Ask Atomarane: Psychic Possession or Attacks True Stories

This is the front and back cover of my book, Ask Atomarane: Psychic Possession or Attacks True Stories. On the back cover is the beginning of a conversation that I had with someone on my Atomarane You Tube channel. We had never met - as with the majority of the people who wrote me. The balance of this conversation is inside; which I decided to share below. As you can tell by this being numbered 106, there are many more questions and answers in the book. Conversations that will have you understand why I've often said: truth is stranger than fiction. 

~ 106 ~

SUBSCRIBER: I want to share with you an odd experience that happened today. When I wrote you the other day, as soon as I clicked to Send Message, a woman and a man that I sensed in spirit, who had been standing off a ways during my typing, came over and were not friendly and the energy was not good. They didn't directly speak to me; then they left shortly. I sensed it was like they had evaluated all that I had written to you, scrutinizing my email by listening telepathically.

Today I was going to reply to your note with some additional comments and add what I felt was helpful information for you. Just after I clicked to Send Message this same woman approached me quickly and was hostile, saying that she now has me and was threatening me. I was informed it all had to do with anyone who gives her aid referring to you.

I figured out then that my first email basically was a thank you letter, so that's why they didn't say anything to me then. While this woman was harassing me over the fact that I was giving you information, my laptop somehow froze and my email wasn't sent. That really doesn't happen much with my laptop as it is just a couple months old and is functioning very well. I noticed this, yet didn't let on to her that the email wasn't sent in order to find out more as to why she was here, a stranger, and now harassing me. She basically wanted to psychically attack me just because I sent information to you. She saw that I wasn't upset at her threats, and asked me what's going on, so I informed her at that point that the email didn't go through. She then yelled over to the other man, the same one who was here with her the other day, and she said to him, "We goofed, it didn't get sent.” Then they both left. They did reveal their intentions to me, but for some reason they couldn't go through with any of their threats because my email didn't actually get sent.

Are you aware of what all this might be about and do you have any thoughts as to why this happened?

ATOMARANE: Yes. It appears that I must be really frightening people with my knowledge or why bother intimidating others over me. That's how I look at it. I have had friends tell me this, too, many times. I have a large support system going for me now with others who have experienced similar things. They seem to think they can keep intimidating people and it will go unnoticed. They did this to me, but they picked on the wrong one this time. I had to learn a lot to protect myself.

That's why I was asked to make videos, to tell people my story of what was done to me. So, you can see why they fear this going public. Even that is too late, as it already has, and now my books are finally published too.

They know that intelligent people are going to ask questions like: who, why, when, where, and all that, giving this much validity. Which of course will bring about repercussions on them and that's what they fear. Instead of owning up to it and making amends, they keep sending out more reinforcements to hurt others, as well as me, as if this will cover their tracks. Miserable souls to think they will not have such negative karma due to it.

I will look into this for you as someone has been messing with my computer today, too, thinking it will stop me from talking to people. After 20 plus years they haven't shut me up yet, so I know that God is on my side and they'll just have to make amends. Here is a video I made about it. It has two parts. “Spirit Nemesis, Telekinetic Attacks, Psychic Self Defense – True Story.”

Also, I started looking at your website yesterday and was pulled away from looking at it. I was being asked to get some other things done. Maybe a distraction, but now I feel it may be to keep me from knowing you more. I think they get aggravated with me because I tell people all the time: united we stand - divided we fall. I think they are realizing that the ones who came back are the strong ones and that has made them extremely jealous. This is what I have heard from others too.

Hang in there. Apparently, peace comes at a high price.

SUBSCRIBER: I appreciate your taking the time to explain what you and your friends are going through and I am indeed very sorry about it. Although you didn't say specifically who they are, those you have a history of sorts interfering in your life.

Since these spirit people also came to my home twice now, I inquired of the Lord as to who they are and whom they represent. I was told they are Pleiadian, yet not from the group depicted as Reptilians. They are of the "Star-seed Level or Wavelength.” They were here to intimidate me I am told, "to not be willing to offer aide, and to not be willing to share any information with you.” Now as to why, I am told they are a part of a "team effort to cause trouble and interference and have done so to you for many years.”

