“In November, 1834, my parents moved to Jackson county, and composed one of the 11 families who settled in Rives township that year.

     “In January, 1835, my father moved into the log house which he had then erected. The flooring was sawed from the frozen logs, and the boards laid down loose and rough, with a rough partition forming a room. One of the windows of this house served as a chimney, as the stove-pipe passed through it. Having been thus far established in the land, my father took a journey east to procure a breaking-up team, as it required three or four yoke of oxen to do the first plowing. He returned in April with his team, and also four cows. On his arrival we had the chimney built, and the laying down of the floor completed, together with many other little improvements, which render the log cabin at least comfortable. All were happy in this home in the wilderness except mother, who suffered sometimes from home-sickness. She had to return to look again at the old homestead in Monroe County, N. Y., after which visit she returned to her new home, and was ever afterward content to dwell here.

     “Our nearest school-house was about three miles distant, and for three years the children had to walk thereto, before a school was provided for this district. At that time the whole district was called Jacksonburgh. We could walk through the country then with as much ease and pleasure as we can drive through it now.

     “Our farm produced good flax, and we made our own cloth. Mother wove a piece for grain-bags, and disposed of each bag for seven shillings. We manufactured starch from green corn or potatoes; band boxes we made from elm bark, and indulged in many branches of domestic economy.

     “The Indians visited us from time to time, and frequently brought venison to trade for bread and potatoes.

     “In 1842 I taught school in what was called the ‘Draper neighborhood,’ a district extending about four miles. My pupils were Harriet Draper, Ann Phelps, Cordelia Cook, Sarah Hatten, Elizabeth Hatten, Charlotte Draper, Eunice Tingley, Josephine Snyder, Mary Draper, Violet Anderson, Andrew Phelps, Wm. Bates, Edwin Smith, Austin Draper, Frank Quigley, -------- Quigley, Edward Draper, John Anderson and James Anderson.

     “In January, 1842, I made a visit to Ohio, and became acquainted with D. H. Ranney, who subsequently came out here, where in 1844 we were married by Rev. Mr. Harrison, of Jackson.

     “When settlers first entered on their locations it was thought by some that tame grass would never grow here. My father, Alva True, said he thought it would, and very soon afterward discovered a blade of plantain; clover followed plantain, and in a short time we had a pleasant green. When father moved into the township there was neither of these herbs. Now all the grasses and cereals are produced, and wild berries are abundant.

     “The first orchard was planted in the spring of 1835, on the farm now known as the ‘Wilbur farm,’ then owned by Mr. Elmer. The following year it produced two apples, which I picked; as the owner did not live there. As recently as 1847 a man from Ohio was out prospecting for a location; but he formed such a strange opinion of the country that he said: ‘This country will soon be deserted; the log houses will soon be left tenantless; people cannot live here; it is a barren waste!’ What would that man say now were he to visit us? The contrary,--we think it is one of the richest countries on the continent."