Pioneer Letters

Extract from letters presonted to tlie Washtenaw County Pioneer Society by Mrs. Julia Wilson, written by Doaeon Ezra Maynard to his son, Wm. S. Mnynard at Whitesboro, New York. FIRST LETTER. DETROIT, Juno óth, 182-1. Dear Son : BeKeving that you wil] be ploased to know what we havo done, and what we intend to do, I will inform you that after we left Buffalo we had a very pleasant ride in the Steam Boat to this place, and, after examiuing many places in this ïerritory, we have taken up half a section of land on the lower Huron forty miles west of this place, 2 1-2 miles south of tbo County seat in the County of Washtenaw but not in the samo town. As wo are tho first family that lias cotumenced a house in that town, we have taken the liberty to name the town Eiohland [now Pittsfield]. Though thero is a lack of timber generally we have on our lot both timber, water and stone plenty. Thore is on it perhaps 100 acres of oak openings, and 40 or 50 acres (now about ready for the plow) of black loamy soil. The water of the Huron ia clear and good, and all the tributary streams made by springs (of which there is plenty on our farm) are puro and cool to drink, so that I feel confident the place must be healthy. The county seat was begun in March last by Messrs. Allen & Kumsey, now there are about 100 lots taken, several houses comruenced, mechanics of al_ most all kinds on the spot. The county seat, which has been established by the Governor since we carne here, I presume that it is the most delightsome place for a county seat and an extensive village or city in the West. Nu man that has viewed it says to the contrary. 400 village lots are already staked out and many ot thein sold and given to mechanics, who are building frame houses. Two saw milis are commenced, and a grist mili is to oommence soon. The Huron will admit of the most good mili sites of any river I ever saw, although the law forbids of the navigation being obstructed for 150 miles from its mouth. Owing to the great emigration into this place, provisions are high and. we shall have to pinch a little perhaps till we can raise them ourselves, shall iinmediately plant some potatoes, garden sauce, and sow some turnips ; and calcúlate to put in some wheat, and plow as much as possible for spring crops. We have but one yoke of oxen and not money to buy auother, which if we had I think we might do well, for we have pasture plenty, and calcúlate to cut 30 or 40 tons of hay. I have made a bargain with a Mr. Stiles to help me put up a thiner to live in, next week, and work with us one year. His wifa will do our wasbing and oooking. They are recommended to me as very nioe, honest, though poor folks. I should prefer my own family but think it the best we can do at present. With love to all friends, I remain Your father, Ezra Maynard. I wish you to let some one that is coming that you can trust bring my best wagon to Buffalo, and send to Detroit care of D. B. Cole. We shall want it very muoh before haying. SECOND LETTER. July 17th, 1826. The 50th anniversary of American Independence was celébrate d at Ann Arbor I think in as solemn and regular order, and pleasant style as ever I saw it dono in any plaoe. More than 300 dined at Mr. John Allen's. Exercises - Prayer, by Dea Maynard ; Declaration of pendence, by Col. James Allen ; Oration, by Samuel Dexter, fEsq., together with a Band of Music. Our family enjoy good health, except a little of the ague and fever. We have a prospeot of a sufficiency of all necessary eatables and aome to spare. Tours with affection, Ezra Maynard. third letter. January 25th, 1827. You will, I think, be pleased to heai that an Eoclesiastical Society is organized here. A ohurch of 30 members, and a Mr. Page is settled here as our minister, and is much esteemed as a 6mart and very faithful man. I hope that he will be an instrument in the hand of God of doing much good. At any rata the society in the región around us already wears a very different aspect. In our neighborhood we have a school house and a good school commenced. To-night our prayer meeting is to be held in the school house for the first time. Mr. Page will eive us some of the timo. RnnHnv preaching and ono evening weekly, so you see that we are not wholly without the means of graoe, and of course none o us here shall have any excuse to make if we do not obtain an interest in the great salvation offered in the Gospel. Our county ia organized, all the offioers commissioned, and to-morrow the first Court is to be held at Ann Arbor, in the county of Washtenaw. All the formalities must be attended to, but I hope not one case will be placed on thedockt. Some people mentioned yesterday that it Was be8t to indict one man for living with another man's wife, but I told them that it would be commencing a business that would perhaps never come to an end, for I can name a number both male and feniale who had come here from the States and from Canada who were in the same situation, and if they demeaned themselves as good wholesome inhabitants, and no oomplaints come from those more interested, I thought we had better let them alone.