USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Chronography of notable events in the history of the Northwest territory and Wayne County > Part 24
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"To Mr. Henry he was largely indebted for those business habits which formed the basis of his after success in life."
At the close of his apprenticeship he became chief clerk for the house of Thomas Emerson & Co., afterwards known as the firm of Mack & Conant. He continued with this firm until financial embar- rassment compelled an assignment.
During the war of 1812 he was sergeant in Captain Whittimore Knaggs' company and a participant at the battle of Brownstown, and was detailed to bring up the wounded. It will be remembered that Captain Knaggs, above referred to, was Indian interpreter to Generals Hull, Cass and Winchester. He was both greatly feared and respected by the Indians, and was hated so bitterly by Proctor that he offered, at one time, a reward of $3,000 for his capture, dead or alive. The friendship between Mr. Cooper and Captain Knaggs was very warm, and for several years he made his home with the latter. Mr. James
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W. Knaggs, son of Captain Whittimore, now living and a resident of Detroit, relates to-day several incidents illustrating some of the charac- teristics peculiar to Mr. Cooper, referred to by Mr. Whitney. "When he, Mr. C., was about starting for himself, he needed a horse to make the journey to New York, he also needed money to make his pur- chases and pay his expenses, and, therefore, did not feel that he could pay a large price for a horse. James W. Knaggs had a fine horse, and said to Mr. Cooper, 'Buy my horse.' 'No,' said Mr. Cooper, 'I cannot pay you what it is worth.' 'Well,' replied Mr. Knaggs,
' would thirty-five dollars be more than you can pay?' 'Oh, that if far below his value,' said Mr. Cooper, but finally the horse became the property of Mr. Cooper. 'But,' says Mr. Knaggs, 'I had much difficulty in persuading him to take it at my price.'" Another: "In 1875, on returning from Montreal, Mr. Knaggs had quite a large amount in drafts payable at Detroit banks. His long absence had left but few who could identify him, but he thought of David Cooper, whom he had not seen for fifty years. On calling, Mr. Cooper came to the door himself, at once recognized Mr. Knaggs, exclaimed, ' Why, James!' and put his arms about his neck and kissed him." Still another, as related by J. W. Knaggs: "While my father was held a prisoner in Quebec, Mr. Cooper knew he must need money, and I remember that he counted all the money he had and sent it to my father."
Such incidents told by a contemporary seem to show Mr. Cooper's sense of justice and fidelity to friends. Perhaps no resident American, at that early day, was more esteemed by the old French and Indians, with whom he always had great influence.
In 1824, Mr. Cooper, pursuant to a long cherished plan to engage in business on his own account, prepared for his visit to the east for the purchase of goods. Armed with letters and other testimonials, he mounted the horse bought of James W. Knaggs, and, in company with Doctor Marshall Chapin and John Palmer, set out upon his journey. On his arrival in Boston he met with no difficulty in buying his stock of goods, which he received sometime in June, and opened a store on Woodward avenue, which he continued until 1835, when he joined with DeGarmo Jones in the erection of what was known as the Cooper block on Jefferson avenue, where he continued a successful business up to the year 1849, when he retired. After retiring from the mercan- tile business, having an interest in a lime stone quarry near Browns- town, he opened a yard on Woodbridge street and did an extensive business in the sale of lime and stone for several years. He at one time owned the site of what is now the warehouse of the Detroit and Cleveland Steam Navigation Company, which was turned over to him by Messrs. Mack & Conant, when they closed up business. He also
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owned many other valuable pieces of property which he improved, including the house in which he died, opposite the market building on Cadillac square.
In 1820 Mr. Cooper married Miss Lovicy Mack, a daughter of Colonel Stephen Mack (whose history will be found in this volume, page 226). They had three children, Adaline Lavina, who married Dr. Sprague; George A. (who died some years since), and the Rev. David Mack Cooper. A sketch of the latter will be found elsewhere in this volume.
The only official positions held by him were those of alderman, trustee of Harper's Hospital and elder in the First Presbyterian church, of which he was long a member.
As the end of his life approached he said to his surviving son,
% ** * "I shall not bequeath anything in my will to benevolence. I leave all that to you, who are more competent to judge in regard to such purposes than myself. It has been mine to accumulate, it will be yours to disburse."
Mr. Cooper departed July 27th, 1876, and she who was his wife for over fifty years, Mrs. Lovicy Mack Cooper, died in January, 1874.
