USA > Michigan > Cass County > History of Cass county, Michigan > Part 48
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Among the early settlers of La Grange was Thomas Simpson, who came from Piqua County, Ohio, in May, 1828. He spent the summer on Pokagon Prairie, and in the autumn of that year removed to La Grange, where he entered land, and where he resided many years. In 1833, he entered land on Section 24, in the township of Pokagon. James Simpson, at the time of his father's emigration, was a lad of seven years ; he lived in La Grange until 1836, when he moved to the place where he now resides.
The following includes the names of all designated as resident tax-payers for the year 1837, and is taken from the assessment roll of that year. The amount assessed for township purposes was $94.22; the State and county tax was $376.90; the total valuation was $75,381.00; the buildings of the township were esti- mated at $1,460:
Thomas Youngblood, Spencer Robinson, James Emmons, John Emmons, William Emmons, James Emmons, Jr., Elias Simpson, William Sheldon, Joshua Sheldon, George Hamilton, Jacob Mufley, John Muf- ley, William Taylor, John B. Goble, James Dickson, John Collins, Henry Hauser, Ruhan McCoy, Jackson True, James W. Robinson, Isaac Mufley, George Mufley, Leray H. Reman, Amos Dane, George Van- vlear, Charles Barton, Moses Simpson, James Streator, Nathan McCoy, Justin Stearns, Joseph Stretch, John B. Redick, Isaac W. Duckett, Isaac Sumner, Thomas P. McCool, Alexander Rodgers, Sr., William Maddox,
Hamilton J. McCool, Alexander B. Davis, Peabody Cook, Delanson Custis, Stephen Curtis, Whipple Carpenter, Archibald Clyborn, William L. Clyborn, Thomas K. Clyborn, Jehelaiel Luddington, Caleb Smith, Joseph Gardner, Curtis Morris, Sumner, Davis & Co., Lewis Edwards, Sumner, Hatch & Co .. David True, William True, Fiddon Emmons, Alex- ander Rodgers, Jr., John Rodgers, Coonrad Clipfield, John Putnam, Henry Sifford, David Sink, Samuel Markham, Baldwin Jenkins, Squire Thompson, David Robinson, Thomas True, Thomas Burk, John B. Timmons, William Burk, Peter Youngblood, Aaron Jenkins, Uzziel Putnam, James B. Herbert, Joseph Garwood, Jesse Garwood, Alva Benton, Solomon Veach, Eli W. Veach, Jonathan Hartsell, Isaac Will- iams, Samuel Rodgers, Titus Husted, Warner Osgood, George Benton, Neahmiah Morton, Hubbel H. Rood, James Husted, Thomas Sherman, Charles Thorough- man, Mitchel Robinson and W. G. Strawn.
Samuel Morris was one of the pioneers of Kalama- zoo County, where he settled in 1834, emigrating from Otsego County, N. Y. He bought land on Gourdneck Prairie, and returned to the State of New York. In the spring of 1836, he was married in Madison County, and in April of that year returned to his farm in Kalamazoo County. After a residence of three years he moved to Pokagon, where he has since resided. Samuel resides on the old place.
John Byrnes came from Syracuse, N. Y., in 1837, and settled in Niles, where he followed his trade, that of a carpenter and joiner, for several years. In 1839, he came to Sumnerville, and in 1846 bought the farm where he now resides. He has in many ways been instrumental in advancing the best inter- ests of Pokagon, and his name is found connected with many important interests.
Daniel Oyler, although not a pioneer, is one of the old residents, having been in Pokagon over thirty years. He was originally from Cuyhoga County, Ohio, from which place he emigrated with his parents and brother John in 1848.
Andrew J. Myers came to Volinia in 1831, in com- pany with his mother and two brothers, George and Aaron. After a residence of some years the family went to Illinois. In 1845, Andrew returned, and in 1848 purchased the property he now owns.
Deodatus W. Hurd was originally from Rensselaer County, N. Y., from whence he emigrated to Iowa in 1859. In 1862, he came to Cass County, and re- sided in Jefferson until his removal to Pokagon Village in 1862.
B. C. Ames was born in Wyoming County, New York, whence be emigrated to Illinois. Here he was married, in 1855. Mrs. Ames was born on Buck
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Horn Island, in the Niagara River. In 1861, they came to Cass County and settled in Pokagon; four years later they moved to the farm where they now reside.
