USA > Michigan > Oakland County > History of Oakland County, Michigan, a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 8
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57
The second location was made by John Hersey of the southeast quar- ter, section 10, in Avon, November 10, 1818.
The third was made by Joseph Watson of the District of Columbia, of the east one-half and northwest quarter of section 35, in Pontiac, November 30, 1818.
Stephen Mack, who has had credit for the first entry in the township. did not locate until September 19. 1818, nineteen days after that made by Joseph Watson.
The fourth location was made by John Montieth of the southwest quarter of section 3, in Southfield, December 15. 1818.
The fifth was made by Austin E. Wing, of the northeast one-quarter of section 29, in Bloomfield, December 23. 1818. Mr. Wing was after- wards elected a delegate in congress from the territory to the Nineteenth, Twentieth and Twenty-Second congresses. Mr. Wing accompanied General Cass on one of his explorations through Oakland, Genesee and Saginaw counties. Passing through Bloomfield they camped on the banks of Wing lake, which now bears his name and where he located the land mentioned.
The sixth location was by Archibald Phillips, of the east one-half and southwest one-quarter of section 29, in Independence, February 6, 1819.
The seventh was by William Thurber, of the northwest quarter of section 6, Royal Oak, February 4, 1819.
The eighth was by John Hamilton, J. W. Hunter, Lemuel Castle and Joseph Fairbanks, of the northwest quarter of section 19, in Troy, Febru- ary 12, 1819.
The ninth was by Ephraim Williams, of the north one-half of section 13 in Waterford, February 18, 1819, bordering on the banks of Silver lake, being the homestead of Major Oliver Williams, father of Ephraim S., Gardner D., Alfred, Alpheus, Benjamin O., James, Mrs. Stephens, Mrs. Mary Hodges and Mrs .. Harriet Walker.
The tenth was by Benjamin Woodworth and William Russell, on sec- tion 33, in Oakland, February 18, 1819.
Numerous other locations were made in the ten townships under the "credit" or "two dollar act" until July, 1820, when the law passed by
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HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
congress reducing the price to $1.25 per acre, advance payment, took effect.
THE "TEN SHILLING" ACT
The first entry made under this act in the county was by Davis Stanard, July 3, 1820, of the northeast quarter of section 4, in Bloomfield. The second was by Joel Weelman, July 3, 1820, of the one-half southeast quarter of section 33, in Avon.
Colonel Stanard was a popular hotel keeper in those carly days of pioneer life and dispensed to the traveling public with a liberal hand choice venison, fresh fish, Ohio hog and Kentucky Bourbon, and later in life imbibed too freely himself for weak eyes. When remonstrated with by his attending physician for so doing and told that he must stop drink- ing any stimulant or lose his eyes, he replied: "Then good-bye, eyes." There are a few pioneers here today who knew the Colonel well, and no doubt have partaken of his good cheer, not omitting old bourbon.
At the opening of the land offices in Michigan, the public lands were offered at auction, and such as were not sold were subject to sale to individuals at two dollars an acre, one-fourth to be paid down. the re- mainder in one, two and three years with interest. And all the lands which were entered previous to the 3d day of July, 1820, were purchased under this act.
GREAT EVENT FOR THE PIONEER LAND OWNER
At the risk of repetition, here and there, we add facts along this line compiled by Judge Drake, as follows :
On the 23d of April, 1820, congress passed an act authorizing the sale of public lands at $1.25 an acre, payments in full at the time of the purchase. This was the great event in the history of Michigan, and in- deed of the whole western country. It put an end to that system of vassalage under which the purchasers of public lands had labored. The purchaser became at once the absolute owner of the soil. Every act of improvement was made to benefit him or his children.
There was a feeling of certainty in his labors, and in his possessions which was more than wealth. If death overtook the pioneer in his first efforts, the agony of parting from his wife and children was half removed. When he turned upon them the last living gaze and beheld their little forms gathering around his dying bed, he was consoled with the thought that the land on which he had toiled was theirs. No exacting landlord could claim it as forfeited for payments deferred. From the passing of that act. the growth and prosperity of Michigan became a certainty, and the increase of population was surprising.
