More stories from The History of St. Joseph County: "In 1838-39 immigration ceased to a great extent, and the surplus crops were worth little or nothing in the market, wheat being sold at thirty-one cents per bushel. During that winter, a mother wanting some flannel for her baby, asked the father what they should do in the emergency. After studying a while over the situation, he quietly took his knife and ripped the lining from a camlet cloak he had, and gave it to his wife to make the needed garment of. There were no aristocrats in those days, who looked down from a higher plane upon lower beings of their race, trudging along in common dust, but all were equal, or at least considered themselves so, and any attempt to show authority or "lord it" over another, was sure to meet with condign and immediate consequences.

One O'Brien was among the first tailors of White Pigeon, and a great lover of shooting; he had his shot-gun always by his board in his shop, which fronted on the main street of that village, and near by the entrance to the hotel. One day a covey of prairie chickens flew over the village, which, being espied by O'Brien, that worthy grasped his gun, and rushing to the door of his shop "let fly" at the birds, missing them but most severely startling Governor Porter, who had just arrived in town and was at that moment entering the hotel. The magisterial dignity of his excellency was considerably ruffed, and when O'Brien came in to look at the distinguished arrivals, he was taken to task by the governor and lectured roundly, which O'Brien resented, whereupon the chief magistrate, to impress his auditor with the importance of more care, said, "I would have you know, sir, that I am the Governor of Michigan!"

O'Brien tartly replied, "and I am the tailor of White Pigeon!" and walked off to his shop.

Special 'thanks' to Joe Ganger who generously submitted this historical review for inclusion on the St Joseph Co., MI USGenWeb website

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