USA > Michigan > American Biographical History of Eminent and Self-made Men.: Michigan Volume > Part 34
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ing shelter of which, at its old site on School street, he | on the Albion, the Tribune, the Musical Times, and the was born. He entered Yale College in 1837. His Catholic World. He subsequently bought and edited early love of the art of music was interwoven, during the Musical Times, which was later consolidated with his college course, with the study of the classics. In the Musical World. After some years, he started the Once a Month, a magazine devoted to the fine arts. He also wrote a book, entitled Our Church Music, which met with high commendation from the London Athenaum; the more creditable from the fact that most American his Sophomore year, he was chosen President of the Beethoven Society, which was composed of all the vocal and instrumental talent of the college. The members did service as the chapel choir, and furnished the music at the annual commencements, in place of the expen-' books were severely criticised by that magazine. He sive orchestra usually hired from New York. Mr. Willis, next brought out a volume of "Church Chorals" and composed industriously for the college orchestra and : numerous "Student Songs" and "Miscellaneous Lyrics." choir. He arranged and harmonized many German part-songs, the words of which were translated for the purpose by the poet Percival. Among other instru- mental pieces, he wrote the "Glen Mary Waltzes," which were afterwards published by Ditson, and, for twenty or twenty-five years, brought handsome returns both to author and publisher. A friendship was natur- ally formed between Mr. Willis and the poet just men- tioned, and he probably saw as much as any one, during his college life, of that gifted and eccentric man. He was also a friend of Fitz-Greene Halleck, who lived in the neighboring Guilford. After graduat- ing in 1841, he went to Germany, and devoted himself to the study of musical science in Frankfort-on-the-Main. He completed an elaborate course in harmony and musical form, under the direction of the venerable Schnyder Von Wartensee: and, in Leipzig, a course on counterpoint and instrumentation with Hauptmann, Pro- fewsor in the Conservatory, and Cantor of the "Thomas Schule." (The latter position was in early times occu- pied by Sebastian Bach.) The following men, eminent in music, were at that time in Leipzig: Mendelssohn, Gade, Moscheles (already advanced in years), David, Joaquin, and others, whose taste and genius seemed to pervade the very air, and inspire all who breathed it. Mr. Willis had subsequently the good fortune to pass a summer in the Taunus Mountains in company with Mendelssohn; the poet Freiligrath ; Gutzkow, the dra- matic author; and the Professor-poet, Hoffman von Fallersleben. Mendelssohn reviewed some of the work Mr. Willis had done with Schnyder, and corrected his compositions, leaving his own pencil marks upon them. These manuscripts, together with a Canon which he wrote in Mr. Willis' album at parting, form a very pleasant and valuable souvenir. While passing a winter in Hamburg, Mr. Willis' familiarity with German ena-
During the war, he competed for a prize offered for the best national song, and his "Anthem of Liberty," to which he also composed the music, was pronounced best by the committee. Richard Grant White, in his subsequent collection of these songs, gave it first place and enthusiastic praise. Mr. Willis afterwards wrote the song, "Why, Northmen, Why?" and others of a patriotic type, which were rehearsed in schools and sung ¡at public gatherings. In 1851 Mr. Willis married Miss Jessie Cairns, of Roslyn, Long Island. The beautiful home of her parents adjoined those of Bryant and Parke Godwin, on Roslyn Bay. Mrs. Willis died in 1858. Her pure and lovely nature is tenderly delineated in her husband's " Memorial," whose pages also bear lines from Bryant, Fanny Fern, and many other friends emi- nent in New York society and the world of letters. In 186r Mr. Willis married Mrs. Alexandrine Macomb C'ampau, of Detroit, Michigan. They spent many sum- mers in their beautiful island home, named " Insebruhe," until property and family considerations withdrew them entirely to Michigan. Mr. Willis has recently returned to Detroit after four years' residence in Europe, where he went for the education of his children. While re- siding in Nice, he collected his national songs and miscellaneous lyrics into a volume entitled Waif of Song, which was published by Galignani, of Paris. The first volumes of the book were sold during the Nice Carnival of 1876, by Mrs. Willis, who presided over the Ameri- can Kiosque in the public square. The proceeds of all the various kiosques representing the foreign colonies of that gay winter resort, enured to the poor of the city. Younger branches of the Willis family are keep- ing fresh the literary record of their ancestors,-most prominent of whom, in a scientific direction, is Dr. F. J. Bumstead, of New York, a nephew of Mr. Willis, who is the author of medical works which have made bled him to do some literary work for Gustav, the | him conspicuous at home and abroad. These works reigning Landgrave of Hesse-Hamburg, who sent him a diploma with the honorary title of Professor. Re-
have been translated into other languages; and, on the occasion of his visit to Paris, achieved for their author turning to America after six years of absence, he visited the high compliment of a public dinner from the med- Yale College, and, for a time, occupied himself with a jical faculty of that city. One of Mr. Willis' nieces is class of tutors and professors who desired to practice |a sparkling contributor to the Boston journals; and colloquial German. Hle afterwards went to New York, Ianother, late a school-girl, has a poetic gift of charming where he became connected with the press, and wrote | promise. A grand-niece, who is but eight years of age,
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has already written a parlor play of singular precocity, | abdicated his throne-prostrated trade all over Europe, in which, when performed in Cambridge, Massachu- causing many thousands of workmen to be thrown out of employment. At the same time, the Irish famine, occasioned by the failure of the potato crop, necessi- tated the erection of mills in that country for grinding corn, which was then, for the first time, shipped in large quantities from the United States. Mr. Wilson was selected, in preference to many older and more ex- perienced hands, to go to Ireland for the purpose of erecting mill machinery. While there, Mr. Kelly, of Sligo, formed an attachment for the young man, and offered to supply the means to establish a foundry and setts, she acted the principal part. The following is a summary of singular literary coincidences in the history of the Willis family: From 1776 to 1800, Nathaniel Willis, Sen., edited three newspapers, -the Independent Chronicle, the Potomac Guardian, the Scioto Gazette. From 1803 to 1860, Nathaniel Willis, Jun., edited three newspapers,-the Eastern Argus, the Boston Recorder, the Youths' Companion. From 1830 to 1866, Nathaniel Parker Willis edited three papers, -the New York Mir- ror, the Corsair, the Home Journal. From 1851 to 1863, Richard Storrs Willis edited three papers, -the Musical machine shop. At that time there was no foundry Times, the Musical World, and Once a Month.
nearer, or, at least, more available, than either Glasgow or Liverpool. Having determined on America as his future home, no persuasion could change Mr. Wilson's purpose. Hle sailed from the Clyde, in the good bark "Margaret," March 15, 1849, after having been in Ire-
OODWARD, AUGUSTUS B., of Detroit, was a ; land over six months, during the stormy revolutionary native of Virginia. He emigrated to Michigan i times of Smith O'Brien, Mitchell, Meagher, and others. in 1805, and was appointed a Judge of the , Landing in New York in April, he found business much Territory, which honorable position he held until 1824. depressed, and no work to be obtained. Even at that He was the author of a code of laws which bears his date, the cry was "Go West." So, turning towards name. He was appointed a Judge for the Territory of | the setting sun, and making an occasional detour, to Florida; and died there after a service of three years.
