L2M5 joneer 3^ Recollections By Uncle Dan Class /SJ^ _ Copyright N°. COPYRIGHT DEPOSm ■ p 1 1 ^^^Hfer< ^^H Bp ^ ^ 1 1^' j, ;-jrg^„ ^^^H 1 ''-ymtk hk ™ >'>-^r t.^PBB[ 1 ''^^lil 1 ^ m H^J^,£~,^^3^^^^^^| K .. ^ H / "I hear the tread of pioneers Of nations yet to be; The first low wash of waves where soon Shall roll a human sea. The rudiments of empire here Are plastic yet and warm; The chaos of a mighty world Is rounding into form. — Whittier. Pioneer Recollections Semi- Historic Side Lights on The Early Days of Lansing By Daniel S. Mevis (Uncle Dan) Lansing, Michigan Robert Smith Printing Company 1911 1-0 7^ Copyright 1911 BY Robert Smith Printing Co. ^ /• o €^GU3J2643 Mrs, iEanon M, ©urnrr t\)t (§{htBt ICtuntg J^ionfpr nnh lEarltrat Eratbrnt of t\}t (Eapttal (Utta tl|t0 bonk ta most ErappafuUg Snarrthp^ INTRODUCTORY. This little book of "Pioneer Recollections" is published on the urgent solicitation of many friends, it is not intended as a history of Lansing; simply some of the recollections of the author, and dealing for most part with the pre-historic period of the first ten years of the founding and development of the capitol city of the state of Michigan, together with the faces of some of the more prominent. pioneers, men who were identified with its life and growth from the felling of the first forest trees to make way for the now beautiful city of which we are all so justlv proud. UNCLE DAN. DANIEL S. MEVIS "Uncle Dan*' 1847 STRUGGLES OF BACKWOODSMEN. A Tale of the Life In Lansing When Wolves Howled Near Doorsteps. My parents were endowed with a nomadic dis- position, so to speak — much of their time being spent on the road. It took but little argument to convince father that there was a better town ahead — accordingly in the summer of 1847, they took the trail to Erie, Pa., but were blown into Buffalo by the greatest storm ever known on Lake Erie. They boarded the first steamer out, which was bound up the lakes. The captain asked father where we w^anted to go. "Oh, almost anywhere?" was the reply. ''Where are you going?" ''To Detroit, and on up," the captain answered. "All right, we'll go too," and in due time we were landed at Detroit, which appeared to be quite a town. Start From Detroit. The household goods all being well packed and in movable condition, it was decided to go on as far as we could get public conveyance. We boarded a car for Pontiac, there being a little railroad be- tween the two towns; w^hile here we first heard of the new capital (to be), "Michigan City," in the interior of the state. The head of the family soon decided to follow in the wake of the receding capital and accord- ingly, accompanied by my elder brother, started out 9 10 PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS throng'h the woods in the direction of the new seat of government. A two days' journey brought the party to a little log grocer}-, near the North Lansing dam, and being a newcomer and prospective settler, father was soon taken in tow by a long w^hiskered gentleman, whose business it would seem was to sell lots. After a few preliminary remarks, he frankly asked the old gentleman to "take something." Father took, and the long whiskered gentleman pro- ceeded to elaborate on the great advantages to be obtained by locating at the business center of the new town, claiming, of course, that this dam really settled the question. Factories, mills, etc., would in a short time, be erected the whole length of the mill race, a saw mill being already in active opera- tion. Again Father ''Took Something." ''Take something, uncle." Of course, father took again, and was soon persuaded to buy a lot just as near that dam as possible, but the boy dissuaded his parent from such prompt action, recommending that they look around a little more before de- ciding. Having heard on the side that there was another town being built farther up the river at the confluence of the Cedar and Grand, they, on the day folloAving, took the trail for "upper town," where Bush, Thomas and Lee were building a city. They were cordially welcomed by Mr. Thomas, w^ho properly asked father to "take something," w-hich father did. Then Mr. Thomas told the old gentleman how fortunate he was not to buy a lot down at that "end." "Of course, there was the saw mill, but mind you the timber in that locality will all be sawed up in a few years," he said, "and PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS 11 then down goes their dinky little town, while here, you see w^e are located on high, dry ground and at the juncture of these two great rivers and we will, without doubt, be at the head of navigation, for the Grand river will eventually be dredged from Grand Rapids to this point, giving easy and cheap transportation for the whole Grand river valley and this will be the terminal of a line of river craft, sure to come — sure to come— Take another, strang- er?" Old Man Convinced Again. It is needless to say father was convinced and thought he w^anted a lot as near the mouth of Cedar river, as he could get it. However, the boy again induced his father to withhold his decision until they had investigated the middle ground (later called Middle Town), where the capitol was being erected, but on talking with one or two settlers, learned that there would never be anything doing at this point. Perhaps in time a few residences, and maybe another state building or two. By this time, in view of the fact that at the end of two short weeks from the time he left Pontiac^ mother with the children and two wagon loads^ of household furniture, would be upon him expecting to find him ''settled," and a cabin ready to occupy, the head of the family decided to act without further delay and resolved to buy at once, which he did. He selected a lot at Washington avenue and Saginaw street. Built a Queer Home. This he did in order to be near to the mill and 12 PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS where we would be able to obtain plenty of wood for all time to come, for the mere cutting. Pro- curing the necessary help, the cabin was built, but none too soon, for at the appointed time the wagons came and we were ''at home" at 623 North Wash- ington avenue. After fording the river below the dam we picked our way up the avenue between log heaps and cradle knolls, brush heaps and stumps. The extra sideboards on the wagons served to make the doors and we brought windows with us. It may be asked how we liked this remarkable change from city life to "a cot in a vast wilder- ness." Oh, fine, it was not only novel, but really romantic in its way. Serenaded every night in summer by