I, too, do not respond to bullying tactics and am not afraid of beings like this. What concerns me is that they said they are "attached to you" and that was why they did not want anyone allowing a level of release of their attachment or interfering. That's why they threatened me. There seems to be some kind of relationship, of sorts, relating to your work, which has a downside. This is where the issue stems from, so I am told.

ATOMARANE: Thanks for sharing all you discovered. If “attached” means to cause problems for me through others then attached it must be, but in their minds. I feel they are more attached to their archaic beliefs and desperate enough by harming not only our bodies, but our property, i.e. computers. The downside, as far as I can see, is still their beliefs as they want to continue to control and manipulate. They are not willing to share power (knowledge) due to their own corruptness of it.

I'm sure, in time, everything will work out for the both of us; all of us. Thanks again for telling me what happened to you. Never meeting or knowing you before this helps to reinforce what I have been saying about what my friends were also telling me.

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You can find the book on Lulu or Amazon.

http://www.lulu.com/shop/charlene-lerch/ask-atomarane-psychic-possession-or-attacks-true-stories/paperback/product-16060492.html
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No Discrimination? Ever?

I saw this comment (below) posted on YouTube and decided to share it after I cleaned it up a little. I don't know the person's name (nom de plume), but it looked as if it was copied and pasted. The main reason I wanted to share it was due to the content of the message and the intense feeling I received on how far will we allow ourselves to be manipulated by the mantra of - No Discrimination!

This has become a very slippery slope, especially in the areas of rape and pedophilia that is escalating around our planet. Where do we draw the line? Are we being set up due to naivety? Will we, eventually, be manipulated in these areas, as well? Do no harm? How do we know what's going to create that ripple and when? How do we know who will infiltrate into our legislative and judicial systems to change our laws to satisfy their ideology or culture?

~~~~ Comment

Do you know why radical Islam will dominate over us? If I said to you: not all groups deserve no-discrimination; we must discriminate against certain groups. Would you agree? No.

If I said to you that everyone is not equal. Certain groups must not have equal rights. Would you agree? No.

If I said to you that not all religions deserve religious freedom. Certain groups must not have the right to practice their faith. Would you agree? No.

And this is why radical Islam will dominate over us. How? We believe that no one should be discriminated against. So, when they bomb us, terrorize us, and colonize our lands, we still cannot discriminate against them, because of our own mentality.

We believe that everyone deserves equal rights. So when radical Islamists despise our way of life, despise our values, infiltrate our governments, become politicians, and attempt to subvert our civilization, we still cannot take away their equal rights - because of our own mentality.

We believe that they should have the right to practice Islam. So, when these mosques preach hatred against us, incite violence against us, teach their followers to kill us, inculcate anti-democratic, anti-freedom values, we still cannot take away the right of anyone to practice Islam - because of our own mentality.

And so we see, this is why our civilization will fall to radical Islam and they will dominate over us. Our own mentality will be the reason behind our downfall. And even if we realize this, we still cannot change our mentality, because we are set in our ways.

Indeed, from an evolutionary perspective, any civilization which is this insane, that it inflicts destruction upon its own self, by its own self, and refuses to change its suicidal mentality, is not worthy of survival.

~~~~

Hmmm... no discrimination? Ever?

Memorial

My great-grandmother, Eva Seymour Jenks (1852-1927), was a family historian where much of our Jenks and Seymour lines were recorded and handed down through the family. She wrote this poem in tribute for her half-brother, Dr. Henry Parker Seymour (1830-1885). It was published in her local Oakland County, Michigan newspaper, May 30, 1906.

 

I thought I was going to only share her heartfelt poem until I saw his Civil War military record and felt it was worthy of sharing too. Sadly, I do not have a picture of him, so I decided to share a picture of her and her husband, Oliver T. Jenks (circa 1886).  It is my hope that someone may come across this blog and will have a picture of Dr. Seymour in order to put a face to this tribute.

