USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Chronography of notable events in the history of the Northwest territory and Wayne County > Part 1
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49
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WAYNE COUNTY
HISTORICAL ANI PIONEER SOCIETY.
CHRONOGRAPHY
- OF -
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NOTABLE EVENTS
IN THE
History of the Northwest Territory
AND WAYNE COUNTY.
PERIOD EMBRACED, ,1531-1890. = A
A
TOGETHER WITH
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE EARLY EXPLORERS AND PIONEERS.
COMPILED AND ARRANGED .
BY FRED. CARLISLE.
DETROIT : O. S. GULLEY, BORNMAN & CO., PRINTERS. 1890.
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COPYRIGHTED, 1890, BY
: FRED, CARLISLE, DETROIT, MICH.
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PREFACE.
This comp 'on was undertaken and is completed in the interest of [ISTORICAL' AND PIONEER SOCIETY, for two
THE WAYNE objects -to pre coord of those through whose instrumentality Wayne Coun J it whole lake country was discovered, occupied and brought + present populous and prosperous condition; and, second, in the 1 that the profits from the sale of the publication would furnish the means to provide a suitable depository for the historical relics, papers and mementoes heretofore and hereafter presented to the Society.
In the arrangement of the work it is divided into four periods or epochs, viz., from 1603 to 1760, when France ceded to England; from 1760 to 1796, when Great Britain ceded to the United States; from 1796 to 1837, when Michigan was admitted as a.'State, and from that period to the present, narrating in chronological order noted historical events and short sketches of the prominent 'characters who figured as principal factors during those several periods,
So far as the matter contained herein, there is but little that is original with the compiler, hence is subject to criticism only as to the arrangement.
The historical references are : Lanman and Tuttle, Lanman's Red Book, Parkman, Albach, State Pioneer Records, Territorial Laws, Mrs. Sheldon, County Records, Directory of 1836-7, Detroit Free Press, Tribune and News, Geo. L. Whitney, Mrs. Hamlin, Col. James W. Knaggs. The biographical sketches were written and submitted to each of the subjects for correction and revision.
FRED. CARLISLE,
Compiler.
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THE WAYNE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Was organized in 1824, LEWIS CASS being its first President, and Major ISAAC ROWLAND its first Secretary. The late Judge B. F. WITHERELL was its last President, and Judge H. B. BROWN its last Secretary.
The object of the Society was the collection of historical matter concerning the Northwest, and the formation of a library. The sketches of Michigan owe their existence, as does a large collection of old memorials and relics now in the State Library, to it.
These collections, owing to the lack of a proper room to preserve them, and a loss of members interested in their care, were deposited at Lansing, in the expectation that at some future period a suitable place for their safe keeping would be provided in Detroit, when they would be brought back. While frequent efforts were made to this end at different times, nothing was accomplished, and April 21st, 1871, pur- suant to public notice, a number of the members of the Wayne County Historical Society assembled at the Biddle House in the city of Detroit to consider the recent action of the State Society, by which the Historical Society of Michigan was merged into the Pioneer Society of Michigan, and all records, papers, memorials and other property was transferred by the former to the latter.
Owing to the death of Judge Witherell, the last president of the Historical Society of Detroit, the Hon. Levi Bishop was chosen to preside and Mr. Samuel Zug was made Secretary of the meeting.
After some discussion a preamble reciting the foregoing facts and action of the State Society, and resolutions were passed recommending similar action on the part of Wayne County Historical Society, and directing the transfer of all papers, files and other documents to an organization to be known as the Wayne County Pioneer Society. Upon the adoption of the preamble and resolution, it was moved to proceed to the election of officers, which resulted in the choice of the Hon. Levi Bishop, President, and Mr. Samuel Zug as Secretary. Such was the origin of the present Wayne County Historical and Pioneer Society.
Mr. Bishop continued as President until death, and Mr. Zug as Secretary until ill health compelled his resignation.
