Biographical Sketches Of Early Settlers, Read At The Pioneer Meeting Held In Ypsilanti On Wednesday

Mr. Pretirfent - Punteen of Wushtenaw County: - In aiipaaring beiore you toduy I ani riot unmiiidinl of the great interest that atUohes itself to the niind of this society, tbat our rounions suall bo a success; and in view of this fact 1 havo regarded it aa u. tlnty tocontributr, as i'ir as lay in my power, to tba ftlready strong bold wtaicb tliis associatiou bs taken upon the uffections of the peopte ol this county, and the interest by th m feit therein to tlio end that its future niiiy be f;rowiny; SU0068S, and oroivn the efiorts of ita oriiiinators and supporters with such resultH as shali sfitisty thcir hope and antieipations. ín continuing the hirtory o: the arly history of Suporior, aa I hope trom tiiuo to do.until I have trauod a ski.tch at lenst, of every man and wmimn who Hrst helped tosubduo tho wilderness and havo themselves thus writteu tbeir Dames imperishably upon tho rccord3 of unwritten Iiistory. I shall to-duy cali your nttei:tion first to tlie names of Jobn McCormick and hia wife Botsey Thurber McCormiek, who in the spring of 1823 c;ime to tho ïiorthwestorii part of Superior, just east of Dixboro, to the.farni now ocoupied by A. Covert and Mr. Nanr; . Tliis family émigrated from Bteubeo Co., township of Puinted Pust, N. Y ïhoir parents being pion et rs of that township. In the huitury of the soUlcnient of Steuben Co , pnbflihed in 1S52, honorable! mention is made of the nninps of Henry McCorniick and Hezokinh Thurbor in rocorda of 1793. TUo desoendants of those families have a ytft pride iu reverting to tUn history cif Falmed rost, ana tó the faut that. thn first habitation of oivilized ruan erected iu Steuben Co. was at Painted Post. I like the name, because it savors of pionoer life, and admire the spirit which retains the3e old landmarks. Paintod Post marked the grave of the son of the famous Queen Catherine, is the legend, whether true or false, the dufioendants lovo totalk of stories which maltes tluir ancestors acquaint with hair-breath escapes and extraordinary briskness! John McCormick, the oldest son of Henry McCormick, was born Sept. 8, 1781, at Painted Post, N. Y. Botsey Thurber (McCormick) was born Oct. 29, 1787, was the daughter of Ilezekiah Thurber of Painted Post. They were niarried Ooi. 29, 1806, remaining near their parental homo until tho spring of 1825. Mr. McCormiok carne flrst alone, and walked over quite a large part, of what was knovvn as Eastern Michigan. E. Pray, Esq., had purohased tho land just enst of the tract located by Capt. Dix and had raised a barn. Mr. McCormick bought of hiin instead of the gov6rnment. Mr. Pray started Eant when Mr. McC. wont to Detroit for bis family. There ho wa3 taken sick, and remained at the residence of Mr. Thomas Bush dangerously ill for six weeks, and being yery feeble Mrs. Pray and her ohildren joined him there, and remained two or three weeks longer. Then being able to return ho did sü, and purchased land a little east, on the satne road, and for many years kept a tavern. One daughter married Mr. GeorgeDouglas, a young man of more than ordinary ability, whose father resided in Detroit. Himself started out to look for a looation which should in the end make him an owner of the soil. Stoping at Mr. MoCormick's for a night's lodging, he lingered longer - and longer - not as in after years fasoinatod by book of story, or history - when the friends remember he would forget to eat, or sometimes to go home ; bnt he had found a face, that kept him spell-bound. Afterward ho witb his Ealhor claimnd hoapitality, and the father purchased a section of land, for his son, just north of Mr. McCormick and running east one mile. There tbese two young jieople set p a l.omostead, whioh reared sonsand daughtors - who are bearing honorable burdens, and enjoying the fruits of -"uil ordered lives. Fuither on in the history we are writing the daugbters of this household may relieve us of our selfimposed labor - "To gather up the fragments that uothing be lost." Mr. Charles McCormick of Ypsilanti, is also a son of this fainily, remaining on the farm in Superior until a man. Mr. McC. was noted for his generosity, no ono went from his door hungry or in want - often their doublé log house was filled with strangers - somo romuining for weoks, nay months - our family were able to leave a pair of cliichens, iu return for weeks of shelter and aid in constructing for them a dwelling. Politically Mr. McC. was a Jackson democrat. Mr. McC. Died at Dixboro, Sop. 12, 1833, his wife nourished by her children lived on untu July O, ISIS. A volume might be writton on the subject of the experionoes ot' eaoh emigrant i'ainily - a brief reference to them, is all that wo can present in these imperfect sketches. The fact that all the