TOWN OF PONTIAC SETTLED
Ezra Baldwin, Job Smith, John W. Hunter, David Johnson, Oliver Levi Willetts, Joseph Fairbanks, William Morris, Lemuel Castle, Joseph Torry, Daniel Ferguson, Ziba Swan. John Hamilton, Amaza Bagley, Almy and Asa Castle were among the first settlers in town 3 north, range to east. called Pontiac.
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IIISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
The first entry of lands was made by Col. Stephen Mack for the Pontiac Company. On the 6th day of November, 1818, he entered sec- tion 29, and the northeast quarter of section 33, soon after the north half and the southwest quarter of 28, and finally the southeast quarter of 20, on which the company laid out the village in 1818.
On the south side of the river and on the west side of the Saginaw road, was the great Indian camping ground, where all the Indians used to stop on their way to and from Detroit.
In town 2 north, range II east, called Troy, the first lands were pur- chased by Castle, Hunter, Hamilton and Fairbanks. On the 12th of February, 1819, they bought a part of section 19. On the 22d of October, 1819, Ezra Baldwin entered a part of section 18; Michael Kemp on the 25th of November, 1819, a part of section 3, and on the 7th of Decem- ber, 1819, Michael Beech a part of section 8.
In the years 1820, 1821 and 1822, John Prindle, George Abbey, Joshua Davis, Ebenezer Belding, S. V. R. Trowbridge, Jesse Perrin, P. J. Perrin, Luther Fletcher, Aaron Webster, Stillman Bates, William Wellman, A. WV. Wellman, Silas Glazier, Guy Phelps, Johnson Niles, John Waldron, Edward Downer, Ira Jennings, Humphrey Adams and S. Sprague, be- came purchasers, and were among the early settlers. The second lot, which was entered under the "ten shilling act" was by Joel Wellman, in Troy, a part of section 3.
The gentle sloping surface of the country-the majestic growth of timber, the dark, rich soil, attracted many settlers to that town, and the whole was settled with unrivalled rapidity. And now the nicely painted houses, and well cultivated farms show how accurately the pioneer judged, and how well the earth has repaid him for his labor.
AVON AND WHITE LAKE
In town 3, north range 11 east, now called Avon, the first lands were entered on the 20th of October, 1818. In 1819, A. E. Wing, T. C. Shel- don, Solomon Sibley, James Abbott, Daniel LeRoy, Alexander Graham, William Williams, J. Baldwin, D. Bronson, J. Myers, Ira Roberts, Nathaniel Baldwin, George Postal, William Thompson, John Miller and Isaac Willetts entered land; in 1821, Cyrus A. Chipman and Frederick A. Sprague : in 1822, Champlin Green, Gad Norton, William Burbank, and Smith Weeks. It was in this town that the seeds of civilization were first planted in the county of Oakland, as has previously been nar- rated at some length.
In town 3, north of range 8 cast, now called White Lake, the first entry was made by Harley Olmstead, of Monroe county, New York, on the 7th day of October. 1830; he entered a part of section 36. In 1832 Joseph Voorheis and Jesse Seeley purchased. Thomas Garner, John Garner, C. C. Wyckoff and John Rhodes also bought land and were among the carly settlers in that town. "In 1829." says Judge Drake. "while searching for the headwaters of the Shiawassee river, I traveled over the most of the town, visited the shores of that beautiful sheet of water from which the town derives its name, and the charming plain on which now stands the village of White Lake, then clothed in the gorgeous Vol. 1-3
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HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
dye of autumnal flowers, presented one of the most magnificent views of uncultivated landscape."
SPRINGFIELD AND GROVELAND
In town 4, north of range 8 east, now called Springfield, on the 19th of July, 1830, Daniel LeRoy made the first entry. He purchased on section 19, including the Petit Lafountain or Little Springs. This place had a wide renown. It was the resting place of the trader and trapper, of the red man as well as the white man when on his journey to and from Saginaw and other places in the northern wilderness. Immediately after the LeRoy purchase the place was occupied by Asahel Fuller. In 1833 Giles Bishop, O. Powell, John M. Calkins and Jonah Gross pur- chased.
