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EARLY SETTLEMENT OF SOUTHWESTERN
MICHIGAN BY A. B. COPLEY.
June 7, 1882.
The dresses of the women were commonly linsey; sometimes for summer cotton cloth, home woven, was used, colored yellow by home made dyes, or brown sheeting, colored with oak bark a variegated brown, made up waist and skirt in one piece, and gathered at the waist by a cord run in a shirr. Sun bonnets were used for ordinary wear, frequently none, and for dress occasional some antiquated straw covering which did duty for years regardless of fashion Shoes were home made, from leather dressed at tanneries on shares, and mad up by local or traveling shoemakers. Men were clad in jeans, blue or butter nut, home made, different shades of color as the skeins of yarn took a lighter or deeper hue. Pantaloons were frequently of buckskin or faced with the same material, that is, covered front and rear where it would do the most good. The upper garment was something like a blouse, called a wamus, reach ing nearly to the hips; no waist or belt; sleeves gathered at the wrist; fastened at the throat by a single button and tied at the bottom by the corners. Vests were not worn ordinarily. Coon or fox skin caps were not unusual.
In view of the time already occupied I will, with permission, close with i short extract from a historical address delivered in 1876, referring to this class of settlers.
MICHIGAN
Page 17
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