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

)ELtII TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY

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him, and she pointed at him with a broad grin, saying, "Little
papoose, little papoose!" Then she turned and picked up a
board which she had leaned against the wall on entering. On it
was strapped an Indian baby and holding it up she said, "Me
little papoose too."
One day father and some of his brothers followed the band to
see them make camp. When they reached the flats a short distance north of the old home, the braves seized their guns and disappeared in the forest in quest of game, leaving the squaws the
setting up of tents, starting fires, and such trivial duties. They
worked very swiftly, and in a short time the rifles began to crash
out in the forest, telling that the braves, too, were busy. One
after another they came in with their woodchucks, squirrels, rabbits or birds and threw them at the feet of the squaws. Their
part was done until meal time. The daughter of Chief Okemos
who was one of the most beautiful Indian girls, had just married
a young brave, who by virtue of his marriage to the Chief's
daughter became second chief. She had just finished setting up
the wigwam and started the fire when her husband stalked in with
a big deer over his shoulder. This he laid at her feet. In an
incredibly short time she had skinned it and had some of the
choicest portions over the fire. Perhaps this was due to entire
elimination of washing either hands or venison.
Once some of the boys persuaded Chief Okemos to have his
picture taken. He protested vigorously, saying, "If any take my
face I die." Then one after another sat for their pictures to show
them it did not harm them. At last with some misgivings he sat
with two of them to have his picture taken.
Fifty-five years ago (1865) my father was passing along the
path where Whitmore's Corners now lies. He'd been spending
the evening with a young lady and was returning home somewhere
about midnight. Suddenly a black shape reared up in front of
him, and an ominous growl was heard. Thinking it a rather
surly, big black dog he fired twice with his pistol. The black
shape vanished and he went on to the place where he worked just
west of the corners. The next day two men came by inquiring if
he had seen a bear. He said "No," but went with them, folllowing the tracks. These led to the place just where he had seen and
fired at the "dog." They were bloody tracks from that point.