can run a foot race with any of his neighbors and win it. We have never seen so remarkable a case of preserved physical vigor. When the writer called upon him last summer, without the least fatigue on his part, he led us on an half mile tramp, at a pace we could scarcely keep up with. Every tooth in his head is sound, and his eyesight good. He boasts his ability to "down" any of his sons in a "squarehold" wrestle, and they, though men of more than ordinary strength and muscle, admit that his boast is not without foundation. Nathan, well known to the pioneers of this village as the "river ferryman," forty years ago, lives in Bloomfield, Ill., in rather feeble health. Cynthia Harrison Whipple lives in Lake City, state of Minnesota, as does also Worlender Harrison Fellows. Dr. Bazil Harrison lives on Prairie Ronde, on a farm adjoining the old homestead, upon which lives John S., the youngest son, with whom the aged judge made his home. Martha Harrison Bishop lives at Fairwater, Wis., and Mrs. Almira Harrison Crose, the youngest surviving child, lives on Prairie Ronde. Sarah, the first daughter, and second child, died while young, in Pennsylvania, as did Shadrack, the third son. Ephraim died in Minneapolis, Minn., a few years ago. Elias died in Lake City, Minn., and Rachael died very young in Clarke county, Ohio. Amanda and Diana also died in Clarke councy.

As above stated, there are eight children living. There are also eightyone grandchildren. It is impossible for us to tell just how many greatgrandchildren are living, for they are scattered all over the west, but there are twelve great-great-grandchildren that Mr. J. Harrison's family know of. Counting the four generations of children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, the progeny of Judge Harrison now numbers, as nearly as can be ascertained, 220 persons, all living.

Judge Harrison always enjoyed the esteem and confidence of his neighbors, white as well as red. He was frank, open hearted, generous; naturally a peace maker, he became the arbiter in all matters of dispute-and his decisions were always satisfactory. Judge Harrison, from the time the smoke from the hearth of his log cabin ascended to the pure skies, was always ready to "welcome the coming, speed the parting guest." He furnished hospitality to all comers, and shared what he had with settlers who stood in need. The Indians admired his tall, athletic form, his abundant good nature, his unswerving integrity and fair dealing, and to his neighbors he was a refuge in times of trouble. With his numerous children around him, he was in a measure independent, and enabled to overcome difficulties which others could not so ably cope with. An anecdote is related of him which illustrates the peace loving qualities of Judge Harrison. Christopher Bair and a neighbor got into a quarrel about the breaking down of a wagon which Mr. Bair had

borrowed. One of the boxes to an axle was broken somehow, and it was not clear to whom belonged the duty of repairing the loss; a lawsuit and hard feelings were likely to grow out of this matter. When Judge Harrison heard of this, he took a box from an assortment which he brought with him from Ohio, placed it upon the axle, and that settled the difficulty. He has been known to ride all day for the purpose of bringing about an amicable settlement of a difference between neighbors.