take in the principal cities of the States and Canada, Mr. Wilson reached the city of Detroit, one fine Sun- day morning, in the latter part of May, 1849. The church bells seemed ringing him a welcome; and, partly owing to a fancy for the place, and partly to
ILSON, JOHN B., Founder and Engine Builder, ; his weariness, he acted upon the advice of Mr. Hugh of Detroit, was born on the banks of the Clyde |Moffat, afterwards Mayor of Detroit, and decided to
River, in Scotland, October, 1823. Ilis father, cast his lot in the metropolis of the Peninsular State. By persistent application from May until August, he succeeded in obtaining employment in the works of the Michigan Central Railroad Company, under Mr. Pettis, and afterwards under Mr. Newhall, where he remained for four years. He then engaged in business with Mr. Young, on Brush street, under the firm name of Young & Co., which subsequently became Young & Sons. The partnership was dissolved in 1856, and Mr. Wilson started in business for himself, at the foot of Randolph street. The panic of 1857, and the conse- quent business depression, made it a hard struggle, especially for those commencing, as Mr. Wilson did, with but small capital. Twice during this year, the sheriff had possession of his shop and all that he owned; but, by indomitable pluck, and that obstinate perseverance characteristic of his race, he tided over that memorable season. Ile increased his facilities for manufacturing from time to time, and made his own drawings and plans for the extensive shop which he afterwards built, and now owns and occupies. He has had no partners associated with him since 1856. His manufactures consist principally in steamboat engines Daniel Wilson, was a farmer. John Wilson's start in life, after leaving school at an early age, was as a shep- herd boy, on the heathery hills of his native country. Ilis natural tastes, which were towards mechanical work, rendered him unfit for this business. While pursuing the (to him) irksome task of watching the flock, he constructed miniature wind-mills and water- wheels ; he also made gins for the capture of wild fowls and other game, which was then considered a heinous offense in that country. One of his traps being found and carried to Lord Douglass, of Douglass Castle, the .arrest of the offender was ordered. " It was no pren- tice hand that constructed such a machine," said his lordship; "he must be arrested." But the boy was out of reach,-a fugitive at the age of fourteen. He found his way to the home of a friend, in a distant part of the country, where he obtained more congenial employment than herding. Becoming engaged as a carpenter and mill-wright, he continued in this occupation for a term of years; and ultimately obtained a position in the foundry and machine works of Messrs. Craig & Co., of Glasgow, in 1843. He remained until 1848, when the Revolution in France-during which Louis Philippe | and mill machinery, together with castings for building
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purposes, of which those used in the construction of ! tional clergyman, of North Kellingworth, Connecticut; both Whitney's and the Detroit Opera House were | and, subsequently, at Lee's Academy, in East Guilford, from his foundry. He also makes brass casting-, black- where he prepared for college. Ile entered Yale Col- smiths' work, steam hammers, forgings, etc. Mr. Wil- lege in September, 1827, and graduated in 1831. In son has never busied himself with patents, preferring to perfect that which he knows to be practical. He has never turned aside from the routine of business to engage in political enterprises; he has never sought
early life, his tastes inclined to travel and to out-docr sports, such as hunting and fishing, which furnished him ample recreation during his school days. After his graduation from college, he entered the Yale Law political office, but has been prominently connected School, which was then under the charge of Judge with various societies. He is a member of the oldest | Daggett, and remained there three years. During his Masonic Lodge in the Western country, -Zion Lodge, No. 1,-first chartered from Montreal. He has been President of St. Andrew's Society, Chief of the C'ale- donian Club, and President of the Detroit Curling Club. Hle is also a member of the Old Mechanics' Society. . Mr. Wilson married, in 1852, Miss Euphemia Young, who died in 1854. He married again, in 1864, Miss Caroline Matilda Stokes, of Sarnia, Canada. They have four children. He has been, and is still, largely interested in Detroit, as a property holder; the plans for buildings, which have been constructed on his im- proved property, were of his own de-ign. Mr. Wilson is a fair example of that type of business man with whom activity, enterprise, and persistent industry are second nature. To-day he puts his shoulder to the wheel with all the energy of his younger days, and is entirely in his element when bustling amidst the ponderous machinery of his work-shop, personally