Pioneer history of Ingham County, compiled and arranged by Mrs. Franc L. Adams, secretary of the Ingham County pioneer and historical society.

INGIIAM COUNTY IISTORY

147

There are some persons so addicted to "moving" that the only
signs of ambition they ever show is when there is the prospect of a
migration in view. The story of the man who moved so often
that whenever a covered wagon drove into his barnyard his hens
would throw themselves on their backs and hold their legs up to
be tied is a fair illustration of that peculiar character. But for
us to choose between a "move" and a burn-out there is but little
difference, especially if well insured. In 1859 there were no railroads reaching into Ingham county, and consequently the process
of transportation had to be in the old-fashioned pioneer method by
wagon, overland.
The journey from Grass Lake to Mason, a distance of 35 miles,
was an almost continuous dense woods, the roads for a long distance being new and very rough. The reader can judge of the
demoralized condition of our "effects" as well as of our miind, at
beholding upon arriving at Mason the entire outfit of type loose
in the bottom of the wagon box. This was actually shoveled up
into pails to convey from thence into the office in that elegant condition known among printers as "pi." Not being a professional
swearist, we had to omit that ever-ready resort for persons whose
souls are not possessed with patience; but had some professional
profaner been present we are not certain but like the Quaker we
should have accepted his price to swear for us, provided he could
have done the subject justice.
Alone among strangers, without money, about to commence
an important enterprise with unskilled hands, and our main reliance for the success of the work in an almost worthless condition
before our eyes, was a more severe test of our nerves than we had
ever before experienced. The English language does not furnish
adjectives of sufficient superlativeness to express our lugubriousness. The only consolation was the fact that the whole concern
was covered by a chattel mortgage of $500, five times what it was
all worth. Then we would have thanked the holder to foreclose
at sight, and saved us the labor, mortification and sin of putting
it in shape again. But there was no alternative, and at work we
went with as much courage as we could command, and for ten
mortal long, hot summer days, with the help of a lad, we sat at
the editorial table sorting "pi."
On the 23rd day of June the first number of the News was