USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Chronography of notable events in the history of the Northwest territory and Wayne County > Part 27
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The parents of Mr. Henderson were desirous that he should become a professional man, and knowing that Allegan could furnish but limited educational facilities, decided to leave him under the guard- ianship of Mr. Alexander McFarlane, who at that period was the prominent bookseller of Detroit, in order that he might have the advantages of tuition under Wm. Mitchell and others, at whose select school Mr. Henderson had as associates some who have since become the leading citizens of the city and State. His guardian, Mr. McFarlane, was a man of strict integrity, a member of the First Presbyterian church, and therefore his influence and teachings served to impress lessons of a healthful, moral character upon the mind of his ward, which he has never forgotten. The late Senator Chandler, Alanson Sheley and J. S. Farrand were among his early teachers in the Sabbath School, for whom he cherishes a strong affection, they in turn always manifesting a warm friendship and regard for him. Mrs. McFarlane is still living, and takes as much interest in Don. as a man as she did when he was a boy.
At the age of fifteen Mr. Henderson went to Allegan, where he finished his studies under the tuition of the late Rev. Samuel Newberry and E. B. Bassett, principals of the Allegan Academy, a branch of the State University. (Mr. Newberry was the father of Mrs. Gov. Bagley, and pastor of the Allegan Presbyterian church.) He applied
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himself so closely to his studies that at the end of two years his health failed and he was compelled to lay them aside. At this early age he manifested an inclination for literary and newspaper work, and in 1842 accepted a situation on the Allegan Record, where he learned typo- graphy. In 1845 he went to Paw Paw and became connected with John McKinney in the publication of the Paw Paw Free Press. His labors here telling severely upon his health he abandoned newspaper work and was again employed in McFarlane's book store in Detroit. Here he remained until 1847, when he went to New York, and Horace Greeley made him his private secretary and subsequently assistant editor of the New York Tribune. This afforded him extended oppor- tunities to learn the inside of politics and to form the personal acquaint- ance of the distinguished men of the country. From 1847 to 1855 Mr. Henderson enjoyed the esteem and confidence of the great journalist, as well as that of Charles A. Dana, now of the New York Sun. At the earnest solicitation of friends in Michigan Mr. H., in 1856, left the Tribune to establish the Allegan Journal, which he has since conducted as editor in chief, except for a short time, when he became interested in the Grand Rapids Daily Times (1874-5). The Journal celebrated the twentieth anniversary of its publication March 13th, 1876. On appearing it was greeted by letters, complimentary and congratulatory, from literary and military celebrities and editors and publishers all over the country, among them from President Grant, Vice-Presidents Ferry and Colfax, George William Curtis, Governor Croswell, William Reid and C. W. Dana.
Mr. Henderson never sought public positions, although in 1855 he was appointed secretary of the Board of Census Marshals for New York City by General E. W. Leavenworth, Secretary of State. This was the only one he held while connected with the New York press, and on his return to Michigan in 1857 he was chosen reporter to the State Senate, and compiled the legislative manuals for several years. In 1859 Governor Wisner appointed him one of the State swamp land commissioners. In 1876 he was endorsed by the Legislatures of Michi- igan and New York for the appointment of United States Public Printer, but President Hayes, being pledged, gave it to the Hon. John D. Defrees, of Indiana.
Mr. Henderson has been a devoted friend to public improvements. His paper was the first to advocate the construction of a ship canal connecting Lakes Erie and Michigan. While a resident of New York he was a delegate to, and secretary of, the New York City Industrial Congress.
The extensive travels of Mr. H. through the south, just prior to the war, gave him a correct idea of the magnitude of the impending rebel- lion, hence his Journal was in advance of even the metropolitan
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journals as to the proper means for suppressing and meeting it. In September, 1863, he volunteered as a private for the three years' service. As appears from the following extract, he had rendered im- important service to the army:
SOLDIER'S HOME, WASHINGTON, JUNE 21, 1889.
This is to certify that D. C. Henderson, of Allegan, Mich., rendered valuable service at the beginning of the war by volunteering with one or two other persons to visit Alexandria, Va., just previous to its occupation by our forces, at his own risk, which service was accepted by me as commanding officer of the column which entered Alexandria, affording me valuable information of the enemy's strength, location, etc.
