The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1922-02-24

started from Ann Arbor in 1843, but
as it took long time to travel in those
days, as in many places there were no
roads and they did not travel much in
the winter, he did not arrive here un-
til 1845, having spent year at the
Sault Ste. Marie Mission.
When Pitezel arrived it was the lat
ter part Of October and as winter was
drawing near he decided to repair the
mission house, which was old and
leaked badly. He purchased cedar
bark from the Indians and put on a
new roof. The house was also given
coat of lime mortar on the outside
end was whitewashed on the inside,
which added very much to its appear
ance as well as comfort.
At this time Feter Marksman was
not a member Of the church. A willy
snare had been laid at his feet and
he became entangled and fell. He
knew he had done wrong and he deep
ly deplored his fall and after while
his heart was moved to repentance and
he was restored again to the church.
Mrs. Marksman had been educated at
the Mission of the American Board
at LaPointe and was n every respect
an intelligent Christian lady and a
very neat housekeeper. Peter Marks
man was an interpreter for the mis-
sionaries and generally took charge
of the school.
There was one old rickety table, sew
eral stools, two splint-bottom chairs,
one rocking chair. (made from the
wood of the forest by one Of the mis-
sionaries) lounge, cooking stove
and boxstove.
The missionaries kept a school to
teach the Indians to read and write.
In the day school there were from
thirty to forty pupils and when the
Indians were all at the Mission the
school was generally well attended,
but in the hunting and sugar making
season the children would usually ac-
company their parents to the woods.
The Indians were not fond Of con-
finement and having restless, unset
tied habits, they did not take to learn
ing very quickly and preferred, like
everyone else, their mother tongue
to any other.
There was also a SABBATH school; in
this were men and women as well as
children. These people were taught
to read the hymn book and the Bible
in Ojibwa, 1.-THE language Of this Chip
pewa tribe) as well as in the Eng
lish. At this time the chief of the
Chippewas was David King. Later the
chief became Mr.. Owen, who died re-
Gently.
|. The LOG school house which had
been used and rendered tolerably
comfortable by frequent repairs, was
very old and the members of the
church were increasing. In 1S48 they
felt they needed new church. The
few white people and some Of the In
dams pledged to build one. They
had a very hard time in getting out,
drawing on the ice, and boating the
lumber from the saw mill at L'Anse.
Some Of the timber was brought from
the Pinery, three miles distant, and
before a blow was struck, the little
company knelt down upon the snow
and sent a prayer to God asking his
guidance and aid This church was
completed during the winter. After
4 this the mission prospered, the crops
were, becoming larger and the people
were adding to the comforts of their
homes, and they were also increasing
their stock of cattle. At this time
there were forty-three members in
the church and nine on trial.
The old school house which had been
built by the government is still stand
ing and owned as before, by the gov
ernment.
Continued Next Weekly