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Michigan Jackson
A PIONEER SONG. As sung by Perrin Moe (a pioneer of Jackson county) over forty years ago.
I.
Come, all you Yankee farmers who would like to change your lot, Who have spunk enough to travel beyond your native spot, And leave behind the country where pa and ma doth stay, Then come and make your fortune in Michigan.
II.
'Tis you that talk of Vermont; why, what a place is that?
Be sure the girls are pretty and the cattle very fat;
But who would like on mountains among the clouds and snow to stay,
When you can buy prairies in Michigan ?
III.
Then there is your Penobscot, way down in parts of Main, Where timber grows in plenty, but darn the bit of grain ; And there is your Schoodic and your Piscataquay; But these can't hold a candle to Michigania.
IV.
There is your land of blue laws, where deacons cut the hair, For fear your locks and tenets will not exactly square; For he that works on Sunday a penalty must pay, While all is free and easy in Michigania.
V.
Then there is Massachusetts, and good enough be sure, But now she's good for nothing but taxes and manure; She costs you pecks of trouble, but de'il the peck in pay; O, what is such a country to Michigania ?
VI.
O, who would ever thought it, not many months is gone, That just as good as nothing of these back parts were known; That such a sight of cities should rise in as nice array As now appears all over this Michigania ?
VII.
Upon the river Huron, just through the country back, You will find the shire of Oakland, the town of Pontiac, Which passing up thus sudden, hath scared the wolves away That used to roam all over this Michigania.
VIII.
And if you follow onward, McDonald's town is there, And further, shire Mount Clemens looks out upon St. Clair. These and other places within McCombia, Which promise population to Michigania.
Then down along to Detroit, more wonders rise to view; 'Tis Michigan's metropolis; I think you'll say 'twill do. Then Ypsi and Ann Arbor you'll see if west you stray, Are pretty sample villages of Michigania.
X
Here is the city of Jackson, upon a rising hill,
And for to grind your wheat and corn there is a noble mill.
It has as fine a prospect I can with safety say,
As any other city in Michigania.
XI.
If you only follow the compass of your nose
It will lead you to a shire town, no matter where you go.
Tf it be up or down, or whichever be your way,
You will see them nicely laid out in Michigania.
XII.
The land about those villages is of a productive kind, And if you travel far or near no better can you find; Then come and pick your lots, and down the shiners pay, You soon will have an interest in Michigania.
XIII.
The blood-thirsty Indians you never need to fear, If soldiers live upon your land they never will come near; The memory of Harrison and Jackson stands array; How bitterly they basted them in Michigania.
XIV.
This land is quite productive and everything for use,
A plenty of good cider and also maple juice;
The grape, the plum, the cherry, and apples grow this way.
And quite delicious peaches in Michigania.
XV.
The rivers, creeks and lakes abound with excellent fish, And in the woods wild turkeys, which make a dainty dish; The bear, the elk, the buffalo, buck, doe and and fawn doth stray, And many other kinds of game in Michigania.
XVI.
Come, all you Yankee farmers, who have muckle hearts like me, And elbow grease in plenty, to bow the forest tree; Come, take a quarter section, and I'll be bound to say, You never '11 regret your coming to Michigania.
Jackson, Feby. 5th, 1878. J. F. SAMMONS.
Jackson
Section 4
Page 44
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