The following intersting incident of the early days, written by a prominent citizen of Williamstown, and first published in the Ingham County News, will be of interest, both on account of the noted characters connected with it and its intrinsic merit as a well-written article:
"At the time of a gloomy day in the fall of 1840 two men, seated in a one-hourse lumbe-wagon. -- one in the prime of life, the other some years past the meridian of his days, -- reined up at then only house where not stands the flourishig village of Williamston. Both seemed quite weary from their long, rough ride over what was then called the 'Grand River Trail,' which led from Detroit to Grand Rapids. They were wet to the skin by the showers which had overtaken them since leaving the last house, some eleven miles distant.
"The house at which the travelers halted was then occupied by three brothers by the name Williams. The strangers were in need of a night's entertainment, which was cheerfully granted them, as it was in those times considered a 'godsend' to have some one come along that could bring fresh news from the outside world, as it were. After caring for the horse the travelers brought in their wet buffalo robes and hung them, with their saturated doats, around the blazing fire, which shone brightly out into the darkness through where the doors and windows were to be. There being no chairs in the house, the younger man of the two, taking an axe from the wagon, which in those days was considered as indespensable as one of the wheels, soon shaped two blocks of wood for stools, upon which they seated themselves, with backs to the fire, turning either way as their steaming clothes became partially dry.
"Seeing but little preparation for supper they ventured to make some inquiry as to what could be had to satisfy the inner man. They were referred to a solitary kettle which was suspended from the log-pole of the chimney, and also informed that they were not the only hungry men in the house, which seemed to satisfy them that something would turn up.
"In the course of the conversation, while waiting for supper, the travelers discovered themselves to be Jacob M. Howard and John Van Fossen, from Detroit, on their way to Grand Rapids to attend a political meeting. Mr. Howard said it had been intimated to him that if he made his appearance there he would be skinned. Never having been politically flayed he had concluded to take the chances, though the road was long and rough.
"Supper was being now ready, it was spread upon a couple of barrelheads, covered with newspapers for a table-cloth. It consisted of a kettle o fmush and a pan of milk. Mr. Howard said, with his native politeness, as he supplied his bowl, that he could not have ordered a more acceptable repast, could he have had his choice. As there were no females about the house, apolgies were unnecessary, and jokes were free. I assure you those hungry men did ample justice to that rude supper.
" The evening passed pleasently in talking over the exciting topics of the day. At a late hour a bed was spread upon the floor before the fire, which the two way-weary politicians, after taking a second fill of mush and mile, were not long in occupying. After the first nap, Mr. Howard arose cautiously from his bed, so as to not disturb the house, and filled a couple of bowls with the contents of the kettle and pan, conveyed them to the bed, awakened Mr. Van Fossen, and in a subdued voice said, 'Take it to John; we don't get the like of this in the city every day.'
"In the morning, after a hearty breakfast of venison, coffee, and such other delicacies as a house so remote from civilization could command, they left, with many a kind word, to rough it over ninety miles of Indian trail, which long and tedious journey was made, I suppose, all for the good of the dear people.". .
The Williams brothers lived for a number of years without the assistance of women, keeping bachelors' hall and doing their own cooking. When erecting their dam and mills they sometimes had a dozen of more workmen, but one of them always did the cooking for the company. Occasionally they employed a woman, but generally performed their own household work.
The first log house, built by them, in the spring of 1840, stood near where now stands the dwelling of J. M. Williams. The logs were cut from the swamp tamarack, or American larch, and, though in constant use for forty years, are still sound as when first cut. Many of them are not doing duty as fence around the stable-yards.
There was a great amount of sickness for several years, in the form of malarial fevers. Curiously enough, the most unhealthy locations were upon the knolls and highest ground, cause no doubt by the fog which arose every morning and stood about level with the highest places, where it remained sometimes until nine or ten o'clock in the morning. It probably carried the malaria along with it.
At their former home in Genesee Co., N. Y., the Williams broghers had been well acquainted with the celebrated Seneca Chieftain Red Jacket, and Mr. J. M. Williams sweeps away much of the romance thrown around the chief by many writers when he relates how he has many atime helped the "noble red men" out of the gutter in the streets of Batavia, and he very naturally accepts very little of the lofty ideas of the Indian which the writings of Cooper and others naturally engender in the minds of their readers. He says Okemos was nothing but a common savage, and, like the rest of his brethern, addicted to strong drink.
Following is a list of resident taxpayers in Phelpstown (now Williamston) in 1844:
James Tyler, Stephen Smith, Jocob Easty, Ira Welch, Harriet M. Tooker, J. P. Hall, Conard Epley, Samuel Vanderford, John Miller, Isaac Lounsbury, S. B. Olds, S. N Olds, Edward Webber, James Page, O. B. Williams, C. Carr, Jr., ------ Moore, B. Putnam, Jacob Warful, Israel Green, Geroge Clay, Samuel C. Goodhue, Alexis Tyler, J. C. Watkins, Martin Warful.
Several names which would otherwise appear have been torn from the record.
Taken from:
"History of Ingham and Eaton Counties Miichigan", by Samuel W. Durant
Published by D. W. Ensign & Co.; Philadelphia, 1880.
Pages 335 - 336