Early Pioneer Days

AI mond Allen once ïelated the f olio w ing interesting oocurreence tbat took place in the year 1826, on the land now owned by Nelson Brandage, known as the "church lot:" Jaa. Lane and wifo had jast previously taken up land in the Sutton settlement, where they built a log shanty and oommenced house-keepmg. The ladies of the neighborhood, consistingat this time of the two Mrs. Allens, Mrs. Noyes and Mrs. Sutton, oalled at the little log cabiu of the Lanes', to pay their reepeots to the hostess. JDunng their visit John McCormick, who lived near Dixboro, and an Indian, carne to the house, where they remained for a little time. Mao made free to talk with the ladies, and jokinglv asked his companion, the Indian, which of them he would íike for a squaw. His r9ply was, Mrs. Lane. The ladies demurred at Mr. McOormiok's seeming levity. Now, ït happened that about a week after the foregoing occurrence, the Indian again put in an appearance, and this time asked to see a pig that Lane had in a pen. Mr. L. had no misgivings as to the intention of the Indias, and the two went out of áoors together. In turning the corner of the shanty Lane notioed a knife sticking in one of the logs, and made a quick move to grasp it. Then the awful thought llnahed through bis mind that this dusky son of the forest in tended to take his life and spirit away his wife. As Lane grsbbed the knife to defend himself, the Indian closed with him, and for a tew minutes a desperate fight ensued. Lane, with the weapon clutched in his rigbt hand, was fighting for dear life, when the Indian clutched the blade. Lane gave a ' lent, quick jerk backwards, when a finger of the Indian's was severed and feil to the ground . The historian has no knowledge of how long the battle lastbd, but at the end of the encounter there was a dead Indiau . At the time of this occurrenoe there were only flve white families in the settlement, while there was a large encampment of Indians within a mile, and what to do was the auestion of the moment. A committee, consisting of Benj. Sutton, Moses Alien, William Alien, and a man Noyes, went tu the Indiana and told them of what had taken place at the home of Lañe. They appeared to flnd no fault with the explanation of the committee' but went and took the dead Indian away and buried him. And thus ended one of the memorable events in the history of the Sutton settlement.