Clerks. The Trustees elected were Jones Whitney, Cyrus Barrett and David Angell; Constable, Samuel J. Tremains; Clerk, A. D. Angell; Treasurer, David Angell; Assessor, John D. Angell; Overseers of the Poor, J. A. Rogers and Josiah Woodworth; Fence Viewers, Cyrus Barrett, J. A. Rogers and Josiah Woodworth; Supervisor of Road District No. 1, John D. Angell; Supervisor of Road District No. 2, J. A. Rogers. Eleven electors were present on this occasion. At the time of the first election at the cabin of Cyrus Barrett, the ballot-box was a pewter teapot which was kept by the family until a few years ago, when it was purchased by P. W. Norris, who now has possession of it at Detroit, Mich. Such an interesting relic should never have been permitted to leave the township. It is not probable that Michiganders will derive any great amount of pleasure in examining it, except, perhaps, Mr. Norris, while it would always be an object of great interest to residents of the township.

INCIDENTS AND AMUSEMENTS.

Daniel Barrett tells many interesting anecdotes of life in the woods of Madison, ere enough families had arrived to mar to any serious extent the primitive wildness of the country. At that early period, deer, wolves, bears and various other wild animals roamed the forest, scarcely molested by the report of the settler's rifle or the echo of his ax. Along the river and larger creeks many valuable fur-bearing animals were to be found; and those who became expert trappers and hunters could at first make much better wages than those who devoted their attention to the cultivation of the farm. There was no market worth mentioning for farm productions; or rather, the market was so far away, and transportation was made at such a cost, that there was practically no market. no market. Scarcely no attempt was made to raise anything, except such as was wanted for home consumption. There was no money. Barter and exchange took the task of conducting all commercial relations between the settlers. The value of all articles was ascertained by the demand for them, as compared with the demand for other articles whose worth in money was known. Poor men who came into the woods with large families, found themselves unable to meet the problem of life, and were forced to return East. Others, by dint of the utmost economy and self-denial, managed to pull through, and, in the end, secure good homes.

REMINISCENCES OF PIONEER LIFE.

One day in winter, about the year 1839, Josiah Woodworth and Daniel Barrett went hunting northeast of Kunkle's Corners. They had not gone far, ere they saw the fresh tracks of two bears in the snow. immediately started in pursuit, Woodworth leading the way.

They

After

L

moving rapidly for some distance, Woodworth suddenly stopped short and exclaimed. "Hold on, I see them!" and with that he drew his rifle to his eye and fired, and away scampered the two bears at full speed, Woodworth following the one at which he had fired, and Barrett the other. The latter could not keep up with his animal, which was soon lost to sight and sound. He stopped and returned to see what had befallen his companion, and, while going rapidly along, saw the very bear he had been following coming back; but although the hunter endeavored to get a shot, it was impossible, owing to the thickness of the underbrush. The bear soon distanced him, and he stopped for a moment to regain his breath. While standing there panting, he glanced carelessly upward, and was astonished to see two half-grown bears standing quietly on a large limb high above his head, eying him with curiosity and composure. He instantly raised his rifle, took deliberate aim, fired, and one of the bears came tumbling down, shot through the neck, and bounding like a rubber ball when it struck the earth. Barrett cut a heavy cudgel with his hatchet, and although the wounded bear reared up for fight, it was soon finished by repeated blows on the head. He endeavored to load his rifle to shoot the bear yet in the tree, but his hands were so numb with cold that he made but sorry headway. While thus engaged, Woodworth came back, having been outrun by the bear he had been following. Upon a sign from Barrett, he shot the bear in the tree, which fell to the ground, dead. Woodworth immediately claimed that the bear Barrett had shot was the one he had unknowingly killed at the first fire; but when the ground was examined, and Woodward's bullet was found deeply imbedded in a tree, not having touched the bear, he was forced by the demands of consistency to give up the controversy. The dead animals were taken home and furnished excellent meat for the families, while the hides were sold for $3 each.

Cyrus Barrett and his sons came across a very large bee-tree on one occasion, and cut it down, whereupon they found a large quantity of fine honey; but for some time were unable to get it, owing to the furious attacks of the bees. Some men could readily find bee-trees, while others. could not. Often many gallons, and even barrels, of the finest honey were obtained, and this found a very welcome place on the settler's table. It was excellent on the huge johnny-cakes that were baked before the old fire-places, and made good sweetening for cranberry, crabapple and other wild sauces. While some families had all they could do to live comfortably, others were more fortunate, or, perhaps, more successful, and really enjoyed life in the backwoods. They had an abundance to eat-had pork, beef, wild turkey, squirrel, coon, fish, and occasionally a bearsteak; had an abundance of corn bread, wheat bread, potatoes, turnips, tomatoes, cabbages, pumpkins, melons, garden products, maple sugar, honey, molasses,

wild fruits and berries, buckwheat and beans. Many made their own garments from flax or wool, but usually the material was purchased, and then made into the necessary apparel by the wife and mother.

