Detroit to the enemy, he was ordered by the British commandant to leave the country, and did so, of course; but joined the first corps of United States troops that advanced toward the frontier. He acted as guide to the division under General Winchester, and was present at their bloody defeat in the valley of the Raisin. The British Indians discovered him after the surrender and determined to kill him. There happened to be present an Indian whom Knaggs had defended in former years, who resolved to save the pale-face at every hazard; but the savages would not listen to him. Nothing daunted, however, the brave red warrior placed himself between Knaggs and his foes and succeeded in keeping them off for some time, the Indians pressed closer, and as a dernier resort the red friend seized Knaggs around the waist, kept his own body between him and his enemies and so prevented the repeated blows of the tomahawk and war club from taking effect upon the head of Winchester's French guide. This means of defense continued until the Indian sought refuge for himself and his white friend among a number of horses which stood harnessed close by. Here Knaggs was enabled to avoid the repeated blows aimed at his head until a British officer, who was not so savage as his Indian friends, interposed and saved him from a cruel death." this terrible trial for many years, and rendered good service in Knaggs survived the negotiation of treaties with the Indians subsequently. services at Saginaw in 1819 cannot be over-estimated. He, with a His band of Frenchmen, including the extensive Campau family, was present and failed not to recognize among the banded red-men many of those who sought for his blood a few short years before. James Knaggs was present at the death of Tecumseh, and was considered one of the most unflinching and honorable supporters of the American troops. THEIR SOCIAL RELATIONS WITH THE INDIANS. It is acknowledged that the French character is naturally social and capable of ingratiating itself with civilized or uncivilized man. It differs from that of the Anglo-Saxon and even the reserved disposition of the Spaniards in so much that it can realize all the better qualities of the people it comes in contact with, sympathize with their failings, and demonstrate a disposition at once kind and genial. Bela Hubbard, who was in the State before innovation interfered much with the manners and customs of the French occupiers, says: "I am not aware that intermarriage was very frequent, or that this relationship was often entered into by the peasantry of this part of Canada. It was common enough at the remoter posts down even to times within my personal knowledge. The Indian trader, whether Frenchman, Scotsman or Yankee, prompted partly by interest, usually took to himself an Indian wife. At such places as Mackinaw and Sault Ste. Marie, half-breeds were numerous. The class known as voyageurs the coureurs des bois of the older times, had become, to a very considerable extent, of mixed blood. The 11 licentious lawlessness of those wildwood rangers was not only well known, but was also a subject of much complaint at a very early day. Certain it is that in many points there was greater assimilation between the natives and the people from France than was the case with the emigrants from any other country. Between 1836 and 1840 in the wilderness portion of Michigan and along the large streams and channels it was not uncommon to find the solitary lodge of a Frenchman, with his Indian wife, and a troop of half-breed children. They lived more like Indians than white people." The food of this class was corn and grease, with a small supply of pem mican. THE COUREURS DES BOIS, made known to the world by Tom Moore in his "Canadian Boat Song," and living prose, were a peculiar set of mortals. Lighthearted yet religious; rough in the extreme, yet capable of entertaining and observing the finest feelings of man; musical, romantic, natural, they conferred on the great lakes and rivers of North America a name, which more than any other won for them the early notice of the world of the last century. The "Mackinac barge" or the "great canoe," was their home. Throughout the livelong day they sped along plying massive oar or paddle, or sleeping upon their freight, while their little vessel sailed before some favoring gale. These rude masters of the lakes and rivers were peculiarly French. Whether in the storm or in the calm, their spirits never drooped; ever and anon the beautifully wild chant of the boatmen rose above the rush of the waters, and mingling with the music of the winds, charmed those on shore as well as banished whatever little care may have brooded over the heads of the voyageurs. In early days, before old Fort Saginaw gave place to the Taylor House, or the Campau Trading Post fell into decay, the songs of the courier des bois were heard on the river. To preserve for the future a few of those old songs the following verses are given: Mon pere a fait bati maison, Ha, ha, ha, frit a l'huile, Sont trois charpentiers qui la font, Fritaine, friton, fritou, poilon, Sont trois charpentiers qui la font, Qu' apporte tu dans ton giron ? Fritaine, friton, fritou, poilon, Qu' apporte tu dans ton giron? C'est un pate' de trois trois pigeons, Fritaine, friton, fritou, poilon, This song could be extended ad infinitum. With the voyageurs it was a common thing to go through all its verses on Thursday, devoting the entire day to it to the exclusion of all other pieces. Another song, known as Young Sophia, was very popular with those semi-barbarous men. The original contained four verses, with a chorus; but prior to the close of the voyageur period, perhaps one hundred more were added, so that the coureurs could have a "love refrain" to equal in extensiveness that which occupied every "wild Thursday" of their career. The following lines will convey an idea of their Sophia: La jeune Sophie Je suis jeune et belle Mais ce vous etre belle, Ce n'est que vos yeaux Unisons ensemble, Son cour et le mein, Pourquoi tant le defendre, Point temps de badinage, Car il est jaloux: Tont lui port