 

~~~~~~~~~~

Memorial by Eva Seymour Jenks

Away in a far-distant churchyard
Lies a soldier, one stalwart and brave,
Who enlisted way back in the sixties,
His country and flag to help save;
But today, in his green grave at Linden,
He is sleeping to waken no more –
A dearly loved brother – my only –

Who fought in those battles of yore.

But I know that some hands kind and tender
“Old Glory” will place on his tomb,
And will cover his lonely bed over
With the sweetest of flowers in bloom –
And so, for the sake of that brother
Who sleeps his last sleep far away,
I will scatter some beautiful blossoms
Over other brave soldiers today.

So bring hither the loveliest flowers,
The sweetest and brightest in bloom,
And scatter them tenderly – kindly –
O’er each soldier-boy’s tomb,
And let the bright flag wave above them –
Our soldiers – so brave and so true;
For next to their love for their country,
Was their love for the Red, White and Blue.

Red as the life blood shed for it.
Blue as the bright summer sky.
White as the mantle that winter
Spreads over the low graves where they lie:
Let “old glory” its bright colors wave,
And scatter the beautiful flowers
Over each brave soldier’s grave.
~~~~~~~~~~

American Civil War Soldiers
Name: Henry P Seymour ,
Residence: Linden, Michigan
Enlistment Date: 14 August 1862
Distinguished Service: DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
Side Served: Union
State Served: Michigan
Unit Numbers: 1074 1074 1106 1106
Service Record: Enlisted as a Sergeant 1st Class on 14 August 1862 at the age of 31
Enlisted in Company G, 5th Cavalry Regiment Michigan on 28 August 1862.
Promoted to Full Lieutenant 2nd Class on 14 December 1862
Discharged Company G, 5th Cavalry Regiment Michigan on 24 March 1863
Promoted to Full Lieutenant 1st Class on 29 July 1864 effective 15 October 1864 (1st Lieut & Adjutant)
Commission in Company S, 29th Infantry Regiment Michigan on 15 October 1864.
Transferred on 27 March 1865 from company S to company F
Promoted to Full Captain on 27 March 1865 effective 01 May 1865 (Of Co. F.)
Promoted to Full Asst Adjutant General on 15 June 1865 (On Colonel Saylor's staff.)
Mustered out Company S, 29th Infantry Regiment Michigan on 06 September 1865 in Murfreesboro, TN

Walls

Throughout history, we have been shown where walls are necessary. As long as there is fighting and division, they provide an important purpose of insuring peace of mind from those who wish to control, conquer or worse. 

Because of this, these physical walls aren't ready to be knocked down. They serve a dual purpose by keeping people out as well as keeping people in. 

Either way, whether it's a wall around our home, a prison wall, or border walls, they are, generally, our requirement for feeling safe and protected. No one should be deprived of this right.

Hybrid Government: Socialism and Capitalism

I have had friends who are for total socialism. In this day and age, with all the history dictating failure, I can't imagine why they wouldn't see the flaws in this. I've seen the pitfalls personally. It's not a pretty picture. Even in this idealogy, someone has to be in charge. This can still lead to corruption and it has.

I've also had friends who are capitalists and want the government out of our business. I can see the flaw with this too. History has also dictated to us that this can and has created problems. 

I'm more the middle of the road, where I see that both can work in harmony - with effort - a form of check and balance - a hybrid system - without using the name that has social or capital in it. A republic? I believe this is what America has tried to maintain, but therein lies the problem we face in America today. We've begun to go beyond this middle ground with too much government involvement and the flow is trying to correct itself - balance itself. It is to be expected that those who reside too far right or left, when an adjustment in being made, will feel it the strongest.

Anyway, I decided to write this blog today due to a comment I made, many years ago, to some friends about our current welfare system getting out of control. This is based on my knowledge of what I've witnessed growing up, things I've seen due to my travels, as well as listening to people's personal stories. We had been talking about how our forest rangers had advised not to feed the animals due to dependency, yet weren't we doing something similar with people on perpetual welfare and their progressive dependency? To me, it felt no different than promoting a drug dependency and I wondered why our government would be allowing this. Were we being led down a slippery slope? If so - why?

So I wrote: It has already been proven by people living under the communist principle that those that get from the government, all the time, eventually, shut down to their own desires to be productive in anything - they become human vegetables with no will to truly live. They have no desire to create.

Sure there are always extenuating circumstance but the majority of what I have seen over the years is: the more you give the more they take or demand. My mom use to have a quote about children: "give them an inch and they'll take a mile."

