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 9
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JOSEPHI WAMPLER'S ASSIGNED TERRITORY
"Hester having thus failed in fulfilling his contract, the work was assigned to Joseph Wampler, of Ohio ( the surveyor who sub-divided ranges 10 and 11 in Oakland county). We set off for our work on the 13th of June, arriving at Flint river before Wampler returned from Saginaw bay. The heavy rains had swollen the river to nearly full banks, and as there was no way of crossing we started up the river to the Kearsley, where we felled a suitable pine, about sixteen feet of which we removed from the main body of the tree and shaped it canoe-
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like, digging out the same so far as could be done with axes and made it answer our purpose, and we floated it down the river and landed it on the north side, where the city of Flint is now located. Here we found Jake Smith, called 'Wabaseis' by the Indians, who had been an Indian trader for several years and who had recently received the appointment of Indian farmer. He had built a comfortable log house a few rods below the present railroad bridge. This was occupied by Smith, a white man, with his mother and sister; also by a man by the name of Doane. The two men at this time ( the middle of June) were hoeing corn, with veiled faces on account of the mosquitoes.
"After waiting about a week we were furnished with the field notes, and commenced our work in town 7 north, of range 7 east. After a week's work we returned to the trading house, when soon after Wampler and his party came in, the men utterly refusing to continue longer on account of the suffering they had endured from the mosquitoes, both men and horses being weak from loss of blood and want of rest. Owing to the discontinuance of the township lines survey, we were compelled to discontinue our work and we decided to accompany Wampler's party to Pontiac. During the remainder of the season I made my home with Mr. Hunter, and occasionally accompanied a land-looker.
"Early in autumn Wampler returned to Flint river to finish his work, and our party followed for the purpose of finishing our work, in October.
A SURVEYOR'S HARDSHIPS
"This occupied about sixty days, and from the experience of Ball and the miserable outfits, we suffered both from hunger and cold. We had no tents, only an old second-hand tarpaulin, which had been laid aside as useless for hatchway service. In the absence of a kneading trough, our cook made use of this piece of canvas to mix his bread. This was unfortunate, for on our first visit to the trading house some swine, attracted by the adhering dough, nearly devoured and entirely destroyed it, and we had now no cover besides our blankets. Our pro- visions were inadequate; we were frequently reduced to a short allow- ance of only buggy peas, and at one time, when weak from want of food, we found a wigwam where a squaw was cooking succotash, which she kindly divided with us. This occurred on the last day of our survey, while meandering the river. Closing our work on the line of the reserve at sunset and following up the river, forcing our way through thick beds of rushes knee high, at about 9 o'clock we reached Smith's trading- house, so hungry from several days' short allowance that we took the potatoes from the kettle half boiled. I must not forget to mention the names of the men who formed this surveying party. Besides Ball and myself, there were Rufus Stevens, Michael Beach, Chester Webster, and a young man from the Emerald Isle, named Pool.
"During the sub-division of town o north, of range 6 east, we en- countered the most terrible gale of wind I ever witnessed in the woods of Michigan. The trees crackled and fell in all directions close around us. It was on the same night the 'Walk-in-the-Water' lav off Buffalo, deeply laden for Detroit. Captain Rodgers, after discovering the open-
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ing seams of the steamer, and realizing the impending danger, very properly gave the order to slip the cable, releasing her, and she went on shore.
"We finished our work on the last of December, and I decided to accompany Mr. Ball to Chillicothe, Ohio, where he made his returns to the surveying general's office. In addition to letters I already pos- sessed from Governor Clinton, of New York, and from Judge Wright, chief engineer of the Erie canal, I had procured one from Governor Cass, who recommended me from the fact I intended making Michigan my home. Starting on our journey, when a little way below Detroit, we were fortunate in obtaining passage with an Ohio farmer, who had just made sale of his butter and cheese in Detroit. Landing at San- dusky, we footed it to Chillicothe. Presenting my letters, which proved satisfactory, he promised me future work. The purpose of my visit to Michigan being accomplished, and arrangements for future employ- ment as government surveyor perfected. I immediately returned to my home, where I arrived on the 14th of February, having been absent eleven months."
