A Child of the Sea; and Life Among the MormonsWilliams, Elizabeth Whitney
History
A Child of the Sea; and Life Among the Mormons
Williams, Elizabeth Whitney
Beaver Island (Mich.); Latter Day Saints -- Michigan; Strang, James Jesse, 1813-1856
My brothers were not at home when the Mitchells came, they being over to
St. Ignace on a visit to some friends. When they returned and learned
Cousin Mitchell had been at our home they could not be consoled as they
had expected to go to Green Bay and go to school. Their father's
brother, their Uncle John Gebeau, was living in Green Bay, so this was a
great disappointment to them. Father said if all went well and good news
came from Cousin Mitchell we would move to Green Bay the next year, so
the boys felt content and father would not break his contract made with
the Newton Brothers to build their vessel. Of course I was too young to
realize all this at the time but was told it when old enough to
understand.
A LETTER FROM COUSIN MITCHELL, WITH PRESENTS.
I remember a big letter came to father and was told later it was from
Cousin Mitchell, telling father if he was doing well to remain where he
was for the present. And on the return of the little schooner which took
the people to Green Bay father received a large barrel of presents for
all our family from Cousin Mitchell and his wife. Dress and shoes for
mother, pretty little red top boots for all our boys, with little blue
jackets and caps for them and many other things which brought joy to
their hearts to be remembered by those so far away. Our boys were great
favorites with the Mitchells and used to be with them so much at
Mackinac Island. My father also had an uncle living in Green Bay,
Daniel Whitney, among the first white settlers of the place. His
descendants are still living there. Cousin William Mitchell lived there
many years. Before passing from this life he was head keeper of
Tailpoint Light House, twenty-two years at Green Bay.
I remember one very nice neighbor we had at this time. Slocomb was his
name. Mother dressed the boys up in their new clothes, sent to them from
Green Bay, and I was also dressed in my little red dress and shoes, then
we were all taken over to see Mrs. Slocomb and from there my brothers
took me over to see the vessel being built. I can remember how large it
looked, it seemed so high up over us. The ship was to be finished and
launched some time in September, then the Slocomb family were to move
away to Milwaukee to make their future home. They had only one son, a
boy about seven. When he reached the age of sixteen he was drowned at
Milwaukee, which was a sad blow to those fond parents.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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