00:00.336 --> 00:01.136 00:01.165 --> 00:03.165 CC 00:03.166 --> 00:05.166 00:05.167 --> 00:09.028 The residents of Wisconsin, who are now of the busy world of 00:09.028 --> 00:13.512 civilization and enlightenment, seldom, if ever, 00:13.523 --> 00:17.068 think of those days when the pioneer of this fair state 00:17.068 --> 00:20.965 had very different living surroundings. 00:20.965 --> 00:21.865 00:21.901 --> 00:25.329 There are those among us who could narrate many 00:25.329 --> 00:28.766 a true thrilling tale of that early date. 00:28.767 --> 00:30.444 00:30.444 --> 00:33.232 Michili-Mackinac (the great turtle) Island 00:33.232 --> 00:36.581 was the great emporium of the West. 00:36.582 --> 00:39.527 All the fur traders came there to sell their furs 00:39.527 --> 00:41.403 and buy other goods. 00:42.371 --> 00:46.576 I was an only and a spoiled child, but afforded much 00:46.577 --> 00:51.297 amusement to my great-aunt, a fur trader on Mackinac Island. 00:51.297 --> 00:53.297 00:55.609 --> 00:59.212 A bride of but fourteen years, I went with my husband 00:59.213 --> 01:03.029 to live in Green Bay, and thenceforth my lot was cast 01:03.030 --> 01:07.009 with the new and growing Territory west of Lake Michigan. 01:07.010 --> 01:11.112 The resources of our small community were meager. 01:11.113 --> 01:15.035 In those days there were few schools, no churches, 01:15.036 --> 01:17.916 no markets, no bakeries, 01:17.917 --> 01:21.465 no one who sold cooked food in any form. 01:21.465 --> 01:23.711 Everyone had to do their own cooking, 01:23.712 --> 01:26.584 which was all very well for those who knew how; 01:26.585 --> 01:32.287 but only think of the plight of those who, like myself, did not! 01:32.288 --> 01:34.163 01:34.164 --> 01:37.616 At this time, I was trying to master the English language, 01:37.616 --> 01:39.291 and learn to read. 01:39.302 --> 01:42.072 I did not seek my neighbors, as I would have done 01:42.073 --> 01:44.096 had they spoken French. 01:44.096 --> 01:48.686 In consequence, my life was very solitary. 01:48.687 --> 01:50.166 01:50.167 --> 01:54.527 I was alone all day, with not a human being near me. 01:54.527 --> 01:57.376 This day and generation can know little of the excitement 01:57.377 --> 02:00.265 that overwhelmed us when the mail was expected. 02:00.266 --> 02:02.331 Once a month a mail arrived. 02:02.332 --> 02:06.530 For two years I received but two letters a year from Mackinac. 02:06.531 --> 02:07.878 02:07.879 --> 02:10.985 In 1831, my husband bought a farm. 02:10.985 --> 02:12.671 My husband thought that he could be 02:12.671 --> 02:17.445 both farmer and lawyer, but it turned out as I had predicted: 02:17.456 --> 02:20.956 he would be the lawyer and I the farmer’s wife. 02:20.994 --> 02:22.083 <i>Pf-ft...</i> 02:22.084 --> 02:24.838 Mr. Baird’s father and mother came in August. 02:24.839 --> 02:29.108 It was hard, indeed, to offer such a home to any city lady, 02:29.108 --> 02:32.203 she “could not see how a lady could put her hands 02:32.204 --> 02:34.362 into the dirty ground.” 02:34.363 --> 02:35.084 02:35.085 --> 02:37.527 Never had I been so near breaking down 02:37.528 --> 02:39.282 as when the cow kicked me. 02:39.283 --> 02:41.401 02:41.401 --> 02:44.988 My aunt, Madame Laframboise, was a remarkable woman. 02:44.999 --> 02:48.004 When my grandfather became ill, my maternal grandmother and 02:48.004 --> 02:50.967 great aunt bravely continued the business of fur trade 02:50.968 --> 02:52.502 with the Indians. 02:52.503 --> 02:53.166 02:53.167 --> 02:56.864 Remembering her, I became not easily discouraged. 02:56.865 --> 03:01.063 I worked hard, because, indeed, who did not in those days? 03:01.064 --> 03:02.721 03:02.721 --> 03:05.197 The first government land sale that took place 03:05.198 --> 03:07.752 brought many moneyed men to this place. 03:07.753 --> 03:08.872 03:08.872 --> 03:11.721 Mr. Baird, being the recorder of deeds, 03:11.721 --> 03:16.816 his work became very great, so I became the recorder of deeds. 03:16.817 --> 03:18.420 03:18.420 --> 03:21.579 Our town was growing fast for those days, 03:21.579 --> 03:24.498 civilization crawled in among us. 03:24.499 --> 03:27.937 At this time our town became quite joyous. 03:27.938 --> 03:31.266 As a matter-of-course dancing took the lead. 03:31.267 --> 03:34.251 I still have the keenest recollection of it. 03:34.252 --> 03:38.607 To the people of today this would seem a life of romance. 03:38.608 --> 03:40.537 03:40.537 --> 03:44.827 One who lived the sturdy life of those early days, did indeed, 03:44.828 --> 03:49.386 pass through scenes strange and of more than ordinary interest. 03:49.387 --> 03:50.419 03:50.419 --> 03:55.123 But like many other things, it may have been forgotten 03:55.124 --> 04:00.820 if it had not been a marked event of my little life. 04:00.820 --> 04:01.820