clothing worn by families and all the bedding used, was raanufactured at home - by the woraen folks tells its own story of faithfal industry. The flax was wound on the distaff and tow was carded, spun and woven in the spring for Slimmer clothing - sheets, towels, bags, and other articles, for doinesüc use. Then followed the wool- at first this was carded by hand - then when carded by inachinery, for a long, long time the spinning and weaving was done at home, - with all this labor - were blended, in many districts, maple sugar making in spring - cheese and butter malunp: as the season ad vaneed - cutting and making all garments worn by the household - no expensive dress makers went from house to house hl those days - sure as now, in some over nice families to be needed fifty days in the year. Yet our femalo pioneers were human and intelligent and are entitled to our highest esteem and veneration for the greatest of virtues, industry and oconomy. Thomas Bush settled in tho southwestorn corner of Superior, on the farm now owned and occupied by Benj. Voorhees. He was married to Polly Densett, in the townohip of Murray, ürleans County, m 1822 and emigrated to Detroit ia 1S25, remaining there one year at work au a carpenter. But a restless desire to go into the wilderness, with a true spirit of a pionoer, he embarkod on board a small oraft that ran on the Huron, between Detroit and Rawsonville, named "Allen." Leaving Detroit early on a Tuesday morning in June, 182G, they reached "Mows Landing," or Büwsonville, late Saturday night, faro $25.00, and were taken to tho house of Mr! Alva Cross, and by him eonveyed to the spot of their futuro home. This boat stopped nights and let tho passenger seek shelter and comfort in the cabins which wero scattered, though sparsely, along the river route. They were made' very welcome, and hospitably entertamod by Eed Jacket, on his resorve, below Flat Rock. 1 should bo delightea to hear som pioneer here speak of this Iiidian Pio neer, as Mrs. Bush says of him that he wag the most intelligent and courteou man they onoountored on their outward bound journcy. This family were kindly rooeived iuto the cabin homo of Mr. Jerry Phillips, at the farm now oooupied by Mrs Roberts, and Mr. Phillips and Mr. Hisoook rendered them the assistanoo so greatly needed, and cheerfully given, by one pioneer to another, in thoso never-to-be iorgotten days when this our now pop"ious and populated country was new! Mr. Bush purchased of government 80 acres of land- covored with oak tiuiber was, though amechanio, a carel'uland - ■'- - mam M- ■MBM_iJPM pains-taking farmer, intersstcd in planting out fruit trees and making his homo a ai'sirable one. Mc Bush remained upon thitr farm nntil 1831. Of tliis family, consisting ot father and mother and ten children, thero remains now the widow, living in Ypsilunti, on Cross street, coniforted by the miuistrations of a daughter, also taai sons, Ira D. Busb, resident of Dotroit, bnsinoss, Brass Foundry Works rcwMenaa 992 West Woodbridge streeti ftgpd 64 years. Brogtna Busb, residpnce Grond Rapid, age 50 years. Business, railroad conductor. Charles Bush. residence Bay City. Business, división superintendent Mich. Centra!, Jackson. Lansing & Saginaw railrond. Age, 48 years. T. Jeffurson Bush, rosidence Hastingg, Mich. Business, station agent, Grand River Valley road. Age, 37 years. Mr. Bnsh'a native Btate was New Jersey. Ho was a man of tnarked character. üis snyings have passed into provorbs which will not soon bo forgotten. Poütically he was an old line Whig. He died at the advaneed age of 90 years, ut thu residenco of his son iu Detroit. A wonderful change of political sen timen t has taken place in Chicago, a city, until last spring when it elected Carter Harrison Dem., mayor by a majority of sbout 10,000 therotoforo Kepublican by a reliable majority of about the same ainount. On Monday judicial electious were held throughout the state, and the four Democratie candidates earrie'd the city by an average of 10,000 and the county or circuit by 7,000. Illiuois as well as Michigan gives evidence of being debatable greund in the national campaign of next year. The campaign has beguu in Ohio. Charles Foster was placed in the field last week. Wednesday the Democrats nominated Thomas Ewing, and the Greenbackers a full ticket on the same day. Uu il the idea of November arrive politics will wax waimly in this annually hotly-contested state, credited largely with being the forerunner of national politics. Foster represents the Sherman eloment and Ewing the Thurman element in state politics. The Yellow Jack has already commenced his operations in the West Indies. Among his victims in Hayti are the Prench Minister, his private secretary and first seoretary of legation. It will be no easy matter to keep the soourge out of the United States.