Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-01-01
Early Gratiot County Days

We take from the Ithaca Journal portions
OF a letter writton for that paper by Grin A.
isham, concerning the early days Of Gratiot
County.
over 2h years ago. while youth IN my teens
was called upon as witness % attend circuit
court, then held in the now thriving village of
Alma that being temporarily the county scat.
The court was cid in a schoohouse in the
township OF Pine River on the corner where
now stands the magnificent Wright House.
The only hotel in the place AT that time was a
large log building KEEP by Mr.. Holiday, more
famiiariy known az BLACK Hawk" His
place was full 10 overlooking, but about TWEEN
ty Of us were kindly cared for at Hon. Ralph
Bly's. Our many wants at the table were
furnished us in excellent shape by Mrs. w. S
Turck, then a blooming young lady just in her
teens. The only enterprise in Alma at that
time was a saw mill, with one run OF stone for
grinding corn for the few inhabitants in that
part OF the county IL was owned and con-
| trolled by the late Hon. Ralph Ely There was
also one sore kept By the Gee Bros, u black
smith shop, a postorfc with BLACK Hawk" as
u. NJ, who. by the way. also furnished whisky
in quantities to suit the purchaser and II could
be had for three cents per glass, old-fashioned
glasses at that. There were no war tarin in
those days. While soJourning there. though
young in years and inexperienced, was very
favOribly impressed with the order Of court
proceedings The court was presided over by
Judge Woodruff. The bar consisted of Isaac
ID. Coats, prosecuting attorney. Moses Tomp-
kns. Frank Niller-all OF Ithaca; Gilbert x.
Pratt OF St Louis. and Charles Holiday Of
1 Svl bal md Ran
dolph Strickland OF ST Johns, and A. Hewitt Of
Maple Rapids. Emery Crosby was clerk and
Homer Townsend, sheriff
The jury consisted Of Russell Burgess, OF
Arcadia, foreman, Ormal Burt of North Shade
John Doane of Fulton, John Crispell II New
Haven aud Mr.. McCOmber, think. Of Pine
River. The rest of the jury do not remember
/ distinctly remember meeting, while there. g
blooming. beardless youth dressed in check
cred summer suit, whom afterwards recogniL
ed as-welI the two fret letters Of his nauo are
y. e.. tChutchj. | being OF roaving disposi
ton, did n wish to let an opportunity pass
so concluded 10 visit IT. Louis. therefore
chartered a boat from Mr.. Nudge aud started
down the raging river. | descended very
rapidly to point below the farm known then as
the Doc. Clifford place | was highly delight
cd with the beautiful scenery, that portion OF
the river then being in virgin state, never hay
ing been married save by an occasional hun
terror an explorer like myself. ! pulled my
boat ashore and made it secure to the bank at
the point above mentioned and then proceeded
10 ~ Louis 10y the overland route. feeling
rather dspleascd AT mysel for not procuring
"a gun OF some weapon of defensS,from the
airs nal of the noted Mr.. "Black Hawk" MT
rived at st. louis about 3 O'Clock in the morn
ing | stood on the hill near where the Vessels
house now stands and looked down on the
famous city, which consisted Of about a dozen
log houses and board shantles they had just
co mmeuced frame building for hotel
which when completed, was kept by Mr.. Nc.
Henry. After affording considerable gossip
for the citizens as to who was or from whence
came, l started back to my boat TO wend my
way to Alma, which, by the way, was not quite
so pleasant n romance as defending the stream
for when reached town felt ~ though had
been struck with q panic. | finally reached
Alma. however, just IN time to do ample JUS
tice to good dinner. composed largely of Ora
tots vegetables as II was then summer, anC
bill of fare was green peas, new pOtatOe ant
green corn,
| Now, dear, reader, look back over thes,
years wa CT are passed aud gone, with sad re
Elections. think Of all the legal talent at tn,
bar during that session OF the court. II ha
since passed away to that bourne from whence
no traveller returns excepting Frank Miller
Gilbert c. Pratt and &. Holiday died in the ser
, vice Pratt was killed ut the battle OF Islam,
No. l0a I'd Holiday died at Newbern. n. G., 4
| remember rightly. The Jury too have nj
paid that dreaded debt, except Mr.. McCumbeI
{ VINO LOOKS hale and hearty, and may he live &
| enjoy another quarter Of century. job
Doan was shot through the head in the las
i charge of Spottsylvania court house, va Tn
Oeardcss youth above referred to, and whor
!. meet frequently, IL just approaching tn
o meridian OF life as well myself. Time ma
Q left his mark on each Of va, as II did on Tn
reductions OF our county the past season
J. 18th strong evidences Of early frost