Professor J. C. Holmes succeeded Mr. Bishop as President, and James Girardin as Secretary, upon whose decease they were in turn
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succeeded by J. Wilkie Moore as President, and Fred. Carlisle, Secre- tary and Treasurer, who are the present incumbents of these offices.
The publication of the present work is in accordance with the following, adopted April 4, 1888:
" Resolved, That the Secretary collect and compile all information relating to individual members and their early experiences as relating to this State, and as soon as practicable have the same printed in book form for presentation and sale."
Those who have become life members of this Society by comply- ing with the provision exempting from the payment of future annual dues, are: Gen. Russell A. Alger, Judge Henry Brevoort, Doctor William Brodie, Christian H. Buhl, James F. Joy, Gen. James Pittman, Elliot P. Slocum, Dr. James Fanning Noyes, Cyrus Johnson, Allan Sheldon.
INTRODUCTORY.
That a more correct understanding may be had as to the processes and circumstances which led to the occupation and development by the white man of the territory embraced in the present State of Michigan, it is well to consider briefly the early voyages and explora- tions of Europeans.
The discovery. by Columbus of the Bahamas and the West Indies in 1491 convinced that daring navigator that larger bodies of land existed farther west, and immediately upon his return to Spain he sought, and, after vexatious delay and disappointments, obtained the permission and assistance of Philip and Isabella to fit out three small vessels with which he put to sea, and, pursuing a westerly course, first saw the land now constituting the continent of America, on the morn- ing of the 12th of October, 1492. This discovery excited a spirit of emulation in other European nations, and soon Spain controlled and planted colonies in the West Indies, Mexico and Central America, with the boundaries of the present United States along the Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico. England occupied the middle region lying between Florida and the Bay of Fundy, while France entered the Gulf of St. Lawrence and that grand river of the same name which furnishes an outlet for the waters of the great lakes of the Northwest, penetrated to the Ohio and Mississippi, and took posses- sion of the whole territory embraced in these boundaries, naming it New France.
The discovery of the island of Newfoundland was made by John Cabot, an Englishman, in 1497, who, instead of pursuing a westerly course, returned to England.
In 1501, Labrador, and what is known as the Gulf of St. Law- rence, was discovered by a Portuguese named Cortereal. He does not appear to have reached the river St. Lawrence, and it was left for Francis Ist, King of France, to complete the discovery of and name the gulf and river St. Lawrence, and what subsequently became Canada and the Northwest Territory, and authorized
1534 .- Jacques Cartier to prosecute discoveries. He fitted out and set sail with two vessels of 60 tons each, leaving the port of St. Malo April 20th. He reached Newfoundland and returned to France September 15th, and reported.
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1535 .- Jacques Cartier fits out a second expedition of three vessels, the "Great Hermenia," 120 tons, "Little Hermenia," 60 tons, and " Herminellion," 40 tons, and sailed from St. Malo May 15, passed Newfoundland, crossed a gulf and entered a river, both of which he named St. Lawrence, after a saint of that name. Sailing up the river, he anchored in front of an Indian village called " Sta-da- co-na." The natives met him with their chief, Donacona, whose speech was interpreted by a Gaspe Indian, and who in turn trans- lated Cartier's response. This led to amicable relations. October 24, taking the smaller vessel, he proceeded to Lake St. Peter, and finding shallow water, took row boats to the Huron village named " Hochelaga," now Montreal.
CHRONOGRAPHY.
1535-6 .- Jacques Cartier returned to Stadacona and wintered on the St. Charles river, below the present site of Quebec, and in the spring, taking Donacona and two other chiefs and eight warriors, returned to France.
1540 .- Cartier fits out a third expedition with five vessels. On reach- ing Stadacona, on the St. Lawrence, the natives showed such hos- tility as to compel him to move up the river, where he built a fort and named it Charlesbourg. He then sent three of his vessels back to France.
