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Mailed from Prairie Ronde, M. T. (Michigan Territory) ( FYI in Cass County then, Kalamazoo County now) 13 June 1832.
Received 1 July 1832
Kallamazoo Harbour, Lake Michigan
M. T. June 2nd 1832
Dear Father
It is now almost three years since I
have received a line from or addressed one to you
first my self, wife and children enjoy good health
our little girl Lucy Joanna was 4 years old the 8th April,
little boy William Well, 2 years 29th Oct last. Worn out
with misfortune, losses, and the deceit of civilized men,
with sickness. I sought out this spot in the far West
among the aborigines, as an adventure for fortune or
A small competence for living and have the pleasure
to inform you that my enterprise so far is crowned
with success. I had seen many places that I should
liked before this but their were persons there before
Me and out of my reach. I was and still the
first here and only one here. I came in fall of 1830,
it would he impossible to give a particular account in
A letter, but will give you a little view of this new but very
Interesting country. Entry Kalamazoo 45 miles below
St. Jos. 30 miles above Grand River, a little North from
& oposit of Chicago, Illinois, nearest Whites 30 Miles up the
River but as yet not even a trail there, at entry St.
Jos. Quite a village, but not a White Family on Lake
North but myself. Indians have sold the land as
a far as Grand River. I was there last week to see the
place & Mr.Robison, Agt Am Fir Co Trading post than
while there the surveyors finished the survey of U.S.
Land in this Quarter of the World. Two Schooners in there
one from St. Jos & one from Macinac by which were
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informed that the Sack Indians in Illinois. had committed
depredations and the setter had all forted at Chicago that
they were proceeding round south end Lake on settlement
at Grand Priarie, and Forty Families had already reached
Niles on St. Jos., that they had called the Potawatomies to
Council on Sunday 20th May, at Mission on St. Jos and recorded
their pledge of neutrality, that there were 12 to 1500 men then
at Niles to proceed against them. That there were U. S.
Troops on their way by water to Chicago. I doubt very
much whether much cause for such alarm, although I received a
line from St. Jos. yesterday (by an Indian) just mentions that
the I War still raged, the Indians here and from this North are
the Ottawa’s, large, active. Industrious rich and well inforned
friends in peace. but great Warriors as history has well recorded
the Chiefs, and 12 Warriors went to Grand River with me
as there were certain circumstances respecting their village,
Buring Ground YE that I could not explain to them. Mr.
Robison interpreted for me, and as we were met, mentioned
the disturbance in Illinois they had heard it but doubled
it. but that it did not concern them that they were well
Satisfied with my proceeding that we had lived in friendship
and wished and hoped it would continue. My situation is at
a little Lake 1/2 miles from Large Lake. old Indian Village site beautiful
situation. the Indian removed oposit (1/2 miles) Congress passed
A preemption right to all settlers on Public Lands 5th April last
by which I am entitled to Eighty acres. I went to Land Office
Pigeon Priare, St. Jos for part May to forward the plot of this
Township. so I would be able to entre. as they had not read
Instructions at office and the Plot not in it wasn’t certain about
The situation. I go to office immediately where I will close and mail
this, and will then mention more particular, but am sure of my
fraction where I live & hope a fraction at mouth for Ware House
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no Priaries north of the Waters of this River from this S & West is
one of the finest part of the World I ever saw. I have visited
The prairies of about 100 miles square on the head waters of the
Illinois, Wabash, St. Jos & this River which for hearty, richness
and advantage to Emagrants baffles all description - it dry &
Wet prairie, rich thick Timber, Oak Openings, with small lake
well diversified, and the finest Waters that flow, the Land on River
down to Base Line came in to market last Season 30 m
From this all Priaries taken and a great deal of Timber Land
Kallamazoo & Calhoun & Jackson Countrys orgainized. Kallamazoo by seat at
Bend of River 40 miles from this on road from Detroit to mouth
St. Jos Calhoun seat next & Jackson next east on said Road
A stage runs from that to Detroit two or three times a week. I read
A letter from George Maria dated 16 March, all well in which
they mention that you thought some of visiting that this summer
if you should this season or any futer, make a tour to the
West, I hope you would not stop short of this, not
only on account of seeing you, which we would be {hole in letter]
Pleased, but to have you see the beautiful Priares of this Western
World, the Land , near this is ginerally poor, my objest was to
get a Preemption to hold the Village site which I have succeed,
and do a forwarding & Commission business. There never has a
Vessel landed here yet, except several this fall is much better for vessels
To get in than St. Jos 8 ft Water on Bar. a boat is almost ready to
to run expect to build a Ware House this summer. River navigable
For Steam Boats 40 miles, a little improvement expected I do think
The business from this forward will improve fast. Winter
before last. I did not see a Person from Fall till Spring that could
Speak English, but wife & little girl. Mary has not seen a White
Woman since we left St. Jos is expecting to be the only White female
that that ever trod this soil, she is well pleased and wishes to
spend her ay here. We Trade with the Natives some, farm a
little &C. Game & fish in great abundance. She, Mary stays here alone
when I go to St. Jos, up River, & Grand River and sleeps as sound as
If surrounded by civilized Whites.