All that is claimed for David Cooper by those that revere his memory is " that his life was intelligently met, and honestly passed," and as to the manner in which his last wishes have been carried out, it is demonstrated in the sketch of those who survive him.
ROBERT STEAD.
Robert Stead, the 2d, was the son of Robert Stead, who left England in 1820, and landed at Detroit in August of that year. He is still a healthy, hale man, and was born in London, England, in 1809, so that there can be no question as to his ancestry. Robert, the elder, was a large man, weighing two hundred pounds. Two brothers had preceded him, and were living at Detroit. Benjamin, who aided in building the old City Hall, and died several years after, and Joseph, who bought some land near Utica, Macomb county, where he lived and died. Benjamin was one of the associates of Colonel Stephen Mack and others in the Pontiac Land Company, and was a man of some note at that early day. Robert, senior, with his family of four boys and one daughter, after reaching Buffalo, took passage in the schooner Red Jacket, Brandon Gillett, commander. They expected to have taken the steamer Walk-in-the-Water, but found on reaching Buffalo that she had gone to Green Bay with U. S. troops. As Mr. Robert Stead, the subject of this sketch, states : "They had a rough passage across
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Lake Erie, and on arriving at Malden, were wind-bound, when his father, becoming impatient, proposed they should walk to Detroit, and accordingly started. Coming to Sandwich, they found no one who could understand English. After some delay they met a boy who directed them to the ferryman, who had nothing but a " dug out." It being a new kind of boat to them, it was with a good deal of hesitation they trusted themselves in it. They did so, however, and were safely landed above the present site of Fort Wayne, and spent their first night at Woodworth's hotel.
The father and sons immediately settled on the shore of Lake St. Clair, in what is now known as Grosse Point, remaining there until after the death of the father, when the family finally separated. He and his brother William came into the city and began business on what was then the business thoroughfare, Atwater street. They remained there in business, living on Jefferson avenue, on the present site of Christ church, until 1844, when he removed to the property now occupied by him, on what is now Woodward avenue, then called the Pontiac turnpike. There was then no dwelling between that and the old homestead of Colonel Winder, on the corner of Woodward avenue and High street.
Robert Stead married Miss Mary A. Keal, of Detroit, in the year 1836. By this marriage he has four children, Sarah A. Stead, Mrs. C. Williams, Mrs. George W. Fisher and Mrs. W. H. Henderson.
As heretofore stated, Mr. Stead is a well preserved man yet, although 81 years of age. He is a great lover of flowers, which he cultivates for his own and the pleasure of his family and neighbors. He is of a genial, hearty temperament, and delights to review his early experience in Michigan, and is full of interesting incidents relating to many old residents of Detroit, who have passed away.
SOLOMON DAVIS.
" Age should fly, concourse cover in retreat Defects of judgment, and the will subdue :
Walk thoughtful on, silent, solemn shore
Of the vast ocean-it must sail so soon."- Young.
To-day (April 17, 1890) we called in company with J. Wilkie Moore, upon the subject of this sketch, Solomon Davis, who sixty years ago, settled in Detroit, and became identified with its material and moral growth, and to-day, reviewing the past, can recall the struggles encountered by himself, as from time to time he sought by precept and example to make it the earthly home in which he should delight to live and die. That he has in part succeeded in the aim, object and purpose of his early individual life, let those of the present generation who visit
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him judge of the results of a well spent life, in that serenity and cheer- fulness which marks his manner, and indicates satisfaction with self, and peace with his fellow men and with God.
Solomon Davis was born in the State of Vermont, March 17, 1792. His father, Joshua Davis, was born in 1750, and his grandfather, David Davis, in 1715, all natives of the green mountain State.
The parents of Solomon Davis gave him the best opportunity to acquire an education which their circumstances and the condition of the country at that time afforded. In early life, evincing a taste for mechanics rather than for agriculture, he learned the builder's trade, and after serving his time, he, in 1825, married Rhoda Balcom, of Wethers- field, Vt. Five years spent in the east did not realize their expecta- tions or desires. Looking to the west as the proper field for the con- summation of their hopes and wishes, they in March, 1830, left Ver- mont, and arrived in Detroit about the first of April of that year.
The population of Detroit then was 2,222, to-day it is 260,000. There was then neither paved streets, sewers, gas or telegraph. The water supply was from a pump worked by horse power, and the reser- voir was located on the present site of Fireman's Hall, its capacity being 9,580 gallons per day. There were no railways in Michigan, in fact there was but forty-one miles of railroad in the whole United States.