the deni- zens of an immense frog pond near the cabin and with clouds of mosquitoes indoors and outdoors add- ing their plaintive thrills to the grand jubilee of welcome to the "early pioneer" — these and other romantic sights and sounds, such as the snarling of wolves, the distant cry of the panther — like a woman in distress — and watching the pretty deer as they fearlessly browsed among the newly made brush heaps, made for us a new and novel experi- ence. Had No Firearms. These deer were perfectly safe, as far as we were concerned, not a gun on the place, and not a man who knew how to shoot one if we had it. I have heard father say that he never shot but one gun in his life, an old musket, when backed up against a brick wall. The wall seemed to stand the shock well — not so with father. We were, however, frightened later on, when PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS 13 one evening in early winter the cabin door opened softly and in stalked four big Indians, who, after giving the usual grunt, proceeded to spread their blankets upon the clay earth and lie down, heads to the fire, and remain quietly there until morning. Rising at the first peep of day, they filed out in the same order as they came in, giving us again the grunt. It is needless to say that the only sleep- ing done in the cabin that night was by those four Indians. Indians Frequently Called. We soon found that all our fears were needless as we were frequently visited in like manner, as night would sometimes overtake the Indians when tracking bears. The animals had a long and well- beaten run-way from northern Wisconsin, south to the head of Lake Michigan and then northeasterly, coming through the "Old Maid's" swamp at the head of the Thornapple, and crossing the state road — ^now Saginaw street — passing through the Chand- ler, or "Big" marsh, and then north through the Saginaw valley to the straits. They were certainly not in pursuit of deer for they could pick them up almost anywhere in those days. I have seen bears on this same run- way, but never felt like inter- fering with their progress. Early Morning Sights. Father often called us children up in the early morning to look out of the window and see the pretty deer feeding on the tender buds of the re- cently cut tree tops, while he replenished the fire in the great stone fireplace with its stick and clay chimney — first the big back log ; then on great and- 14 PIONEER EECOLLECTIONS irons, the ''fore stick ^' or rattier log, completing the structure with smaller stuff; then swinging out the "crane" and hanging on the iron tea kettle. This meant breakfast, and we were all soon happy enough when we could breathe in the aroma of bear meat or venison frying in the skillet on the coals. This meat general^ bought of the Indians, was cheap, two York shillings or a Spanish quarter buying a saddle of venison or a large piece of bear meat and either was toothsome with our corn cakes and gravy. OLD CHIEF OKEMOS Aged 119 years, the powerful ally of the great Indian Warrior Tecumseh ROMANCE OF THE REDMAN. Story of Happy Days Which a White Boy Spent With Okemos Indians. ''I am asked occasionally by some of the rising generation, ''Were there any Indians here, Uncle Dan, when yOu came?" Oh, yes, there certainly were, but not many, per- haps about one hundred or more, known to the settlers as the Okemos tribe. They resided for some time, we were told, on the Cedar river about seven miles east of Lansing, which would account for the name of Okemos given to that locality. For many years they were in the habit of drifting into town in small parties, disposing of various articles of their handiwork, such as baskets, fancy boxes made of bark, usually of the elm, and decorated with parti-colored porcupine quills; buckskin moccasins decorated with beads and, in their seasons, whortle- berries, cranberries, maple sugar, deer skins, fans and occasionally a few wolf heads, on which they obtained a bounty. Chief Jim Respected. Their old warrior, Chief Okemos, on account of his advanced age and feebleness of frame, had long since delegated the chieftainship to his youngest son, Jim, who was quite a gentleman. He had been edu- cated in an Indian school and spoke English quite fluently. The eldest son John being a dissolute and all-around bad man, lost his right to the succession. The whites respected Chief Jim highly and his word 15 16 PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS was of more value than a check on the Macomb County bank. Quiet, genial and good looking, he al- ways seemed to have the affairs of the tribe well in hand. His will was their law, from which there was no appeal. Though quite a young boy, I became interested in these pre-historic people and soon became acquainted with the boys with whom I later spent many a sum- mer day ranging through the bush; catching black snakes along the river banks and slinging them into the stream; shooting at birds and squirrels with the bow and arrow, and, perhaps, winding up the day's frolic with a swim. I Avas always a welcome visitor in the camp for many years. The whole tribe were in the habit of camping on the Cooly farm, nearly opposite Waverly park. They camped there for a supply of venison and cured it on the spot. How Deer Were Caught. Their method of capturing the deer was not by shooting. They would wait until dark and then start out, two Indians in a canoe, one sitting in the stern and the other on his knees in the bow, where a burning pine knot served for a "Jack light." Armed with a tomahawk and scalping knife, canoe No. 1 would glide noiselessly up the river where the deer would be found standing in the water for pro- tection from the mosquitoes. Mr. deer would gaze intently at the light while the canoe, guided by the man in the stern, who did the paddling, would quiet- ly steal upon him and at the opportune moment, the man on the prow would, with his tomahawk, strike the deer on the head, killing him instantly. This done, the Indians would drop quietly into the water, hip deep probabh% and with their knives disembowel PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS 17 the animal and place him in the canoe. This done in less time than it takes to tell it, the Indians would "about face" in the canoe and return to the landmg. Canoe No. 2, in the meantime, was passing up and doing the same thing. Then No. 3 and so on, so that the following morning one could count from three to six deer lying on the bank waiting the attention of the squaws, who proceeded to skin, cut up and cure the venison. The manner of curing was this : A fire was started