, 1905-05-29

Basil Harrison,t the first ofthe listhere
mentioned, was the brother of the faith
er of Benjamin Harrison, once presi-
dent of the United States, and the
nephew of William Henry Harrison,
also a president of the United States.
The following extracts from an article
in the Detroit Free Press are printed
to show the pride of lineage claimed
for the wee damsel born in this city:
1T is known to most of the readers
of the Free Press that BAIL Harrison,
the original of one of the chief char
acters in J. Fennimore Cooper's novel
of the "Bee-Hunters,' is yet a resident
of the locality particularized in that
| charming descriptive story. Miss Els
Their Harrison, a granddaughter of the
patriarch, furnishes nc following
sketch of his career:
BAIL Harrison vas born on the 18th
day of March, 1771, in Frederick coun-
ty, Maryland, thirty mics from the
city of Baltimore. Here he lived until
nine years of age, when his parents
removed to Virginia. After a resi-
dence there of five years the family
removed to the mountainous districts
of Pennsylvania, and here when nine
teen years of age he married Martha
StiIlwell. After a residence of three
years he removed acros the Allie
ghenys into western Pennsylvania, liv-
ing there twelve years. and having
nine children born unto him. He next
removed to Cincinnati, and after a
while to Clark county, Ohio. During
the time he remained in Ohio his fam
lily was increased to eight more chill
dren, making seventeen in all, born Of
one mother.
I'm 1927 he went to Michigan, finally
settling in Kalamazoo county October
18th, in hat year, being the first, as he
is now the Oldest, white inhabitant.
| When Mr.. Harrison first came to Kali
amazoo county his only neighbors were
the Indians, with whom he lived al
ways on exceedingly friendly terms.
His nearest white neighbor lived at
White Pigeon, thirty miles distant
from Schoolcraft.
"In order to get his wheat ground in
to flour he a obliged to go sixty
miles to the mouth of the St. Joseph.
river. The first year of his residence
at Schoolcraft he was obliged to pro-
cure his corn at White Pigeon, and he
passed the winter of 1928 in going
back and forth between the above
points in a wagon. There being no
roads but the Indian trails, very wind
ing and roundabout ways, and no
bridges, he was obliged to swim the
river every time the trail crossed it,
cutting away the ice so as to prevent
the team going through Mr.. Har-
rison would plunge in, and when the
opposite side was reached would build
a fire, take off his clothing. wiring it
and dry it, meanwhile dancing about
the glowing embers to keep warm.
Mr.. Harrison was the first justice of
the peace in Kalamazoo county, and
one of the original county judges. For
seventy-five years he has been a con-
sistent member of the Methodist
church. His occupation was always
that of a farmer. There are of his sew
enteen children eight yet living. The
whole of his living posterity-children,
grand children, great-grandchildren
and Observation-Disclosures one
hundred and ninety-five.
His health is quite as good as it has
been for several years past, and al
though in his one hundred and second
year, he is as agile as many a man
of three score"
Basil Harrison died about fifteen
years ago. at the age of 1O4 years, new
er having used either tea or coffee or
any strong drink. The history vi Gen
cral Harrison and Benjamin Harrison
is familiar to every school hoy and girl
in the country.
A Positive Necessity.
Having to lay upon by bed for IA
days from a severely bruised leg, I
only found relief when I used a bottle
Of Billiards. Snow Liniment. / can
recommend n "A the haat