Immediately upon his arrival in Detroit, Mr. Davis, engaged in pro- jecting buildings and other improvements; he also connected himself with other enterprises tending to improve the city in morals, and the cultivation of influences to elevate the social element in its population. He was one of the projectors and the secretary of the mechanics' library association, and of two other organizations of a benevolent character; was also active in educational interests, and in providing for the free school system for the benefit of the poor. From that period until the infirmities of age prevented, he co-operated in every effort or measure to advance the growth of his adopted city in morality, educa- tional facilities, health, beauty, and in substantial material wealth.
Now, he is surrounded with material comforts, and enjoys the society of his children, in the consciousness of having done some good to others, and fulfilled his duty to God.
His children are Mrs. Turrill, 693 Champlain street; Mrs. Charles Ketchum, 708 Congress street East; Mrs. C. B. Ketchum, Lafayette avenue; Mr. George S. Davis and Mr. James E. Davis, manufacturers and druggists.
ยท LUTHER B. WILLARD.
Luther B. Willard was born at Cambridge, Mass., December 28, 1818. His father removed to Rochester, N. Y., in 1832. Mr. Willard came to Detroit at the age of seventeen, in 1835, and was first employed
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in the job room of the Free Press. In 1837 he established the Toledo Blade at Toledo, Ohio. Soon after, having some difficulty with his partner, he returned to Detroit and resumed his position in the Free Press. In 1850 he was elected Director of the City Poor, and was suc- cessively elected every two years up to 1862. Was State Agent for Michigan, looking after wounded soldiers. In 1865 he was elected Director of the Poor and held the office till death, with the exception of one term. Mr. Willard married Electa Losey, of Covert, Seneca county, New York, October 10th, 1848. He died July 28th, 1877.
DR. JOHN L. WHITING.
How much of the history of Michigan and Detroit is by incidents connected with the life of Dr. John L. Whiting?
Nearly three generations are comprehended in the events trans- piring with his experiences in the growth of Detroit from a hamlet containing less than one thousand in population to 150,000, and an area within the limits between Brush and Cass east and west, and the river and Congress north and south, to one of eight by ten miles.
Dr. John L. Whiting was born at Canaan, Columbia county, N. Y., November 28th, 1793. After educational preparation he studied medicine with Dr. Samuel White, of Hudson, and on completing his studies started on horseback for the west, arriving at Detroit February 26th, 1817. For fifteen years he practiced his profession, and in 1832 formed a partnership with John J. Deming in the commission and for- warding. In 1842 he engaged in the land and tax agency business, which he continued until age and infirmities compelled him to with- draw from active pursuits.
Doctor Whiting was married first at Hudson, N. Y., in 1821, his wife dying in 1829, having borne four children, two of whom died in infancy. He married the second time Miss Harriett Rees, of Detroit, November, 1830. By her he had eight children, five of whom died young, the mother following them in April, 1852. In 1854 he married the sister of his second wife, Rebecca Rees. There were no children born of this marriage.
Dr. Whiting was a man of great physical vitality and mental vigor to an advanced age. Having a very retentive memory, he was able to recall hundreds of interesting events relating to Detroit and its early inhabitants.
In early life Dr. Whiting was what was known in New York as a "blue light federalist," politically, and voted for DeWitt Clinton in 1816.
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Speaking of the cholera, he said: "I quit medicine to follow my new venture in February, 1832, but was compelled to return to it the following July. The cholera had broken out. This was brought to us by a vessel carrying troops to the scene of the Black Hawk war. Black Hawk was a powerful Sac chief, somewhat after the order of Pontiac. The Sacs and Winnebagos, of Wisconsin, had long been spoiling for a fight. They were angry over the advancing coloniza- tion of Illinois, and delayed further encroachments. In the spring of 1832 they commenced warfare on the frontier settlements of Illinois, killing, scalping, burning and outraging, and a national as well as a militia force was sent out to teach them a lesson. After a number of fights with United States troops and Illinois militia, General Atkinson defeated the tribes under Black Hawk at the junction of the Bad Axe and Mississippi, capturing Black Hawk and his son, and took them to Washington. On their return they stopped for a while at Detroit, where I saw them both. Young Black Hawk fell desperately in love with a society belle and wanted to honor her by making her his squaw. She declined the proffered dignity, for reasons best known to herself, but she has never married, and is still living in single blessedness at Mackinac."
