USA > Michigan > Van Buren County > A History of Van Buren County, Michigan: A Narrative Account of Its Historical Progress, Its. > Part 3
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Palmer, Lewis, 1042
Palmer, Milton F., 382, 526
Palmer, Russell, 395
Parker, Thomas E., 1043
Parks, E. F., 343, 355
Parmeter, J. F., 420 Parsons, L. E., 345, 346 Paw Paw, 24, 113, 130, 136, 138, 158, 576-590 "Paw Paw Courier, "' 356
"Paw Paw Democrat, " 354
"Paw Paw Free Press, " 354
"Paw Paw Free Press and Courier, " 355 Paw Paw Fruit Growers Union, 587 Paw Paw Lodge No. 18, I. O. O. F., 585 Paw Paw Railroad, 111
Paw Paw river as a carrier, 105, 554 Paw Paw Savings Bank, 343
Paw Paw township-Mention, 82, 86; original township of La Fayette, 564; becomes Paw Paw township, 565; lakes, 565; the hardy pioneers, 566; Mr. and Mrs. Pe-Pe-Yah, 571; David Woodman's pioneer pictures, 571; the Paw Paw irrevocably crooked, 574; statisti- cal, political and horticultural, 575; village of Paw Paw, 576 Pease, Anson D., 699 Pease, Enoch M., 500 Peck, J., 467 Peoples Bank, Bloomingdale, 351
Pe-Pe-Yah, "Mr. and Mrs.," 571
Pere Marquette Railway, 113 Perkins, Roy D., 365, 455
Peters, John, 477 Phelps, Alexander H., 549
Phelps, Horatio N., 555 Phelps, Theodore E., 134, 535 Phillips, Benjamin, 411 Phillips, Charles C., 362, 363 Phillips, David M., 366
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INDEX
Phillips, Eugene, 1134 Phillips, M. F., 504 Phillips, Norman, 323 Phillips, Solomon, 408, 411 Phillips, Waldo E., 504 Pierce, Almon J., 444, 500 Pierce, Clark, 498, 607 Pierce, Daniel, 498, 607 Pierce, H. M., 443 Pierce, Ransom T., 991 Pine Grove, 110, 597
Pine Grove township-Mention, 85; organized, 592; shingles as legal tender, 592; marital and legal, 594; Kalamazoo & South Haven Railroad, 595; general progress, 595; Goble- ville, 596; Pine Grove, 597; Kendall, 597; Mentha, 597 Pioneer farm implements, 327
Place, Clarence E., 605 Plank roads, 103 Pokagon, Julia, 8, 11, 12-14
Pokagon, Simon (chief), 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 21, 24, 26, 99
Politics of the county-General elections (1837-1910), 168; the parties in the county, 169; presidential vote in the county, 170; county officers, 171; members of the state legislature, 175; other important officials from Van Buren county, 177; constitutional conventions, 178; proposed constitutional amendments, 179; Van Buren county and the liquor traffic, 180 Pomeroy, George B., 605 Pontiac, 56-58
Poole, Olive, 514, 521
Poole, Watson, 550 Poor, Charles N., 510 Poor, Melvin H., 674 Poor, Simon B., 673 Poorman, Byron M., 1073
Population of county (1840-1910), 74 Porter, George G., 68
Porter township-Mention 82, 84; first set- tlers, 598; the Kinney settlement, 598; the Adams family, 600; township named and or- ganized, 600; educational and political, 601; a retrospect, 602 Potter, Allen, 110 Potter, John B., 556 Pratt, Warren, 610 Presbyterian church, Decatur, 492 Presbyterian church, Paw Paw, 585