The First Free-Will Baptist Church of Pokagon was organized in 1854, with the following members : Z. Tinkham and wife, L. Tinkham, J. H. Darling and wife, Melissa and Martha Tinkham and a Miss Potter. The first pastor was J. H. Darling, of New York, who preached two years previous to the organ- ization. The succession of pastors has been Revs. E. Root, James Ashley, and L. Jones, who is the present pastor. The first Deacon was Z. Tinkham. In 1860, the society built a church edifice at a cost of $1,500, which was dedicated in February, 1861, Rev. D. L. Rice, of Hillsdale, preaching the dedicatory sermon. The present membership is eighty-two, with the fol- lowing officers : Deacons, Z. Tinkham, E. C. Smith, M. Hoover ; Trustees, J. P. Hutten, M. Hoover and Alexander Cooper. The society started under very adverse circumstances, but is at present in a very flourishing condition.
THE STATE FISH HATCHERY.
In 1873, the Legislature passed an act for the estab- lishment of a board of Fish Commissioners, consisting of John G. Bagley, A. D. Kellogg and George Clark, with power to locate a State hatchery for the artificial propagation of fish. By the same act $15,000 was appropriated, and in 1873 the board passed a resolu- tion, locating the hatchery at Crystal Springs, on the grounds of the Methodist Camp Meeting Association, in Pokagon. George H. Jerome, of Niles, was ap- pointed Superintendent, and Charles Michael, Assist- ant. In October of the same year, a lease was executed and work was immediately commenced ; a house was constructed with a hatching capacity of 1,000,000 eggs. In 1877, Henry H. Porter, who had had an extended experience in the propagation of fish, was appointed Assistant Superintendent ; he put in new apparatus and remodeled the whole thing, but soon became satisfied that it was not a proper location, owing to the uneven temperature and impurity of the water, besides there being a very inadequate supply. From 3,500,000 eggs deposited in fall of 1877, only 500,000 fish were obtained. In the spring of 1881, the board removed the hatchery to Paris, where it is now being successfully operated under the superin- tendency of James C. Portman.
The little hamlet of Sumnerville dates back to 1836. Its proprietors were Isaac Sumner and J. II. Hatch. Sumner built a saw-mill at this place in 1835, and two years after erected a grist-mill. About this time, Alexander Davis, the first merchant, commenced to
sell goods. In 1848, Russel Cook and John R. Connine opened a store in the building now occupied by Mr. Frost. Peabody Cook was the first " tavern- keeper," commencing about 1835.
Pokagon Village was laid out in January, 1858, by William Baldwin. In the same year, Joel Andrews and Hoke Stansel, commenced merchandising. The present grist-mill was built by Kelley Brothers in 1856. The business interests of the village are now vested in a hotel, a drug store, two dry good stores, a steam saw-mill, a boot and shoe shop, and a blacksmith shop.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF SUMNER- VILLE.
The first class was formed in the spring of 1840. There had been preaching before this time under the auspices of the Indiana Conference, but principally by local ministers, prominent among the number being T. P. McCool, Richard Meek and Braxton Robinson. In the autumn of 1839, the Michigan Conference took in the southwest part of the State as a mission, and sent Rev. Franklin Gage as a missionary. The district embraced all the territory west of School- craft, south to the State line, and north to the lake, excepting Niles. The result of his ministrations was a powerful revival, known in Methodist annals as the great revival of Sumnerville. The class above spoken of was one of the results of this revival, and was the first in this part of the State. Up to 1850, the society had held their meetings in a schoolhouse, which, after a time, became almost sacred from its associations, but became so dilapidated that they de- cided to erect a comfortable church structure. A Board of Trustees was formed, composed of T. P. Mc- Cool, John Byrnes, W. W. Maloy, Daniel Bates and Franklin Brownell. The church was completed in 1854. In the summer of 1876, the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Pokagon purchased of Russell Cook a structure which was remodeled, and fitted up as a church. The minister in charge was David Burns. The Trustees were, Jacob White, John Byrnes, William Lewis, H. S. Norton, John Burnett, Jerome Wood, Russel Cook and Henry and David White. There had been a class formed several years previous to this time, and regular meetings were held in Union Church.