RETURNS WITH HIS FAMILY
As stated, during his first visit to Michigan, Captain Parke made arrangements with Edward Tiffin, surveyor general of Ohio, Indiana and Michigan, to return in 1822 to continue his work. In May of that year he started for the west with his wife and child from his home in Camden, New York, and journeyed by the Erie canal and lake steamer. After being delayed for about a week by a severe gale, the family took the steamer "Superior" from Buffalo to Sandusky. "Putting into San- dusky as usual to receive passengers." continues the narrative. "I met Judge Burt for the first time, direct from the surveyor general's office. Arriving at Detroit I met John Hamilton, with whom I formed an acquaintance the previous year. He was provided with an ox-team and being in pursuit of a load, I engaged him to take me to my journey's end.
"It was late before we left the city; we did not reach the angle of the road (six miles ) until nearly sunset. At this point begins the causeway, constructed by the United States troops when garrisoned at Detroit under the command of Colonel Leavenworth .*
"Arriving at White's tavern, their beds were occupied, but Mrs. White spread a few blankets on the floor where we slept as soundly as the swarming mosquitoes would permit.
"In the morning Hamilton came up and we again mounted the wagon, going smoothly along over the plains to the angle of the Paint creek road, where then stood the famous oak tree. The numerous pitch- holes made riding so uncomfortable we were glad to get out and walk the remaining five miles to Mr. J. W. Hunter's place of residence. Ilere we received such a welcome as only himself and family could give. and we were invited to remain several weeks with them. During this time Mr. and Mrs. Hunter visited their eastern home, leaving us in charge of their family of young daughters.
* This piece of road has already been described.
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BIRTHPLACE OF JOHN H. PARKE
"On their return home he offered me the use of the shop, as he called it, an unfinished log house, built but not used for blacksmithing pur- poses, which he said I would be quite welcome to occupy. Doors, win- dows and floors were soon put in, and we moved into our first home in the west. There, in 1823, my only son, John H. Parke, was born. Our furniture consisted of a table made by myself from a rough board, and chairs which my brother-in-law, Harry Brownson, who came soon after myself, built with his ax out of rough timber.
"These articles, with our beds and bedding, several trunks and a small stock of clothing, comprised all my worldly possessions. I will not neglect to add that $8.50 in cash remained, and I was at this time in my thirty-third year. Of course the strictest economy was necessary, but my hopes were bright. I was in perfect health and all the prelim- inaries for the future work in surveying public lands entered into the previous year.
"It being time I was on the move for family supplies, when, with the asistance of a friend, I raised a sum sufficient, added to the above, and set out on foot for Detroit, encountering mud, water, flies and mosquitoes.
"Cattle drovers from Ohio were the chief dependence of the pioneers, but finding none at the time, I bought a fine looking new milch cow from a Frenchman, which proved to be so ungovernable as to require two men to hold and milk her, until I made a pen so constructed that she could neither turn, go ahead, or back out, and the milking could be performed by a single person. After this I made another purchase of a cow at the administrator's sale of the estate of Webster, in the fall of 1824.
"Whether Mr. Webster died in 1822, or 1823, I am unable to say. Ile came as passenger in the steamer 'Superior' in May, 1822, with the mill-irons on board, when it was said that Burtt & Allen, millwrights, were set at work and the sawmill was put in running order at Auburn, called Smith's mill. After the death of Mr. Webster the real estate passed into the hands of the father of Captain Isaac Smith.
"At the time of my arrival at Hunter's the settlement ( now Birming- ham) contained four log dwellings, occupied by Elijah Willetts, John W. Hunter, Elisha Hunter, his father, and John Hamilton.
"In the fall of 1822 my brother, Dr. Ezra S. Parke, having recently completed his medical studies, arrived with his wife and one child, an infant daughter, who afterward became the wife of M. W. Kelsey. He was an earnest, zealous Christian, member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and soon after his arrival commenced holding occasional religious services in his own house on Sunday afternoon. On these occasions the singing was principally performed by his wife, who was remarkable for her rich, sweet voice, as well as many other lovely Christian graces. The early settlers and other friends can never forget this excellent woman : her cheerfulness of temper in all circumstances. Her kindness and sympathy in sickness and affliction were unsurpassed. She literally went about doing good. These meetings were the first held in the neighborhood, with the exception of a sermon I heard in 1821, in Wil-
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lett's barroom, by a Methodist minister who came up the Rouge and whose name I do not remember.