It has been a matter of general belief for many years that Judge Harrison was the Bee Hunter" of Cooper's novel, the "Oak Openings," the scene of which, it will be remembered, is laid in Kalamazoo. Since the publication of the work, this has been the accepted theory among the pioneers of the county and Judge Harrison's neighbors. We never heard the fact questioned until last year, when Judge H. G. Wells informed us that Mr. Cooper told him after the appearance of the book, that his character of "Ben Boden, the Bee Hunter," was not founded on Judge Harrison, but on Towner Savage, one of the pioneers of the county, and a bee hunter by avocation. This being so, Mr. Cooper must have made contradictory statements, for Mrs. J. B. Daniels, of this village, is very positive and clear in her recollection that Mr. Cooper repeatedly named Judge Harrison as the original of the character mentioned. Fenimore Cooper, as is well known, had considerable property interests in Kalamazoo county at one time, the township just north of it deriving its name from him, He made several long continued visits to Kalamazoo, along in the "forties," and one, if we mistake not, as late as 1850, the year before his death. Mrs. Daniels was well acquainted with him, and he counted her as one of his favored friends. She met him frequently during his visits and relates to us one occasion in particular upon which Judge Harrison's connection with the story was discussed. This was one day, probably in the summer of 1846, when Mr. Cooper was the guest of Mr. Comstock, and at the time he was writing the book. On that day, Mrs. Daniels tells us, Mr. Cooper spent hours talking with her and others of the guests about Judge Harrison, his family and pioneer history, his relations with the Indians, his bee hunting proclivities, and various other matters connected with the early settlement of Kalamazoo and the country hereabouts. It was known then that he was writing a book, the scene of which was laid here, and he made no concealment of the purpose for which he sought his information, and stated openly the character he proposed to make out of Judge Harrison. Mrs. Daniels had come to Kalamazoo when a little girl, in 1834, and was well acquainted with the Harrisons as well as all of the early settlers. She was one well prepared to give such information as Mr. Cooper sought, and he afterward acknowledged her services in this respect, by pre

senting her with a copy of the "Oak Openings," and at that time he told her that Judge Harrison was the original of the "Bee Hunter." Mrs. Daniels also informs us that in frequent conversations with the old Judge he has stated to her that he understood that he was the person Cooper had in mind when he created "Buzzing Ben" and also that he had been so informed by Cooper himself. Last year we ourselves questioned Judge Harrison on this point, but his mind was not then clear enough to comprehend the question. We have made a great deal of research to fix the identity of the "Bee Hunter" beyond question, and have talked with scores of old settlers. While we have found but few who claimed to have any direct information on the subject, all of the testimony, except that of Judge Wells, has been to confirm. the theory that Bazil Harrison was the original of Mr. Cooper's character. Dozens of well known citizens have related to us an account of a conversation alleged to have taken place between Judge Harrison and Mr. Cooper, at the time of the novelist's last visit to Kalamazoo-the anecdote having been current ever since the incident is said to have occurred. Judge Harrison, so the story runs, having been interviewed by Mr. Cooper, after the introduction, remarked, "So you got me into your book, Mr. Cooper?"

"Yes," replied Mr. Cooper; "I had to have some one, judge, and you seemed to be about the right sort of person to make my bee hunter out of."

"Well, Mr. Cooper, you are a smart man, or at least they say you are, but you ought to know better than to make a bee light on clover. They are too smart for that; they don't fool away with red clover when there's sweeter flowers easier to get at-"

"Oh, I meant white clover," interrupted Mr. Cooper.

"Well," responded the judge, "you are a smart man, Mr. Cooper, at any rate they say you are, but you ought to know that there wasn't any white clover here at the time you speak of. White clover don't come till after

settlers come."

The judge is also represented as tripping up Mr. Cooper on other alleged inaccuracies.

It seems curious that such a story should have been started twenty four years ago, and been repeated constantly ever since, if there was no foundation for it. It is well known, too, that Judge Harrison was an inveterate bee hunter. His eldest son tells us that after his father saw a bee, he was never satisfied until he found the honey, and often would leave his work to follow up the bee and secure his store of sweets.

Thinking that some of Mr. Cooper's notes might be in existence that would throw light on the subject, we addressed a note to his son, Paul F. Cooper, Esq., an attorney at law in Albany, and he promised to make

search. Afterward when in Albany the writer called on Mr. Cooper, who then told us that he had made search and talked with other members of the family but was unable to find or learn anything that would aid us in our search. We are forced to the conclusion, however, that Mr. Cooper must havs had Judge Harrison in his mind when he drew the picture of "Buzzing Ben," the bee hunter, though of course his portraiture may have included characteristics found in Towner Savage or other settlers.

