The Chesaning Argus, November 14, 1877

Things continue to progress at our local paper as the publishers are looking to upgrade their equipment.

We are working under the disadvantage of a poor press but hope to have a new one in line for our next issue, which with new type received last week, we will improve our paper and make a better "impression."

This issue also gives us some insight into the origins of The Chesaning Argus, beginning with the reprint of an announcement that originally appeared in the Ovid Register.

The St. Charles Times has moved to Chesaning, and re-appears under the name of Chesaning Argus. We know no particulars of the change beyond the fact.

So it turns out that the publishers of The Chesaning Argus first worked together in producing the local paper over in St. Charles. That paper commenced publication on August 3, 1877, but only ran for eleven weeks before being discontinued.

We also get a brief hint of why that may have been the case in our editors’ answer to the above announcement.

Weather is to cold there, brother, and we moved south in order to dispense with a portion of our editorial staff.

So they weren’t just in search of greener pastures. It sounds like there was a bit of bad blood that existed between them and their former partner.

We also get a bit of state level news that is unexpected, to say the least!

Governor Croswell has proclaimed war on Turkey, and it is presumed that it will be carried on through Greece.

Wait…What?!

The governor of Michigan declared war on Turkey? Can he even do that?

We should all demand that our current governor declare war on Canada. We can then occupy and annex Boblo Island and restore it to it’s former glory.

We also have a follow-up to the story of the “wild man” that appeared in the very first issue of The Chesaning Argus.

That story was little more than an amusing tale of local shenanigans, while its sequel turns out to be of considerable historical interest.

The original article ended with a cryptic reference to to “the whisperings of the spirits great Shako and Ponto.” Here we finally learn the identity of Shako.

A few days ago while travelling in the vicinity of the Shako Flats, I came upon the spot where the "wild man" had been seen. While mazing over the event, my thoughts reverted to the time when I first met Shako, the aged chieftain.

This was in the year 1836, at the Knogg's place in the south-western part of Shiawassee county.

My last visit to his camp, was on the spot where the "wild man" was seen; this was in the year 1846, As I entered the camp the venerable man pointed to a seat in front of him, on a bullrush mat.

After smoking the pipe of peace and friendship, he addressed me as follows: "Brother, I was once young but now am old, the frosts of many winters are on my head. I am like the aged oak tree that's dead at the top. Many rude winds have shaken my branches. My last sun is nearly gone down behind the western hills, and soon I shall be buried with my fathers beneath yonder thorn tree.

Brother, when I was young I learned to chase the panther over the mountain, and the swimming elk through the winter flood. But now my moons are numbered. The Great Spirit calls me to the happy hunting ground. When you visit Shako again, I will be sleeping underneath yonder thorn tree by the side of the Sha-ah-was-sake-seebe."

These last words of the venerable chieftain were indeed prophetic, for on visiting the place ten years later, in 1856, I was told that Shako was buried under the thorn tree, at the spot that he had pointed out to me on my last visit.

In the spring of 1866, the waters of the river had washed out one half of his grave. But now the pile of stones that marks his grave are twenty feet from the bank out in the channel of the river, and Shako's bones have been scattered by the waters of the Shiwassee River, no more to be gathered until the final resurrection, when the sea shall give up its dead.

While musing on the above events I become gradual lost to earthly scenes, when lo! the venerable Shako appears before me, and casts a reproachful look.

After viewing me a moment, he opened his mouth and said: "Brother, the spirit of Shako is disquited. The Sha-ah-was-sake-seebe has scattered his bones, and the white men are hunting his spirit. Go tell them that when they cover his bones they will never be haunted by the "wild man" of Shako point.

I awake from a troubled sleep, and Lo! it was all a dream.

Here we have what appears to be a personal recollection of an encounter with a prominent local Indian chief who once made his camp near Chesaning, and whose burial place was somewhere in the vicinity of the village cemetery.

Is it true or just a work of imaginative fiction?

According to the anonymous author, their first meeting with Shako took place all the way back in 1836. That was over 40 years before this account was published!

Could there even have been someone living in Chesaning who had been present that far back. This was, after all, a full seven years before the town was first settled.

We do indeed know of at least one such old timer that was still kicking around.

John B. Griswold (1809-1886) had arrived in Michigan in the summer of 1836 as part of the first wave of settlers that came here to establish the town of Owosso. He helped to build the first sawmill there, and also spent many years transporting cargo up and down the Shiawassee River.

You can read more about him HERE.

He eventually moved his family to Chesaning and by the year 1877 was the co-owner of a hardware store that stood near the intersection of Broad Street and Front Street. It is interesting to note that this hardware store was directly next door to the building I believe housed the printing office of The Chesaning Argus.

The “Knogg’s place” that gets a mention is in fact Knagg’s Place, a trading post that was established in 1820 along the Shiawassee River, just south of the modern day village of Bancroft in Shiawassee County.

Most of the early pioneers passed through Knagg’s Place because it was the on the primary (and possibly only) overland route into Shiawasse County, and Griswold would have almost certainly have stopped there on his way to Owosso.

While I cannot say for a fact that John Griswold is the author of the above passage, his presence in the village does demonstrate that it is possible for it to have been a genuine first hand account.

Happenings

Gould & Oliver's new store is assuming a new business like appearance every day, and will soon be completed.

J. J. Campbell intends running his stave factory and shingle work all winter. This will furnish us with a whistle at least

Crime

The Michigan Central freight and ticket office was burglarized last Monday night to the amount of one dollar and fifty cents in change. The drawers were broken open and the contents scattered promiscously. A valise taken from the depot was found broken open in a car at the stave mill of J. J. Campbell. An entrance was effected through a window on the west side of the depot, the fastening above the window having been removed during the day.

Marriages

In this village at the Chesaning House, Sunday, November 10, 1877, by Esquire Dredge, Mr. Geo. S. Price to Miss Mattie Humphrey, both of Oakley.

Chesaning in the News

A strange young man, entirely naked, has been wandering in the woods near Chesaning for several days, but has eluded all attempt at capture. A large number of men have been in pursuit for the past two days. He is supposed to be an escaped lunatic.

The True Northerner, November 9, 1977.

The Chesaning Argonaut