March 15, 1861, the Trustees of the McKindrey Chapel purchased of John Barnett the ground known as the " Crystal Springs Camp-ground." The Trust- ees were John Byrnes, Franklin Brownell, John R. Connine, Stephen Curtis and W. W. Malloy. In 1877, it was transferred to the Niles District, and was incorporated under a general act of the Legislature.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN.
Pokagon Grange, No. 42. P. of. H., was organized August 1, 1873, by C. S. King, Deputy of State Grange, and the following officers elected : Russel Cook, Master; Jerome Wood, Overseer; D. W. Hurd, Secretary, who, with the following persons comprised the charter members : William Stretch, William E. Williams, William Lewis, T. Witherell, J. W. Blake, G. D. Jones, F. Emmons, J. H. Simpson, William Wood, Jacob White, Catharine Stretch, Charlotte W. Williams, Hannah C. Cook, Mary E. Lewis, Flora H. Hurd, Anna L. Witherell, Maria Emmons, Iantha Wood, Sarah Simpson, Cynthia Wood.
Since organization, the grange has been in a flour- ishing condition, and the knowledge acquired in dis- cussing live questions has inured to the benefits of its members. Present membership thirty. The present officers are : Jerome Wood, Master ; R. J. Dickson, Overseer ; Mrs. R. J. Dickson, lecturer ; L. B. Patti- son, Steward ; Wesley Emmons, Assistant Steward ; James Emmons, Chaplain ; John Hain, Treasurer ; Joel S. Moore, Gatekeeper ; Iantha Wood, Ceres ; Catharine Stretch, Pomona ; Mrs. John Hain, Flora ; Mrs. H. B. Pattison, Lady Assistant.
POKAGON LODGE NO. 136, F. & A. M.
This society held its first meeting under a charter issued by the Grand Lodge at its annual session at Detroit, January 9, 1862. The officers elected were : Calvin Benton, W. M .; William McAffee. S. W .; Joseph E. Garwood, J. W. ; Joel Andrews, Secretary ; Elam Harter, Treasurer ; John Byrnes, S. D .; George W. Benton, J. D .; Henry C. Parker, Tiler. Previ- ous to their organization they had met under a special dispensation granted by the Grand Lodge of the State to George W. Benton, John McAllister, Joseph E. Garwood, Franklin Shaler, John Byrnes, George W. Conklin, Joel Andrews and Edgar Waltar, to organize a lodge with John Byrnes, W. M., George W. Benton, S. W. and Joseph E. Garwood, J. W. The first meeting was held July 29, 1859, E. . Waltar, Sec- retary. January 13, 1860, the dispensation was ex- tended until the meeting of the Grand Lodge in January of 1861, and meetings were held until Decem- ber 24, 1860. The dispensation expired soon after this date, and, no proceedings being instituted to se- cure a charter, no meetings were held until February 18, 1861, at which time the lodge met under a new dispen- sation with Edgar Waltar, W. M .; John H. Hutton, S. W .; Joseph E. Garwood, J. W., and Joel Andrews, Secretary. The society owns a well furnished hall and are in a flourishing condition.
CIVIL LIST-SUPERVISORS.
1831, Squire Thompson ; 1832, John Clark ; 1833, Samuel Marrs ; 1834-36, Lewis Edwards ; 1837-38, Henry Houser ; 1839-41, County Commis- sioner, Henry Houser ; 1842-43, Squire Thompson ; 1844, William Burke; 1845-46, Henry Houser ; 1847, William L. Clyborn; 1848, M. Robinson ; 1849-50, William L. Clyborn; 1851-52, M. T. Garvey ; 1853, Frank Brownell ; 1854, M. Robin- son ; 1855, Lewis Clyborn; 1856, M. T. Garvey ; 1857, William L. Clyborn ; 1858, M. T. Garvey ; 1859, D. H. Wagner; 1860, M. Robinson ; 1861, M. T. Garvey ; 1862-69, Alexander Robinson ; 1870, David W. Clemmer ; 1871-76, B. W. Scher- merhorn; 1877, M. V. Gray ; 1878, Joseph Waltar ; 1879-80, H. W. Richards ; 1881, Alexander Robin- son.