Press of Van Buren county-"Paw Paw Free Press, "' 354; "Paw Paw Free Press and Courier, "' 355; "The True Northerner, " 356; "Decatur Republican," 359; the "Lawton Leader, " 361; "Hartford Day Spring, " 361; the "Bangor Advance, " 363; early Lawrence newspapers, 364; "Lawrence Times,'' 365; "Bloomingdale Leader, " 365; "Gobleville News," 366; South Haven newspapers, 366 Pritchard, Colonel, 258, 259, 260 Probate judges, 171 Prohibition in the county, 180 Prosecuting attorneys, 173 Prospect lake, 544 Pugsley, C. Ray, 649
Pugsley, Henry M., 569 Pugsley, John K., 568, 575 Pugsley, Milton H., 352, 653 Pugsley, Nathaniel M., 569 Pugsley 's Lake, 565
Quackenbush, Elizabeth, 408 "Queen of the Woods," 6 Quinn, Francis, 188
Radtke, Charles, 800
Railroads-Michigan Central, 107; Kalamazoo & South Haven, 109; the Paw Paw Railroad, 111; Toledo & South Haven Railroad (Fruit Belt line), 111; the Pere Marquette Rail- way, 113 Randall, V. F., 468
Ranney, John A., 395, 400 Ranney, William, 395 Ransom, Epaphroditus, 109, 161, 162 Ransom, Thomas H., 455, 904
Reams, Fred W., 797
"Red Man's Greeting, " 3
Register of deeds, 172 Reid, James L., 320 Remington, J. M., 453, 454
Renfer, Alfred, 1003
Rennie, James H., 652 Reynolds, Benjamin, 84, 505, 601 Reynolds, George, 544, 545, 558 Reynolds, Jane, 551
Reynolds, John, 358, 544, 545, 556, 558
Reynolds, Sarah, 551
Reynolds, Theodore L., 364
Rhoads, James O., 967
Rhodes, H. W., 135
Robinson, Daniel G., 450
Ridlon, John M., 638 Rice, Allen, 336
Rice, Mrs. Allen (Adelia), 122, 335, 383, 548 Rich, David E., 625
Richards, Chandler, 165, 556 Risley, C. S., 446 Rix, George H., 412
Roads2-Indian trails, 98; first Michigan white man's road, 99; territorial and state roads, 99; old stage routes, 101; plank roads, 103 Robertson, Burrill A., 1152 Robbins, John, 1021 Robinson, Almiron, 838
Robinson, Claude D., 876
Robinson, Daniel G .. 454 Robinson, John A., 1085 Rockwell, Charles, 556 Rogers, Joseph, 348 Rogers, Laura, 497 Rogers, Robert. 56 Rogers, Samuel, 472 Rood, Frank E., 1037
Root, Edson V., 445
Root, Herbert L., 925 Rose, Gilbert L., 390 Rosevelt, John V., 535 Roseville, 516 Ross, Thomas L., 575 Ross, Volney, 344 Rowe, George U., 667 Rowe, Nelson, 384, 556, 666
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Rowe, Rufus, 384 Rowe, Sylvanus, 385 Rowland, Marion O., 177, 358, 360 Rowland, Oran W., 94, 343, 358, 360, 1156
Ruggles, Joseph, 514, 521 Runyan, Arthur C., 926 Russell, L. S., 363 Russell, M. F., 363, 852 Ryan, John, 521
Sackett, Stanley, 949 Sage, Richard E., 826 St. Clair, Arthur, 61
St. Mary's Church of the Immaculate Concep- tion, Paw Paw, 585 Sanford, Lyman, 487 Savage, Levi, 409 Saw-kaw's love story, 38-45
Sawtelle, Elemuel, 468
Sayres, Rufus, 517
Schermerhorn, William, 1035
Schmidt, O. C., 366 School statistics, 125, 126
Schoolcraft, George W., 963 Schoolcraft, William, 941
Schools-Act of 1827 modified, 117; harassed school inspectors, 118; the teachers' qualifi- cations, 120; Mrs. Allen Rice's reminis- cences, 122; the old and the new, 125
Scott, Charles, 419
Scott, James, 622
Scott, John, 623
Scott, Leslie, 1034
Scott, Thomas, 486
Scott, William R., 891
Scott Club, South Haven, 617
Searls, Charles C., 661
Sebring, Horace, 415
Sebring, J. E., 350, 745
Second Michigan Cavalry, 290
Secord, W. W., 363, 365
Selkirk, Matthew V., 935
Selleck, Charles, 575 Sellick, F. W., 343
Sellick, George F., 355
Sellick, William J., 343 Sellick, W. R., 343
Semi-agricultural industries, 325 Seventeenth Michigan Infantry, 215
