The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1899-02-24
A CLERICAL GAME WARDEN.
His Dogs, Fishes, Hunts and Sub
sists Upon the Results.

Calhoun county, Mich, boasts of the
only clergyman game warden in Amer
lea, Rev. Isaac Collier, who is known
throughout the state as Henry d.
Thoreau, of Michigan, as he has for
many years lived alone with his dogs
in a cottage on the shore of Goguac
lake, summer, winter and every sea-
son. spending his time in fishing and
hunting and in the study of books and
nature.
A passionate regard for nature has
led this unique clergyman to live among
the flowers and trees, the birds and
animals of the woods. Years of botan-
zeal training made it possible for him
to understand the flowers which he
plucks by the roadside or in the fields
or forests. Never does day pass that
the venerable character, with his fish
pole, may not be seen vending his
way to the waters edge for his Gus
tomary fish. His expert knowledge of
angling makes him known among fish
ermen as "Our Izaak Walton" and he
lives out his title. Not only does he
fish. but he studies his prey. He knows
the fish and their habits, and is at home
among them.
a strange place is his cottage, I'M
lathed, upholstered, but the home Of
> contented man. lie subsists entirely
upon the results of his hunting and
fishing. He not only sells his fish for
the few groceries and supplies which
he requires, but he is fond of them as
a regular diet. He is his own cook
His tea he makes from the wild plant
blossoms known as the Jersey tea, and
the only coffee which he uses is made
from the hickory nuts which he gath
ers. Above all, he is hale, hearty and
healthy, although 6S years of his life
have passed. But he says: 81 live close
TO nature, and so do live, not exist"
Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Chaldaic, Sy-
riac, French and modern languages are
read by the quaint character, and no
matter how busy a day he has spent
among his fish friends he closes it by
reading a chapter in his Greek Tesla
ment. Apart from the world, he never
neglects his religion, and studies re-
ligious questions of modern and ancient
character.
Rev. Isaac Collier was born in Greene
county. N. Y, and in his mere child
hood he astonished his parents by de-
claring his intention to enter the min
istry. He took a course of study in
the Coxsackie (N. " academy, and
then the grammar school at New Bruins
wick, N. j. He received his diploma
from Rutgers college. following this
by three years theological course.
His first call was to Coey.nans, on the
Hudson river, where he preached for
five years. In 1866 he entered upon his
duties as pastor of the Dutch Reformed
church of Battle Creek, leaving in
1871 for Rchboro, Pa. on a like call.
where he remained IA years, returning
to preach as a Congregational in the
Augusta church. After his return to
Battle Creek he took up his Thoreau-
like life, and has continued ever since in
this plan of living.
He has just been appointed game
warden for Calhoun county by State
Warden Chase Osborne. and announces
emphaticnlly that he will use the same
vigor in the fulfillment of the law as
in the eSpounding of the Scriptures and
the travelling of the woods for nature
study. No one can fail to understand
why he is called the Henry d. Thoreau
OF Michigan.-Chicago Inter Ocean.