|
|
BATTLE CREEK BY A. D. P. VAN BUREN
Towards Michigan's waters so broad and so blue, Plowed the bright bubbling river—the Kalamazoo. "
The practical eye of our worthy friend Hussey saw at once that nature had marked the site of a city here, at the junction of the Battle creek and the Kalamazoo. Across this point of land a race was dug, conducting the waters of the Kalamazoo into the Battle creek. There was the water power. At this time a wild forest covered the region, a log house or shanty was scattered here and there in it. There were but two or three frame buildings. Cephas A. Smith, the lawyer of the new town, had built a small office near what is now the North Park. John Marvin had a blacksmith shop where Nichols & Shepard's old foundry stood. A bridge of poles spanned the Battle creek just above its junction with the Kalamazoo. The old traveled road followed the banks of the creek. Mr. Hussey was interested in the new town. It had already become famous abroad, as a place where fortunes were supposed to lie concealed ready for the lucky person who should discover them. He little thought then it would be his future home, although he was highly pleased with its prospective advantages.
Eight here occurs a little episode in Mr. Hussey's experience, which 1 give in his own words. It is a pleasant talk about our streams, the origin of their names and their legendary history, and begins thus: "I love Indian names; they are not gotten from fancy, as most of the names in the civilized world.
"In those early times I had the rare fortune to meet with an old Indian chief who spoke intelligible English. He informed me that Kalamazoo, or Ke Kalamazoo, as he called it, signified 'the bright sparkling or bubbling water. '
Michigan
Page 70
|
|
|
|
|
|