Shaefer, Charles S., 412
Shanahan, Joseph K., 1076
Shattuck, Shepard H., 475, 798 Shattuck, William J., 475 Shaw, Orrin S., 474 Sheffer, C. M., 320 Sheffer, S. G., 320
Sheldon, Charles P., 521, 1101
Sheldon, L. B., 575
Sheldon, Oliver H. P., 412
Sheldon, Thomas C., 613 Shepard, Henry, 867 Shepard, L. E., 575 Shepard, William W., 523, 525 Sheriffs, 171
Sherman, Alonzo, 342, 727 Sherman, John D., 733 Sherman, Joseph H., 729 Sherrod, Burtes M .. 445
Sherrod, G. B., 575 Sherrod, Hiram, 761 Sherwood, George, 490 Sherwood, Samuel, 489 Shine, George, 854 Showerman, David, 397 Showerman, J. B., 343 Shuver, John H., 1027 Sibley, Solomon, 78 Sikes, Orendo M., 535, 538
Sikes, Zenas, 538 Simmons, Jeremiah H., 80, 165, 575 Simmons, Leander, 933
Simon, Ellis, 351 Sirrine, William R., 625
Sisson, Orrin, 602 Sister Lakes resort, 534
Sixteenth Michigan Infantry, 287
Sixth Michigan Infantry, 183
Skinner, Edward, 884
Smith, Augusta, 497
Smith, C. F., 365 Smith, David H., 625
Smith, Edmund, 343, 581 Smith, George P., 625
Smith, Harsen D., 165
Smith, Hattie B., 367
Smith, Henry, 511
Smith, Hiram A., 879
Smith, H. B., 432 Smith, Ira A., 367 Smith, James, 523 Smith, John, 438, 439
Smith, R. A., 311
Smith, Sherman D., 455
Smith, W. E., 359
Smith, Wilbur G., 367
Smolk. John, 412
South Haven, 28, 110, 136-138
South Haven and Casco Pomological Society, 322 South Haven Board of Trade, 619
South Haven City Hospital, 388
"South Haven Daily Gazette, " 366, 367 "South Haven Daily Tribune, "' 367 South Haven fruit raising, 320
South Haven Gazette Company, 368 South Haven Loan and Trust Company, 352 South Haven Pomological Society, 322, 619
"South Haven Record, " 367
"South Haven Sentinel, " 366
"South Haven Tribune-Messenger, " 367
South Haven township-Mention, 80, 81, 84, 85; early elections and officials, 603; prop- erty and population, 605; Jay R. Monroe, first white settler, 606; Clark and Daniel Pierce. 607; A. S. Dyckman's story, 608; pioneer steam sawmills, 609; first institu- tions and pioneers, 610; village (now city) of South Haven, 613; the summer resort business, 615; schools, churches and societies, 616; municipal and business matters, 618; Pomological Society and Board of Trade, 619 South Mountain (battle), 216
Southard, John, 438, 439 Southern Michigan Fruit Association, 417, 418 Southwell, Enoch, 556 Spanish-American war, 310
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Thirtieth Michigan Infantry, 288 Thomas, Jesse, 521 Thomas, Nathan, 751
Thomas, William, 521 Thompson, Albert, 605 Thompson, Edwin A., 358
Thompson, Jasper H., 521
Thorn, John S., 521
Three Mile lake, 565
Thresher, W. E., 364
Tittle, George, 485 Tobey, Samuel, 366 Todd, A. M., 597 Toledo & South Haven Railroad, 111 Tolles, Goodwin S., 496, 1109
Tolles, James T., 136, 496
Tolles, William R., 496
Tomlinson, Joel, 403
Torrey, A. W., 454 Torrey, Arthur, 1133
Stevens, French & Company, 342
Stevens, Harrison, 592
Stevens, James, 429
Stevens, William H., 400
Stewart, Gardner L .. 455
Stewart, Nellie, 366 Stewart, W. E., 366
Stimson, Horace, 82, 546, 553, 556 Stoddard, John H., 556
Stone, William, 592 Stone River (battle), 198 Stoughton, Antoinette, 525
Stratton, Truman, 523
Stratton, Willard, 523 Streator, Prenett T., 625
Stuart, Charles E., 109, 197
