Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2011, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: SOURCE: Centennial Edition of the Lapeer County Press and Lapeer County Clarion dated Wednesday, August 19, 1931 Commemorating 100 Years of History and Progress Lapeer 1831 - 1931 Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== INDIAN SCARE TRACED TO PIGS =========================================================================== Early settlers had hardly settled when they were disturbed by rumors of Indian uprisings and in March 1837 there came a report of a mas- sacre in Dryden, which made all very uneasy. Indian villages were in the northern part of North Branch Township and some were in Elba, making the Lapeer settle- ment in the path between them. Andrew Mattoon living northwest of Dryden village, was particularly excited late one night when there was a disturbance just outside the door and glass in one of the win- dows was broken. He jumped out of bed,and as he opened the door got a glimpse of some one dodging around the corner of the house. He aroused the family who, hurriedkly dressing, loaded their guns and pre- pared to resist any attack. There was no sleep in that house that night. They huddled together in the center of the room, afraid to light a candle or build a fire. Would morning ever come; it seemed so slow as they huddled together wrapped in their blankets, trying to keep warm. At last there were faint streaksof gray in the east, so that finally one of them, with his gun in his hand, cautiously opened the door, but much more quickly closed it again. "I saw some one moving over by the trees," he whispered; and then cam another period of waiting. When it had grown lighter with no further disturbance, he ventured out again, and seeing nothing, he stepped out to look around. A board left leaning against the house was lying on the ground and the only sign of life was the pigs. He decided that they were the cul- prits who had rooted around the board until it fell and broke the window. Thus ended the story of Dryden's massacre. All that was killed was a few hours of sleep, but they were filled with anxiety while it lasted. No record of Indians living in Dryden Township have ever been found.