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Part of the American
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Mary McMillan ~ Michigan
There were but a few small settlements
along the Lakes, and in 1688 Sault Ste. Marie was one of the
most prominent French posts and a favorite resort for traders.
Michigan had passed from the possession of the French to Great
Britain in 1760. The military occupation taking place at the
time of the Pontiac war extends through the struggles of the
British, Indians and Americans to obtain possession of the
country down to the victory of Commodore Perry.
Then comes the opening up of the
country, followed by the period of agriculture, manufacturing
and commerce of today. The early French were engaged in the fur
trading business, and, under the control of the British, they
were allowed to pursue this occupation. During the Revolutionary
troubles the peninsula remained in quiet, and the treaty in 1783
included it in the bounds of American territory, and in 1795,
after the victories of General Wayne, settlers began to go in
and open up the country. In 1810 Mackinaw was the chief trading
point.
Among these early settlers of the
eastern portion of Michigan was Mary McMillan, who with her
husband had removed to this new land. In 1813, Mr. McMillan had
left his family to take part in the military operations of that
time, leaving Mrs. McMillan alone to care for her little family.
One day while away from home to secure food, she became nervous
over the fate which might have over-taken her little ones in her
absence, which anxiety was not ill founded, as they had all
disappeared with the entire contents of her house. Being of a
courageous nature, she was undaunted by the realization of her
fears and followed the Indians to find her children hid in the
woods on the opposite side of the river. She suffered many like
experiences of terror and anxiety during the absence of her
husband.
After the war was over, when they were
living near Detroit, Mr. McMillan was murdered by Indians and
her son, eleven years old, captured. After four months' absence,
she obtained the news of his whereabouts and raised the money
necessary for his ransom, when he was restored to his mother.
Women of
America
Source: The Part Taken by Women in
American History, By Mrs. John A. Logan, Published by The Perry-Nalle
Publishing Company, Wilmington, Delaware, 1912.
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