1542 .- Cartier leaves thirty men in the fort and returns to France. Francis I granted patents for all of New France to Seignor Roberville, who met Cartier at Newfoundland, when on presenta- tion of his authority, Cartier surrendered all rights acquired by him. Roberville returned to France, fitted out a large fleet, and started for his new territory with his brother Achille, but neither were heard of afterwards. His fleet was supposed to have foun- dered. The loss of Roberville's fleet discouraged Francis Ist, who never sent out another expedition to colonize Canada.
1598 .- Marquise de la Roche, a nobleman of Brittany, France, fitted out an expedition, but no notable results were accomplished by him, except the leaving at Nova Scotia of some convicts, who were subsequently taken back to France and pardoned.
1599 .- M. Chauvin, a naval officer, and Pontgrave, a merchant of Rouen, organized an expedition. Chauvin reached Charlesbourg with two vessels, and built a new fort, called Tadossac.
1603 .- Chauvin died, and his companions returned to France.
1604 .- Two more unsuccessful attempts were made, by Chatte, Gov- ernor of Dieppe, and by Champlain, under the patronage of Rouen merchants.
1607 .- Jamestown, Virginia, founded.
1608 .- Through the influence of the merchants of Rouen, France, Champlain was induced to undertake a second expedition, and founded the present Quebec, then called Quebo, or Quebian (Strait,) by the natives. He also discovered the long stretch of water now
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known as Lake Champlain. (Quebec was the third permanent settlement made in North America. St. Augustine was founded in 1565, and Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607.)
1610 .- Meantime the present site of Detroit was visited by the French missionaries, of the Jesuit order. They found a village of the Ottawas near Parent Creek (afterward named "Bloody Run "), and "Conner's Creek." The Hurons occupied the present site of Detroit. The Ottawas also controlled Belle Isle. The Pottawa- tomies were the most powerful and not only controlled Grosse Isle, but also the lake country, embraced in the present county of Oak- land. The whole territory of what became Michigan was inhab- ited by the following Indian tribes: Ottawas, Ojibewas, Chip- pewas, Pottawatomies, Hurons and Miamis. The Iroquois composed the five nations, and called themselves "Leni Leapes " (original men), and claimed to be grandfathers of over forty Indian nations. The "Delewares" were always allies of the English, and were considered by the English as representing the intelligence and were the most cultivated of all the other tribes. Their dialect and methods of communication was not gutteral, but melodious, liquid, smooth, and their utterance musical and refined. (The venerable Col. James W. Knaggs, now living in Detroit, attests to the foregoing.) They were the controlling influence among the tribes constituting the five nations, and were direct opponents of those constituting the tribes favoring French supremacy. The name given to Detroit by the Indians was Waweatonong.
1611-13 .- Champlain founded Montreal.
1615 .- Champlain brought from France four Recollet fathers, who established the order in Canada.
1616 .- Champlain visits France the third time. The first missionaries among the Indians were Lecaron, Viel and Sagard. Champlain returns to Canada, labors with the Indians and secured great bene- fits. Was appointed Governor. The Indian tribes were : The Ottawas were originally from the Ottawa river in Canada, from which they were driven by the Iroquois ; the Ojibewas, natives of Lake Superior ; the Chippewas, of the east shore of Lake Michi- igan, and the Hurons or Wyandottes on the eastern shore of Lake Huron, and the Neutral nation occupied all the region on the north shore of Lake Erie, with their left flank on the Niagara river. The Hurons were supposed to number 10,000, and by some esti- mated at 30,000. The Hurons and Iroquois spoke a dialect of the € Algonquin.
1629 .- War broke out between England and France. Charles I of England, sends Sir David Kirkt who compelled Champlain to sur-
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render Quebec. The Iroquois nation, being allies of the English, contributed to the surrender, and Champlain returned to France via England.