" Well, as I was saying, I had just got down to my work at the dock, when along came these troops with the cholera. One of the men died of a pronounced case of the Asiatic cholera on the 4th of July. The military surgeon accompanying the detachment was so badly frightened that immediately upon landing he shut himself up in the hotel. The commanding officer then called upon Dr. Rice, an able physician and an amiable man, to attend the sick, and Rice asked me to accompany him. I didn't care to go, for I knew, though I had never seen a case of cholera, that it was frightfully contagious and rapid in its results, and told Rice so. He urged that he had been authorized by the quartermaster to spare no expense in securing the most com- petent help, and finally persuaded me to go with him. I told my wife when I went home that Saturday evening, that I had been called upon to attend the sick soldiers. She looked grave and sorrowful but said, as it was a case of duty, she could not ask me to back out."
"That night sixteen cases were brought ashore and placed in the quartermaster's store, which had been converted into a temporary cholera hospital. These stores were on Woodbridge, between Wayne and Shelby. Of the sixteen cases, eleven proved fatal before morn- ing."
The Doctor, further speaking of cholera visitation, says: "That of 1832 was confined mainly to the poorer class, and swept off the intemperate and dissipated in large numbers. In 1834 it attacked an entirely different class: the wealthy, sober, temperate, church-going people."
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The Doctor, referring to Dr. Zina Pitcher, says: "In 1828, when I was making arrangements to give up my practice, I began writing to Dr. Pitcher, endeavoring to induce him to settle in Detroit, and take my place, but I did not succeed until 1835.
"Dr. Pitcher was styled, not long ago, by a president of the County Medical Association, the 'father of medicine in Michigan.' With all due respect to the president (who knew better, as I told him afterward) medical history compelled me to dispute the title awarded my old friend. As long ago as 1819 I began the formation of a medi- cal society among the five scattered physicians of the territory. We had three at the capital (Detroit), and one respectively at Pontiac, St. Clair, Mount Clemens and Monroe, and they all joined me."
Dr. Whiting had some experience with General Cass among the Indians, and was a traveling companion with General Winfield Scott as early as 1827, when he accompanied him on a tour of inspection of the forts and posts of the upper lakes. Speaking of it he relates the fol- lowing: "The General had persuaded the Captain of the steamer " Henry Clay, which had been chartered by another party, to take him to Sault Ste Marie. On board were some dozen or more beautiful young ladies, and every night we danced, in which the General parti- cipated. The young ladies occupied the after cabin, so General Scott used to sleep on the dining table every night, with a sperm candle burning on each side of his pillow, so that he could be seen while sleep- ing; for there was an awful deal of furs and feathers about the old fellow, even at that early stage of his career."
Referring to the forwarding business: "There was not much of a general trade. The fur trade was carried on by the houses of Abbott, Mack & Conant, Dequindre, and the Buhl Brothers. For all our iron work we depended upon Cleveland. I had at one time the agency of five steamers, something enormous for that period. For their use I purchased, and had to keep on hand, from one to two hundred cords of wood, as coal was not at that time used as fuel."
Speaking of Chicago: "We had a contemptuous opinion of Chicago, a little swampy hamlet, compared with which, Detroit was of metropolitan grandeur."
Without elaborating further, we conclude the sketch of Dr. Whit- ing with the following extract from the pen of E. N. Wilcox, in which he prefaces from Shakespear: "'The evil that men do lives after them. The good is often interred with their bones.' The converse of the im- mortal bard should be engraved on Dr. Whiting's tombstone, as it is on the heart of the writer: 'Shade of the love departed.' How my soul bubbled into my eyes as, with sorrowing friends, I saw the casket containing all that was once the mortal tenement of one, who, in life, exhibited his right to claim the recompense long time ago prom-
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ised: 'And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only, in the name of a disciple, verily, I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.'"
Doctor John L. Whiting departed from this life at the residence of his son, John Tallman Whiting, 568 Jefferson avenue, August 4th, 1880.
MAJOR THOMAS ROWLAND.
The Hon. Charles C. Trowbridge, referring to his early contem- poraries in Detroit, says of the subject of this sketch: "Among the men upon whom greatness was thrust, was Thomas Rowland, late a chivalrous officer in the army. He was Marshal of the United States, Pension Agent, Clerk of the County Court, Secretary to the Board of County Commissioners, Justice of the Peace, Trustee of the City, he was my patron and friend-a truer friend never man had. He lived a useful life, and died universally respected."