In my humble opinion, no government should give to anyone without working for it in some way. People need to feel value - feel worth. When they are denied that, they feel worthless. Even people who are disabled still feel they have something to give but when they are denied that, it shuts their lights off - it creates a person who can only follow because they are given no other choice. I have seen that in the faces of people who have lived in countries ruled by dictators as opposed to those that live where they have the right to criticize and condemn their government openly.

To feed the multitude without allowing them self worth will make them no less then caged or controlled animals. The irony of it all is, they will think they are loved and cared for which is far from the truth, because they are looked down on as the dregs of the earth. I felt that when I applied for food stamps once and swore I would never do that again - if at all possible. I even felt terrible when applying for unemployment. There are those that will make you feel worthless, whatever you do to take care of yourself. I've been the gamut, so it's not hearsay.

I realize that there are times where people need help, but the government has too much waste. They can control that waste by utilizing these same people to "work" for what they get even if it means working out of their home in whatever means they can or a family member doing it for them - in a cooperative manner.

All I can say is, what we have is far from perfect. It's time for a revamping of ways and values before this country crushes itself under it's own stupidity. Unless that's what we are meant to do - the bigger they are the harder they fall?

Intuitive Reading Testimony

You know that expression, I can read you like a book? That's part of what I do and been doing most of my life. However, about 30 years ago (and since), I went on a roller coaster ride of "improvement" training. Because of making this information public, I'm surprised at the times I get "messages" that people have memory lapses or mental blocks about what I know. So, I'd like to share a testimony from someone that had a session with me some time ago. Thanks for reading. If interested, the link has more:  http://atomarane.wix.com/idps

Testimony:  Thank you so much for the session you had with me Charlene. Truly, there are intuitive readings... and then there are Intuitive Readings. I would say that my experience with you was definitely one of the latter! My Intuitive Reading completely blew me out of the water. Not only did I get a very complete answer to the guidance and clarity I was seeking, but you hit all the bases and thoroughly examined and went over any and everything that came up. Not only were you so amazingly accurate, you were such a pleasure to talk with - not all the time do you meet someone who can communicate what comes up in a truly intuitive and understanding manner, as well as with humor and a dash of genuine comfort and naturalness... I know this from many personal experiences. My reading completely surpassed any and all expectations... its been many years since I've had an experience that got to the core of me like this. I had to immediately tell friends of my experience and I've highly recommended your counsel. You are a bright light amongst much muddiness. Like I've said... its been years since I have received a quality of experience like what you have given me. Your insight cuts straight through the dirt with a sword of love and compassion. But what I value most is that you are willing to see us for who we really are, and not get caught up in judgement, names, titles, or boxes and all the other "stuff" that comes along with such things, for we are much, much more than that, and can be much different from the next guy... Not only does this show me the very broad range of understanding and compassion you have, but that you have put it into practice and that you live it! You intuitively understand and see "the bigger picture" of our souls. I know this very well because I am not a, shall we say, "easy" case to many. I am so grateful for being lead to you. I will be reaching out to you again for sure, as well as pointing others your way whenever I can :) Much love from Los Angeles JA

Observation: Meals on Wheels

I've been reading a lot of comments from people about the federal government defunding Meals on Wheels and it's, apparently, more than the surface stuff we've been seeing, including the federal government's involvement. Based on the comments, it's mostly private funding that sustains them: corporates, foundations, and individuals (yes, they ask the recipients to donate also). Federal grants are only 3% of their income. 

I read that their 2015 financial statement shows the program brought in just over $7.5 million in funding that year, mainly from corporate and foundation grants making up $5.15 million. The Washington Post reported: "Donations surged to 50 times their daily rate Thursday after the White House proposed eliminating the Community Development Block Grant program." New York Times stated: "Meals on Wheels has been delivering food to older people in the United States since the 1950s. Last year it served 2.4 million people."

As a thinker, it made me wonder: Does it really take approximately 5 to 7 million dollars to take care of 2 to 3 million people annually? I supposed it's possible, even with using volunteers and paying high corporate income. This also made me wonder: Why are we so fast to judge something, or become offended, due to sensational headlines or fake memes? What happened to further investigation? 