FIRST BIRTH.

William Barrett, whose birth occurred in the township on the 21st of April, 1840, was the first white child born within its limits.

MAIL FACILITIES.

For some time after a daily mail was carried along the Angola road, no office was established in the township; but in 1847 one was applied for and obtained, and was located at the house of Elias Barrett, and the office called Deer Lick, named thus from the fact that near there was once a brackish spring that was a great resort of deer. The mail was at first carried on horseback, and often came so soaked with rain that it was necessary to dry it before it could be read. After a few years, the office was discontinued, but, in 1880, was re-established, the Postmaster being Phillip Weidner, and the office-" Kunkle's."

THE FIRST SAW-MILL.

In 1852 or 1853, a Mr. Kirkendall and Jacob Dohm built a saw-mill on the river a short distance east of Pioneer, securing a fall of about five feet by extending the race across a bend of the stream. Kirkendall retained his interest only a short time; and then sold to Dohm, who owned and conducted the mill many years, at times doing a splendid business. It remained a water-mill while in operation; and the old race will be visible scores of years to come. The dam was destroyed by court process, as it had become a nuisance. The old building is yet standing silent and deserted.

MOUND BUILDERS' WORKS.

At an early period, Messrs. Norris, Joy and McCarty discovered two or more pre-historic mounds at the confluence of Silver Creek and St. Joseph River, and opened the same, taking therefrom four or five crumbling skeletons. The skulls and larger bones of the body were quite sound, but the greater portion of the remainder soon crumbled to powder. There are other mounds in the vicinity.

SOCIAL PROGRESS.

After 1843, the settlement of the township was quite rapid. The vicinities of Kunkle's Corners and Pioneer were the oldest, but, by 1845, there was scarcely a section that did not have one or more log cabins thereon. Each was surrounded by a small clearing, that slowly widened with each year. A rail fence protected the sides of the cabins (not always,

however) from the too friendly approaches of the domestic animals. The winding paths were cut wider and worked; bridges were built; timber disappeared; better habitations were erected; money became plentier; markets were nearer and better; comfort took the place of privation, and schoolhouses and churches began to mark the cross-roads.

KUNKLE'S CORNERS, OR "PODUNK."

In about the year 1855, Augustus Moore opened a small store at the corners, the stock consisting largely of groceries, being worth about $300. A fair trade was obtained, but after continuing some three years, the stock was closed out and the building sold to Levi Hendricks, who sold goods for a short time. Since then the merchants have been Weaver & Widner, Hendricks & Greek, Kunkle, Wallace, Stambaugh, and perhaps one or two others. Mr. Kunkle, in whose honor the corners were named, sold goods for many years from a stock, the average worth of which was about $2,500. Phillip Widner and William Stambaugh are in business at present. About nine years ago, John Shock and Jacob Neisley erected a steam saw-mill at the village; but after a short time Mr. Shock died, and his interest went to his son, John Shock, Jr., who, with Mr. Neisley, is yet operating the mill. A shingle saw has been placed in the building. The mill realizes sufficient business to keep it running about half the year. Alfred Hendricks and Oliver Coy are at present operating a planing mill, the same having been started in 1882. William Whitley was probably the first blacksmith, coming in some thirteen years ago. Three carpenters are now residents of the village. A restaurant was conducted for a short time during the winter of 1881-82. Kunkle's Corners has never been properly laid out and recorded, but its pretensions are as great as those of many villages have been. A number of years ago, a drunken fellow in the neighborhood, while under the influence of "O be joyful," applied the derisive title of " Podunk" to the village. Of course the villagers do not recognize the authenticity of the appellation. Some sixteen or eighteen years ago, Greek, Hendricks and Warner owned and operated a saw-mill in the southern part of the township, continuing the same probably eight or ten years, and doing good work. The Wabash Railway, which extends through "Podunk," is at present negotiating with the citizens for the necessary grounds and funds for a station. The citizens have offered $2,000 for the station, but the railroad magnates are willing to take $1,200 if the residents will give the grounds and grade the track for a specified distance at the village. An arrangement will be effected in the near future. Some ten years ago, the citizens expended much time and money in assisting to grade the Coldwater Railway, hoping that they might have a station; but they were disappointed.