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Michigan Jackson
Fire had kept down the undergrowth, and one could drive as he pleased] through forests of stately oaks, blazing a tree occasionally to ensure safe return.
The village of Barry (Sandstone) took the lead of Jacksonburgh business and enterprise. But the building of the old water grist-mill in 1836, and the establishment of the state prison and building of the court house in 1837 put Jacksonburgh ahead, and gave Barry a set-back from which, some think, it will never recover. The township of Jackson wa six by twelve miles square, embracing the territory now constituting th townships of Summit and Blackman and the city of Jackson. All came to the village to vote, and an election was quite an important occasion Where the new settler could meet and become acquainted with the older —where neighbors could meet and talk over the news from " York stated or Vermont, or discuss the news only " seven weeks later " from Europe Neighbors! The word seemed to imply more then than now. Th it meant if your neighbor was sick, or behindhand with his work no fault of his own, to make a " bee " and husk his corn, dig his potato get up his winter's wood, or do many other acts of kindness, which was very ready to reciprocate when occasion required. It was consd ered no hardship to go four or five miles to assist at a neighbor's raising or to yoke the oxen to the sled and take wife and children for an eve ing's visit. Visit ? Yes, that is the word. When those old mother ladies—"God bless them"—got together for a visit it meant business that line. No gossiping and backbiting, but generous, heart and hands friendliness, while the click of knitting needles kept time to the intel lectual feast.
Jackson
Section 4
Page 42
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