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

IN(c'IlAMI C(N()TY NOTES

201

where the old chief had died the day previous. The friends
bought tobacco and filled his pouch, powder to fill his horn and
bullets for his bag. Contrary to the usual custom of the redman
they bought a coffin in which they placed the remains, which they
had brought that far wrapped in a blanket. When all these things
were done they again took up their silent march toward the
village of Shim-ni-con, on the Grand river, twenty-four miles
from Lansing, which during the later years of his life had been the
residence of this noted man. The story of any other chief would
cause but little comment, but the character of this man and the
part he bore in pioneer history in Ingham county, and the surrounding country, makes him a conspicuous figure.
Okemos divided his life, quite impartially, between two periods,
the former of which was spent in fighting and the latter in telling
of the part he took in these activities. It would be hard to say
which he enjoyed most. He boasted-Indians were given to
boasting-first of his prowess and next of his descent.
He was as proud of his ancestry as are we who came of Revolutionary stock, and though Pontiac was only an Indian, he was
one of prominence among the Indian tribes of North America.
The biographer of Okemos in the "Past and Present of Ingham
County" takes several lengthy paragraphs in support of the
authenticity and accuracy of the old Chief's recitals of events and
says, "The facts stated by the Chief, and especially the harmony
and unanimity of his story, many times repeated as to its prominent incidents, leads to belief." This writer gives such a vivid and
realistic word picture of Okemos and his times that it would be a
mistake not to make place for it in this history. He says: "The
last interview of the writer with this old chief was in the fall of
1858, a short time before his death, on a train on the Detroit &
Milwaukee Railroad. He had been visiting a chief living on the
Flint river in northern Michigan, and was returning to his home at
Shim-ni-con.
"He was in the baggage car smoking and talking when the conductor came for his ticket. The old man produced a trip pass
which some officer of the road had given him, upon which the conductor inquired pleasantly if he was an editor. Okemos did not
understand the question and from the smiles of the by-standers
thought something offensive was meant, and started to his feet