TREASURERS.
1831-34, Lewis Edwards ; 1835-37, Mitchell Rob- inson ; 1838, William L. Clyborn; 1839, Zurin Garwood; 1840-41, Squire Thompson ; 1842, William L. Clyborn ; 1843-46, Moses W. Simpson ; 1847-49, John Collins ; 1850, Franklin Brownell ; 1851, Robinson J. Dickson ; 1852, Amos D. McCool ; 1853, Robinson J. Dickson ; 1854, William G. Straw; 1855, John Collins; 1856, John Bates ; 1857, John Collins ; 1858, Gideon Gibbs; 1859, John Bates ; 1860-61, Archibald Robertson ; 1862, Mitchell Robinson; 1863, Gideon Gibbs; 1864, Angustus Allen ; 1865, Abner G. Townsend; 1866, Stephen W. Tinkham; 1867, Albert G. Ramsey ; 1868-69, Elam Harter; 1870-71, Daniel M. Heaz- lett ; 1872-73, Samuel Miller ; 1874-76, Moses V. Gray; 1877, William Stretch ; 1878-79, H. P. Cook ; 1880-81, J. E. Garwood.
CLERKS.
1831-35, Joseph Gardner; 1836-41, Eli W. Veach ; 1842, Mitchell Robinson ; 1843-46, William L. Clyborn ; 1847, David Long; 1848, Charles G. Moore; 1849-50, Lewis Edwards ; 1851-52, Clark F. Johnson ; 1853, Ira Starkweather; 1854, Samuel R. Wheeler ; 1855, Ira Starkweather ; 1856, Rollin C. Dennison ; 1857, Joseph E. Garwood; 1858, Strawther Bowling ; 1859, Theodore Stebbins ; 1860, Strawther Bowling ; 1861, Philo D. Beckwith; 1862, George Miller ; 1863, Elias Pardee ; 1864-68, Strawther Bowling; 1869, Rollin C. Osborne; 1870, B. W. Schermerhorn ; 1871, John Rix; 1872-74, Rollin C. Osborne; 1875, Edwin W. Beckwith ; 1876-78, R. Allen ; 1879, J. F. Willis; 1880-81, R. Allen.
RESIDENCE OF MRS. SARAH H. SIMPSON, POKAGON, MICH.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
UZZIEL PUTNAM, SR.
The pioneer of Cass County, the late Uzziel Put- nam, Sr., of Pokagon Township, was born in Wards- boro, Vt., March 17, 1793. When three years of age, he went with his parents, Uzziel and Polly (Trask) Putnam, to Oneida County, N. Y., and in 1801, to New Salem, Mass., where he lived with an unele, Joseph Putnam, until the fall of 1807. He then returned to his parents, who had, in the mean- time, located in Adams, Jefferson Co., N. Y., and was apprenticed to Simon Whitecomb, a elothier, with whom he remained for five seasons, the business being carried on at that day chiefly in the winter months. His father, with others, went to Sackett's Harbor and built a boat, with which they conveyed their fam- ilies to Detroit, where they spent the winter of 1811- 12. Uzziel Putnam's brother David, with Samuel and Horace Markham, having emigrated to Ohio, his par- ents decided to make their future home in that State. The young man Uzziel having served the full period of his apprenticeship, resolved to be in the neighborhood of his father's family, and started on foot for Colt Creek in the township of Margaretta, Huron (now Erie) County, Ohio, about seven miles from the site of the city of Sandusky. This journey of 500 miles he made on foot, in fifteen days, excepting a ride of 140 miles east of Canandaigua. In Ohio, the neighbors of the Putnams, within a radius of several miles, were three families. The young man Uzziel began life in the woods under as great disadvantages as any of the pioneers of the West. He was poor, but worked hard to better his condition. Prior to and during the war of 1812, the Indians committed many murders in Northwestern Ohio, and bands of the hostile savages were constantly prowling through the woods in search of lonely victims. He had considerable experience of an unpleasant kind with them, and probably only escaped being murdered by extreme caution and watchfulness. He remained in the vicinity of his parents' home, and performed such work as he could find to do, until October 19, 1812, when he met with Elias Murray, wagon-master of the United States Army, and enlisted as a teamster for three months. After the time of his enlistment had expired, he went into the army as a substitute for a drafted man, and served until after Gen. Winchester's defeat. For his service, which he has said was the hardest he ever endured, he received a Government warrant for 160 acres of land. In 1813, Uzziel Putnam was in the vicinity of Colt Creek, when the Indian massacre oc- eurred (of which an account is given in the biograph- ical sketch of his brother Orlean). Afterward he went to Waterford, Penn., where he worked for his Unele Rufus Trask, hauling powder and salt and flour be-
