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

BUNKERHILL TOWNSIPI1L AND ITS IISTORY

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next spring Uncle Job started again for his home, taking with him
his family. When he arrived he found that old Chief Okemos and
a few of his followers had occupied his house during the winter,
had used one corner as a fireplace, burned out all the logs in that
corner, and used all the shingles for kindling wood.
By way of paying rent and compensation for fuel, the tenant
voted the landlord "good Ingin." Uncle Job built another house,
improved his farm, and lived for years thereon, an honest, hospitable man, and some years ago was gathered to his fathers,
mourned by all who knew him.
A large moiety of our population are Irish, and excellent citizens and neighbors they are. If any community runs short of
wit, good humor or good cheer, let them draw on our Irish population.
Mr. Fitch closes his article by giving several anecdotes strongly
characteristic of the type of humor found among his neighbors.
"Several years ago I let a piece of land to Uncle Stephen O'Brian
to sow to oats. Later in the season I let a pieces of grass to cut
to a wag of an English boy. The nearest way for the boy to
reach the grass was through Uncle Stephen's oats. About the
time the boy had finished haying, Uncle Stephen went over to
see when his oats would be ready to harvest, and when he came
to the field he saw a broad, well-beaten path through them. He
followed the path across the meadow where he found the boy
busy with his hay, and the following colloquy took place:
Uncle Stephen.-''Billy, me boy, what makes ye tramp through
me oats when ye come to your hay?"
Billy.-"I hain't tramped through your oats, Uncle Stephen,
Fitch's cattle done that."
Uncle Stephen. "Arrah, Billy me boy, do ye mind I know Mr.
Fitch very well, an' bedad I know he never buys boots or shoes for
his cattle."
Another time I let some corn land to Lary Plunkett, and in the
fall S. Brown wanted to help husk it on shares, but Plunkett preferred to do the work himself until a snow storm led him to change
his mind and he sought Brown to get him to help, and the following conversation took place:
Plunkett.-"Brown, I have concluded to let you have some of
that corn to husk."