Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-05-11

out them.
Occasionally they returned to
their families and found employ.
ment by which they were supported
until they could prepare their new
homes.
In Feruary, 1856, a circular was
issued by the Commissioner of Gen
eral Land Office, which provided
that every person who had pur-
chased any of this land was To move
on to his claim and improve Ger
tain amount of it within five months
and give testimony of the same to
the Land Office.
If person failed TO observe this
notice his claim was annuled.
This was severe trial for the
settlers, yet they tlocked into Gratiot
county Immediately that they might
save the land which they had worked
so faithfully to secure.
Forty of these persons camped on
the south side of Pine river and
after investigation the whole party
found that they had one dollar.
1t was winter and many people
were compelled to take possession
of their land without a board to
build a house.
Some acquired the land by trick
cry, and thus the law was frequently
evaded.
The summer of SO was very dry
and the small patches fof corn and
potatoes planted by the settlers were
failures.
In October on very windy day
forest fires broke out in all parts of
the country and they contiued to
burn until the whole woods seemed
to be burning mass.
1t became so very smoky that peo-
pie could not see in the house dur
ing the day without light and did
not dare TO leave their homes for
fear of being lost.
The Board of Supervisors were at
this time in session and they had to
transact business by the light of a
candle.
After this smoke had lasted for IA
days friendly shower put the fire
out, leaving the ground covered with
from one to three inches of ashes.
Many animals died and even the
fish in the river.
The next day after the shower,
the Indians endeavored to sell the
settlers boat load of these dead
fish.
Winter soon came on after this
fire and there were fair prospects for
a famine.
The few families who had crops
at once divided with the needy and
as many more settlers kept coming,
by May provisions were entirely
exhausted.
1t was late when they got the crops
planted and frost came and de-
stroyed everything.
Everybody was in state of anx-
i4ty.
They had no money with which to
buy provisions and worse than this
there were no provisions to buy.
Some lived on fish, turnips and
leeks; but even then there was in.
tense suffering from starvation.
One family lived on potatoes
which they had once planted but
dug up.
Another family consisting of nine
members lived from Tuesday until
Saturday on leeks and milk.
A man and his wife walked Is
miles to Alma to get provisions.
They said the squirrels had eaten
all of their corn and they had moth
ing to live on.
During this time a young couple
were married and after the ceremony
he minister was paid for his services
in beeswax as that was all the man
had to give.
Rumors of this restitution soon
reached some of the cities and a
meeting was called at Detroit in
which Mr.. Hickey was appointed
to investigate and see if any help
was needed.
He at once started for the destitute
locality and ON his return reported
that help must be sent Immediately.
Detroit sent provisions to Sagi-
nav and from there they were trans
ferred to the people; but this was
not sufficient to supply the needs of
the settlers.
The people of Gratiot County |
wished to borrow $1,000. In order
to make arrangements for this, a
of the county supervisors
was held at which Mr.. Ralph Ely
was appointed their commissioner.
He first visited several cities for
the purpose OF negotiating bonds;
but all refused him, and finally went
TO the Governor at Lansing and
stated his case; but they refused to
supply the money on the bonds. Mr..
Ely then told hirn that all the men,
women and children in Gratiot Co.