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 INGHAM COUNTY

was a constant barrier to our progress. Log houses were scattered along the route, all of which were counted as wayside inns,
for the accommodation of the thousands of immigrants that were
working their way west.
"There was no road from Dexter. We took a trail that led us
to the corner of Jackson, Livingston, Washtenaw and Ingham
counties. There we left the trail, and started out to cross the
plains. We were now compelled to travel by intuition, having no
compass and the sun being obscured by a hazy mist. In this
effort to cross the plains without any landmarks to follow we lost
our way, night overtook us, and a dismal rain set in. Unprovided with camp equipments and being short of provisions it was
necessary for us to keep moving. After establishing a code of
signals, leaving my wife to drive the oxen, I started on ahead directing the movements of the miniature caravan to the right, left
or straight forward, as the case required by the signals, which
consisted of one whoop for the right, two whoops for the left and
three whoops for straight ahead. At midnight I sighted a dim
light. I followed its direction, which brought us to an unfinished
log house, the only occupant being a woman. They had been located only a few days, and the husband was away skirmishing for
provisions. The woman objected to taking us in, but we were in
the majority, and finally got possession of the house where we
rested until morning. This was the beginning of our eighth day
from Detroit. By this time our hostess had become very friendly.
We got our bearings and started for Unadilla. There was a bad
slough to cross about a mile from the house, and the woman told
us that our team would not be able to pull us through, and she
offered to take her oxen and go with us until we reached solid
ground on the opposite side of the marsh. Her cattle she said were
peculiar, and they had got in the habit of turning in their yoke,
and the only way to keep them from it was to tie their tails together. I yoked the oxen, she got a string and the caudal appenages of the two steers, as we supposed, were securely fastened.
We hitched the teams to the wagon, the borrowed team in the
lead. All went well until we were within thirty feet of hard land
and right in the very worst part of the slough when the string
became loosened and in an instant the oxen turned in the yoke
and were facing the wheel team. The water was about a foot