beside an old rotten log. Wet leaves and moss were raked over it to make a dense smoke; sticks were sharpened and thrust into the ground beside the log and the pieces of meat impaled upon the upper ends over the smudge. In this way the Indians' "staff of life" was made impervious to the fly pest or anything else except the ravenous ap- petite of the aborigine. Squaws Prepared Skins. The skins were treated in much the same way. Tall sticks were driven into the ground and the hides, after the hair had been removed, stretched upon these and a smudge maintained under them until thev were thoroughly smoked through and through. Thev were frequently taken off and rubbed throuo'h the 'hands of the two squaws having the work in charge. I often visited this camp, spending nearlv the entire day with ]\Iiss Okemos and her elder'sister, Mrs. John Turnip, who seemed delighted to entertain the "nechin-Ave-we— Shemoke-mon -- in their private tepee, where they were sure to be found busily engaged in making fancy articles, such as prettv baskets, and boxes of bark finely decorated with red. white and blue quills of the porcupine ; fancv legsings and moccasins, etc. They feasted me 18 PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS on venison and ''quash-gon," (bread) and found great sport in teaching me their language. Escorted Him in Style. Long before I cared for it, the sun would settle upon the western horizon and Chief Jim would ask me ''if I didn't want to go home now?" Of course, I did, that was the proper thing to do. He would whistle and was soon surrounded by half a dozen husky lads all ready to do his bidding-. Detailing two to take me home, he would bid me "good-bye and come again," and these young bucks would bring me safely over the rapids. JAMES TURNER Pioneer business promoter and Real Estate, President Detroit and Lansing Plank Road Co. 1847 LANSING OF YEARS AGO. A Spirited Account of the Halcyon Days of the Sturdy Pioneer. At the close of the Mexican war many of the vet- erans migrated to the west in quest of government land. A few of these, together with a few veterans of the New York state militia and also of other states, drifted into our little colony, adding to the census of our slowly increasing population the names of many titled heroes — hence we had many colonels, captains, majors and one private, among the notables. I might mention Col. Joseph Moon, who, when in his cups, claimed the distmction of having fought all through the revolutionary war, and many other wars, and laid much stress on the fact that he was a bosom friend of George Washington ; however, the colonel was certainly a great man — when properly stimulated. Of course we had judges, elders, dea- cons and squires, though captains seemed to pre- dominate. Everybody Had a Title. Ever}^ man not glorying in a military title was a squire, a few were mere "uncles," but all, or nearly all, were honorable men, having left the east to make for themselves a home in the new west and grow up with the country. The new capital grew steadily, though slowly, and for a time Upper town outstripped the Dam town and Main street became quite the business avenue with something doing on South Cedar street. Main 19 20 PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS street had Foot's brick yard at the extreme east end, with Bascom's store next door, and one or two shops on the south side of Main to Cedar, and on the north side was Clapsaddle's hotel (the National), while on the opposite corner was Bush & Thomas' store — all this on the east side of the river. Pioneer Landmarks. On the west side was the Michigan house, built and operated by John Thomas, Hunt's meat market, A. Ward's boot and shoe shop, Gilkey's bowling alley, Berry & Co.'s dry goods store, David West- cot's tailor shop, etc., and at Washington avenue and Main street the Benton house was built, the first brick hotel in the city, whose ''mine host" for many years w^as the genial William Hinman, late departed. The legislature of 1849 directed the state board of auditors to cause a plank walk to be built from this hotel to Franklin avenue, the first real sidewalk of any account built in the city. It was made of two- inch white oak plank, spiked down firmly on oak logs or "sleepers." This was the first tangible event that bound the three towns together into one city with mutual interests. It was with considerable difficulty that members of the legislature, state of- ficers and others could find accommodations, a por- tion of which was obtained at the lower town and a few at the extreme south end and all, of course, of a very primitive nature. Political Foes Bunked Together. The log Lansing house, at Washington avenue and Washtenaw street, near the capitol, was usually taxed to its limited capacity and members of all known political preferments were often obliged to PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS 21 sleep in the same bed and eat at the same table. However, the Whigs being largely in the minority, and the abolitionists much more so, we were rarely startled with any report of a purely political out- break. That reminds me of the first political poster I ever saw. It was nailed onto a beech tree, about where the City National bank stands and it read like this : ''Keep it before the people, that 17 old Hunker- orators are about to deluge the county over, but they can't defeat the People's ticket for 1849." Little Dan was Foxy. I am reminded also of the first real money I ever captured in my own right. The state built a small dwelling adjoining the capitol for the use of the auditor general (the building is still standing). Deputy Auditor General Peter Wiswold was occu- pying the house. Mother was to spend the after- noon and evening there and I was to come up in the evening to pilot my mother home. Mrs. Wiswold was "glad I came." She gave me a large piece of real cake, and then a real sixpence, and she said to me thus: "Now, Daniel, n\v boy, I want you to go to Donahue's saloon and see if Mr. Wiswold is there. If he is, come right back and tell me." I walked into "Donahue's" and very innocently up to "Peter" and looked at him, and he said, "One minute, boys," and then to me, "Dannie, did Mrs. Wiswold send you down to see me?" I nodded my head. He again said, "One minute, boys," and led me out and into the office of the Lansing house, next door, gave me a York shilling and said: "Tell Mrs. Wiswold you saw me at the Lansing house." I again 22 PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS nodded. On my return Mrs. Wiswold gave me an- other large piece of cake, saying to