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

but also in the home of an unfortunate
neighbor. The pioneer woman was al
ways busy, generally cheerful, and always
to he depended on in times Of trial. .As brave
ae modest, they turned back from no diff
Guilty, they feared no danger. AS modest
ne brave, they shrank from having their
names and deeds written for the public
The names of but few women appear in
orr histories of Wisconsin, and then only
a casual mention, as Of some one who was
the first white woman to settle in some
place or some few words of that kind
And in truth there was not much to tell.
The quiet life of daily toll and self-sacri-
fee, was not the kind of which histories
are made, but rather the life that lives in
the grateful memories of those who knew
them.
In speech before an old settlers meet
ing in Walworth county, Hon. G. II. Baker
pays tho following tribute to woman,which
although it has found place in Tuttle's
History Of Wisconsin, is so appropriate
and true to the life, that it will bear to re-
print here.
Dub Wuhl, OIl CCnllducS III bHc lllc Dut-
ties in the Wilderness that was, what Of
our companions the scOncn9
"Most of them had been delicately
reared, and were accustomed to the lux
uries and refnements Of cultivated socie-
ty; and most Of all had good homes with
the necessaries and conveniencies of life
in abundance, and were surrounded by
L: - Iaf. w. 1,
they had been bred; to. all these they
were strongly attached. But these ties
were sundered, these homes were left be-
hind, when after the last trunk was
packed, and the last farewell was sadly
uttered they set their faces sadly west
ward for q new life and a new home, they
knew it must be among strangers. They
shared with us the trial of the journey,
the weary miles of sunshine, and storm
as we journeyed on and onward. They
partook with us the coarse fare and
rude accommodation of the wagon and
wayside, the canal boat and the steamer,
the log tavern and the bivouac under the
open heaven, all this they encountered
without murmuring, and cheerfully. And
it may be in the cold storm or driving
mist and chilly winds that cut to the bone,
they took their departure from Chicago or
Milwaukee, the last outpost Of civilization,
over these low lonely prairies which sur
rounded the one, or through the gloomy
forest, which enveloped the other over
the dismal roads, beset with roots or
"a x.,;tbout o,rr IF cult;ya4;o,, m, h,,
man habitation, then it was, the hour Of
bitter trial came to their hearts then it
was that amid their loneliness, and utter
heart desolation the dear homes and kim
dred they had left, rose up before them,
and through the tears they look down up
on the little ones who cling to them. But
not murmur, not word of complaint or
regret escaped them. Tho feelings too
deep for utterance, which swelled within
them, were smothered in their bosoms.-
When we at last, (some later, some carlier)
had found place where to make a home
in these pleasant groves and prairies,
pleasant to us men; for here there were
herds of bounding deer, and flocks of wild
fowl. the wolf and sand-hill crane, and
game large and small to give us sport
The lakes and streams abounded in fish,
and we could take them at our will. The
country was all open and free to roam
over, rs one great park. There was .ex-
element for us in oil this; suited to our
rougher natures and coarser tastes. We
could roam and fish or hunt. as we
pleased, amid the freshness and beauties
of nature. But how was it with our
wivesi From all these they were exclud-
ed. They were shut up with their chill
dren in log cabins, when they were FORUM
ate enough to get them, rude huts without
floors often, and not unfrequently without
doors and windows, while the cold fierce
winds Of dark December whistled through
I'm. Frequently they were covered with
ks fastened with poles, between which
tho stars at night looked down upon the
faithful mother and her sleeping infants,
here in one small room, filed perhaps with
smoke; without furniture, except little of
the rudest kind; rough slab stools, an
equally rough table, and bedstead, if any,
nude Of poles fastened into the house.
without kitchen utensils, save perhaps q
pNhiot ehu d HyiiB pln,ueetitute Vi CroCh-
ery. and with little tin-ware. thew were
called upon to do unaidcd, the duties of a
housewife. With these conveniences and
these surroundings, they took upon them
for weeks and months, and even for years
the burdens of their households, in con-
tinued struggle with hindrances and per-
plexities. These were the heroic women
to whom our hearts did homage; and
should fail in my duty at this time il in
the roll call of worthy and honorable
names they should not be remembered
And all honor to these pioneer women,
say we."
We hope to be able to give the deeds
of some of these noble women, ere we have
done with these sketches.
LOST IN THE WOODS
Two boys, whom we will call Willie and
Johnnie, lived with their parents, in a
wild, unsettled region in the Northeast
ern part of Iowa. Willie was aged nine
years, an active, self-reliant boy, and
Johnnie was seven years old, large for his