1632 .- Champlain was again made Governor of Canada. Peace hav- ing been made between France and England he returns and assumes control.
1635 .- Champlain died, after having been for thirty years actively exer- cising authority in Canada.
1640 .- Jean D. Breauf, Daniel and Gabrial Lallemand, Father Raym- bault, Isaac Jogues and Pizard, established missions at Sault Ste. Marie, St. Joseph (Fort Gratiot), St. Louis and St. Ignace. The war between the Iroquois and Hurons involved the missions at all these points.
1641 .- The missionaries Raymbault and Jogues hold a council with the Chippewas at Sault St. Marie, where they first heard of the Nedounneoiea or Soux, who dwelt eighteen days' journey west of the lake.
1642 .- Fathers Jogues and Bressani were taken prisoners by the Iro- quois, tortured and put to death.
1648 .- The mission of St. Joseph (Fort Gratiot) was destroyed by the Iroquois, and Father Daniel Lallemand slain.
1649 .- The missions St. Louis and St. Ignace were destroyed, and Gabriel Lallemand and Jean de Brebauf brutally murdered. (The Iroquois declared war against the Hurons, captured and destroyed their villages, slaughtered and scattered the entire nation.) 1658 .- Cadillac born, March 5th.
1660 .- Father Reni Mesnard established a church at the Bay St. The- resa, on the south shore of Lake Superior. He was lost in the forests of Keweenaw. Subsequently his cassock and breviary were found in the possession of the Soux. The Indian tribes about Detroit were the Hurons, Ottawas, Ojibewas, Pottawat- omies, Ollogamies and Mascoutins.
1665 .- The "Company of the Hundred Associates," which had ruled Canada since 1632, resigned its charter, and New France passed under the jurisdiction of The Company of the Indies. Tracy was made viceroy, Courcelles governor, and Talon intendant. Father Allouez was sent to the Sault St. Marie and the south shore of Lake Superior, and landed at the Bay Chegoimegon, a village of the Chippewas. He established a permanent mission, and made an alliance with the Pottawatomies, Sacs, Foxes and Illinois against the Iroquois.
1666 .- Allouez crossed to the north shore of Lake Superior, at its
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western extremity, where he met the Soux, who first described a great river flowing to the south, called by them " Missippi."
1668 .- Claude Dablon and Jaques Marquette established a permanent mission at Sault St. Marie, and during the succeeding five years Allouez, Dablon and Marquette explored the south shore of Lake Superior and west of Lake Michigan, founded the missions at Michilmackinac and Green Bay, (the "Baie-des-Puens" of the French.) Dollier and Galina erect a cross at the foot of Belle Isle, engraving thereon the French coat of arms. They left Pierre Roy and Francois Pelletre.
1671 .- Nicholas Perrot held a council of the Indian tribes at Sault St. Marie, when the whole northwest was taken under the protection of France.
1673 .- Marquette and M. Joliet, under authority of France, passed through the lakes to Michilmackinac (derived from the Indian word Mich-i-mack-i-nac, meaning great turtle, or in the Chippewa, Mich-ine-mank-i-nonk, signifying the place of giant fairies), from thence up Green Bay and the Fox river, over the portage of the Wisconsin (Ouisconsin), down the Mississippi to the river A-ka- mocas (corrupted to Arkansas), and then returned to Green Bay, via the river Illinois and the present Chicago. Their discoveries were the most important of the age.
1679 .- La-Sall, who made the notable settlement of Detroit. Detroit . river first navigated by a vessel of European construction, "The Griffin," built at Black Rock, Niagara river, and launched August 7th. She was of brig build, sixty tons measurement. La-Sall, the commander, was accompanied by Boronidet, Tonti, Autray, Meterie, Jean Michael, surgeon, and Father Hennepin. They were met at the foot of Belle Isle by Roy and Pelletier.
1687 .- Tonti was at Detroit.