mother, with fire in her eyes, ''Oh, Mrs. Mevis! If he had found him at that Donahue gambling saloon, I'd a gone straight down there; yes, I would — and I'd of picked up a chair and smashed every bottle in the bar and led him out by the ear!" He Played Both Ends. Well, right or wrong, ''Dannie" was 18 pence to the good, to say nothing of the cake. About this time the state board of auditors were authorized by the legislature to cause all lots or lands belonging to the state on section 16 cleared of its timber. Con- sequently the board proceeded to let the job, con- tracting for the same with John Long to clear the S. W. quarter ; with J. H. Lobdel the N. W. quarter ; with William McGiveron the S. E. quarter and, I think, a Mr. Post the N. E. quarter. Mr. Lobdel built an ashery on a little creek on the east side of Washington avenue, about at the rear end of Shu- bel's shoe store and utilized the ashes of the en- tire section and much of the surrounding countrj^ in the manufacture of potash, operating his plant for many years. I have caught minnows and polly- wogs for "bait" in a little nook of this same creek where the Tussing building now stands. A "Famous" Rifle. Fishing in the river afforded great sport as well as a source of food supply, but the hunting did more than this. It gave rival sportsmen oppor- tunity to display their ability in the use of the gun, though it was generally conceded that John Thomas and Charles P. Bush were the two crack PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS 23 shots of the settlement, and Mr. Bush was the proprietor of a telescope rifle. It was once related that at one time when these two nimrods were out together, as they frequently were, they met with a stranger armed with an ordinary smooth-bore. He admired Mr. Bush's rifle and very innocently asked what good was the telescope. Mr. Thomas told him it was a great thing. He could hit a deer with it whether he could see the deer or not, and added that he had a greater gun than that at home, the barrel being circular or crescent shaped, but only took it with him when he went hunting over among the hills. Pioneers Who Could Shoot. ''With this gim, you see, stranger," he said, ''should a deer start up and take round the hill I pull on him and the ball circles on after him and I follow the ball and generally get my deer." They started on and left the stranger in a trance. And then there was John N. Bush, a pretty good shot, but he is still living and can ansAver for himself. I have heard it said that he would leave a good job on the occasion of a good tracking snow and shoulder his rifle and take to the Avoods. However, there were many hunters and much game in those days. You could go out in the morning and have venison for dinner. I frequently indulged in angling in a small way myself, usually just below the dam, where I often found "Ed Grilly," who lived near by and who spent much of his time there and who was a very successful fisherman. He was kind to us boys who gathered there and he often entertained us with remarkable fish stories and srave us g'ood advice at 24 PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS times as to the best methods of angling. He im- parted to me at one time a profound secret of the profession. It was this : To procure a small piece of gambogue, put this in your mouth and spit upon the bait. The fish, he claimed, would scent this for a- great distance and I would be able to catch all the fish I wanted. I tried the experiment. It did not work on the fish, but it did on me with ''immediate effect." A True Deer Story. Suffice it to say I lost all confidence in Mr. Grilly. It might occur to some that I have said more about the supply of deer in these articles than the facts would warrant; not so, for they were abundant as any old settler could testify; so plentiful, indeed, that in order to bring a load of marsh hay to town in the winter and land is safely at the stage barns, it often required two men, one to drive the cattle and the other to walk along with a long gad to whip the deer off. Oh, Those Were the Days. Well, life w^as certainly worth the living in those good old days of the early pioneer, when every man knew every other man and all his folks, and where the sentiment of neighborhood fraternity and common interest was the bond that made us, as it were, one great family. If any were sick they were visited ; any in want they were assisted ; we laughed with those that laughed, and wept with those that wept. Reasonably honest and friendly, the latch string was always out and the helping hand was ever extended to all. Neighbor or stranger, red man or pale-face — we were not proud, for we were all poor. PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS 25 There were no "styles." That blight happily did not reach the interior for many years. If you were clean and honorable you were a gentleman, though clad in jumper and overalls, and the wife or daughter in their calico or gingham frocks were "dressed" and generally as happy as the "lady" of today. The axe and the indispensable rifle were the only insignia of chivalry and thrift, by the aid of which a man labored to hew out for himself and family a home all their own, happy in the an- ticipation of a future independence for himself and his posterity, overcoming all hardships and adver- sities with unselfish, patient endeavor. GEO. R. WOODWORTH Pioneer Boots and Shoes 1854 GETTING LOST IN THE WOODS. Amusing Pioneer Experience In Which a Cow Is Pressed Into Rescue Service. The question has been asked me, ''Did you ever get lost here in the woods ? ' ' Yes, oh yes, but never for any length of time. I always found my way out again. My method was very simple. Many of the settlers owned a cow or two and cows, as well as all other stock, ran at large, and almost any cow of respectibility wore a bell. I would listen for the "tonk" of a bell and go to it. With a gad in one hand I would grasp the bossy's tail firmly in the other and ply the gad. The cow would in- variably run for home, guiding me perforce to a clearing. Once Led Astray. However, I was once led astray by tying to a strange cow. It was a long run and brought me to a clearing three or four miles away from home. Why on earth my bovine guide did this thing I have never been able to settle in my mind. This was a small clearing with a cabin in the distance. I clambered over the brush fence and made for the cabin. The family — Daniel Barnes, his wife and two children — received me very hospitably and Mrs. Barnes set me up a "snack" which was very acceptible, indeed. I asked Mr. Barnes if that was his