Anyway, the plethora of comments have been varied. I've also read that they've had a lot of problems from within, as well as outside scams. Figures. Whenever something good is done, there's always the bad that shows up, including their scandals. People were saying that the food had been unpalatable, occasionally, and thrown away. One person said that her grandmother took the food but went out and bought groceries. (I thought they were supposed to be homebound/disable/no longer driving, etc.?) Her refrigerator was full of uneaten meals. I know looks can be deceiving, but I read that many, based on volunteers, look like they were able to fend for themselves. I, personally, know some people who are over 60, have some form of disability, but still can prepare meals, including me. Are there some who are taking advantage of the system? Aren't they always being vetted? 

Furthermore, some comments have been pointing out a sad state of affairs that goes even deeper; a lot of things we've been seeing lately. This really caught my attention. What's being discussed is that some choose to pass their individual responsibilities off on the government. A concern that it may create apathy. Some are saying that they're seeing a lack of personal responsibility with family, because they want others to be responsible. Yes, they've mentioned all the exceptions, but I, honestly, believe that these comments, about the decline of family values and morals, is a more serious issue to be debating. Isn't it time to look within (instead of blaming the government), and think about those fingers pointing back at us? 

In fact, isn't this the time for Meals on Wheels to look within, too? If losing 3% of their contributions causes their organization to fold, maybe it's too tenuous. Yet, I have a feeling they will adjust in order to survive. After all, don't we learn to do the same when we find ourselves with 3% less income? 

Healing the Healers

A couple of people passed away, recently, who were spiritual healers. I had a question presented to me on why that happened, since they were into healing. I stated that when any form of negative energy goes after another, for any reason, there's a lot involved in order to understand it - much less remove it. Even healers, whether spiritual or medical, need help in their healing.

For instance, if it's a spirit (mind power) attack, coming from outside us, we use that training to help - to remove the offenders. If it's a genetic issue, or an injury, we use medical professionals to help. I am a firm believer in utilizing all sources for helping in healing - including prayers. To me, praying puts out a universal all call for help. Whatever gets the job done.

Furthermore, we should be mindful of self-care. To take time away from healing others in order to heal ourselves. To protect oneself from being attacked, for helping another under attack, or for being burned-out. We also need to reach out for assistance - no man (or woman) is an island. That's why the many areas of healing knowledge has been passed on to others throughout history.

However, I'm quite aware that there are times nothing will work for numerous reasons. Sometimes, our prayers may be answered with a no, or maybe, while hoping for a yes. In the case of these two people, you can say the negativity won or you can say their trials were over. How would one know? In fact, how would one know which course of direction is needed, in healing, unless they knew how to ask for, and receive, the truth?

Talk to the Hand!

Metaphysicians teach their students to be mindful of their thoughts/emotions. Many times, the negative chatter doesn't come from us but outside of us. Sometimes, before I learned that "unseen projected/subjective thoughts" were possible, I've had thoughts that were so bizarre, I've wondered: where did that come from?

As a side note, it's not always spirits. People have been learning to astral project for many years. They may be in your energy innocently or on purpose. Here's a video that I made years ago, which may help explain more.

https://youtu.be/rvQxOzVHzqA

To continue, in order to help with rebuking any persistent negativity, this is something I've learn to use, as well as taught: anything negative (bizarre) isn't me. Even if you feel it is - it isn't. It makes it easier to cancel them out, and much better then owning them, especially those strange ones.

This method is only for any minor subjective thoughts/emotions. There are more serious ones that need to be dealt with differently. This particular way would only be similar to when a child says something negative to another child and that child replies - SO!

Don't let your mind be deceived by this form of trickery. For instance, does it really make sense that you're belittling yourself? Send a message right back: talk to the hand. 

An Ancestor's Pioneer Tale - Troy, Oakland, Michigan

Since I, occasionally, like to share personal stories on my blog, today will be one of my ancestor's accounting of the family moving to what is now called Troy, Michigan in 1821. The tale is told by my 3rd great grandfather's son, John Jones, Jr. - my 2nd great grandfather's name is Joseph, which John mentions below. Apparently, the earliest recorded land purchase in Troy was 1819, which means that John Jones, Sr., (born in Wales) arrived in Troy with his wife, Margaret, and children, shortly afterward. I enjoy genealogy and reading these personal stories as it reminds me how difficult early pioneers had it. It's one thing to watch movies or documentaries, but it seems to have more impact when it's told through your ancestor's point of view. I only wish I had their images to share instead of my 3rd great grandparent's tombstone. I hope you enjoy it.

