The whole surrounding country at that time was a wilderness. White
settlers were few in number. There were many different tribes of Indians
wandering about from place to place on their hunting and fishing tours.
They were all peaceably inclined, many remained long enough to plant
small gardens near the shores, but never clearing the land at any
distance back from the shore. The woods were filled with abundance of
game to satisfy all their wants and needs. The red men of the forest
were best satisfied in their own native wilds. They were nature's
children. The trees, flowers, buds, leaves and waves on the shore all
whispered their mystery of the great and good Spirit that ruled all
things. In those days the Indians were receiving payments from the
government. An agent was employed with a clerk to make these annual
payments. Sometimes the money would be paid out at Sault Ste. Marie,
sometimes Green Bay was the place of gathering, other times Mackinac
Island. Then the tribes would gather from far and near, bringing their
whole families to receive their money. That was a happy time for the
red man and his family to know the "Great Father" at Washington was such
a friend. Payment time, as it was called, also made trade for the white
man.