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

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PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY

had much trouble; his wife died on the way, and he returned to
bury her, taking her body to the Riley settlement and afterward
went down to Maiden to straighten out the annuity business.
How he succeeded is not known, as he had given his allegiance to
the United States after the battle of Sandusky. After his recovery
from the frightful wounds he received at that time he took the
oath of fealty to the United States, and always faithfully observed it. There seems to have been some question regarding his
right to claim the protection of the British flag in 1844 (when his
wife died) but perhaps his poverty knew no law. At the time he
and his family stayed over night with Mr. Brakeman in December, 1844, the two men conversed in the Indian language the
entire evening. Okemos stated that he was well known throughout southern Michigan, and showed the scars of the fearful wounds
made by the tomahawks and guns in the battle of Sandusky.
The totem of Okemos was the bear."
MILITARY PROWESS OF EARLY SETTLERS OF INGHAM
COUNTY.
1919. MRS. FRANC L. ADAMS.
To all appearances not much stress was laid on the military record of the early settlers, perhaps because their thoughts were
more on the work they had before them, in trying to carve for
themselves homes from the wilderness into which they had come,
and they had no time to dwell on their war records when they were
exerting all their energies in trying to invent tools with which to
work on the land, as well as to make furniture for their rude
homes. Or it may be, that like the veterans of the World's War
of today they shrank from telling of their military exploits lest
people should think them braggarts. Whatever the reason, it
is very hard in this stage of the world's history to get their names,
records and places of burial.
Since the Daughters of the American Revolution and the
Daughters of 1812 first established Chapters in Michigan, they
have taken great interest in locating the graves of these early-day
soldiers and marking them in a suitable manner.