JOHN JONES, JR. - 1803-1882
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY, MICHIGAN (1877) - Pages 328-329. Biographical Sketch - written 1874

I was born in Whitestown (Oneida Co.), near Utica, in the State of New York, May 6, 1803, and removed from Jefferson County, New York, in the spring of 1821, and settled in what is now Troy; entered and settled northwest quarter of section 19, containing forty acres of land. Our family consisted of father and mother, and my brother Joseph and sister Margaret, and myself. When we first landed in Detroit we had only eighty dollars, to pay for our land and buy provisions for one year, and to buy us a team; so you see it stood us in hand to study economy. We had to pay one dollar per hundred to have our goods hauled out from Detroit to our land, which was considered at that time a reasonable price, as it took four days to go over the road with an ox team. I say road; there was no road; we were guided by marked trees. Well, we built us a log shanty, and covered it with bark; and felt thankful that we had a home, and if we could have been sure of enough to eat we would have felt happy. We could get along without roads, -- willing to be guided by marked trees, -- willing to do without these conveniences, if we were sure of corn-bread enough to keep starve-to-death away. Well, we cleared a spot and planted some corn that spring. We then took a job of chopping and clearing and earned enough to buy us a yoke of four-year-old steers, but they did not prove to be the right kind of a team. They were very hard to break, and they would turn the yoke the wrong side-up too often, and we could not afford to buy whiplashes, so we sold them the first chance we had, and bought another pair, which proved to be better, -- but found that we had not money enough to pay for them into ten dollars, which sum at that time was almost impossible to raise, but, to overcome that difficulty, I left my old father at home, shouldered my axe, and made up my mind that, come what would, those steers must be paid for. I hired out chopping for Nelson Madding, an Oakland County pioneer; worked about a month for ten dollars, got the money, and paid for the oxen, and felt rich. About this time our supply of corn-bread began to give out, and we could not get cornmeal or flour if we had the money to pay for it, so to avoid going hungry we picked and husked our corn in the month of August, and dried it on the tope of our shanty, and took it to Auburn to mill, got it ground, and thus kept up a supply of bread. I have often heard of times that tried men's souls, but I look back to those old pioneer days and think that then was the time that tried men's stomachs.

After we had been on our forty acres a year or two we concluded that it was not sufficient for a farm, so we thought the first chance we had for selling we would do so. We soon had a chance, and acted accordingly; sold, and settled, in the spring of 1823, on the northwest quarter of section 21, -- eighty in Troy, -- and before we could get to our land we had to cut brush and make a road for our ox-team to go through. This eighty acres we entered at the land-office in Detroit at the government price, one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre.

When we first settled on our new purchase we found that we were yet in the midst of a wilderness. The nearest neighbor, and only one for miles round, was Riley Crooks, another pioneer. He lived in a log shanty in the northwest quarter of section 20. He was killed by the falling of a tree, April 27, 1850. The next early pioneers that came in and settled, near a year or two after, were William Poppleton, John Sprague, William Stanley, Hiram Smith (or Uncle Hi, as he was called), all of whom have passed away to their long homes. In the spring or summer of 1823 we built us a log house, and covered it with stakes, split our flooring out of logs, and, by the way, I will add, we did not stop to plane or match it. We now felt we had a home once more, and what we called a comfortable one at that time; although we had no door, the first summer only a blanket hung up as a substitute for one, and at that time we were in the midst of a howling and unbroken wilderness, and expected to make an honest living by hard work, with only the helve of that noble article, the axe, which we could not well do without. We could have made improvements faster on our land had we had the money to buy our provisions with, but I had to chop for other settlers, and take jobs to earn food to live on for a few days, then chop and clear on our own land while it lasted, and when about gone, go out and work for more. Perhaps some of the young men of the present day would like to know what wages were paid at that time for labor. I will just say that a good chopper could earn from thirty to fifty cents per day, and he must be a man that could swing an axe from morning till night, in the months of April, May, June, and, I might add, all summer, and he must not be particular about his bill of fare; at that time, if he got plenty of pork and cornbread, and occasionally a few potatoes, he was a lucky man, as for me, I have chopped for days and weeks on pudding and milk alone. These things, I doubt not, will seem strange at the present day, but nevertheless it is true. I mention these things to let the young people of the present day know what we, the old pioneers of Oakland County, passed through to turn a vast wilderness into a rich and beautiful and productive country, which will be the pride of rising generations.