directing the varied details of his immense business. Hle is popular with his employes, a genial companion among friends, and a useful and esteemed citizen. Ilis obligations are always fulfilled to the letter; and his well-known integrity proceeds, not from the proverbial motive of policy, but from a settled principle, that makes itself felt in every thing he says and does. vacations, he visited every State in the Union, and extended his ramblings to the then Mexican province of Texas, as far as Matamoras, on the Rio Grande. In October, 1834, he went to Europe, where he remained until the summer of 1836. In August, 1836, he came to Detroit, and was admitted to the bar of Ann Arbor Cir- cuit in the spring of 1837. Detroit has been his place of residence since that time. He practiced law several years, but with strong dislike of the profession. In 1839 General Williams was elected Judge of Probate of Wayne County, and served in that capacity four years. In 1843 he was elected as one of the Aldermen of the city of Detroit. In 1844, having been an unsuccessful candidate for Mayor against General John R. Williams, he was elected by the Common Council as Recorder of Detroit for the period of one year. In 1843 he pur- chased the Detroit Advertiser, (now Daily Tribune and Advertiser), which he disposed of in 1847, upon going to the Mexican War. In 1849 he was appointed, by Presi- dent Taylor, Postmaster of Detroit, which office he held until July, 1853. From 1853 to 1857, he was President of the Michigan Oil Company, in which he met with severe losses by the revulsions in trade of 1857. In 1858-59 he was a member of the Board of Education. At the close of the civil war, in 1866, he was nominated by a Convention of Soldiers and Sailors, and, subse- quently, by the Democratic State Convention, as a can- didate for Governor of Michigan, against IIon. Henry Crapo, who was elected. During the summer of 1866, ILLIAMS, HON. ALPHEUS STARKEY, of Detroit, Michigan, was born at Saybrook, Con- necticut, September 20, 1810. His father, Ezra Williams, who was one of the earliest large manufactur- he was appointed, by President Andrew Johnson, as a member of a commission to examine the military claims of Missouri. Before the gubernatorial election took place, he was appointed, by President Johnson, as ers of New England, died when the subject of this | Minister Resident of the United States at the Republic of sketch was eight years old. His mother, Hepzibah Salvador, in Central America, where he went in Decem- ber, 1866, and remained until December, 1869. During those three years, he traveled much in Central America. In November, 1874, he was elected to Congress from the First ( Wayne County ) Congressional District; and, in 1876, he was renominated for the position, and was Starkey, died when he was in his eighteenth year. Ili- paternal grandfather, Samuel Williams, had much of the care and training of his youth. His grandmother Will- iams, nee Irene Pratt, was a woman of remarkable strength of character. She was a descendant of Captam John Pratt, who wa, one of the earliest settlers of Saybrook, " elected by an increased majority over his Republican and was famous in the Pequot and other New Eng- opponent. Since his return from Central America, he has traveled over the greater part of Nebraska, Colorado, land Indian wars. General Williams is of Welsh and English parentage. His early education was obtained | Utah, California, and other portions of the far West. under the instructions of Rev. Doctor King, a Congrega- | He began his military experience as a private in the
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famous "Brady Guards," of Detroit. He became Cap- | troops, began his campaign of the Shenandoah. When tain of the Guards, and was in the United States service Banks crossed with the main army at Harper's Ferry, in the winters of both 1838 and 1839, during what is' and moved by Charlestown and Berryville, General Will- known as the "Canadian Patriot War." In October, iams was ordered to cross with his brigade, strengthened by three additional regiments, at Williamsport, and march 'via Martinsburg and Bunker Hill. His destination was Winchester, held by Stonewall Jackson. General Williams crossed the Potomac March 2, moved rapidly through Martinsburg to Bunker Hill, where he came upon the 1847, he was commissioned as Lieutenant-Colonel of the Ist Michigan Volunteer Infantry, for the Mexican War; but his regiment was too late in getting to that country to take any part in the operations around the City of Mexico. They were sent to Cordova, and into the valley between the Orizaba Mountains on the way from enemy's advance posts, routed them and captured some Vera Cruz, to clear the country of guerrillas, who oh- prisoners. After some delay at this point, with daily structed and nearly closed the route to that city. This skirmishes and battles, General Williams was ordered, regiment was mustered out of the service at the end of in co-operation with