embrage. These with a hundred other songs, were characteristics of the olden days; they are now seldom heard, save when a circle of French Canadians, gathered round the festive board, look back to realize all that their countrymen and the old French pioneer accomplished in opening up this great continent. In the libraries of Paris a collection of the ballads of the Coureur des Bois period is in existence, another collection in possession of the Seminarians of St. Sulpice in Lower Canada, both of which tell of their vast number and strange composition. CHAPTER IV. PIONEER SOCIETY OF THE SAGINAW VALLEY. Over half a century has passed away since the American pioneers began to exercise domínion in this region of country. Those years have been full of changes and the visitor of to-day, ignorant of the past of the country, could scarcely be made to realize the fact that within this comparatively short period, a population approximating 60,000 grew up, and now occupy the country. These people are as far advanced in all the accomplishments of life as are those of the old settlements of the old States. Schools, churches, colleges, palatial dwellings, extensive marts, busy factories, and cultivated fields now occupy the hunting grounds and village sites of the aborigines, and in every direction there are evidences of wealth and progress. There are but few left of the old landmarks; advancing civilization and its demands have tended to raze almost every monument of the red-man, to obliterate almost every trace of his occupancy. Previous to 1819, and for a few succeeding years, the only white inhabitants were the Campaus, and the French trappers who made his post their home. The treaty attracted a few more white men, but not until 1822 did the Americans visit the district with a view of occupying it. In 1824 the American Fur Company introduced a few more "pale-faces" to the savages, and in less than three years the first American settlers visited the land and resolved to make it their future home. It is not strange that among the pioneer settlers of a country, a deep-seated and sincere friendship should spring up, to grow and strengthen with their years. The incidents peculiar to life in a new country, the trials and hardships, privations and destitutions, are well calculated to test, not only the physical powers of endurance but also the moral, kindly, generous attributes of manhood and womanhood. Then are the times that try men's souls, and bring to the surface all that there may be in them of either good or bad. As a rule there is an equality of conditions that does not recognize distinctions of class; all occupy a common level, and as a consequence a brotherly and sisterly feeling grows up that is as lasting as time. In such a community there is a hospitality, a kindness, a benevolence, and a charity unknown and unpracticed among the older, richer and more densely populated settlements. The very nature of the surroundings of these pioneers teaches them to feel each other's woe and share each other's joys. An injury or wrong vbe ignored, but a kind, generous, charitable act is never forn-the memory of old associations and kind deeds is always green. Raven locks may bleach and whiten, round cheeks become sunken and hollow, the fire of intelligence vanish from the organs of vision, the brow become wrinkled with care and age, and the erect form bowed with the accumulating years; but the true friends of long ago are remembered as long as memory itself endures. As a general thing the men and women who first settled this land were bold, fearless, self-reliant and industrious. In these respects, no matter from what country they came, there was a similarity of character. In birth, education, religion, and language there may have been differences; but if they did exist at all, they were soon lost by association, and a common interest united all. In pioneer life there are always incidents of peculiar interest, not only to the pioneers themselves, but also to posterity. It is a matter of regret that the old settlers did not continue to hold their anrual meetings, for a record of the reminiscences related at such meetings would be the direct means of preserving to the literature of the Republic the history of every community. Aside from the historic importance of such reunions, they would serve to enliven and cement old friendships and renew old memories that might have been interrupted by the innovations of progress. In the Saginaw Valley the pioneers were not slow to observe all that was lost to themselves and their new neighbors by the want of an organization. In 1873 a movement to organize a society was entered upon and proved successful in its results. The executive committee of the pioneer society met at the courthouse in Saginaw City, Jan. 6, 1874, for the purpose of arranging the details of a reunion of old settlers. Hon. Albert Miller presided, with George F. Lewis, secretary. Moses B. Hess, the secretary of the society, was absent. The members of the executive committee present were W. R. McCormick, J. Blackmore, Geo. Davenport, Samuel Shattuck, with the president and acting secretary. After some discussion, a program for the carrying out of the first annual meeting of the society, to be held Feb. 21, 1874, was adopted. Geo. F. Lewis, Joshua Blackmore and Geo. Davenport were appointed a committee to provide dinner for the pioneers after the annual meeting. Geo. F. Vanfleit, Geo. Davenport and W. R. McCormick subscribed their names as members of the society. FIRST ANNUAL MEETING. The first regular meeting of the Pioneer Society of Saginaw Valley took place on Saturday, Feb. 21, 1874, within the court-house at Saginaw City. Hon. Albert Miller, who was elected president at the meeting for organization, presided, with Moses B. Hess as secretary. A constitution and set of by-laws were adopted, after which C. W. Grant moved that the names of many pioneers, as suggested by Geo. F. Lewis and Joshua Blackmore, should be inserted on the roll of honorary members. This motion was carried, and the following named persons were chosen members of the so |