Sturgis, Joseph, 609 Summers, William, 980 Summy, Eri, 468 Surdam, Nathaniel L., 407
Sutton, Luther, 362, 515, 546 Sutton, Orrin, 546, 556
Sweet, Charles P., 358, 359 Sweet, William, 1019 Swift, H. D., 485
Taft, Geraldine, 478 Tanner, E. A., 529
Tarbell, Henry Y., 820
Tarbell, John, 348 Taylor, Charles A., 439
Taylor, Daniel, 84, 439
Taylor, Ephraim, 549
Taylor, F. W., 367
Taylor, Howland C., 521 Taylor, N. S., 350 Taylor, William N., 407, 426
Tedrow, Frank J., 1117
Teed, Jeremiah, 488 Teed, Philip N., 400 Telephone lines, 353 Tenth Michigan Cavalry, 291 Tenth Michigan Infantry, 284 Territorial road, 99, 553 Thayer, Haviland, 450 Third Michigan Cavalry, 239, 242 Third Michigan Infantry, 283 Thirteenth Michigan Cavalry, 293 Thirteenth Michigan Infantry, 197
Valleau, Peter T., 624 Valleau, Theodore W., 624, 908
Valuation of county property (1851-1911), 75
Van Antwerp, Daniel, 407, 412
Van Antwerp, Daniel C., 841
Van Antwerp, Mrs. Harriet (Cook), 600
Van Blaricon, Frank, 664
Van Buren (paper town), 555
Van Buren county-Population of (1840-1910), 74; property valuation (1851-1911), 75 Van Buren County Farmers' Mutual Fire In- surance Company, 352 Van Buren County Pioneer Association, 89
"Van Buren County Press, " 355 "Van Buren County Republican," 360
· Van Fleet, William Norris, 551 Van Fossen, Isaac W., 355, 356, 645 Van Hise, Joseph, 486, 487 Van Hise, Stephen O., 490 Van Hise, William O., 488
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Spaulding, Henry, 521, 1119 Spayde, Emerson D., 452 Spencer, Frank L., 694 Sprague, William, 483 Squier, David A., 488 Squier, Emory H., 488, 1091 Srackangast, Ezra, 1032 Stage routes, 101 Stainton, William H., 412 Starbuck, William, 1013 Starkweather, Nathaniel B., 80 State representatives, 175 State roads, 100, 101 State senators, 175 Stearns, Sidney, 509 Stearns, Zebina, 507, 509 Stephens, Frank E., 726
Stevens, F. E., 343 Stevens, F. H., 575
Townsend, Charles, 81 Townsend, Loren D., 470
Trafford, William F., 474
Traver, William M., 670
Traver canning factory, 531
Travis, J. B., 366
Traxler canning factory, 531
Trim, Charles E., 455
Tripp, John H., 939
Tripp, Robert H., 985
Trowbridge, S. M., 496
"True Northerner," 356 Truesdell, Merritt J., 1041
Truex, John M., 1033
Tubbs, Nathan, 85, 495, 496
Turner, George, 1059 Turner, Samuel, 400
Tuttle, William, Jr., 535
Twelfth Michigan Infantry, 188
Twell, Joseph, 361 Twenty-fourth Michigan Infantry, 225
Twenty-fifth Michigan Infantry, 226 Twenty-eighth Michigan Infantry, 227 Tyner, Thomas C., 556
Universalist church. Decatur, 491 Upton, John B., 556
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Van Horn, James, 911 Van Nise, William K., 488 Van Ostrand, Spencer, 839 Van Ostrom, John, 529 Van Ostrom, Maggie, 529 Van Riper, Charles A., 602 Vaughan, Orley M., 1077 Veterinary practitioners, 392 Vickers, Robert E., 452 Vining, G. M., 364 Vining, Lewis H., 1031
Waber, George T., 929
Waber, Thomas, 923
Wagner, Amos B., 504 Wagner, Joseph S., 610
Wagner, L. R., 811 Waite, Caroline M., 739 Waite, Henry, 738 Waite, Rufus M., 400 Wakefield, Mason, 508 Wakeman, Frank N., 359, 631
Wakeman, Seth L., 1010 Waldo, Campbell, 395 Waldron, Elver E., 602, 1089