Hamilton's brigade, to reconnoiter in force towards Winchester. Just before sunset of March 11, the two brigades came in sight of the Winchester the war, in July, 1848. In the late civil war, General Williams' first military services were as President of the State Military Board, and commander of the military earthworks, and of Jackson's forces drawn up in line of camp of instruction at Fort Wayne, near Detroit, for the battle, along the elevations north and west of that place. officers and non-commissioned officers of the 5th, 6th, and 7th Michigan Volunteer Infantry regiments. While the next morning ; but, when morning came, Jackson's in this capacity, he was appointed, by President Lincoln, Brigadier-General of Volunteers, to rank as such from April 17, 1861. He was ordered to report to General McClellan, but by him was sent to General N. P. Banks, who was commanding a division on the Potomac,
Upon consultation, it was decided to give them battle line was not visible, and our troops, with considerable display of the pomp of war, moved into the Confederate works without opposition. The civil authorities came out and formally surrendered the city. Upon the re- organization of the army preparatory to Mcclellan's near Darnestown, Maryland. General Banks assigned campaign, March 20, 1862, General Williams was placed in command of Bank's division, -then designated as the
him to command the Third Brigade of his division. Shortly after General Williams assumed this command . First Division, Fifth Army Corps. On March 24, while occurred the unfortunate battle of Ball's Bluff, in which | at Snickersville, on the Shenandoah, on the march to fell the gallant Colonel Baker, of California. General Manassas Junction, he heard rumors that Jackson had Williams was ordered to his support. He made a night countermarched on Winchester, and attacked Shields' division, which had been left to cover the line of the march in rain and over muddy roads, encountering on the way the dead body of General Baker, and a long : Shenandoah Valley. His division was separated by a train of the wounded from that disastrous field. He |broken bridge over the swollen river; one brigade- reached Edward's Ferry about daylight, and was prepar- Abercrombie's-being on the east side, and the other two on the west side, of the stream. Leaving Aber- crombie to continue his march, General Williams re- turned with his other brigade to Berryville; and, receiving confirmation of the battle before daylight, he pursued his way through Winchester, overtaking Jackson's rear guard a few miles below the battle-field of Kernstown. The pursuit was kept up, with battles and captures of men and material, the command bivou- acking after dark, at the close of a most tiresome day, on the banks of Cedar Creek, -the scene, later in the war, of Sheridan's remarkable victory, after his famous long ride from Winchester. . General Williams occupied Stra-burg the following day; and subsequently fol- lowed Jackson as far as Harrisonburg, ninety miles up the valley. The enemy, crossing the Shenandoah, took refuge in the hills at Swift Run Gap; and was soon afterwards reinforced by Ewell's division, and two brig- ades of General Edward Johnson, -in all twenty thou- sand strong. About the middle of May, Shields' strong ing to take his brigade across, when he was ordered into camp on the north side of the Potomac. Further attempts to occupy Leesburg were abandoned, and Banks' division took position some ten miles below, at Muddy Branch; and, subsequently, in December. marched to Frederick City, for winter quarters. Early in January, 1862, it was ascertained that Stonewall Jackson had suddenly marched with his command from Win- chester for the Upper Potomac. General Williams was ordered with his brigade to Hancock, Maryland,- the supposed objective point of Jackson, - to reinforce and take command of troops already at that place. He made a midwinter march across the Alleghanies, with the mercury below zero, and reached Hancock just in time to find excellent shelter for his frost-bitten men in the building> from which Jackson had shelled his Confeder- ate friends a day or two before. Jackson made no seri- ous attempt to cross the river, and General Williams remained in command there the rest of the winter. Early in the spring of 1862, General Banks, reinforced division was detached from Banks', and sent to McDow- at Harper's Ferry by Sedgwick's division and other | ell, raising his force to more than forty thousand effec-