cow that I saw over there. ' ' No, ' ' said he, "I have no cow ; we don 't monkey with any such truck; too much bother. This dog 27 28 PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS here is the only tame animal I care to keep around. He's a mighty good dog, too, I wouldn't take a farm for him." I told them I had been lost, but I did not tell them just how I had been led to their home. The old gentleman then told me how to avoid being lost. "You see, Bub, when you find moss on the butt of a tree you will find it on the north side almost invariably. Just keep in mind which way you start in and you've got* all the compass you need. Don't know anvbodv that wants to buv a little farm like this?" Is Crowded Out. ''No, uncle, I don't; do you think of selling out?" "Yes, Vhen I get a chance. You see I've been chased clear from Wayne county to here — moved three or four times. No sooner get settled than neighbors begin to crowd in too close and spoil the hunting and trapping, and break me all up, and now there's a feller got in only a mile west of me, and they're a-building this town four miles east" of me (Lansing), and crowding me out again. Game's a-gettin' scarcer every year and so. is fur, and that's the main thing with me, but I'll git so far next time they won't catch up with me in a hurry." And then the kind-hearted gentleman opened the cupboard door and brought out a small brown jug of "ague antidote." I declined. I told him I was most too young yet to indulge. In fact I was a temperance boy and intended to be a temperance man if I should live to attain my majority. He said that was right. He was a tem- PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS 29 perance man some of the time, when the "bitters" gave out. He did not go to town very often, "Ex- ceptin' when I get out of ammunition or to get a little flour and things, and then I have to pack them home through the woods on my back." Mr. Barnes kindly accompanied me to the sec- tion line and showed me the way home. ''Follow the blazed trees," says he, ''and you'll come out all right." ' Coming home I passed by the old forge in "Bogus Swamp" where the surveyors ran upon a trio of men "making money" a year or two previous, not the best kind of money, but fully as good as the wild cat money with which the state was flooded. In 1849, I think it was, we experienced a local money panic of more than usual severity, though that commodity was always scarce with us. It was on the advent of the first tent show to visit the town. This show was known as "McFarland's Pa- vilion Theater," hailing from Detroit. They pitched their tent on the corner of Capitol ave. and Wash- tenaw^ St. My brother and I erected a lunch stand against the old capitol fence and very fortunately for us we had the only stand on the ground. We had no sooner opened up when my brother "jumped the job" — too much excitement. However, I stayed by until everything was sold. I had drawn on father, who was running a bakery on East Wash- tenaw St., until his stock was exhausted and then on the pantry at home for all I could get there, and when all the edibles were gone some of the show- men wanted whiskey. Taking an empty root beer bottle I made several trips to Levi Hunt's grocery and bought whiskey. Of course this was the last ditch and business was business. HoAvever, with the 30 PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS show and my grocery, it made real money a little scarce for a season. Invites a Threshing. Speaking of shows it reminds me very vividly of the year previous. The country was flooded with great posters announcing the advent of a real old time ' ' caravan ' ' over in De Witt, then the largest town in this section of the country, and for several weeks I lived on the joyful anticipation of seeing that show, and of course I was a remarkably good boy around home, having mother's consent "if father was willing." I interviewed that parent, but alas, too early in the day, and that gentleman informed me that I could not go, therefore, I con- cluded to go and take the consequences, which un- doubtedly meant blue-beech. Well, the long-looked- for day came and as soon as I finished an early breakfast I slipped out of the back door and was soon on the road. I struck a dog-trot and kept it up until I reined in on the principal street of the then capital city of Clinton county. I was in hopes to be in time to see the parade and certainly would have been had there been a parade. The fact was they had so little to make a free show that they omitted that feature, but this disappointment was soon for- gotten. As I headed for the great tent and joined the immense crowd, I was discovered by three 'Hypos" from the office of the Michigan 'State Journal where I held the position of devil. These gentlemen were O. S. Case, Tate Welch and Henry Starkey. The men seemed to have on their holi- day dispositions and hailed me with great hilarity. "Hello, you little cuss, how did you get here? Walk?" PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS 31 ''No, I ran." "Had any dinner?" ''No." "Come on," and they guided me up to an ex- temporized restaurant behind some boxes, roofed with the branches of trees., "Here, captain, give this boy something to eat. Here, Dan, have a pie," says Case, "and this board of ginger bread," saj^s Starkey, while Mr. Welch urged me to take another lemonade, and so they filled me up, giving the "devil more than his due." Then they finished up with me by taking me into the show, and a great show it was, too — an elephant, a cage of monkeys, a cinnamon bear, a coon and a few other such ordinary animals, and a brass band of six pieces, including a bass drum and triangle. But the greater event was yet to come. Fast Ride to Lansing. The excitement all over, I started for home. Every rig of Siny kind in town had been chartered for this trip to DeWitt. Among them was an ec- centric old German, Mr. Sagendorf, known as "Old Sag," for short. Mr. Sagendorf overtook me as I was crossing the bridge and yelled to me to get aboard. "Crawl over the tail board of that wagon quick," he said. As soon as we were off the bridge "Sag" put the bud to the horses. "Major! Up Tom!" he cried. "Old 'Sag' was the first rig into DeWitt this morning, understand, and he'll be the first one into Lansing tonight, un- derstand. Major! Up Tom!" all this time talking to his trusty blacks. And on we went at a runaway gait over the rough road, passing everything in 32 PIONEER REC^OLLECTIONS sight regardless of ruts, holes, logs and stumps. We soon made Kurd's tavern. The landlord ran out to stop the supposed