The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-08-20
TALES OF PIONEER DAYS.
Old Pioneers Met and frightened the
Memories of Early Days, Saturday.

1t is sometimes good thing to stop In
the hustle of the business of today and con-
slider for short time what the conditions
were under which our fathers and grand
fathers lived in this state fifty years ago.
Chances for such considerations occur at
the old settlers picnics perhaps more favor
ably than any where else. The picnic
held Saturday at the park was no exception
and all who attended either received new
ideas OF pioneer life or else had their IDEAS
refreshed by the recalling Of old times.
The day was all that could be desired
with the single exception that the breeze
made speaking little unpleasant and
listening little difficult. When the pro-
gram, which was purposely quite informal,
was commenced the pavilion at the park
was filled and others stood about the sides
where they could hear part at least OF
what was being said. Jas. K. Sloan, OF
Corunna, president of the society, presided
over the exercises. A number of pioneers
from Livingston county were present and
took part in the exercises. All the speeches
were short and all passed off pleasantly.
1t may not be generally known now-a-
days that twenty years ago Judge Turner
had the reputation Of being the greatest
story teller in Michigan. and yet one listen
ing to the Judges stories at these old set
tiers gatherings might easily suspect that
such was the case. Opening with witty
drive at the president and secretary because
they had advertised bear, wolf, and snake
stories, but had shut out fish stories, the
Judge proceeded to show them that he didn't
mind the handicap in the least. He told a
story on Judge KanOuse, of Livingston
county, saying that Kanouse had some
trouble about title to some land and went
from Howell to Pontiac only to find out that
1t had been decided away. The court, how
ever, gave him letter to the surveyor in
Shiawassee and he came to Shiawassee to
get corrected deed. The surveyor told
him to 60 south to the river to place where
he would find 'blazed" tree. Kanouse
after travelling nearly to Howell and back
came again to the surveyor and said he
didn't find "any tree on fire." The judges
bear story, however, capped the climax.
He was driving from Howell to Owosso and
on the way overlook in another rig man
they saw three bears in the road. The 9TH
er man succeeded in frightening one of them
up trse and then left his wife with the
Judge to keep the bear up the tree while he
went home about three miles for his gun.
The Judge said he couldn't feel quite at
home with that bear up the tree and two
others in the vicinity, and before long be-
came so nervous that he was suddenly call
ed away by recollecting some important
court business, thus leaving the woman
alone to guard the bear. He afterwards
heard, he said, that the woman and her
husband got the bear.
Judge Kanouse, who lives just oyer the
county line in Livingston county, was
called for and listened to eagerly. The oc-
casion brought home to him very forcefully
how few Of the original pioneers there are
now left, and he combined general remarks
with condolences for the departed. The
Judge believes that the people were happier
In those early pioneer days in the midst of
the forest and all its hardships, than they
are today.
| Albert T0oley, an old pioneer who lives
near Howell, and who is known to many of
tho old oattIors nf Chic uaooaa uoo ,,rosapt
and he too was called on for remarks
Though not emphasizing the idea that the
people had more real pleasure in pioneer
days than now, he did believe that there
was more pleasure than hardship in pioneer
life.
Rev. b. A. Morgan, of Howell, one of
The first preachers in this part of the state,
also made short address. Throughout it,
he kept In the minds of his listeners the
great improvement and advancement made
in all lines since those early days. In edu.
cation he pointed to the advance from the
log school houses to the present commodi-
Gus structures, and in religion he pointed
out the beautiful buildings now available
for use. He called the attention of his
hearers to the way in which people were
beautifying everything both on the farms
and In the city, and pointed out nothing but
hope for the future.
LucIus K. Gould was then called upon,
though In calling for him the president in
adyertantly mixed his name with that of A.
l.. Williams. The mention of that name
furnished Mr.. Gould with o theme i'm
mediately-a pioneer was indeed called
to mind. He told of how A. l.. and B. o.
Williams came to this region In 1929, stop
ping first at Bancroft, then later going on
to Owosso on the "big RAPIDS" as the name
implies. The Shiawassee river. said Mr..
Gould, was the means Of opening up this
region and gave 1t Its name-wassee, rum,
ming water-Shia, straight ahead-not So
called because the old Shiawassee was
straight but because In coming up the Sagi.
nav to this region the Indians to designate
their course would indicate that they were
not going to turn either to the right or the