Walker, Lewis P., 678 Wallace, George A., 1040 Wallace, William, 1006 Walter, James A., 110 Wapsey, 14-19, 40
Ward, Thomas O., 358 Warner, Bangs F., 643 Warner, Elam L., 94 Warner, Elijah, 602
Warner, Frank E., 496
Warner, Glenn E., 634 Warner, Jerome C., 575, 632
Warner, Junia, Jr., 80, 394, 395, 398, 584
Warner, Levi H., 379
Warren, Grace F., 680
Warren, Nellie M., 819
Warren, Robert L., 360, 364
Waterford road, 552 Waterman, J., 467
Waters, Harlan P., 412, 779
Watkins, Andrew J., 1002 Watson, Jerome B., 496 Watson, Leonard, 467
Watson, M. P., 445
Watson, Ralph F., 496 Waverly Grange No. 37, P. of H., 399 Waverly township-Mention, 83; physical fea- tures, 620; the township named, 621; the Myers family, 621; first wedding between pioneers, 622; Covey Hill, 623; John Scott, 623; other early settlers, 624; from the of- ficial records, 625; village of Glendale, 626 Weber, Henry F., 980 Weeks, James M., 504 Weidenfeller, Charles A., 455 Welch, J. L., 351 Welch, O. T., 488 Weldin, George, 1142 Weldin, Joel M., 1047
INDEX
Welker, Jeremiah, 1080 Wells, Hiram K., 432 Wenban, W. W., 496 Weso, 33-37 Westgate, Orlo, 605
"West Michigan Advance, "' 363 West Michigan Savings Bank, Bangor, 350
Whipple, Charles W., 162
Wicksall, Guy J., 73, 179
Wickwire, J. H., 361 Wiggins, Milan D., 351, 1151 Wigglesworth, C. H., 323
Wilcox, John B., 1036 Wild pigeons, 45-52
Wildey, Albert R., 327, 328, 570, 574
Wildey, Edwin A., 177, 178, 327, 359, 575
Wildey, W. C., 327, 575 Willard, Isaac W., 73, 105, 109, 178, 574, 576, 578, 580 Williams, Charles W., 917
Williams, Henry S., 358 Williams, John, 323, 612
Williams, Nathan, 397 Williams, Norris A., 987
Williams, Oscar J., 412
Williams, Orsimus, 602
Williams, Philip, 410, 411
Williams, William R., 551
Williamson, Mrs. Prudence, 540
Willis, Lewis E., 984 Wilmot, Marlin L., 906
Wilson, Eugene A., 177
Wilson, S. H., 367
Wilson, Samuel P., 605
Wise, Abram S., 504
Withington, William H., 215
Wolcott, James, 523 Wolf stories, 333 Wolfs, C. A., 343 Wood, Walter A., 1094
Woodman, David, 327, 571, 575
Woodman, David, Jr., 571, 572
Woodman, Edson, 327, 328
Woodman, Jason, 325, 574
Woodman, Jonathan J., 94, 177, 404, 412
Woodman, Joseph, 337, 403, 404, 571, 578
Woodman, Lucius C., 239, 380
Woodman, Olivia J., 404
Woodruff, George, 163
Woodward, Marquis, 432
Wooster, A. M., 360
World's Fair (Chicago), 3, 6
Worthington, Henry, 541 Wygent, John, 477
Yates, James A., 445 Yeckley, George G. B., 504
Young, Benoni, 476 Young, Charles W., 575
Young, David, 472
Young, George F., 946
Young, Merle H., 576, 707
Zook, William E., 1012
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The above are supposed to have been made by the mound builders who had sway in Van Buren county long before the Algonquin race had taken posses- sion of Michigan, from the fact that many of these implements are found buried with their dead in the mounds scattered throughout the county. The cuts which have no notches at the base were used for various purposes as we use our knives. All notched at the base were used for arrow points. They were held in place in a split in one end of the arrow, securely held by the sinews of ani- mals. Although our present Indians knew nothing about how they were manu- factured, still when found they were successfully used by them.