1691 .- Father Basle, a noted French missionary, visited this territory this year. He found priests of his own order at Mackinac, Arbre Voche, Green Bay, St. Joseph (Mich.), and also among the Indians in Illinois, near the Mississippi. This divine was murdered at the foot of the cross at the missions in Boston by the British troops, August 20th, 1724.
1701 .- Detroit founded by Cadillac, July 24. Foundation of St. Ann's church laid the 26th. He was accompanied by Alphonsi Tonti, captain; Dugue and Charcondal, his lieutenants; Jacob Marsac, Francois and Jean Fafurd, interpreters, Father De Halle, fifty soldiers and the same number of artisans. Henry Bellisle was the physician. FirstSt. Ann's church built. Detroit was ceded to the Canada Company.
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1704 .- Mana Thersu, the daughter of Cadillac, was formally baptized by Father Constant De Halle. This was the first time the cere- mony was ever performed at Detroit. Bertrand Arnault was her god-father, and Genevieve La Jendre god-mother. Robert Naverre was the civil officer. Indians set fire to the town, which was par- tially destroyed, including the houses of Cadillac and Tonti.
1706 .- First St. Ann's church burned.
1710 .- Cadillac left for Mt. Deseret, Maine.
1712 .- The Fox or Pottawatomies attempted to destroy the post again, and laid seige to it for nineteen days, when they were driven off and almost annihilated. Tonti commanded the post.
1713 .- De La Forit succeeded Cadillac, he being appointed Governor of Louisiana. (In 1717 Cadillac returned to France, was made Governor of Castle Sarassin, and died October 16th, 1730, and was buried in the church vaults.)
1715 .- Dr. Jean Chapoton, ranking as major, succeeded Dr. Bellisle. (He was an ancestor of Dr. Chapoton of the present day.) The following, whose descendants are worthy and well known citizens, were prominent at this time, viz .: The Godfreys, Campaus, Chenes, Cicottes, Le Fertes, Lafontains, Riopelles, Dubois, Morans, Dequindres and Thebaults.
1721 .- Charlevoix visited Detroit June 6th, and found a fort, com- manded by Tonti.
1722 .- Second St. Ann's church erected.
1728 .- Louis the Fourteenth, King of France, granted leases of farms in and near Detroit.
1749 .- Emigrants were sent to Detroit at the expense of the French government, and furnished with subsistence and farming utensils. About 50 families.
1755 .- Second St. Ann's church destroyed by fire. The third rebuilt same year.
1759 .- Quebec surrendered by the French to the English.
1760 .- Montreal and the whole of Canada ceded to the English, and on the 29th of November they occupied the fort at Detroit under Major Robert Rogers. The French troops were sent to Philadel- phia, and from thence to France, the civilians taking the of oath allegiance to the English king. Major Campbell succeeded Major Rogers in December of this year, which closes the first period.
NOTE 1703 to 1763 .- The following is a list of priests at Detroit, begin- ning with 1703 to 1763: Rev. Constantine De La Halle, who was subsequently butchered by the Indians, and whose remains
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were first deposited in the vaults of St. Ann's church, and subse- quently transferred to the new St. Ann's church; Rev. De La Marche, 1706; Rev. Cherubin Denieau, 1707 to 1714; Rev. Hia- cynthie Pelifresne, 1715 to 1718; Rev. Calvarin, V. G., Missions of the Tamarnas; Jean Mercier, of the Foreign Mission of Paris; Rev. D. Thaunier, Rev. Pantoin Delius, Rev. P. Bonaventure, who removed the body of Father De La Halle to the new St. Ann's church; Rev. P. Daniel, Rev. De La Richardie, who resided for a time at the island of Bois Blanc, and the Rev. Simple Bouquet.
FR. JAQUES, OR JOSEPH, MARQUETTE AND FR. LOUIS FOLIET.
