Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-10-15

1
are not to be mistaken. Most of your
early settlers have passed over the river;
their memory will ever be cherished by
the generation and their heroic deeds told
with enthusiasm to their childrens child
rem to perpetuate their memories. We
have assembled their memories TO per-
petuate.
1t was about four years ago that Gene
raj Bagley and myself were announced
rs the orators of the day at our annual
picnic in Genesee county. Ii was my first
effort before our people The General
spoke first and made very happy and
eloquent address IN his kind and gentle
manner. and while listening to his re-
marks with pleasure, the thought &C CURED
to me that | must speak to IA very great
disadvantage after the people had been
! listening To his eloquent remarks, but
was encouraged by a new thought that
! flashed over my mind that the people
would not expect as much from me a
they would from the General. and that
the incidents that | should relate that had
come under my own observation hap
pcncd before he was born, he being at
the time eighteen years younger than my.
self.
Little did think that should be the
recipient Of the same honors My ambi-
ton and prayers are that my admiuiStra-
ton may at least equal his in good works.
! II was nearly three years ago while travel
ING over the plains aud mouuslns of Col
orado and meditaiing on the mighty works
of nature that came across Chicago
paper announcing the death of my warm
and personal friend aud one that our
people delighted To hear. General Bl.ley
Nv mind was nlled with sadness and sor-
row, though il wa not unexpected,
Now, lies and gentlemen, | will re-
late to you some small part of my early
experience in coming in and makiHg my
permenent home in this state. My father
and mother were among the early pho.
neers of weston New York, having
settled on new farm when | was one
year old, being the eldest of a family of
ten children, and in 1886, when twenty one
years old, | left the paternal roof to seek
my fortune in the wilds of Michigan with
the blessings of kind parents, brothers and
sisters With my grip-sack in my hand
containing all my worldly goods and one
! hpn.lraI I,llaps LaciHag N my
purse. went on foot to Rochester, dis
lance of 33 miles and there | took passage
on Il canal boat for Buffalo. The Erie
canal at that time was considered the
most rapid mode of travelling making
about sixty miles in twenty -four hours.
The cabin of the boat was filled with
sleeping berths, not ike our Pullman
cars, but more like those we have in our
numbering and mining camps. | arrived
in Buffalo, the only shipping point for
the west at that time for the boat United
States, bound for Detroit. aud shipped for
that place. The weather being stormy
the boat stopped at every port, the trip
J became very long and tiresome one, and
wien the boat landed at Toledo | left,
taking new road through heavy timber
ed woods 10 Adrian, having killed two
ratlesnakeS on the road. There ] found
a log bridge over the river, with five or
six houses made of the same material.
After leaving Adrian | took my way to
Jonesville, then small town on the Chi
cage road. | passed over new road
through the woods, with here and there n
settler scattered along. travelling until
near night. Having become footsore aud
very tired | stopped where everything
looked comfortable and the people just
making a start for their future home and
asked for lodging and supper ! was re-
/ fused because 1t was not convenient, |
was then bashful boy, had plenty of
money 10 pay my way and from the polite
and humble manner IN which presented
myself ! did not expect to be refused A
little discouraged | walked on until
afta dark, called al the fifth house be-
fore got shelter for the night, all telling
me that could get accommodations at the
next house, that was but short distance
ahead. was at last Hospitality entertain
ed 10y young couple that believe felt
the better for the kindness they had
shown me- ! have never forgotten 10
thank them whenever think of the cir
cumstance. II was then and there that
made solemn vow that If had home
and it was for that purpose had come to
this wilderness country as 1t then was
that no wayfaring man should ever call
ut my door and he turned away. and
have faithfully kept that vow. Late in
the afternoon of the next day | arrived at
an uncle's in the western part of Jackson
county, and stayed there week, but find