Page:The part taken by women in American history.djvu/121

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Part Taken by Women in American History


often told the young people that she would have been better off had "Mad Anthony" lived.

HARRIET L. NOBLE.

Quite a wave of excitement spread over western New York in 1824, over the opportunities offered in the new country known as Michigan. Among those seized with the mania was Nathaniel Noble, and in January of that year he with his brother and family set out for their new home, joining in Ann Arbor their former friends, John Allen and Walter Rumsey. The deprivations and hardships of the journey are only a repetition of those which we have already given. The town of Dixborough was laid out by Mr. Dix of Massachusetts. Miss Frances Trask was a cousin of Mrs. Dix, and was one of the remarkable characters of this day. She was a noted belle and coquette of the community, possessing fine qualities of heart and real worth ; her eccentricities and unfeminine defiance of general opinion often caused great talk and comment among her neighbors. She was a general favorite owing to her wit, force, and happy disposition, among the men and many amusing stories are told of her ready repartee. She was at one time engaged to Sherman Dix, a relative of her brother-in-law, but married a Mr. Thompson, being left quite early a widow. Her nephew by marriage was at one time the Secretary of State in Texas.

MRS. HECTOR SCOTT.

Mrs. Hector Scott is worthy of mention among the early settlers of Michigan. She was the daughter of Luther Martin, the attorney who so successfully defended Aaron Burr. One of the famous beauties of that time was a Mrs. Talbot, who was the daughter of Commodore Truxton.

MRS. MOSELEY.

Mrs. Moseley is also deserving of mention. She was the daughter of the Missionary Bingham, and was said to be the first white child born in the Sandwich Islands.

REBECCA J. FISHER.

Mrs. Fisher gives the following facts regarding her life and harrowing experiences as a daughter of pioneer parents:

"I was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 31, 1831, and came to Texas with my parents, Johnstone and Mary Gilleland, and two little brothers, about 1836 or 1837. My father was one of the bravest, most conscientious and active soldiers of the Republic of Texas, and had come home for a few days to look after his family when a cruel death awaited him.

"The day my parents were murdered was one of those days