O. B. WILCOX, Brig. Gen. U. S. A.
In 1861 Mr. Henderson went to Washington to ascertain the mili- tary movement of our army, and that, if possible, of the Confederates. Mr. Henderson was detailed with two noted gentlemen, by Gen O. B. Wilcox, U. S. A. (now on retired list and governor of Soldier's Home, near Washington, D. C.), on May 22, 1861, two days before the capture of Alexandria, Va., to reconnoiter for information regarding the movements of the rebels; consequently these gentlemen were doing secret service. Their names were Don. C. Henderson, John C. Underwood, Jr., of Va. (son of United States Judge of that State), and Zebina Moses, a nephew of K. S. Bingham, United States Senator and Governor from Michigan. General Wilcox appointed these three gentlemen at Willard's Hotel in Washington. In starting out they crossed the long bridge, two miles from Washington, and before their return had gleaned very valuable information, which was revealed to the proper officers. Being a staunch Republican, a public spirited man, and journalist of few equals-politically he took great delight in acquainting himself with the doings of the nation, hence his advent into Washington at the outbreak of the rebellion. During his trip to the front, his companions, as well as himself, were compelled, for fear of being detected, to raise their hats and hurrah for Jeff. Davis. We have seen the papers in his (Henderson's) possession, signed by Wash- ington authorities, authorizing him to procure the movements of the rebels and thanking him for his valuable information at the beginning of the war. General Wilcox was military governor of the District of Columbia and next in command to General Scott, who was next to our martyred President Lincoln. In September, 1863, Mr. Henderson enlisted as a private soldier in the Third Michigan Cavalry, in Captain Pope's company, and while acting as train guard with his regiment, going to the front, a sudden lurch of the train threw him off and broke his left hand; he, however, rejoined his regimentin a few weeks. When he again reached his regiment, he was unable to cope systematically with his brother soldiers in military tactics, for during Mr. Henderson's convalescing absence from duty, he was laughed at a little for his untutored awkwardness in saddling his horse. But Mr. Henderson
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soon learned the "ropes," and proved a good soldier. It seems the Record has gathered the "funny" part of Mr. Henderson's military career and gave him credit for it, but says not a word in his favor for the good he has done his country, both as a soldier and writer. Mr. Henderson was honorably discharged, and on his papers it reads, “no objection to his re-enlistment is known to exist," and it was not erased.
Although frequently tendered, he declined to accept promotion. Near the close of the last year of the war, the commission as a lieutenant was sent him, which he declined to accept. This is a rare instance of record where the publisher of a prominent journal enlisted and served, voluntarily, as a private during the war.
A greater portion of the time during his military experience he served in the cavalry regiment, under command of Col. H. R. Mizner, and was on his staff a portion of the time as orderly. He was with the regiment and accompanied it to the borders of Mexico in 1865, when General Sheridan was ordered to the Rio Grande to look after Maxi- milian on the Mexican frontier.
Mr. Henderson, prior to the organization of the Republican party, was a Whig, and in 1852 was an alternate delegate in the National Convention, held at Baltimore, which nominated General Winfield Scott. In 1860 he was a delegate to the Chicago convention which nominated Abraham Lincoln. Horace Greeley represented Oregon in the same convention. He was one of the founders of the Republican party, and has attended every National and State convention (when not in the army) since that period.
His intimate acquaintance with public men has given him a more perfect knowledge of political matters than are possessed by the journalists of the present day, hence his articles are deemed more reli- able by the sagacious of both political parties in this as well as in other States, giving his paper a larger circulation than that of any outside of the metropolitan papers of the State.
At the solicitation of some of the early residents, Mr. Henderson, in 1876, prepared an historical sketch of Detroit, which occupied twenty- five columns of the Journal, which for its accuracy, and as a literary production, drew for him letters of encomium from distinguished resi- dents of the city and State, and was extensively copied by the periodi- cals in other cities. (Since the above was written, Mr. Henderson has received the appointment of supervisor of the census for the Fifth District of Michigan.)
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FREDERICK BUHL.
Few names are better known or more respected by the older inhabitants of Michigan than that borne by the subject of this sketch. For fifty-five years, when attached to the article worn for the protec- tion of the intellectual part of man, it has been a sufficient guarantee of its usefulness.
Frederick Buhl is a native of western Pennsylvania, and was born November 27, 1806. His parents emigrated from Saxony, and settled in Butler county, Pennsylvania. Mr. Buhl was the second son of a family of eleven children.
The advantages for obtaining an education were meagre, not even as good as are afforded the poorest in any part of Michigan at this time, hence his education was limited.
At the age of sixteen he visited Pittsburg for the purpose of learn- ing the jeweler's trade, but ill health compelled his seeking some other occupation, and in 1833 he came to Detroit, and with his brother, established the wholesale and retail house for the sale of furs, hats and caps. For twenty years his brother and himself continued together under the name and firm of F. & C. H. Buhl. His brother then retired, and he carried on the business alone, until Mr. Henry Newland was admitted, when the house became Buhl, Newland & Co. Subsequently, on the withdrawal of Mr. Newland, his sons became partners, and the firm was known as F. Buhl & Sons. The house is at present known as Walter Buhl & Co., Mr. Buhl, owing to increased age, desiring to retire from active business.