runaway, but "Old Sag" yelled to him to stand clear. On we tiew — another team ahead — on went the bud. ''Major! Up ToAvn!" We passed the team, but to pass ''Sag" found it necessary to turn out a little, just enough to run over the end of a log, Avhen down went his load of suffering humanity into the bottom of the wagon, and for the balance of the way we pounded around, so mixed that it was hard to establish our own identity or to escape serious injury among broken glass, fans, parasols, lunch baskets, etc., and then the atmosphere, the aroma of high wines added to the sulphurous stream of profanity and our mad- man driver's yells to "Major! Up Tom!" made John Gilpin's ride fade away into insignificance. But we were the first rig back, "understand." Surprise Counterfeiters. And now a word or two in relation to this gang of counterfeiters who were surprised by the sur- xeyors when running out the "State Road" on the section lines (running west on Saginaw st.), to Al- legan, Branch Co., in a swamp, since known as "Bo- gus Swamp, ' ' perhaps a mile west of the city limits. This surveying party came upon three men in a dense thicket busih^ engaged in coining bogus money — caught them red-handed — the fourth man of the quartet being absent. Of course the gang fled precipitately. The sheriff of Eaton county was notified as soon as it could be done but only one of the party was ever caught. The dies for differ- ent denominations of coins were found dexterouslv PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS 33 secreted in the heels of his boots. The crude forge and a large casting, too ponderous to take with them in their flight, remained for many years on the ground as evidence of their nefarious enterprise. However absurd it might occur to the average law abiding citizen of the present day and generation, I think I am right in saying that in those primitive times counterfeiting and issuing worthless "bank notes" (so-called), was not looked upon as a felony as it would be today. Of course it was taken for granted that it was a "little crooked," but the scarcity of real money, together with the necessity for a medium of exchange, made almost anything that looked like money answer the purpose. As a matter, not only of convenience, but almost of neces- sity, very much of the business about town was conducted without even the semblance of money, exchanging commodity for commodity, though there were two things that were strictly cash. Those were quinine and taxes. While taxes were very low, the amount of quinine necessary to run the average family for the whole year generally taxed the energy and economy of the head of the family to its utmost. Malaria lurked in every breath of air and poisoned the water you drank. There was no escape and all this from the very nature of exist- ing conditions — heavy timbered land permeated with interminable swamps and marshes, with no other drainage than what they received from the solar system, and not enough of that and the remedy only came when the state wisely passed a general drain- age law, one of the most beneficial laws ever put upon the statutes by any legislature since the state was admitted into the miion. CHRISTIAN BREISCII Proprietor Pioneer Mills and White Poppy Flour North Lansing TALES OF PRIMITIVE DAYS. Soap Making Is Described— Various Escapades Are Related. Since "ringing off" my "pioneer articles" I have been importuned by many of the readers of The State Journal to continue the subject; at least to give them one more "story" of those primitive days, confessing that they were very much inter- ested in them indeed. I have jdelded, semi-reluct- antly, to their desire, inasmuch as I am simply human and easily flattered by the many bouquets that I have received in relation to my former re- citals of incidents of early life at the Capital City. I am convinced that it is not all ' ' soft-soap, ' ' for the era of soft-soap making has vanished with the influx of more modern civilization, and general modernism. I no more hear mother say in the early fall: A Bit of Work for Dannie. "Now Dannie, my boy, the summer is over, the crops are taken care of, and like a good boy, you have worked hard and faithful and now comes the fall work; soap to make, candles to dip, hogs to kill and your sister to be married. When these are all done the hard work will all be over with again for a long time, and j^ou will have many daj^s to cut up the winter's wood. So tomorrow, you will take the wheelbarrow, the shovel, and the hoe, and go out around where the log heaps have been burned, and scrape up the ashes carefully, 35 36 PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS and fill the big leach, (a hollow bass-wood log about three feet across and six or seven feet high, on a platform), and we will begin operations at once. It will take all day to get the lye to run- ning. Meanwhile you might take your basket and go up the river and get us a good mess of cow- slip greens, that's a good boy." Thus encouraged I always complied with mother's requests, and only once did it make me any trouble. It was after we had feasted on greens for dinner. Mother sent a portion over to our new neighbors. These neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. John Nelson, were delighted with the herbs, and Mr. Nelson inter- viewed me on the subject of greens. "What are they? Where do you get them?" I told him about the nook or cove up the river where they grew in endless quantities. He ex- pressed a determination to go the following Sunday and get a "mess," and wanted me to go with him. But I had to go to Sunday school. He was about to leave me when on second thought he turned and asked : "Let's see, it's the tops only, that is the leaves, I want, isn't it?" "Yes, and the roots too," I answered. "The roots are the best part of the greens, very nutritious." Trouble Is Started. And here's where the trouble began, I think. On the following morning, Mrs. Nelson came over to see mother and to inquire as to the manner of cooking greens. She said John got them a mess yes- terda}'', and she cooked and cooked them, but it seemed that the roots never would cook tender, and she had thrown them away finally. Just then father PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS 37 came in, and he soon got the whole story. Of course he feared it might make feeling between our new neighbors and us. I managed to keep far enough away from father that he would not step on me for the balance of the day, but the following morn- ing there were ''exercises" in the rear of our cabin. Late in the afternoon Neighbor Nelson met with