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THE LIFE OF HON. RIX ROBBINSON A PIONEER OF
WESTERN MICHIGAN BY GEORGE H. WHITE
Robinson said, "I must search you. " The Indian had so adroitly secreted the knife that Robinson did not discover it, but the young Indian stepped up and pulled it out from his breech cloth behind. The Indian appeared dumfounded at being detected. Robinson said, "You have brought me out here into the bushes by the river to murder and throw me into the river, have you?" "No, no!" Robinson was enraged, jumped on to him, threw him into the river and held his head under water; he became insensible, the bubbles gurgled up through the water, he was drowning him. Some squaws seeing them go towards the bushes of the river bank, had surmised the truth and hurried forward, as was their usual way to prevent, if possible, any collision. Just then they got there and begged so hard of Robinson not to kill him, as he might do, under Indian law, that he passed the seemingly lifeless body to them and walked away. They resuscitated him. Robinson did not see him for more than a year, then he came to him and asked his pardon. After a time he entered his employ and was one of his best and most trusted men for many years.
When Michigan became a state in 1836, Mr. Robinson and all other Indian traders foresaw that the business of Indian trading must soon close, and he resolved to turn his attention to farming and his mercantile and land matters at Grand Haven, and go out of the business except what little might come to Ada station. He had now become very wealthy, and was looked up to and highly respected by the few white settlers that had come in within the few preceding years. In 1834 Mr. Astor had sold out the business and property of the American Fur Company to Ramsay Crooks and a party of eastern men.
Michigan
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