"I could get but little employment during the summer. Occasionally I assisted emigrants in land-looking and surveying, but endeavored to wait patiently for the fulfillment of the promise which had been given nie. Early in the winter I received the place of teacher in the school on Swan's Plains, where I continued until February, when a letter from Mr. Mullett, of Detroit, proposed our visiting Chillicothe together that we might soon procure the promised contract.
"I resigned my place in the school to my brother, Dr. Parke, and soon arranged with Mr. M. for our journey. Our outfit consisted of a French pony, a jumper rudely constructed with a crockery crate for a box ( this half filled with straw) and a couple of blankets, not forget- ting a saddle; and we were soon gliding down on the ice of the Detroit river to Sandusky. Here we left the jumper, saddled the pony, and proceeded on our journey-one riding and the other walking. After going a certain distance, the horseman would dismount, hitch the pony to a sapling, and proceed, taking his turn in walking, while his com- panion after a time would pass him on horseback, and in the proper place, he, too, would dismount and hitch, and the journey was concluded on this ride-and-tie principle.
"Our interview with the general was most satisfactory. The oath of office was administered and each received a contract. Mr. M. and myself were the first appointed from this territory, except Mr. Ball, who filled one contract of ten townships in 1821. In a year or two William Brockfield, of Detroit, received a contract. Others were fur- nished work soon after."
HOMESTEAD AT LAST
From this time on, Captain Parke's duties as surveyor took him into various sections of Michigan, Wisconsin and lowa, his professional labors covering some sixteen years. His home, however, was in the township of Pontiac. "In the autumn of 1823," he says in his second narrative, "I purchased of Shubael Conant, the southeast quarter of section 33 in the township of Pontiac, at a little less than three dollars per acre. The following year I added thirty-one acres on the north and adjoining the same at five dollars per acre. The year previous, however, I purchased of the same sixteen and a half acres to secure building ground, as the line of road from Detroit had cut off my former building ground and first purchase, the price being ten dollars, with the privilege of one, or as many acres as I chose.
"In May, 1824. I was ready to take possession, when Judge LeRoy, who owned and occupied the house in which Joseph J. Todd has since resided about forty years, kindly offered me a room for the use of my family while my own house was building. This required the labor of three men besides myself for two weeks. The roof was covered with boards, battened with slabs, and as the house logs were cut in unequal lengths, when raised to their proper place they formed steps convenient for mounting the roof at the alarm of fire. The interior was quite com-
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fortable and pleasant, the logs being hewn and partially covered with newspapers, the floor of white pine, and two doors, and windows oppo- site, of seven by nine glass; a wide, open fireplace, one side of which, in the corner, was a ladder for ascending the loft, where our friends found a comfortable bed. And soon after, for further convenience, especially for the aged, as it was difficult to ascend the ladder, and dangerous with all, I added to the rear of the house a room for their accommodation, and a sixteen by twenty room at the south end for a kitchen.
"From the year 1824 up to December, 1829. I surveyed twenty-two townships, in addition to the foregoing, extending from the principal meridian to the west boundary of the large Indian reservation extending to Saginaw bay. In the fall and winter of 1826-7, I subdivided six townships on Lookingglass river ( Clinton county ). This survey ex- tended south and west to the north line of the township in which the state capital is located.
"The Stevens family-father of Messrs. Rufus and Sherman Stevens -- resided at Grand Blanc, and from this place I packed my provisions ; finishing my district the 15th of January, I arrived home in the evening and my wife, on the lookout, having heard of my arrival at the village, met me at the door, welcoming me and presenting to my arms our infant daughter, aged six weeks. This, my youngest child, became the wife of Levi Bacon, Jr. It was a joyful meeting of the family. I having been absent sixty-two days.