In town 5, north of range 8 east, now called Groveland, on the 3d day of September, 1829, William Roberts, then of the county of Oak- land, made the first purchase. On the 29th of May, 1830, John Under- hill, E. W. Fairchild and M. W. Richards bought land. In 1830 Henry W. Horton purchased at a point then known as Pleasant Valley, and in 1831, Franklin Herrick, Alexander Galloway and Constant Southworth became land owners. Mr. Southworth settled on a famous spot on the old Saginaw trail known in those days as the Big Springs. Those who have taken the trouble to descend from the roadside to the spring of water will bear testimony to its great beauty. It was ever held in great veneration by the Indians, and they seldom passed it without refreshing themselves. Those who have looked into that crystal fountain and be- held the sparkling water as it came bubbling up from the secret chambers of the earth, will not wonder that the redman saw in the aqueous mirror the Chemanito, or Great Spirit.
FARMINGTON AND WEST BLOOM FIELD
In town 1, north of range 9 east, now called Farmington, Eastman Colby, of Monroe county, New York, made the first entry ; on the 12th of October, 1822, he entered a part of section 14. In January, 1823, Arthur Power purchased. In the same year G. W. Collins, William B. Cogshall, Peleg S. Utley, Benjamin Wixom, Timothy Allen, Leland Green, Abraham Aldrich made purchases and among them were the first settlers in that town.
. In town 2, north of range 9 east, now called West Bloomfield, James JIarrington, of Cayuga county, New York, made the first purchase on the 15th of May, 1823, entering the entire section 36. The same year Rufus R. Robinson, Erastus Durkee, John Huff, Benjamin Irish, Edward Ellerby, Benjamin Leonard and William Annett purchased, and John Huff bought a tract on the south side of Pine lake and erected the first house in that part of the town. William Annett purchased a part of section 22, his wife died at an early day, the old gentleman lived on the farm and cultivated it until his death. It was long afterward owned by his only child, Mrs. Hartwell Green.
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HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
WATERFORD AND INDEPENDENCE
In town 3, north of range 9 east, now called Waterford, Major Oliver Williams, called by the Indians, Togee, settled on the west bank of Silver lake, in 1819, on section 13. His brother-in-law, Alpheus Williams and Captain Archibald Phillips, settled early at the crossing on the Clinton river, where the village of Waterford now stands and crected there a sawmill as early as 1824. David Mayo purchased on the 25th of September, 1821; Captain Chesley Blake, Harvey Durfee and Austin Durfee in 1822; Harvey Seeley, John S. Porter, Samuel Hungerford, W. M. Tappan, Thaddeus Alvord, Charles Johnston and Joseph Voorheis, in 1823.
In town 4, north of range 9 cast, now called Independence, Alpheus Williams made the first purchase on the 10th of October, 1823.
The point was well known to the Indians, and by them called Saepee. In 1819, Major Joseph Todd, William Lester and Orrison Allen, were residents in the village; in the same year Calvin Hotchkiss and Jere- miah Allen entered lands, and Judah Church in 1820.
In 1821 Abner Davis, Eastman Colby, Alexander Galloway, Rufus Clark, Enoch Hotchkiss and James Harrington purchased; and these men, with G. W. Butson, John Edson, Joshua S. Terry, Joseph Harris, Stephen Reeves and Capt. Joseph Bancroft, were among the early settlers of the town of Pontiac.
ORION AND OXFORD
In town 4 north, range 10 east, now called Orion, Judah Church and John Wetmore made the first purchase; on the 18th of October, 1819, they purchased a lot on section 19, being the first choice, in what was known as the Big Pinery. In 1824, Moses Munson, Powell Carpenter, Jesse Decker, Phillip Bigler, Jonathan Pinckney and Simeon Simmons purchased. Alexander McVean, David Bagg, John McElvery and Daniel Mc Vean, were among the early settlers.
In town 5 north, range 10 east, called Oxford, the first purchase was made by Elbridge G. Deming, on the 28th of January 1823. But few inhabitants settled in this town until 1833, when Joseph Rossman, Fitz Rossman, John Shippy, John Wellman and S. Axford purchased. Daniel Applegate, Jeremiah Ilunt, Jutish Bixley and Messrs. Van Wagoners were among the early settlers.
