St. Johns - A colorful major who bought his Negro servants 20 acres of land in Clinton County because the Negro one day said, " I wish I had 20 acres of land and a mule" was one of the interesting stories whichcam eup thile a recreational potential survey was being compiled in Clinton County here.
According to the report, which contains a page of colorful events from Clitnon's past, the 20 acres are located "probably just noth of the Country Club Golf Course" on US-27 about eight miles north of St. Johns.
In telling the story, Mrs. Hila M. Bross, S. Johns librarian, said, "Major French who owned the inn across from the Salt Box House, (four miles north of St. Johns on US-27) had two Negro servants named Jackson. After the Civil War there was a movement to give every Negro 20 acres of land and a mule. The Jacksons were not slaves although they may formerly have been. The Grenches moved from Cincinnati and brought the Hacksons with them."
One day after the war, Jackson told French of his wish to own 20 acres and a mule.
"So French bought that piece of land for the Jacksons, and they later lived there," she said, baby-sitting with area children.
Other historic occurrences which cam to light as Mrs. Bross, Shirley Pouch, Mrs. Leo Pouch, Mrs. Leo J. Hanson, Mrs. George Brooks and Clyde V. Anderson, all older residents of teh county, met with Soil Conservation Service officials, were:
-That steamboats which plied the Grand River also brought supplies to Maple Rapids in the 1860's. Later poleboats took the supplies and passengers from there on up the Mpale River. In the 1860-1870 era there was a steamboat from Maple RApids to Bridgeville that made refular trips on the Mpale with supplies and passengers.
-The camp where Chief Okemos died on Dec. 4, 1858, has veen located on the Looking Glass River near DeWitt. His grave is farther downstream and along the Grand River, near Portland.
History says that Chief Okemos died and his body was placed in a rude elm bark coffin with his buckhorn handied knife, pipe, hatcet, tobacco and provisions for the journey to the "happy hunting groud".