These two priests were born in France, and were sent out to assist in establishing their order in the Mississippi valley, the informa- tion obtained by Allouez in regard to that river and its tributaries hav- ing attracted attention to that region as presenting a grand opening for founding an auxiliary to their branch of the church at Rome. Soon after their arrival at Quebec, 1673, they proceeded upon their remark- able and romantic voyage by way of the Ottawa river, crossing to Michilmackinac through the straits and the head of Lake Michigan to Green Bay, which they reached in September. The discoveries made by Marquette and Joliet were among the most important of that age and increased, which eventually culminated in the still more remarkable of La Salle and Hennepin. They died soon after their return from this voyage of exploration, leaving the northwest territory greatly indebted to them for their discoveries, which led to the speedy developments of its valuable resources.
Marquette, Lake Superior, takes its name from the former, and Joliet, Indiana, from the latter.
SAMUEL CHAMPLAIN.
Samuel Champlain was born in the seaport of St. Malo, France, in 1582. History states that his parents were people of quality, and edu- cated him for the priesthood, but before reaching his majority he decided not to take orders, and while his religious zeal was not dimin- ished, he felt that his duty to both his church and its cause would be best subserved by extending its influence over new territory, for at that period the continent of America had been discovered. Jacques Cartier, M. Chauvin, De Chuste and De Mast had already established settle- ments in the new country. He therefore entered the navy and soon became recognized as an expert navigator, and in 1607 was commis- sioned by the King of France to fit out an expedition and found a col-
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ony, and establish his authority over the territory discovered by Car- tier and his contemporaries. He sailed from Harfluer, France, April 13th, 1608, and arrived at Tadoussac, at the mouth of the St. Lawrence river, on the 3d of June, and leaving an officer named Pontgrave with a small force to traffic with the Indians, sailed up the river to the prom- ontory covered with a fine grove of trees and a luxuriant growth of vines, called by the natives Quibo (or Quebec), and the 3d of July, 1608, founded Quebec. This was the third permanent settlement established in the Atlantic region of North America, the others being St. Augustine, Florida, in 1565, and Jamestown in 1608. In the spring of 1609 he discovered and explored the long, narrow lake bearing his name (Lake Champlain). He thoroughly explored it, the St. Lawrence and the Ottawa rivers, selected the site and founded the City of Mon- treal in 1611 and 1613. He made repeated voyages to France, and in 1615 brought with him four fathers of the Recollet order, who came to locate and labor among the Indians. These were the first priests to settle in Canada. In 1616 Champlain returned to France, and in 1620 made another visit to Canada, where he labored to promote the growth of settlements and the establishment of missions among the Indian tribes, until the surrender of Quebec to the English under Sir David Kirkt, a French refugee, whom Charles I. sent out in 1629. Champlain was sent first to England, and being exchanged, returned to France. The English held possession until peace was declared, when it was restored to France in 1632, when Champlain was sent out again as governor. He died in 1635, after spending 30 years in the active con- nection with the French possessions in North America.
Champlain was somewhat of a religious enthusiast, and esteemed the salvation of an Indian soul of more value than the conquest of an empire. He recognized an Indian convert as a citizen of France, and the Franciscans were chosen to conduct his missions, but the more active order of the Jesuits subsequently took possession, and soon became dominant. Among the most prominent of the latter order was Jean D. Bredaeuf and the brothers Daniel and Gabriel Lallemand, who established missions at St. Joseph, St. Louis and St. Ignace in 1634-40, and were subsequently, in 1648, captured and cruelly massacred by the Iroquois Indians.
FR. CLAUDE ALLOUEZ.
Father Claude Allouez was born in France, and educated in the Jesuit schools of that country. He came to Quebec some years after the death of Champlain, and was sent out among the Indians of the Lake Superior region in the interest of the government as well as of the order. Taking a canoe on the Ottawa, he reached Lake Huron, fol- lowed its shore to and up St. Mary's river, reached the Sault, remained
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