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Michigan Select Michigan Counties
This man of just celebrity was born in 1800 in Windsor, Conn. Went into Ontario county, N. Y., at the age of nineteen. He traveled extensively in this state in 1830. Moved on to Dry Prairie as before stated in 1831. The first summer after he put in six acres of corn, and about two acres of potatoes on Prairie Ronde. Indians were numerous and friendly. Wolves, panthers, deer and many smaller animals were roaming unmolested all over the country. The community, both whites and Indians, were exceedingly excited during the Black Hawk war. Five hundred Indians met in council within twenty-five miles of Dry Prairie, and the whites were called upon to arm for the defense of the country. Happily no overt act of war was committed on either side. The most friendly relations existed between the whites and
the Indians so long as the latter, in any considerable numbers, remained among them. As a fur trader, Mr. Holcomb has traveled extensively in this and other states and territories, and at no time has his choice of Athens as a home been shaken. Now in his old age he and his excellent wife are active and intelligent, and likely to live many years.
The improvements in the town are, one steam and water grist mill, one stave factory, one foundry, one steam saw mill, four dry goods stores, one planing mill, two drug stores, one hardware store, three blacksmith shops, two paint shops, two wagon shops, three milliners, three doctors, one lawyer, one district school of 120 scholars, one resident clergyman, two hotels.
The above are all in the village of Athens. There is a Baptist church and edifice in the north part of the town, and the town is well supplied with school-houses and school facilities. In fact general thrift obtains throughout the town. The first marriage celebrated in Athens will long be remembered.
Michigan Counties
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