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

BUNKERIIILL TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY

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to such surroundings; but she was the founder of the first religious class in that section and opened a Sunday school in her
home, to which all were only too glad to go.
The Indians were constant visitors, having a camp on Cahoogan creek, east of grandfather's farm. Their chief was named
Okemos, and at his death young John Okemos, as he was then
called, became chief.
He was about twenty-one years of age, and grandmother said
he was much looked up to by his tribe, who were quite numerous
in number. They possessed quite a large camp equipment, and
a number of good horses. They always entered the houses of the
settlers without knocking, would take a chair and with Indian
stoicism sit for some length of time without uttering a sound.
One day five large Indians walked in and sat down by the fireplace.
After a while one of them told, in broken English, that they had a
deer and wanted grandmother to get dinner for them. This she
did and they presented her with a quarter of the venison.
Mother used to tell a story that always amused me, and was
often called for. One day as grandmother was cleaning her floor,
she walked backward out onto the doorstep to finish the space just
beside the door. Feeling that someone was near she turned
quickly about, and saw a tall Indian close behind her. She
was very much startled, but trying not to show her fear walked
into the house followed by the brave who sat down on a chair.
After a time he threw his blanket back and produced a small
puppy which he placed on the floor and asked for some milk to
feed it. Grandmother hastened to get some milk for the puppy
and desiring to be kind to the Indian, who was a young man,
brought a bowl of milk for him and going to the fireplace dipped
some hot mush from a kettle. The Indian seemingly much
pleased, as well as hungry, took up a huge spoonful which he
hastily put in his mouth, and as hastily spit out into the bowl.
Mother, who was watching him, never told the story without
laughing heartily, although she did not dare laugh at the time.
Another story was about old Scabbahoose. The Indians had
come to the camp and were going to celebrate some event with a
dance. Scabbahoose was sent to a tavern near Bateese Lake for
whiskey. When he returned he had a jug of the liquor hung over
his back by a piece of twine, and enough in his stomach to make