The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-03-31
PIONEER LIFE
IN The
sNORTH-W EST.



The territory comprising the States of
( Wisconsin. Minnesota and Northern Iowa,
are commonly known by their inhabitants
as the ~Great North West" Their set
Element IL Of comparatively recent date,
and has history peculiarly its own
These States though yet new, are fast as
summing the dignity and assurance Of mid
die age, and are already looking upon
the newer and moro Western States and
Territories as Juveniles. Yet but few
years have passed since the tide Of emf
grafton, which is ever toward the setting
sun, was drifting to this North West, and
the wilderness was beginning to yield
homes to white men, in place Of being the
hunting grounds of wild and rowing tribes
Of Indians.
There are many "reminiscences of pio-
necr life in these now prosperous States,
which, told around comfortable and even
luxurious tresides, sound like the telling
Of dream, or like the pages Of some inn
probable romance. The early settlers are
fast passing away, and in the rapid march
of the times, the early days, with their
hard struggles, their privations, their
quaint legends, and withal, their mirth
and jollity, are being rapidly forgotten
In the hope of rescuing from oblivion, if
for but brief time, some of these memo
ries, these sketches were penned.
AS a prelude to graver and sadder tales
that may follow, / will try and give de-
scription of
WEDDING AT AN EARLY DAY.
1t is not more than twenty-five or thirty
years since the rich pineries of the Chip
pewa, in Wisconsin, drew scores of young
men from the older settled portions of the
country, to work out their fortunes in
then almost unbroken wilderness. A few
venturesome spirits brought their families
and settled here, and now and then fair
white maiden came along, or, it may be,
that in other regions, she would have been
considered only passably fair, but here
with only dusky maidens for her rivals,
the few pale-f faced girls had no lack of adj
mirers, or of suitors for their hearts and
hands
In those days there carae from civilized
regions, family having in their care an
adopted daughter called Mary. Though
she lived in a log cabin and wore moccasins,S
no city belle could have asked for lovers
more numerous or more ardent. At last
after as many difficulties as would furnish
a modern novelist with dozen thrilling
chapters, she was won by a young man
whose name we will call Jim, "for Short"
(shortness of names being n prevailing
characteristic of the early pioneers) and
the twain were anxious to become one
At the risk of offending some who would
like to hear of the courtship, l will pass
at once to the wedding. Avoiding! How
could one be had when no minister had
yet found his way there, and in all that
region no officer of the law was known?
At last, on learning OF the difficulty, q
queer chap, named Jack b., announced
himself competent Of performing the GER
emony. Being dnly prepared, (the princi-
pal part Of which preparation consisted in
providing that indispensable accompani-
lnent of pioneer life a jug Of whisky,) the
questions and responses, as "Will you
take this woman to be your lawfully we'd
ded wifea" "will you take this man to
be your lawfully welded husbandG' ETC.,
were gone through satisfactorily, when
the presiding officer announced: "That
according to the laws which ought to be,
I now pronounce you man and wife-and
what God Almighty and Jack b. has
joined together, let no man put asunder,
and now pass that jug Of whisky" The
latter part of the injunction was speedily
obeyed and all hands partook, even the
bride, in spite of all remonstrances, being
forced to place the fiery fluid to her lips.
In this wild manner was the first marriage
celebrated. A year later Justice II the
Peace was elected at place seventy-fve
miles further down the river, and this
couple, in company with several others on
like errand journeyed thither, and we're
lawfully married. 1t may be well to add
that this couple lived happily together for
many years, enduring many Of the hard
ships incident to pioneer life, that the hus-
band died at middle age, and his faithful
wife soon followed him. Their children
grew up and were married, experiencing
none of the difficulties with which the pa
rents had to contend. They are living in
the same vicinity, but what is now thick
~ settled country, enjoying all the bene-
fits of a civilization forwhich the pioneers
paved the way.
BRIEF WEDDING CEREMONY.
1t is related as fact that in early days
a hardy backwoodsman was elected JUS
tice Of the Peace. He was accredited to
know more of hunting, fishing and trap
ping than of the law, but being deemed
Z honest, and in lack of better material he
was elected to the Office. His statute-book
had not yet arrived, when an anxious
couple visited his house for the purpose
of being married. In vain he plead igno-
rance of any knowledge of the wedding
ceremony. They would not take "no' for
an answer swell, then, will do the best
! cam" said the officer, and the couple
stood up before him. There the wits Of
the backwoodsman forsook him, and he
tried in vain to recall some words that he
had heard on like occasions. At last in
aboo,. 6oe,,orotfoy, bo bl,,rfaI ont. ssToka