father as they came out of the woods, and feeling a little sore, probably over the matter, proceeded to call father down for what he termed a downright imposition, for which father Avas moralh^ respon- sible, because he had not taught his young ones better manners than playing tricks on innocent strangers. In vain father pleaded that he was not responsible, but when he referred to father as an old hypocrite, then father was touched with deep emotion, and words passed with vindictive fury. Finally a rough and tumble among the underbush followed. Anyway father came home in worse shape than he left us in the morning and from this time on, for many moons, there was a perceptible cool- ness between the two families. Yes, greens, leeks, berries and wild meat were generally staple com- ponents of the early settlers' menu, with a dessert of mush and milk, or maple sugar. Potatoes, of course, were a common commodity, and they would be a luxury now, compared with the poor, sad tubers of toda}^ Yes, even potatoes will degenerate in qualit}^ in spite of all the agricultural colleges and modern ''improved methods." A Bit of History. Well, I think you are expecting a story, albeit let me say, I am not much given to telling stories. Though I do often recite a little unwritten history. 38 PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS which might otherwise be lost to the reading pub- lie, I must confess that in this age of fiction a really good and true story might be considered a luxury. I want to tell the children about my pet canoe, a present from two of old Chief Okemos' grand- sons. It looked like a toy boat beside the large regulation canoe. It was of walnut and calculated for a one boy canoe. It was the lightest dug-out I ever saw. The youngsters also instructed me very thoroughly in the Indian mode of handling and propelling a canoe, to skim over the w^ater swiftly, safely and noiselessly, and I can say, without fear of "conflicting evidence" that I became quite an expert canoeist. I could make the course from the foot of Saginaw st. to the Cooley farm in my "little boat" in less time than it takes to tell this story. How^ever, if you believe me, this toy boat of mine got me into more or less trouble. A big boy friend of mine, the late Capt. James Baker, owned a fine, very large canoe of which he was very proud. On a certain bright Sabbath morning he elected to give two young lady friends a ride up the river. It may be you can imagine his displeasure (to use a very mild expression) on arriving at the landing to discover that some one had partly filled his big canoe with water. James was a standpatter and not easily discouraged or turned from his purpose. Accordingly he set hastily to work to bail her out. At about this time I had been seized with a similar disposition to take a sail. However, minus the girls, I dropped down to the river, boarded my little craft, and turned her nose up river and away I went like an arrow, but as noiseless as any red- skin. PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS 39 Baker Falls Out. I soon sighted James, with his back toward me, and happily unaware of my approach. I glided close to his rear and yelled, "Jim." Of course he was startled, lost his balance and, of course, fell m over "two fathoms of water.!' For many moons for some reason, James would not speak kindly to me. Yes, that canoe of mine nearly cost me mv life on one occasion. I was starting for the river, think- ing to take a little ride. There was nothing selfish about me, hence, I invited an old family friend to go along and have a ride in my canoe. "^ He ac- cepted the invitation and I ran my boat out and seated myself flat on the bottom. I paddled around like a duck for a few minutes in order to show the gentleman how she worked, and then ran ashore and told the friend to get in while I held the canoe steady. He was somewhat timid about it, but finally step- ped m, following my instructions to the letter. He sat flat on the bottom, body straight upright and carefully maintained a perfect equilibrium of the same. I was to push the canoe off Avhen he was ready. ''All ready," says he, "let-er-go." I did. I gave it a push which sent it to mid stream. Of course, the boat capsized, also our friend, as I had anticipated. Fortunately our friend, William Fitts, was a good swimmer. I Avas aware of this and Avatched him with interest as he came puffing and blowing, for the shore, and I saw un- mistakable signs of fire in his eyes as he neared the bank. I realized a race through the woods was 40 PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS inevitable and I was on the run none too soon with a man twice my size after me in hot chase. Into the timber I dove at once. I could run like a deer, and did, but my pursuer was handicapped, his Sunday clothes were very wet and his hat, to- gether with one shoe, were yet afloat. HoAvever, he gave me a long, hard chase and said some very hard things, indicating what he would do with me if he caught me. All of which made it very desir- able for me to keep out of his way, which I easily did. But he reported the matter at my happy home, which made it necessary for me to wait un- til father had retired before entering the parental abode, and sneaking up to bed. I afterward re- covered my canoe, as I had expected to, lodged on the North Lansing boom. Many Similar Escapades. With many similar escapades the canoe helped to make life in the wilderness very interesting, in- deed, and I seldom overlooked an opportunity to do some new-comer a good turn. And now, while I think of it, I am reminded of a certain Saturday morning, two young men, Henry Kilborne and his brother, armed with rifles, came out of the woods near our cabin. I was out killing snakes. They accosted me asking if there was any game around here. "Oh, yes, some," I replied. ''Well, we're after it," and they started for the timber north of us, when I hailed them asking if they did not wish to shoot a porcupine? They answered as with one voice, "Sure, where is your porcupine?" "Oh, just a little way over here," I said. I led them away for a few blocks to a large PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS 41 basswood tree, they walked cautiously around and around the tree, peeking up through* the branches with guns cocked, ready to fire at the first sight of a porcupine. But failing to discover anything that looked like a porcupine, Henry turned a suspicious look into my innocent face and asked: ''Did you see him go up this tree?" ''Yes, sir," I said. ''When?" he demanded. "Last Sunday morning," I answered truly. Of