|
Michigan BRANCH COUNTY
This had been for time immemorial a highway for the red man as he passed from the Canadas and the East, around Lake Michigan to the great buffalo hunting grounds of the West, and for Long before Marquette and his Jesuit co-laborers had established their mis-tribes of the far West as they brought their furs to the markets of the East, sions in the' North, or ever the eye of the white man had gazed upon the gigantic beauties of our commonwealth, yonder now great highway of traffic was beaten solid and deep by the feet of denizens of the forests, as they passed to and fro with their scanty merchandise or with spoils of war.
Along this trail a projected road was located in 1825, but was not opened and worked till '31 and '32. It was to be the great national highway.
Along this great artery in the forests emigration began to pour, some to trade with the Indians, but most to find their future home.
In 1827, Mr. Jones located at Jonesville, and Mr. Allen at Allen's Prairie, others pushed west and formed a settlement at White Pigeon.
In '28 Mr. Bronson and family made the first permanent settlement within the limits of Branch county, at Bronson's Prairie. He was soon reinforced by the presence of Seth Dunham, and by several others the following summer. In '29 the settlement of Girard was made by Richard W. Corbus, a single man, his mother, Mrs. Sarah McComb, and a niece. They lived in an unoccupied wigwam in the Indian village until he could prepare logs for their house. The niece is now Mrs. Sarah A. Smith, of our village.
BRANCH COUNTY MICHIGAN
Page 25
|
|
Please help us keep this site online and to continue to bring sites like this one.
Thank you
|