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tive men. This detachment left Banks with only two | point, was thrown into great confusion. Two infantry brigades -eight regiments - of infantry, under General 'regiments, forming the rear guard, threw aside knap- Williams, and a small brigade of cavalry, under General | sacks, came up on the run, and repulsed Jackson's main I. T. Hatch. Ilis whole force -cavalry. infantry, and , body; holding it in check until order was restored, and artillery -did not exceed five thousand men. With the train, with the loss of a dozen or so of wagons from this small number, Banks fell back to Strasburg; posting | disabled mules and broken wheels, passed beyond the his cavalry in advance up the valley, and sending a point of attack. Jackson followed on the pike, but, single infantry regiment with a section of artillery to General Williams' rear guard being reinforced, he was hold . the debouche of Surry Valley, near Front Royal. |unable further to seriously molest the train. From Jackson, having united his own division to that of Newtown, General Williams sent forward a detachment Ewell and the two brigades of Johnson, making a of Broadhead's Ist Michigan Cavalry, and ascertained force of at least twenty thousand men, (see Cooke's | that the road to Winchester was clear. A battery of Biography of Jackson, page 641), moved through the ; artillery was put in position, strongly supported by a large Surry Valley; and, on the afternoon of May 23, fell portion of Gordon's brigade; and Jackson's main body upon and crushed the single regiment - Ist Maryland, of his army, and Stewart's cavalry were held in check until the whole of the train had safely passed through Winchester, seven or eight miles away. In the language of Jackson's biographer, who gives a most fanciful ac- count of the disorganization of the Union troops: "At nightfall, the Federal artillery, which had held the Con- federate advance in check at Newtown, retired from the field, and Jackson determined to push on after General Banks to Winchester." This "push on" was a slow process, for Gordon, at every favorable point, with those Colonel Kenly - at Front Royal; crossed the Shenan- doah Valley, and took a position on the Winchester road, where he supposed he could effectually cut Banks' line of retreat upon that town. The condition of Banks was indeed very critical, and required prompt action. During the night, General Williams concentrated his seven remaining regiment>, -an effective force of not over thirty-five hundred men, -and by daylight began the movement towards Winchester of the supply train,| the supernumerary artillery, and sick and wounded, to | superb regiments, -the 2d Massachusetts and 3d Wis- the number of several hundred, left at Strasburg from Shields' division. The road from Front Royal and that from Strasburg form a junction at Winchester. Jack- son, having moved forward on the former road, halted for the night many miles nearer Winchester than was General Williams at Strasburg. He had an unobstructed turnpike to Winchester, which was held only by a single Union regiment, and a few Maryland cavalrymen. He could avail himself of several good cross-roads which led directly upon the flank of General Williams' line of march, I the 10th Maine, which composed the garrison at Win- and he had a force that outnumbered General Williams' seven regiments at least as six to one. He could have formed six columns, either of which would have been superior in number to Williams' united command. But, according to his biographer, Cooke, his tactical road. During this day of intense excitement and almost plan was this: Ewell, with Trimble's infantry brigade, a regiment of cavalry and two batteries, was sent towards Winchester. General George II. Stewart was dispatched with his cavalry regiments towards Newtown, and Jack- son, "in personal command of the main body of the army" (Cooke, page 144), proceeded towards Middle- town; both latter places being on the Strasburg pike. Mr. Cooke further says, that Jackson's column was in motion at carly dawn. If so, his movement was very chester, and he went into camp for the night. Hours before this, however, Donnelly coming up with the train, with his three regiments, had gone into position along some broken ridges which commanded the Front Royal constant fighting on flank and rear, preceded by a sleep- less night for most of the officers and men, General Williams' comparatively small command had succeeded in covering its huge trains; in beating off Jackson's attacking columns; and, at night, with unbroken ranks and undismayed spirits, stood facing the enemy in front of Winchester. But the danger was not entirely over. General Banks decided, as stated in his report, "to test the substance and strength of the enemy by an actual slow ; for it was at least five hours after dawn when collision." It was a bold decision. The trains, before Jackson opened with artillery upon the rear portion of daylight, were far on the road to the Potomac; General Williams had not been reinforced at Winchester; the General Williams' train, and followed up with his infan- try and Ashby's cavalry. A small force from the cavalry | single regiment-10th Maine-in garrison at Win- brigade, which was covering these wagons, was unable chester, was not put into line, but remained in town to withstand this attack; and the train, just at this | during the fight, and marched off on the retreat from
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