The plains about the village of Oxford were passed over by those seeking for farms for many years; and places less valuable were settled in the far off forests, under the supposition that those were valueless for agricultural purposes. Thus one of the best portions of the county remained uncultivated till a late period.
ROYAL OAK AND TROY
In town i north, range II east, called Royal Oak, L. Luther and D. Mckinstry made the first entry ; on the 6th of July, 1820, they en- tered a part of section 33. In 1821, Henry Stephens, Alexander Camp-
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HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
bell, Diodate Hubbard, Abraham Noyes, J. Goddard. Hezekiah Gridly, James Lockwood and David Williams, and they, together with Henry O. Bronson, Daniel Burrows, Mr. Chase, Mr. Morse and that eccentric old lady, Mrs. Chappel, well known by the soubriquet of Mother Hand- some, were among the first settlers.
In 1826, John W. Beardsley purchased on the Chesse-bau plains. where he resided for many years afterward.
Henry T. Sanderson purchased in 1833. In 1831 Melvin Dorr, and Butler Holcomb bought lands, about where stands the village of Clarks- ton, and erected there, on the east branch of the Clinton river, a sawmill.
BRANDON, SOUTHFIELD AND BLOOMFIELD
In town 5. north range 9 cast, called Brandon, Elijah B. Clark, Asa Owen and Jesse Decker made the first purchase on the 30th of June, 1831, and entered a part of section 25. In 1833, John Perry, Alexander G. Huff and Mary Quick purchased, and in 1835, G. M. Giddings, Henry Forbes and Daniel Hunt entered lands. But few entries were made in this town before 1836.
In town I north, range 10 cast, first organized as Ossewa, but now called Southfield, the first entry of lands were made by John Wetmore in May, 1821. In the same year l'eter Dennoyer and John Monteith purchased, and in 1822 Harry Brownson, Samuel Shattuck and Eli Curtis. Dillucena Stoughton, Elijah Bullock, Edward Cook. Philo Reed, John Davis, William Lee, were among the early settlers of the town.
In town 2 north, range 10 east, called Bloomfield, the first entry of lands was made on the 28th of January, 1819, by Benjamin H. Pierce. March 16, 1829, Peter Dennoyer entered a lot, and on the 3d day of July, 1820, Col. David Stannard entered a part of section 4. The Stan- nard entry was the first made in Michigan under what was called the "ten shilling" act.
CHAPTER V
PICTURES OF THE PAST
HERVEY PARKE COMES TO OAKLAND COUNTY-BLOOMFIELD AND ROYAL . OAK IN 1821-INFANT VILLAGE OF PONTIAC-GOVERNOR WISNER AND HIS MULLET STORY-BECOMES HORATIO BALL'S ASSISTANT-JOSEPHI WAMPLER'S ASSIGNED TERRITORY-A SURVEYOR'S HARDSHIPS-RE- TURNS WITH HIS FAMILY-BIRTHPLACE OF JOHN H. PARKE-HOME- STEAD AT LAST-SURVEYS FROM PONTIAC-RUNNING LINES UNDER DIFFICULTIES-FRESH TRAILS OF THE BLACK HAWK WAR-BETWEEN SAGINAW BAY AND LAKE HURON-SURVEYS IN BLACK HAWK RESER- VATION, IOWA-ANOTIIER IOWA CONTRACT-CAPTAIN PARKE'S RE- CAPITULATION-RECOLLECTIONS OF BENJAMIN O. WILLIAMS-INDIAN NEAR DEATHI-DEAR OLD OAKLAND, THE BEST OF ALL-A PICTURE OF MEMORY ( BY JOHN M. NORTON )-ADVENT OF THE PIONEER- RAILROAD AS A FUN-MAKER-THIE LIFE BEQUEATIIED BY THIE PI- ONEERS-FIFTY YEARS AGO AND NOW (BY S. B. MCCRACKEN )- CONTRASTS OF LIFE-"GRANNY" MCCRACKEN-FATHER AND MOTHIER MCCRACKEN-THE SCHOOLS OF FIFTY YEARS AGO-MORMON VISI- TATION OF 1832-AUBURN AND THE YOUNG PIONEERS.
