Here are some leaves from a Lumberjack’s Diary. In the spring of 1862 several Byron boys started to lumber in the town of Olive, Ottawa County, with the firm of Bert and Dick Van Raalte. They left Byron Center on town meeting day going the 23 miles to camp on foot. With the exception of a couple of black satchels swing on sticks, we were unencumbered as far as baggage was concerned. We stayed in the Judson log house the night before so as to get an early start. When we started out it was raining and it continued to rain all the forenoon, making walking unpleasant. Mother always said a poor beginning makes for a good ending, so we trudged along.

We worked for Van Raalte Brothers one and one-half years. Those brothers were sons of Van Raalte who founded the City of Holland. Where the Byron boys worked, they did good and were well liked by their employer.

Black strap molasses, fat pork and beans was lumberjack fare. No regular pay day. Money was not forthcoming until camp broke up. Sometimes the boys received no pay for their work. After the Lien Law was passed, giving them the right to sell the timber for their wages, the condition was different.

The logs were chiefly white pine. Hemlock timber could be bought for $1.24 an acre. But they did not bother to float it at any price. It was too heavy and would sink. We were certainly interested when it was time to make the real "Drive".

Other Byron boys in the lumber camps were Charley Daly, Wash Judson, Amaziah Wedgewood, A. Pfeiffer, Milton Jakeway.

Mr. Skinner was 59 when he died. His first wife, Mary (Maukin) was 23. His second wife, Ida A. (Lines), was 34. They are buried in Boynton Cemetery

(Taken from Jaarsma, pg. 67)

Transcriber: Evelyn Sawyer
Created: 19 October 2002
URL: http://kent.migenweb.net/townships/byron/pioneers/skinner.html