History of Saginaw county, Michigan; together with ... portraits ... and biographies ... History of Michigan ...

HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

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He sprang for Mr. Williams with his tomahawk upraised and
aimed a blow at him which, if it had not been dexteriously avoided
would doubtless have proved fatal. With a well seasoned hickory
club Mr. Williams defended himself,knocking his assailant down
and being about to repeat the blow, the discomfited hero begged
for mercy. After getting upon his feet and recovering from the
stunning effects of the blow, he walked out of thet rading-house and
sat down in front of it, in apparently deep thought. He soon after
called to Mr. Williams and expressed great mortification at the outrage he had attempted; and to confirm his sincerity, promised that his
next furs he would bring to his new " friend " Williams. He kept
his promise faithfully, and became the fast friend of the man at
whom only an hour previously he had aimed a deadly blow.
The Messrs. Williams soon after bought out the trading post of
Antoine Campau, who had, as before stated succeeded to his
brother Louis, which quieted the dangerous spirit of rivalry that
had already culminated in some serious affrays between the Indians
and others who had become parties to the feud.
Among other agents who had residences, at different times, at
Saginaw, were Sherman Stevens, the father of the distingushed
actress, Miss Sara Stevens, who has achieved in the drama no
ordinary position. To considerable solid acquirement he united
a view of romance and sentiment which made him at that time a
genial companion and a rare social acquisition to the limited
society of Saginaw. He was master of the Chippewa dialect and
spoke the language fluently.
Archie Lyons was another trustworthy agent of Messrs. Williams, whose history is identified with the Saginaw Valley prior
to the treaty. He was a fine penman, well educated and a musician of no little skill. He was located at the Little Forks of the
Tittabawassee (Midland City), and in coming down from that point,
on the ice, upon skates, for the purpose of playing the violin for a
dancing party at Saginaw City, he was drowned.
The Messrs. Williams had another agent, Mejeau, an Indian of
quarter blood, an accurate clerk, although he could neither read
nor write. Thousands of dollars passed through his hands yearly.
His mode of keeping accounts was the same as that usually
adopted among the agents. A straight mark symbolized one
dollar; one O a muskrat or a quarter of a dollar; two O's a half
dollar. Instead of the name of the Indian his totem was drawn
upon the book and prefixed to his accounts. O-ge-inawke-ke-to's
totem was a long fish, a spotted pickerel, which he made with
some skill; another's was a beaver, another's a bear, etc.
Judge G. D. Williams died at his homestead at Saginaw City,
on the 11th day of December A. D. 1858, beloved and mourned.
His brother, Mr. E. S. Williams, is still living, at Windsor,
opposite Detroit, with his constitution unimpaired by his early
border life, and a strength of muscle still intact, that would make
any Wah-be-man-i-to tremble in an encounter.