In the previous chapter mention has been made of the first settlers and land owners in the various sections and townships of Oakland county. In this chapter, the author is pleased to present, through the papers of several well known pioneers, pictures which are principally drawn from experience and observation "on the spot."
HIERVEY PARKE COMES TO OAKLAND COUNTY
The first contribution is taken from papers read before the County Pioneer Society in 1874 and 1876, by Captain Hervey Parke, the old- time surveyor whose name has already appeared a number of times in the course of the historical narrative. His first paper is entitled "Recol- lections of My First Tour in Michigan in 1821," and such selections are taken from it as appear to be most pertinent. Captain Parke was teaching in Oneida county, New York, at the time, but like many enter- prising young men had studied surveying and wanted to see the west. Despite the discouraging reports regarding Michigan, which had reached the east through the surveyors' reports, he determined to investigate for himself, and on the 21st of March, 1821, in company with Treat
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HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
Bryant and John Simons, started on his journey of five hundred miles, carrying a knapsack containing his surveying instruments and enough other contents to weigh forty-five pounds. After sixteen days of travel through mud and water, often knee deep, the three young men reached Detroit river and crossed over to the city in a rowboat.
In Detroit Captain Parke had his first view of the Steamboat Hotel, kept by Benjamin Woodworth, who was to figure considerably in Oak- land county affairs, and also passed the store of Oliver Newberry, in whose employ he was to meet Elisha Beach, a future citizen of Pontiac. The travelers did not linger in the metropolis, at this time, but were soon in the highway which led into the interior toward the northwest and Oakland county. The last of the three small houses which they passed before fairly striking the wilderness of southern Michigan, was about nine miles from Detroit, and was occupied by Mrs. Chappel, more familiarly known as Mother Handsome. Here they found shelter for the night. About half a mile beyond, when they resumed their journey in the morning, they reached the causeway built by the troops under Colonel Leavenworth in 1818. This was a little less than a mile in length and pronounced by Captain Parke as "the worst ever built, as no regard was paid to equalizing the size of the logs, the largest and the smallest lying side by side.
BLOOMFIELD AND ROYAL OAK IN 1821
"At the angle of the road, twelve miles from Detroit, we passed the Royal Oak tree, which had nothing remarkable in its appearance, but was known as the point from which Horatio Ball had started the line when surveying the road to Pontiac, known as the Ball line road. This angle also was the point of intersection of Paint Creek road; a Mr. Woodford lived about a mile beyond. A little south of the line between the towns of Bloomfield and Royal Oak two families by the name of Keyser and Thurber had settled. Reaching the beautiful table-land where is now situated the village of Birmingham, we found four fami- lies : Elisha Hunter, his son, John W. Hunter, John Hamilton and Elijah Willets-the latter, inn-keeper. Here I got my first glimpse of the lovely land of Oakland county. Three-fourths of a mile this side of Ilunter's lived Dr. Swan and his son-in-law. Sidney Dole, who was justice of the peace, register of deeds and county clerk. The next house was that of Deacon Elijah Fish, and on the hill just south of where now is Bloomfield Center, resided Amasa Bagley and his son-in- law, William Morris, the latter being sheriff of the county.
"The next settler was a Mr. Ferguson, whose neighbors, if living, may remember him from the remark he made after the nomination of Austin E. Wing, as delegate to congress in 1824 or 1825. Ferguson was a Whig, and, disputing with a Democrat who asserted Wing could never be elected, replied: 'He will surely be elected, for the very whippoorwills sing "vote for Wing, vote for Wing."' Well, Wing was elected, took his seat in congress, and performed his duty nobly for the young territory.
"Major Joseph Todd lived on the farm since known as the Elliott
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HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
farm, and near by Asa B. Hadsel. The next house, a half-mile further, was that of Colonel David Stanard, a small framed house, being the same Joseph J. Todd occupied about forty-five years, having added to its length and height.
