|
Michigan Jackson
The most notable features of Ann Arbor at that time was its magnificent public parks and a town pump.
After living in the village about one year he bought and moved on to an eighty-acre farm in the town of Webster, Washtenaw county. Being now a land-owner, he bought a load of lumber and built a board shanty instead of building of logs, as was the prevailing fashion of that period, moved in, and then for the first time in his life he could gather with his family around the hearth-stone of their own home. But it was no light matter, with bare hands and no money to clear up a new farm and support his family—especially so when chills and fever prostrated them all, so that at times not one was able to give the others a drink of water. But with good constitutions and kind neighbors they were able to come through all right. After living on this place one and a half years he sold out for $400, and again turned his face westward. Following th© territorial road he struck the Grand river at the village of Jacksonburgh, which could boast at that time of but one small frame building, owned by John N. Dwight and occupied as a grocery. Looking about the country, he finally bought and took a deed (June 25th, 1835), of the southwest quarter of section nineteen, in town two south, of range one west, now the township of Blackman. On the west side of this quarter section Perrin Moe had bought a quarter section, on which was a log house occupied by Messrs. Mayo and Gunn with their families. In September following Mr. Sammons came on with his family, and these generous pioneers, with true western hospitality, offered to share their home with the
new comers during the time necessary to build a log house on the new place. At the end of six weeks Mr. S. moved his family into the new house, which as yet had but half the roof on, only enough loose boards laid on the sleepers to put a bed and table on, a hole cut in the side served for a door and window, and there was plenty of room for the smoke to escape without bothering with a chimney. But it was home again, and that thought brought contentment, for they knew that with health and willing hands they could soon add many comforts.
Jackson
Section 4
Page 39
|
|
Please consider making a donation to help keep these sites alive.
Thank you
|