Mr. Harrison took an active part in politics, and his name is found as a delegate in nearly all of the conventions held for many years. He was an original democrat, of the Jackson school, and had little confidence in the opposing parties until the formation of the republican party under the oaks at Jackson. So strong was his attachment for the democratic party that he could not give it up for the ties of kindred, and in 1840 he did not vote for his cousin for president. His first republican vote was cast in 1860 for Lincoln. There are many who remember his tall, slightly bent ferm and flowing white beard and his clear eye when he came down from the prairie to the political meetings. During the war he read the papers with great interest, with such assiduity, indeed, that his eyesight was nearly destroyed. He watched the course of the contest with the liveliest interest, and no one rejoiced with greater enthusiasm at the triumph of the government over its bitter enemies.

For several years past Judge Harrison has scarcely ventured away from home. His faculties were becoming dimmed by age, and the sands of his life were running low. He, however, has had days of brightness when he talked intelligently with his family and friends who came to visit him. Several times within the past two years has he related to us incidents of his early life, which stood clear in his memory, while later events were clouded. Last year, at the meeting of the pioneers of the county, held at Schoolcraft, he was present and shook hands with many old friends whom he recognized, and talked freely. He said among other things, "I am 102 years old, and, thank God, I have not an enemy in the world!" This statement was true. He never did ill to any one. Just in his dealings and blameless in his life, he has passed from earth leaving no enemies behind. He was, for over seventy years, a consistent member of the Methodist church, and has related to us the story of his conversion. His habits of life were simple, and he enjoyed almost uniform good health. He was, until the later years of his life, of strong physical vigor, and unusual powers of endurance. He was successful as a farmer, and influential among his neighbors.

Grand old centenarian, around his long and eventful life how many associations cluster! In the hundred years of his life the grandest scenes in the

history of the world have been enacted, the brightest pages of progress have been written, the noblest men have fulfilled their missions and passed away. Far beyond the time allotted to man's life, he has lived to see his children grow to old age, and his children's children filling useful positions in the world. His days have been full of comfort and enjoyment, his lines have been cast in pleasant places, and peace, like a beautiful halo, settled around the lingering sunset of his life. Patiently, and with full confidence in the sublime promises of Him who created worlds and time and man, he awaited the welcome summons for this mortal to put on immortality, to renew his youth in the fountains of Eternal Life, and at last passed away,

"Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch

About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams!"

What changes have taken place since his birth-March 15, 1771! Our own republic was not born, American independence was scarcely dreamed of. The Boston massacre had aroused public excitement, it is true, but no general conflict of arms between the colonies and the mother country was deemed probable. It was thirty months before the tea was "put to steep" in Boston Harbor, and more than five years before Jefferson reported the immortal Declaration to the Continental Congress in Independence Hall. Washington, not yet forty years of age, was tilling his farm at Mt. Vernon, little imagining the great future before him. In 1771, Franklin was yet hale and hearty at 65; John Adams was 36, and John Quincy a boy of four; Jefferson was only 28; Madison was 20; Hamilton 14 and Burr 15; Monroe was 13 and Jackson had been born on the same day of the same month four years before. Every other president was his junior, as was Henry Clay by six years and Webster by eleven. In England, George III, aged 33, was on the throne in the eleventh year of his 60 years reign, with Lord North as prime minister. The first earl of Chatham was yet alive, and his son, the younger Pitt, a boy of 12, was fitting for Cambridge. Burke at 41 was in the zenith of his greatness, and Warren Ilastings was in India, though not as governor general till three years later. Grattan was only 21 and not yet admitted to the bar; Charles Fox, though only 22, was in parliament, and had been for three years; Walpole had been out of parliament only three years, and Wilberforce, only 12 years of age, did not enter the House of Commons until nine years later. Nelson, who was killed thirty four years later at Trafalgar, was only 13 and serving as a midshipman on the Raisonnable; Arthur Wellesley, afterwards Duke of Wellington, an infant of less than two years was doubtless creeping about Dungan Castle, and for years afterward a very stupid child, history says, giving no promise of future greatness but regarded as the "dunce of the family." Robert Burns, a dozen years of age, was using