course I was soon lost in the underbrush. Years after this, if I chanced to meet one of these boys they would look at me with that sharp, penetrating Kilborne look and remark: "Say, fellers, don't you want to shoot a porcu- pine? Oh, you little cuss." Swamp and Many Snakes. The territory lying along Grand ave., west to the foot of the hill from Ionia st., north to Sagi- naw St., in those days was a swamp, very wet and fed by springs from under the hill. The swamp was mfested with poison sumac, skunk's cabbage, snakes and willoAvs. I once had the hardest snake fight of my life here with a moccasin. Of course I came off victor. There were striped snakes, green snakes, blue racers, rattlers, black snakes, and dur- ing- the Civil war, copper-heads. The state caused a deep ditch to be dug along Grand ave. to Sagi- naw St., and thence to the river, which reclaimed this waste land and made Grand ave. passable in this locality. B. F. SIMONS Pioneer Merchant 1848 VARIOUS KINDS OF SNAKES. Reptiles of Many Species Were Formerly Found In This Vicinity. Well, dear public, I am feeling a little sad to- day.. Yes, your poor, old uncle has been suspected of prevaricating. This is as mildh^ as I can put it, and I would like the floor for a moment while I rise to explain. In my last article I touched in- cidentally on the subject of "greens." Later on, as I was quietly and peaceably walking down the avenue, I met an old-time friend, who evidently knew but little of pioneer life, who accosted me something like this: ''Well, 'Uncle Dan,' I have been quite interested in your articles in The State Journal, and was led to believe you were correct in all you have said, but you were certainly a little off when you went out for greens in the fall. It is in the spring when we get those." Knows Little of Life in Woods. Poor man, how little you really know of life in the woods. Did you never read of one John, who lived on locusts and wild honey in the wilderness? Did you never hear of those troublesome people who lived so long on imaginary bread on their marah to the promised land? Or poor old Robin- son Crusoe, who subsisted so long on a mere island of the sea? Let me drop a ray of light into the apparent density of my honest friend 's cranium, for it strikes nie as simply unfortunate that my friend is so 43 . 44 PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS utterly unacquainted with the nature and disposi- tion of the festive "cow-slop." It is very evident in my mind that there was something- wanting in his "preparatory course." Botany, I dare say, was inadvertently omitted. It is the habit of this par- ticular plant to obtain its development chiefly dur- ing' the colder months. The foliage and stamens that are gathered in spring for "greens" were put forth and acquired the greater part of their growth the previous autumn, making it possible to collect them late in that season, and are, in fact, more palat- able than at any other time. However, the early settlers were not confined to this plant alone for a "mess of greens." We were in the habit of hav- ing them all through the summer, from early spring until late fall. The leaves of young basswoods and the aromatic sassafras, the foliage of mustard, which generally flourished "behind the barn," and with which almost any family was supplied, these and many other herbs were generally obtainable if you really wanted them, and we wanted them. Yes, in those days of "nip and tuck," we were Ukely to want almost anything we could eat, and we could eat almost anything, and a big pot of greens, with its necessary accompaniment, a goodly piece of salt pork, with some good sap vinegar as a condiment, was usually relished by young and old. No Dandelions Then. In those early times there were no dandelions, nor dock, in fact but few of the more modern evils that so annoy the husbandman of today. And while I think of it, let me mention some of. the luxuries of the olden times. Hunting wild game for the sport and profit there was in it did PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS 45 not constitute all our pleasures. In late spring and early summer there were wild flowers to gather to decorate the cabin; roots and herbs to collect to be dried and stored away for times of need for the sick; later on, white alder and other berries, and still later cranberries and wild grapes for our fruit supply, and lastly the gathering of nuts to make the long winter evenings about the hearth the more enjoyable. Yes, nothwithstanding all the hard work, those were the happiest days of our life, those days of the boot jack, the great log fire, and the iron crane that swung over it, the old ever-in-use iron tea kettle singing its cheery song, while some were cracking nuts or popping corn, Avhile mother was placidly knitting our winter sox or mending our ragged clothes. About An Old Man. Do you see that old gentleman, slowly wending his way through the jostling throng down the ave- nue, steadying his age-enfeebled step with a buck- horn mounted cane, as he plods his uncertain prog- ress, the gentle breeze playing with his long, white beard, his head thinly crowned with straggling locks made white with the frosts of many Avinters, his mind absorbed with recollections of a long and strenuous life. And comparing the present with the long ago, he seems almost bewildered. Ap- proach him reverently. Speak to him kindh% and, accommodating your step to his, walk with him, leading him to some convenient seat, sit down, close to hinf for he is "hard-o '-hearing." He feels lonely. He is fairly hungry for a social chat. Do not allude to his "acivanced'age." Let him do that. He will tell vou of leaving his comfortable home in the east 46 PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS with his young wife and penetrating into the woods. It may be in the immediate vicinity, and locating on "a piece of land," now occupied perhaps by a populous city. He will tell of their first home, the snug cabin, some of the perils and hardships they experienced, their victory over abject poverty, and final independence. The sad part of his story is coming. His children grown to man and woman- hood and married left one after another until he and "Hannah" were left to finish the journey of life alone, and then the saddest of all the sad story, and the hardest to tell a stranger. With a deep drawn sigh that convulses his feeble frame, he Avill tell you of Hannah's demise. His cheeks are wet. They have often been wet before. His eyes lose their faint luster as he affects to look away, with a seeming effort to look through the veil that sepa- rates