Note from Mary
Dear Sir — I take my pen to add one line in wishing you would come and see us, whenever you visit Ohio. I can assure you that there is no one that would be more glad to see you than us should —- although we are deprived of many privileges here yet we have many blessings which hope we are suitably thankful for I should be pleased if you would write us a long letter soon and inform us how you all are - as William has written particular, I have nothing more to add, yours respectfully Mary
Pigion Prarie June 13.
I had a little brush of Fever, which detained
me a week. I was disappointed in finding the plot in the office.
I hear learn the circumstances of the Indian Hostilities. The
Indians have had one battle with a partY of 274 Illinois volenteers
which they defeated and killed 50 to 60 among them were
2 Cols., 1 Major, 1 Capt., some Settlers, and it is supposed the
Keal Boats have been cut off and General Athinson, Com.
In Chief of U. S. Troops, at last account was surrounded and
all his exprep for supplys were cut off. Governor Reynolds
has ordered out 2000 troops which were to met at Nine
Pine on the Illinous the 10th, but we apprehend no danger in
this part of the Country. There was a company met at this
Place this day to march at 9 O’Clock tomorrow wish you would
write me soon after receit of this, direct me Entry Kallamazoo
Newberry Port P.O. with respect from your son,
Mr. Jonathan Butler 2d
Wm. G. ButlerTranscriber
Faasen, James T.Notes
Notes by James T. Faasen (via email to S. Winthers, Nov. 2024):
Here is a transcript of the 1st letter William G. Buttler wrote to his father from Kalamazoo Harbor on 2 June 1832, which includes a 13 June letter and a note from Mary (Wells) Butler to her father-in-law.
I did alter a few words like “Hurd” to heard and "thare “ to there, just to make it more readable, but that’s about it.
Its transcribed line by line so not to get lost.
FYI tidbits
Grand Haven info, Rev William M. Ferry (1796-1867) is connidered the first settler of Grand Haven. At the time of Mr. Ferry’s arrival, the nearest white neighbors were thirty miles distant. At the south, ten miles up the Kalamazoo River, lived a family named Butler
A Mr Butler had located at Saugatuck early in 1834; with this exception there was not a white family in the entire peninsula north of the St Joseph in the west and Saginaw in the east of the State.
The first settlers of Grand Haven arrived in 1834 from Mackinac. Rev. Wm. Ferry, his family, and friend Pierre Duvernay, along with some laborers and workmen landed at what is now the foot of Washington Street. Rev. Ferry later described the settling of Grand Haven (Lillie 1931s132).
"Our nearest white neighbors were forty miles distant. There was not a solitary white settler in Ottawa County. There was a mily by the name of Butler south of us about ten miles up the Kalamazoo River. On the East, up Battle Creek, there was a mill with a family or two on the river. The first family was at the Rapids 40 miles up. North of us was the place we had left 240 miles."
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Just to let you know via research, William G. Butler lived in Dayton, Ohio at least via 1830 census and 10 Nov 1830 letter from brother-in-law, George Wells to William’s father, Johnathan Butler, George is planning to go to Dayton to talk to William about his debts. Via census data, William G. Butler has 4 in his household, all of the right age bracket to me wife Mary and 2 children, a boy and a girl, but the census in not dated, but assumed to be June. Butler seems to have not any direct communication with his father since his debt problems in late 1828 back in Warriors Mark, PA. He owed his father $1,700 over that bail out.
