Ben Slade Reminisgences

Ben Slade, the agent of the American Wringer Co., on N. Main st ,is an old hotel man.
He has a wonderful memory and can relate much interesting local history "befo de war."
In 1850. he was Dan .Hibbard's agent at Eaton Rapids. Mr. Hibbard was the well known stage line proprietor. There was in those days, a plank road covering the 5 miles distance between Jackson and Eaton Rapids.
Between there and Lansing, a distance of 17 miles, the roads were bad. Coaches with passengers came in at all hours of the day and night Very often when the legislature was in session extras were run.
The coaches between Jackson and Eaton Rapids were driven with four horses and then from there to Lansing with six horses. The drivers had horns and the excitement of the arrival of a coach can be imagined. The horses were changed, passengers wanted drinks and cigars, and there was a hurry and hustle day or night when a coach came in When a coach drove up, the first thing the driver did was to throw down the way book.
Mr. Slade had to take this up and check off the passengers to see that the driver did not knock down and then enter the new passengers by name and their destination.
There were always 26 horses in the stables of the stage line for which Mr. Slade had to buy the necessary hay and grain.
The old state bank moneys was a great annoyance.
Every week Preston's Bank Note Reporter was secured and laid upon Mr. Slade's desk. The Peninsular Bank, of Detroit, was particularly annoying, as sometimes it was par and then worth only 50 cents on the dollar.
Mr Hibbard came once a month and settled up.. Mr. Slade's salary was $50 a month and all expenses, such as room und hotel board, etc.
In those days there were Indians in the neighborhood who gathered many furs. Mr. Slade often went out to their wigwams and bought the pelts.
There was much rivalry among the fur buyers.
Mr. Slade clerked one year in the celebrated Hernden, of Marshal. He, in those days, knew all the well known men of the state.