The above illustrations were furnished by E. B. Starks, an old settler of Van Buren county-and considered good authority in aboriginal matters.
The above cuts, excepting those notched at the base, were used as we use axes or pick axes. They were securely fastened to the helves made of a crotched stick of proper size, securely held in place by animal thongs. The specimens from which the illustration was made were found in Van Buren county, and furnished by Conklin & Smith.
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
CHAPTER I
ABORIGINAL HISTORY
FIRST CHURCH BUILT BY INDIANS-CHIEF POKAGON'S ADDRESS- POKAGON'S LAST WIGWAM-JULIA POKAGON'S ADDRESS-OLD WAPSEY-DO INDIANS CRY, LAUGH OR JOKE ?- ALGONQUIN LE- GEND OF MAN'S CREATION-LEGEND OF PAW PAW AND THE PAW PAW VALLEY-ALGONQUIN LEGENDS OF SOUTH HAVEN-AFTER ME-ME-OG (SQUABS) IN VAN BUREN COUNTY-THE "BUCK PONY" RIDE-"NEVER CARRY A REVOLVER, BOYS" -- SAW-KAW'S LOVE STORY-ME-ME-OG, THE WILD PIGEONS.
By C. H. Engle, Associate Editor.
"Is not the Redman's wigwam home As dear to him as costly dome? Is not his loved ones smile as bright As the dear ones of the man that's white? Freedom-this self-same freedom you adore- Bade him defend his violated shore. * ¥ *
"The past can never be undone. The new day brings the rising sun To light the way of duty now To children with the dusky brow."
While we leave on record the history of our own people, let us not forget the Red Man who once owned this beautiful land and welcomed our pioneers when they first came to this county, and when in need sheltered and shared with them "man-do-min and suc-see" (corn and deer).
It is a lamentable fact that those who know least of the Indian race cry out against them most bitterly, as being vindictive, treach- erous and cruel; while those who have lived among them and as- sociated with them for years, frankly acknowledge that as a race they are no worse than we are. Of course when their lands were
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
invaded they fought like demons for home and native land; and so we might say of every race. General Sherman, when he led the boys in blue to the Sea, during the late rebellion, witnessed so much wantonness and cruelty that he cried from his heart, "War is Hell!" and truthfully he might have added "alike with savage and with sage." As far as we can learn from history Pere Marquette was the first white man who visited Southwest Michi- gan about two hundred and fifty years ago. A few years after he was followed by La Salle who built a fort at the mouth of St. Joseph river, Michigan, on the highlands west of the junction of Paw Paw and St. Joseph rivers, the main object of which seems to have been to monopolize the trade in buffalo hides. The na- tives of Michigan were firm in the belief that the country many years before their time was inhabited by a race much further ad- vanced in the arts and sciences than were they. Their legends show it and the domestic implements and weapons of warfare which they found scattered broadcast over the land clearly proved it. Again, it was generally talked of and known among the Indians of Michigan, as near as they could estimate time, that about two hundred and fifty years ago one of their chiefs, We-me-gen-de-bay, while hunting in the wilderness discovered a great copper kettle which was partly underground. The roots of large trees had grown over it, and when taken up it appeared as if it had never been used, but seemed to be just as it came from the maker, as there was yet a round bright spot in the center of the bottom of it. This kettle was large enough to cook a whole deer or bear in. For a long time the Indians kept it as a sacred relic. They did not keep it near where they lived, but securely hidden in a place most unfrequented by human beings. They did not use it for any- thing except great feasts. Their idea was that it was made by some deity who presided over the country where it was found and that a copper mine must be near that place. It had no iron rim around it, nor bail for hanging while in use, but the edge of. the upper part was much thicker than the rest and was turned out square about three fourths of an inch, as if made to rest on some support while in use. When the Indians began to be civil- ized they used it in common to boil down maple sap to sugar, in- stead of cooking bear for feast.