INFANT VILLAGE OF PONTIAC
"About one and a half miles through the woods we approached the village of Pontiac, where we found a small framed house on the west side of Saginaw street, nearly opposite where the Methodist church now stands, occupied by Mr. Terry. Crossing the bridge, on the corner of Saginaw and Water streets, we found a small log house, the first erected in the village, and a little beyond and on the east side of Saginaw street (if my memory serves me ), O. Bartlett lived in a small framed house. These were the only buildings at this time (June 1, 1821) on Saginaw street. This street being well filled with hazel brush, Water street re- ceived the travel to Perry street. On the west side of the latter street, between Pike and Lawrence, were three houses, one occupied by Deacon Orisen Allen, and a little beyond on the east side of Perry street, nearly opposite the grist mill, stood a double log house called the 'Company house,' and occupied by Colonel Stephen Mack, agent of the Pontiac company. In addition to the grist mill there was a sawmill and work shop. On the first Monday in June, my first visit to the village, a militia training was in full blast; John W. Hunter commanded the one and only company north of the base line in Michigan territory. On this day the company was divded and a new company formed by elect- ing the late Colonel Calvin Hotchkiss captain. Proceeding northwest on the road occasionally traveled to Saginaw, distant about a mile from the village, Captain Stanley lived on what has more recently been known as the Pier farm, on the present White Lake road.
GOVERNOR WISNER AND HIS "MULLET" STORY
"The Indian trail from Detroit to Saginaw, which decided the loca- tion of Pontiac, crossed the Clinton at the same point as the present bridge on Saginaw street: turned northerly toward the company house, then bore northwesterly, keeping east of the extensive marsh just be- yond the residence of the late Governor Wisner, then turned in a northwesterly direction, crossing the Pontiac creek a few rods north- west of the present crossing on the Saginaw road. Oliver Williams, on the southwest side of Silver lake was the next home, three and one-half miles from Pontiac. He had removed to this place from Detroit in 1818; he built the first farm barn in the county, the lumber for enclosing it being manufactured by a couple of Frenchmen from Detroit, with a whip saw.
"Mr. Wisner kept open house, and in passing and re-passing to Flint river, in 1821. I invariably called. He was a real gentleman, social, good-natured, remarkably generous and hospitable, and fond of a good story. I well remember late one evening in December, 1821, in return- ing with our surveying party from Flint, after fording the Clinton at
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HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
the little pinery, with the thermometer at zero, when nearly off our legs, we reached and were most kindly cared for in this most hospitable home. During one of my calls 1 inquired if there were many fish in Silver lake; he replied he could not say in regard to numbers, but he once hauled out a mullet that weighed one hundred and forty pounds. This rather surprised me, and while reflecting, not wishing to dispute his veracity, he observed my embarrassment as to the remark being somewhat fishy, and explained that a brother of John Mullett, the sur- veyor, was once fishing there, and falling into the lake was rescued by Mr. Williams. In those days of easy familiarity, he was known by the cognomen of Major Togee, and once at a social party at Dr. Chipman's, Mrs. Chipman desiring to address him by his title, and in the excitement of the occasion being forgetful of the same, said .Major Hot Toddy, Major Hot Toddy! About four miles beyond O. Williams, and at the crossing of the Indian trail on the Clinton, resided Alpheus Wil- liams and Captain Archibald Phillips, where a sawmill had been erected, and at this time was in operation.
BECOMES HORATIO BALL'S ASSISTANT
"But I will now return to my temporary home at Captain John Hun- ter's, of whose kindness, together with that of his excellent wife, long since gone to her reward, I cannot too highly speak. Here I made the acquaintance of Horatio Ball, son of Daniel Ball, who lived three-fourths of a mile southwest of Hunter's. He had received a contract for sub- dividing ten townships of land between Flint and Cass rivers. I ar- ranged to accompany him as assistant, to carry the compass half of the time. He was waiting for the completion of the town lines, which had been assigned to a young man by the name of Hester. We were soon informed he had done nothing after having discovered an Indian wigwam near a small lake, and, as he was accompanied by his dogs and was otherwise prepared for a winter's hunt, had decided to pass the winter in this pleasant locality and avoid the swamps. In a week's time every man of his party had left him, while he was taking lessons of the Indians in hunting and of the squaws in moccasin making. Here he remained during the winter. The next June he was seen passing through Pontiac on horseback, accompanied by about a dozen natives of both sexes, to make his report to the surveyor general at Chillicothe, and also to his father for $600 cash advanced.
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