tween the latter place and Erie. After the burning of Buffalo, the man by whom he was employed was drafted, and Uzziel went into the army as his substi- tute, being stationed at Erie. Not long after the close of the war, he returned to Ohio, and there was married, September 12, 1822, to Ann Chapman, who was born in Connecticut, January 19, 1792. In 1825, the settlers in the Putnam neighborhood having heard much of the St. Joseph Country in Michigan from An- drew Parker, an Indian trader who had traveled through it, several of them resolved to journey to it. In company with Abram Townsend and Israel Mark- ham, Uzziel Putnam left the Ohio home for a Michigan home on May 7. The story of their journey is told in the history of the township at length and graphically, and it is, therefore, unnecessary to repeat it here. Upon the 22d of November, Putnam became the first settler in Cass County, locating upon Pokagon Prairie, in this township, and there he lived to see Cass County and all of Southwestern Michigan filled with happy homes, and made one vast fruitful field by his brother pioneers and their descendants. He died July 15, 1881, in the eighty-ninth year of his age. ITis aged helpmeet passed away only nine months previous -October 15, 1880. The faculties of both were pre- served almost unimpaired to the last, and they were rewarded in their old age with peace, plenty and hap- piness, for the struggles and privations of their early days.
LEWIS EDWARDS.
Lewis Edwards, son of Joseph and Clarisa Edwards, was born at Lumberton, Burlington Co., N. J., May 29, 1799. He was of Welsh descent. Joseph Ed- wards, the father of Lewis, the subject of this sketch, was born in Maryland, May 10, 1754, and died July 22, 1838. The first twenty-one years of his life Lewis passed with his father at Lumberton, assisting in the store and working the farm. He very early in life evinced an adventurous tendency and repeatedly ex- pressed to his parents his discontent of home and his eagerness to go West, and as soon as he attained his majority he at once made preparations to journey westward. In October, 1820, Lewis, accompanied by a friend, Thomas Brown, started on foot for Pittsburgh, Penn., by the way of Philadelphia and Harrisburg, carrying his little bundle with a stick upon his shoulder. From Pittsburgh they went to Cincinnati by boat. Upon arriving at Cincinnati, Mr. Edwards fell in with a wood-speculator who was in search of choppers; to him he hired to chop wood; while en route to the chopping-camp on board of a steam- boat, he voluntarily assisted the hands in running the vessel, and the Captain observing his aptitude and skill in that kind of labor, and becoming prepossessed
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN.
with his appearance, persuaded him to remain aboard, and Mr. Edwards abandoned his chopping enterprise and hired out to the Captain, and made one trip to New Orleans and back. This kind of business not being congenial to his tastes, he went to Warren County, Ohio, and went to work at the carpenter's trade for John Garwood, with whom he remained for about three years, making his home with William Garwood. While here he formed the acquaintance of Patience, daughter of William and Elizabeth Gar- wood, whom he married in the latter part of the sum- mer of 1825. She was born January 18, 1807, near Lebanon, Warren Co., Ohio. She shared with her husband in all his early pioneer struggles, and for the long period of fifty-three years, was his faithful com- panion and counselor ; truly and justly can it be said of her, she fulfilled her duty to her family and to her God. This venerable and Christian lady is now liv- ing (1882), with her son, Lewis, Jr., at Pokagon Village, in the enjoyment of excellent health, the " patient angel of her nature " quietly waiting to take its departure.
After Mr. Edwards' marriage, he remained with his father-in-law one year, and early in the spring of 1825, having been deeply impressed by the favorable reports of the "St. Joseph Valley," he determined on another Western adventure; and, leaving his young wife with her parents in Ohio, started for the " St. Joseph El Dorado." He remained in Michigan until late in the fall, making his home the greater portion of the time with a Mr. Kirk, at Niles. Being favor- ably impressed with the country, he determined to make it his future home, and the whole season was diligently and intelligently spent preparatory thereto.