I first read an account of this magical kettle in the writings of the late Chief Blackbird, an educated Ottawa Indian. I have talked with him frequently since regarding this strange find. He told me that while a young man he worked in a government blacksmith shop, that it was brought to him to have a bail put in it, and that he fixed it up according to order. When I talked with him he was nearly one hundred years old and confirmed in full
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
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BARK AND QUILL WORK
Having presented our readers with photo-cuts of implements made by a pre- historic race of this country, we now present them photo-cuts of the present- day work of our Michigan Indians, showing their artistie creations in bark and porcupine quill work, etc.
About the time of the opening of the World's Fair in Chicago, in 1893, our late Chief Pokagon published a booklet on the manifold bark of the white birch tree, entitled "The Red Man's Greeting; " afterwards it was called by the public "The Red Man's Rebuke; " also "The Red Man's Book of Lamenta- tion." In order that future generations of our county may understand the Indian love and appreciation of the white birch tree, I deem it best to here publish the preface of the bark book in full.
PREFACE OF "THE RED MAN'S GREETING"
My object in publishing "The Red Man's Greeting" on the manifold bark of the white birch tree is out of loyalty to my own people and gratitude to the Great Spirit, who, in his wisdom, provided for our use, for untold genera- tions, this most remarkable tree with manifold bark, used by us instead of paper and being of greater value to us, as it could not be injured by sun or water. Out of the bark of this wonderful tree were made hats, caps and dishes for domestic use, while our maidens tied with it the knot that sealed the mar- riage vow. Wigwams were made of it, as well as the largest canoes that out- rode the most violent storms on lake and sea. It was also used for light and fuel at our war dances and spirit councils. Originally the shores of our north- ern lakes and streams were fringed with it and evergreen; and the white, charmingly contrasted with the green mirrored from the waters, was indeed beautiful; but, like the Red Man, this tree is vanishing from our forests.
" Alas for us! our day is o'er, Our fires are out from shore to shore; No more for us the wild deer bounds; The plough is on our hunting grounds; The pale man's axe rings through our woods. The pale man's sails skim o'er our floods, Our pleasant springs are dry. Our children-look by power oppressed! Beyond the mountains of the West, Our children go to die!"
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
the above account of the kettle. He further added: "From this evidence of working in metals and from many other relics of former occupants, it is evident that this country has been in- habited for many ages by a people further advanced in the arts and sciences that are we."
Our own people who have investigated as far as possible the prehistoric race that occupied this country long before the Al- gonquins, are of the opinion that they were the mound builders who have left so many earth works of various. sizes scattered throughout this continent, traces of which still may be seen in nearly every township of Van Buren county; and that the flint arrow points, knives, spears, stone axes, etc., which are so pro- fusely scattered throughout the county are the handiwork of those people. Whence they came or where they went no one knows, but
some conjecture that for ages they slowly migrated southward and finally established the ancient kingdom of Mexico. Cortes, the Spanish conqueror who invaded Mexico in 1519, declared that the natives were just about as far advanced in the arts and sciences as were the Spaniards, except in the implements of warfare and the manufacture of gunpowder, of which they had no knowledge whatever.
FIRST CHURCH BUILT BY INDIANS
The Pottawattamies claim to have erected the first church in Van Buren county. It was built of logs on the south side of Rush lake, township of Hartford, in 1840. In 1856 they built a frame church, forty feet by sixty, just east of the log church. Both were Catholic churches. The frame church is still standing. I well remember when it was built from this fact: They came to me to get a job of cutting down about ten acres of timber that they might obtain money with which to buy shingles. They agreed to commence the job on the following day. I told them I would be over in the afternoon to see what kind of a job they were doing. I was rather late and did not get there until nearly sundown. When I was within eighty rods of the job I was surprised to hear what I thought must be a war-whooping pow wow. I hardly could decide whether to go ahead or retreat. While I paused I heard the falling of the great trees as if a cyclone was abroad in the timber. Advancing in haste I saw the timber crashing down the whole width of the ten-acre job. Again I paused, for the crashing of the falling timber, intermixed with the pow wow war-whoops, created such confusion of sounds,
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