interest of peace, and again we
submitted without a murmur
In the year 1888 settlements first began
at Prairie du Chem, Wisconsin, and after
wards, perhaps as early as 1900 or 1905,
some few settlements were made in the
southwestern part of the state by persons
attracted by the lead mines in hat Sec
ton.
But it is said that the Sank OF Black
Hawk war of 1882, did more than any
thing else to turn the attention Of emf
grants and others TO this country. 1t
broaght it into general notice throughout
the whole United States and abroad.
From this time it began to settle rapidly,
so that in 1886 enough people from the
states settled here to justify its ~organiza-
ton into a territorial government, which
was done by act of congress, approved
April 26, 1886. On the 3D. of July follow
ing the people then in Wisconsin began to
govern themselves.
Under the territorial system of govern
ment the people were in some sense sub
oidinated to the congress of the United
States. Although their career had been
n of unparalleled success, it is indisputa-
BILE that by this time they had become
FESTIVE and uneasy, under the. seeming
vassalage of the situation, so that every
body expressed the wish to form for them
selves a constitution, and be admitted in
to the Union as an independent state, OF,
as we expressed it at that time, ga SOW
ereign, independent state" The legisla-
ture, therefore, needing this general pub
lie sentiment, passed a law on the 31st Of
January, 1916, providing for a convention
and for the election Of delegates to form a
constitution. Delegates were elected,
and on the 9Th day of October of the same
year, they assembled at the capitol in
Madison and proceeded at once to the dis
charge of that duty. This brings us to a
very remarkable period in the history of
Wisconsin. 1t is proper to say that this
convention Of 1916 was composed of some
Of the oldest settlers of the territory, and
some of the ablest men that have ever
taken a part in the public affairs of Wis
cousin.
Many of our associates who met with
us on that bright October day, away back
in 1916, and who labored with us through
the ~sixty-two days that we were engaged
in tryingto make a constitution for the
protection of the rights and liberties Of
the people Of Wisconsin-one that would
meet the approval of those who had dele
gated us to perform that duty-have
passed to IN honorable grave, and 1 am
proud to say that 1 do not know of one,
either living or dead, of either convention,
who has dishonored the good name he de-
servedly won.
The state, as we have seen, has had a
varied fortune and a singular history, but
ever since its organization into a territory,
in 1886, it has advanced in rapid strides,
with uninterrupted and unparalleled pros
to its present acknowledged high
position among the states of the Union.
of its duties to the general govern
ment in every emergency have been hon.
and faithfully performed. The
of its citizens have been scrupu-
protected by a fair and able admin
istration OF justice.
DAvID ATWOOD AND H. A. TENNEY ON PIo-
NEER TIMES.
1t is probable that the population west
Of Lake Michigan in 1920 numbered about
two hundred families; in 1880 they had
increased to about five hundred; in 1910
10 about nine thousand, and in 1913 to
about forty thousand. These may be
properly classed as the pioneers, although
many thousands speedily following in a
years may not appropriately DO
in the same category, so far as
such a record is concerned. Of all these
years survivors may still be found. The
territorial era IA marked by no pro-
vision to preserve genealogical evidence
'or future use. 1t required no birth
its marriages were in the main
nnrecorded, and as for deaths, even the
cemeteries have for the most part been
obliterated. But little remains except
what each family has recorded for its own
use, OF the press, in a casual manner.
this would be of value; diff
it is unavailable for use.
vi VIZ AoICiSh luhiiBidtiOh ~ Ia OOh-
,eived that the early-comers generally
nave some record of their ancestry be-
yond the sea; they know the ship that
brought them over, the date, place OF
settlement, and incidents that have fol-
owed. II has occurred to us to urge up
IN our editorial brethren, and perhaps the
clergy Of all denominations would assist,
% awaken attention to the subject; to
,dvise pioneer families, either as persons
II by neighborhoods, to compile and print
he family record, SO that each member
nay have copies, and that one be sent to
he historical society for preservation.
The cost of printing would be very small,
ind the product, if generally adopted, in
valuable in the future. When the north
vest has reached its centennial year,
about the year 194S, family records Of
times, so little thought of now,
will be esteemed of great and permanent
value. The ancestry of a new nation is
,ver a matter of high interest to sue
generations. The error most like