Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-12-02

some Indians dogs i'm the woods. To-
gether they worked their way out TO
the edge OF the woods and as a twig
cracked under their feet six deer
jumped and ran into the heart OF the
| forest.
Oliver had craving for pine gum.
He had brought a large supply with
him from New York, but cit was ex-
hausted. One day he went out into
the woods, which are located on the
Chester Slayton farm, to see III he
could find some tamarac gum. When
he found tree with a large lump of
gum ooZing out of a knot near the top
he climbed up to the gum and began
digging IL loose. Presently he heard
voices. When he looked through the
branches OF the trees he saw a bunch
of Indians coming directly toward the
tree. The squaws with their papooses
on their backs, were riding horses
and the braves" were walking by
their sides. Mr.. Watkins was so
frightened that in his own language
he ''gripped the trunk OF that tree so
tight that he knew he killed it,"
The first Fourth of July celebration
Of importance in the settlement was
held at Fallassburg about four years
after Oliver Watkins came into the
settlement. Five Of the boys of the
settlement prepared a wagon box with
seats around the sides. They then
hitched four yoke Of oxen 10 the
wagon. hired George Cusser. father
of Albert and grandfather Of w. l..
Cusser, TO drive the oxen and five
couples started out TO attend the
Fallassburg celebration.
AS the picnic party were going up
the hill near the river at FallasSburg.
the draw chain between the two
middle yoke Of oxen broke. The four
oxen were unable to hold the weight
Of the load and il began TO draw them
back sideways toward the edge Of the
bridge, over which they had just pass
ed. The boys quickly jumped from
the wagon and blocked the wheels.
until they could tie the chains togeth-
er thus narrowly averting a serious
accident. After the celebration was
over the merrymakers drove to Smyr-
ma for a party in the evening. The
party was held in grist mill that was
just being built on the site Of the
present Tebbell mill. The boys plac-
ed bells on the oxen and turned them
out into the woods The celebrators
had to stay all night as they could not
find their oxen until daylight. When
the cattle were found they were ''yok
ed in" and the five couples started
for home. They arrived about noon.
Mr.. Watkins youngest sister, Mrs.
Helena America White, is still living,
near Moseley. She is seventy-five.
Mr.. and Mrs. Watkins still live on the
old farm where they set up house
keeping. They had two children, both
of whom are still living. They are
Hilton Watkins, who lives across from
the old homestead, and Mrs. Nettie
Dimmick, wife of A. $. Dimmick of
this city. They have three grandchil-
dren and two great grandchildren.
Mr.. and Mrs. Watkins are both very
hale and hearty and both possess re-
markable memories. They have been
visiting at the home of Mrs. Dimmick
the past week.
Mr. and Mrs. Watkins have issued a
challenge to any couple that will tell
of their having lived together longer
or having lived in one place longer
than they. The Banner also solicits
the names of anyone in its territory
who will furnish information. for
pioneer stories.