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About Pioneer Life in Michigan

Surviving the Michigan wilderness, according to one pioneer, required real grit and the stiffest backbone. A pioneer family heading into Michigans interior faced numerous problems. Roads were often mere trails that could easily turn into quagmires, bogging down both wagons and oxen. There were no bridges, so even the smallest creek posed a hurdle. Fallen trees, getting lost and wild animals challenged even the hardiest pioneer. Once the pioneer family reached the plot of land they had purchased, a shanty was constructed until a log cabin could be built. Building the average cabin required cutting and dragging to the site fifty to sixty logs. The logs were woven into a one-room cabin. A door and a window were cut. (Since glass was unavailable, greased paper was used for the window.) A roof was crafted using shingles cut from logs. Nails were hard to find, so the shingles were held in place by a log. When the cabin was finished, the pioneer family cleared some land and planted a crop.

The pioneer relied upon himself to feed his family, and grain had to be carried to the nearest gristmill to be ground into flour. Livestock were an important part of the pioneer experience, and many a pioneer awoke to hear his hog yelping as it was being carried off by a bear. Yet, the worst pest was the mosquito. With water everywhere, most pioneers suffered a bout with malarial fever (better known as the ague). One slogan warned: Dont go to Michigan, that land of ills. The word means AGUE, fever and chills. But the Michigan wilderness disappeared quickly, replaced by farms and small towns.

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