SURVEYS FROM PONTIAC
"The last week in December, 1829, three surveyors, Clark, Thomas, and Christmas, left Pontiac on a surveying tour west from Saginaw, myself following them a day or two after, my work being twelve town- ships, from towns 11 to 18, north from the meridian, east to the reserva- tion above mentioned on the Kankanin river, having engaged Phillip Bigler to transport my provisions to Saginaw, where I made head- quarters. Proceeding on the ice of the Saginaw and Tittabawassee rivers to the line of township 12 on the west side of the Tittabawassee river, the snow full knee deep at every step rendered our work slow and tedious, when, before we were aware of it, we found ourselves running a line in the Forks reservation, causing much delay in our work in hunting the lines when backing out for this purpose. Succeeding in this, our work went on at the rate of four or five miles a day only, as the lines were to be walked over the second time; continuing at this rate only throughout the winter, not losing a day on account of the weather until the 8th of April, we started out as usual as soon as it was light.
RUNNING LINES UNDER DIFFICULTIES
"The wind, rising as the sun rose, increased, and as the treetops were loaded with snow, filled the air, so that we were compelled to return to camp, where we remained two days. When hearing from Thomas, it was said he was about at the point of discouragement
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in not being able to find his starting point, this being his first experience in the woods, when he sang out 'I will give any man fifty dollars that will show me my starting point."
""Will you give me that?' said Chester Goodrich, who had been through one surveying tour with Mr. Mullett.
"The next I heard was that Christmas had gone to the settlement and had engaged board for himself with Mr. O. Williams for the win- ter, leaving two men to keep camp at half pay. Thomas had found his corner, had become stimulated with courage, declaring that he would leave his bones in the woods sooner than leave his work. I never heard whether Chester had received the fifty dollars.
"The snow disappeared and warm weather succeeded, the men com- posing the three parties ( for Christmas had now returned ) suffered so extremely from inflamed and swollen feet that they were obliged to stop work and went to the forks of the river, where there was a trading house which was our base of supplies. A sub-chief soon brought me a letter from Clark, urging me also to discontinue work, in order to make it a general thing. I had already performed the full amount of my twelve townships, for Clark had been unable to reach me with his lines, and I had been necessitated to run several of his township lines. For eight weeks I had carried the compass with a badly crippled foot, the result of a frost bite, and, during the breaking up of the ice swamps, being compelled to wade a good share of the time in ice cold water. I suffered more than my pen can describe. Being in this position, and John Powel, my axeman, just taken lame, I acceded to the request and we were soon on our way to Pontiac. While traveling together Clark said, 'Parke, if we are ordered to complete our work, you must finish mine, for I would rather lose all I have done than return here.' Dur- ing this winter we had many hindrances to encounter. When encamped at the northwest corner of township 17 it was necessary to go to the northeast corner of the township to run the line west.
"This corner had been previously established on the left bank of the Tittabawassee, when we mistook the Tobacco river for the Tittabawassee river, and sought nearly two days in a blinding snow storm, having passed the junction of the two rivers, when not able to see the corner on account of the brush covered with snow, having passed it several times during the second day. At night I told the boys we must have intersected some other stream, and in the morning we would continue east, when we would find the corner.
"My expectations were realized, and we found the corner and a brush-built hut built by Steinbrook, in which he had been awaiting our arrival. Becoming impatient, he had left, probably for Saginaw. On his return, owing to the difficulties of passing through the brush, he rigged a kind of jumper, drawing it on the ice and attaching it to him- self in such a manner as to disengage himself when breaking through the ice in deep water : but at one time he came near losing his life.
"On another occasion, when returning from Saginaw with his jumper, discovering a pack of wolves feasting on a deer they had just drawn from an ice hole, he decided on sharing a portion of the deer with the
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wolves ; and, when they growled and glared at him, hastily sprang upon them, yelling and waving his hat; they slowly retired a few steps, while he took a portion that was left, and retired.
"Early in autumn, 1830, we, the delinquent surveyors of the past year, were notified to go forward and complete our work without delay. When preparing outfits for another campaign in the Saginaw woods, Christmas made his appearance, being on his way to complete his un- finished work.
"The two parties, his and my own, left Pontiac together, and when on our way he suggested assisting me in completing the three contracts on my hands. Arriving at Saginaw, the schooner from Detroit, on board of which were our supplies, had grounded on the river bar, caus- ing delay and serious consequences for a time.