Major Thomas Rowland was born in Ohio, or that portion of the West, now Ohio. He held a commission of Major in General Hull's army, and was made a prisoner at the surrender of Detroit. On returning at the close of the war, he engaged in business, and held the offices enumerated by Mr. Trowbridge during the Territorial existence of Michigan, and was a contemporary with Judge Solomon Sibley, General Charles Larned, Andrew G. Whitney, William Woodbridge, John L. Leib, George McDougall, and latterly with Henry S. Cole, Alexander Frazer, George O'Keefe and Benjamin J. H. W. Witherell. The Judges of the Supreme Court were Augustus B. Woodward, James Witherell and John Griffin.
In 1819 he read a paper on the surrender of Hull, which has gone into history, and received much commendation. In addition to the other positions mentioned by Mr. Trowbridge, he was appointed Secretary of the Territory. In 1840, he was elected Secretary of State, which office he resigned on his appointment as Postmaster of Detroit by President Harrison in 1841. He was a man of great culture and refinement, and was held in high esteem. He died in Detroit, in August, 1848.
JONATHAN KEARSLEY.
The history of Detroit and Michigan would be incomplete without mention of Major Jonathan Kearsley, who, born in the State of Vir- ginia, in 1786, and graduating at Washington College in ISII, on the beginning of the War of 1812, entered the army, receiving from Presi-
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dent Madison a Lieutenant's commission in the Second Artillery Corps. During the war he was commissioned Assistant-Adjutant General, Captain and Major; was engaged in the battle of Stoney Creek and Chrysler's Field in 1814, and in the sortie from Fort Erie. In the latter engagement he was wounded severely, making the amputation of a limb necessary. The military services and record of Colonel Kearsley was duly appreciated and recognized, being that of a brave and sagacious soldier. His disability compelling his retirement from the army, in 1817 he was appointed Collector of Internal Revenue of Virginia, serving two years as such, when he became Receiver of Public Moneys for the District of Michigan, which position he held consecutively for thirty years. Major Kearsley thus became intimately associated with the Territorial history and State infancy of Michigan. He was Mayor of Detroit, and one of the Regents of the State Univer- sity, and was always careful in the administration and the execution of the public trusts imposed, and in private life was respected for his uprightness and integrity of character.
The old Kearsley mansion still stands, on the corner of Jefferson avenue and Randolph street. He died in 1859.
MAYOR JOHN BIDDLE.
The subject of this sketch was the son of Charles Biddle, Vice- President of the Continental Congress, and one of the most active patriots during the infancy of the United States. He was a nephew of Commodore Nicholas Biddle of the Continental navy.
Major John Biddle was born in the city of Philadelphia, in March, I792. After due preparation he entered Princeton College, graduating therefrom at the end of four years, and immediately entered the army, serving during the War of 1812 in the Artillery, taking the rank of Lieutenant, Captain and Major. A portion of the time he was attached to the staff of General Scott, their confidential relations continuing during life.
Major Biddle's younger brother, Thomas, also served in the same campaigns, and ranked as Major; while an elder brother, Commodore James Biddle, served with distinction in the Navy, to which he remained attached during life.
At the close of the war Major B. was stationed at Detroit. Soon after he retired to civil life, and became practically interested in the development of the State and city, of which he was a resident till death.
When the public lands were opened for entry, he was appointed Register of the Land Office, and was one of the commissioners for settling the ancient land claims at Detroit, Mackinaw, Sault Ste. Marie,
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Green Bay and Prairie du Chien, which involved many intricate and delicate questions, calling for much labor and care in their adjustment. He was during a portion of this period Territorial Delegate in Con- gress. He also held the following positions: Regent of the University organized under Territorial Government, and subsequently selected to make disposition of such lands as were allowed by Congress to be sold, trustee of various educational organizations, vestryman of St. Paul's First Episcopal church, and was one of the small number who became personally responsible for the expense of building the first church. Major Biddle was thoroughly versed in Latin, Greek and French, and is the author of several literary works. He was one of the four, with General Cass, General Henry Whiting, and Henry Schoolcraft, to pre- pare the series known as the Historical Sketches of Michigan, covering the entire history of Michigan, and which are regarded as high authority. He was a forcible writer, and took great interest in and possessed great aptitude for historical investigation.
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