I have often thought, while attending our pioneer meeting, if any one of the pioneers of Oakland County ever thought who cleared the land where the courthouse now stands in Pontiac. I had the honor of doing that chopping and clearing myself. I cleared five acres, commencing at the northeast corner of the lot, and running South as far as what was called Strait-Backs tavern, then west and north and east to the said corner. For this job I received fifty cents a day.

In chopping and clearing land we had many difficulties to overcome, and had to work often to disadvantage. A great deal of the time water would stand on the ground, and thus delay our progress. At that time there were no ditches to carry the water off, and we had to do the best we could. I have chopped for days to earn fifty cents a day, and stood in the water most of the time from six to eight inches deep. One winter in particular I will mention; I worked on a job of chopping for John Sprague, and a great deal of the time stood in water half-way up my boot-legs, and if I made a misstep the water would run over the tops; but I did not go to the house for dry stockings but worked away until dark; but, as a general thing, if I kept the water from going over the tops of my boots I had dry feet, for, by the way, those boots were made by an honest man, and warranted to turn water, and they did just as they were recommended to do, and that man of whom I speak was my old friend and pioneer and neighbor, the now Hon. James Bailey, residing at the present time on the same street within Birmingham, and I would that we had just such boot- and shoe-makers at the present day as he was then. I think there would be more dry feet and less bad colds.

While thus working and battling with the hardships of a pioneer life, we had to do without a great many luxuries that we now enjoy. Our grocery bill was not large compared with what it is at the present day. One pound of tea and ten pounds of sugar would last us a year; but soon we began to be rewarded for our labor, for after a while we could see here and there through our neighborhood a few acres of clearing, which told us that the forest was being conquered and the mighty-timbered land was being cleared away, and that soon we should see the golden grain waving in its stead; then indeed we felt rich and happy to know that when the harvest was over we should have at least what bread we wanted, and thus destroy that fear that sometimes crossed our minds, that what if we should be sick and could not work we might suffer for want of bread. But now new troubles began to come upon us: my mother became deranged, and of course caused us great uneasiness for fear she might do herself harm, and after a few years of poor health, she died June 13, 1835, sixty-six years of age. After the death of my mother, my father remained for awhile in usual health, but soon he began to feel that old age was telling upon him.

My brother Joseph was not much help to us, and I saw that all the cares were falling upon me, and I resolved, as I had been taught to do, to honor my father and mother, and come what would, to not neglect them or allow them to suffer as long as life and health was spared me; and I can now in my old age look back to those days and with a clear conscience say I have never failed to do all in my power for their comfort; poor as I was, I did the best I could, and I often wish that they could have lived to enjoy the luxuries of these days. Long ago they entered the land of the blessed, as I have faith to believe, for they were devout Christians.

Some time after the death of my mother I began to see the need of a help-mate, and married Miss Mary Ann Wright, December 3, 1839. Although she was somewhat younger than me, she had proved an excellent wife and a faithful companion to me, and her patience and kindness towards my father during the last three years of his life I shall never forget. For three years he was not out of the house, and most of the time he was as helpless as a child, and, as I was away a great deal of the time, most of the care of my father came on her to do, and most faithfully did she perform her duty, administering to his wants and comforts in patience and without a murmur. Surely such shall have their reward. My father died January 15, 1846, sixty-eight years of age.

In recalling these instances of pioneer days, a great many of which have passed from my mind, I seem as it were to be living them over again, and I rejoice to know that steps are being taken to preserve a record of them, which, if not done, will soon be among the things of the past and be forgotten forever.

In conclusion, I will say that I have been rewarded for my labors and hardships. For my economy and industry, I have accumulated a sufficient sum for me for the few remaining days that are left me to stay on this earth. We remained on the old farm about forty-five years, or until about seven years ago, when we began to feel the need of rest in our old age from the cares and labors of the farm. We sold the farm and removed to the quiet village of Birmingham, where we expect to live until we are called to join our kindred dead. I am now in the seventy-first year of my age, and in usual health for one of those years.