"Through the kindness of the Messrs. E. F. and Gardner Williams, at Saginaw City, we were supplied with sufficient provisions for a single trip, as they were short, their supplies being on board of the same vessel. Dividing with Christmas and leaving part of my own for the next trip of the packer, Samuel Steinbrook, the parties proceeded together and recommenced work. The other packer went for supplies first, and as the schooner had not arrived my provisions were taken for the other party, Steinbrook being provided with two bags of potatoes, being all our friends, Messrs. Williams, could do for us.
"I regretted, when too late, that I did not send Steinbrook with a letter demanding a share of the provisions stolen after dividing with the party. Potato diet, working twelve hours a day, was hardly suffi- cient. The third day, as we were running a line east, we met the packer, and never did the pony obtain relief so sudden as then. Every man had his pocket knife in requisition, sharpening sticks for broiling pork.
"After this occurrence our work went on regularly, as there was no further delay for some time. Steinbrook, on his return, brought a letter from Christmas, desiring to know what I would give for the privilege of completing his work. I answered him briefly: as for 'giving' for this privilege it was out of question, and, respecting the finishing of his work, no encouragement could I offer.
"On the next return trip of the packer this surveyor had taken pas- sage, leaving two men at camp, Eli Sawtels being one of them. Christ- mas, renewing his application, got my assistance in the further fulfill- ment of his contract. He had become broken down, discouraged, home- sick and sick of the woods, to the shedding of tears, as he was pleading for assistance.
"When out of pity to him I said, 'If you will finish the township in which you are engaged, I will complete the remainder (two townships) of your work.' It is not for me to say how I found his work had been performed, having but two men left to assist, the others having left for home. The following year I received a letter from him, stating his expenditures during the two trips exceeded the amount of his receipts ninety dollars.
"I never heard from Thomas after his leaving the Saginaw woods. Clark dropped dead from apoplexy, with the compass under his arm,
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while extending a range line in the western part of the state in 1836 or 1837.
"I will mention here that I finished the work of the two last named surveyors in the Saginaw woods and marshes.
"In the autumn of 1832 i left home for the purpose of subdividing fifteen townships in the lead mine district in Wisconsin.
FRESH TRAILS OF THE BLACK HAWK WAR
"This is remembered as the cholera year, and also the one which closed the Black Hawk war. A little cluster of whitewashed houses at the mouth of the Chicago river marked the site of the present great city. A little distance from this point we discovered fresh wagon tracks diverging from the main road which had been made by General Scott's little army in pursuit of Black Hawk and his warriors, which with the aid of a pocket compass for general course, we mainly followed. Our troops must have made about eleven miles a day in their march, as was indicated by their camping grounds, where we found traces of their fires, cast-off clothing and frequent new-made graves. Half a mile east of Rock river we first discovered where Black Hawk and his warriors had encamped three weeks previous, and took possession for one night only. In addition to the tent-poles were six or eight brush heaps twelve or fifteen feet in diameter, three or four feet high, the use of which considering their mode of warfare, we could not comprehend.
"At sunrise we were by the river which was filled by new made, sharp, cutting ice, and the depth of the water was midriff to the pony. The poor animal had a hard time taking us all over. Erwin Tyler, the cook, being the smallest man, was selected as ferryman, and crossed and re- crossed, carrying one man behind him each trip. From this point the character of the country changed from level to hilly, and reaching the height of ground we could distinctly see, looking ahead, three Indian trails, apparently six feet apart, indicating that the warriors marched in single file. The second day after crossing the river, we came across an Indian trader, rebuilding, the Indians having burned his house and from him obtained a fresh supply of provisions. Arriving at Mineral Point. met a son of General Dodge, from whom I engaged a good sup- ply of smoked side pork, not needed for the troops, as the war had closed. I engaged flour at fourteen dollars per barrel. During our journey the weather had been warm and smoky, but the night of our arrival a terrible snow storm occurred. continuing thirty-six hours, with drifts fifteen to twenty feet high. This was discouraging, for in a prai- rie country the corners are made by raising mounds of earth two and one-half feet high; in the top a stake is driven and inscribed with mark- ing-iron, denoting town, range and section. The weather was bitter cold and our labor severe, but with a spade and two-edged axe, we over- came all difficulties.
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