Happening to form the acquaintance of a young man near Niles, who had planted a piece of corn and had subsequently become discouraged and home sick, Mr. Edwards bought him out and completed the rais- ing and harvesting of the crop. During harvest, he assisted the "Carey Mission " in gathering their crops, and took his pay in wheat, furnishing this same wheat to Uzziel Putnam on Pokagon Prairie in the fall, for seed. He also cut and stacked a sufficient quantity of marsh hay on Uzziel Putnam's meadow, along the Pokagon Creek. After viewing the country over carefully, he located his land on Pokagon Prairie, which now forms a part of Sections 31 and 32, wisely selecting it so as to have an abundance of good timber, especially an excellent maple sugar camp. After selecting his land, he employed Gamaliel Townsend to cut logs and erect a log house, paying him therefor $25. After all this provident care and foresight, securing hay, corn and locating his land and con- structing his log house, and obtaining a full and
accurate knowledge of the country, route, streams and fords, he prepared to return to Ohio for his family. Alone he walked the whole distance, and carried a package weighing thirty pounds. The country be- tween Elkhart and Fort Wayne was a wilderness, and good water scarce. Mr. Edwards often spoke in his lifetime of his extreme suffering for the want of good water, being often compelled to blow the scum away and drink from stagnant pools. He was immediately taken sick after arriving home with fever and ague, the result of drinking impure water, and was sick for about two months, greatly delaying his return to Michigan with his family. After having fully re- covered from his illness, and his preparations being completed, he started on the 18th day of January, 1827, with his family, consisting of his wife and one young child (now Mrs. Jane Heath, of Santa Cruz, Cal.), for his new home. His outfit consisted of one covered wagon, yoke of cattle at the tongue and span of horses on the lead. They came by the way of Center- ville and Dayton to Fort Wayne, Ind. At this place they were joined by William and Jesse Garwood, cousins of Mrs. Edwards, and they were similiarly equipped with wagon, yoke of cattle and span of horses. They also brought with them a few head of hogs and cattle.
The journey from Fort Wayne to Elkhart was through an unbroken forest, in the midst of a cold, snowy winter, a crust on the snow, and the road unbroken, and their route only traced by the blazed forest trees. Arriving at Elkhart, the St. Joseph River had to be forded. Mr. Edwards had, during his former trip, carefully examined the river bed, and noted the proper fording place. Jesse Garwood ex- pressed his fears for the safety of Mrs. Edwards and child, in case the wagon should upset in crossing, but Mr. Edwards promptly replied in his determined and confident way, " that there was no danger ; to follow him, and he would soon have them safe on the other side," and suiting the action to the word, mounted one of the lead horses and conducted both teams across in safety.
Finding the snow so deep and the crust on the same frozen so hard, and the road unbroken, the Garwoods left their wagon at this place, and put both yoke of cattle and both span of horses to Mr. Edward's wagon, and started for Edwardsburg, making only eight miles the first day, it taking all the next day to reach Ed- wardsburg, the balance of the distance being two miles. It was with great difficulty this ten miles of their journey was made; the lead horses had to break the crust, and the route could be traced by blood from their bleeding legs.
Mr. Ezra Beardsley had settled at Edwardsburg
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
the previous year, on the banks of Pleasant Lake; his team had been sent to Ohio after the balance of his goods, and was delayed on account of the severity of the winter, and he had not seen a white person, other than his family, for several months, and was afflicted with the additional hardship of having no wood-pile, being compelled to carry all his fuel from the woods. The "new-comers " received that warm and cordial reception and generous hospitality as only our worthy pioneers were capable of extending, and remained with Mr. Beardsley about three weeks, not daring to venture out to Pokagon Prairie. Mr. Beardsley had the previous season raised plenty of vegetables, such as cabbage, potatoes and turnips; they had sufficient pork and beef, milk and butter, and the " new-comers" had brought tea, coffee, dried fruit, etc., and, in the language of Mrs. Edwards, " they fared sumptuously every day." Before leaving, Mr. Beardsley was pro- vided with an ample wood-pile.
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