Mr. Buhl, while not aspiring to public position, has held several offices of trust and responsibility ; has been a member of the City Coun- cil, was elected Mayor in 1848, has been Director of the State Bank of Michigan, President of the Ft. Wayne & Elmwood Street Railway Co., President of the Michigan Department of the American Life Associa- tion, Director of the Second National Bank of Detroit, and Trustee and President of the Board of Trustees of Harper Hospital.
Mr. Buhl, notwithstanding the cares of his large business, has found time to visit Europe, and has traveled extensively in the United States. He is a regular attendant of Fort Street Presbyterian church, and is active in efforts to further all objects for the improvement of the community in education and morals.
Mr. Buhl was married to Miss Beatty, of Butler county, Pa., in 1836. They have had six children, four sons and two daughters. Cap- tain F. A. Buhl, the eldest son, entered the army in the early part of the late civil war, and died from wounds at Annapolis, Maryland, in September, 1864. Mr. Buhl's wife died March, 1884, leaving four children and a kind husband to survive and mourn her departure.
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JAMES BURNS.
James Burns was born November 10, 1810. His ancestry on the paternal side were Scotch-Irish, and he bore many of the characteristics of that nationality. At the early age of nine he was compelled to pro- vide for himself; when sixteen, he apprenticed himself to a carpenter at Turin, N. Y., working at his trade during the summer, and attend- ing the Lowville Academy during the winter, thus acquiring a fair English education. He left the State of New York and arrived in Detroit in 1834. For the first year he worked at his trade; the following year was spent in traversing the wilderness of Michigan, locating for himself and others available lands.
In the directory for 1836-7, we find his name entered as "James R. Burns, clerk in the store of Olney Cook." Evidently the introduc- tion of the "R." was an error of the publisher, for we find that in 1837 he became a partner of Olney Cook, and the style of the firm was "Cook & Burns," and that they continued to do business as dealers in dry goods and groceries for seven years thereafter, where the old Masonic Hall now stands on Jefferson avenue.
Subsequently, Mr. Cook having retired, Mr. T. L. Partridge was taken into the partnership, and the firm became James Burns & Co., and continued the business in the same locality until 1850, when it was removed to Woodward avenue, where for twenty years the firm did a large and profitable business. In 1866 Mr. Partridge withdrew, and Mr. Lucien A. Smith was admitted as a partner, when, under the name of Burns & Smith, the business was carried on until 1874; Mr. Burns then sold to Mr. Smith, having been in the dry goods business for nearly forty years.
Mr. Burns, although not an aspirant for public or political honors, nevertheless accepted them when tendered, from a sense of duty to his friends and fellow citizens. In 1861 C. H. Buhl, Mayor, appointed him a member of the First Board of Review; as such he served for twelve years. In 1873 he was elected to the State Legislature, and was a member of the Committee of Ways and Means; in 1876 Governor John J. Bagley, appointed him a member of the Board of Control of the State Public School, located at Coldwater, of which he was elected President.
In 1873 he erected the Burns Block on Griswold street ; in 1877, the Buhl and Burns Block on Woodward avenue, and in 1882 joined Mr. Owen in the erection of a fine block of stores on Jefferson avenue. In the improvement of his property in the way of building he consulted the interests of the public as well as his own, sparing no money to make them useful as well as ornamental.
As a business man, he was esteemed for his industry, energy and
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integrity. As a citizen, he was alive to all enterprises tending to pro- mote benevolence, morality and education.
Mr. Burns and his wife became members of the Central Methodist Episcopal church, when the edifice stood on Woodward avenue, near Congress street, for over forty years.
His personal characteristic was extreme frankness in speech, and an unassuming manner.
April 30, 1838, he was united in marriage to Miss Aurilla A. Bacon. They had three daughters, neither of whom survived him. The eldest daughter, Emily A., married Mr. Henry A. Newland, and died June 18th, 1871; the second, Eliza, married Rev. Dr. James M. Buckley, and died February 27, 1876, and the third, Frances M., was married to Mr. Albert M. Henry, and died February 1, 1879.
Mr. Burns died December 7, 1883, leaving a record of acts and deeds worthy of imitation by all who may come after him.
C. H. BUHL.
The celebrated Dean Swift draws a comparison between the man who uses the talents God has endowed him with by adding to them in a manner that shall benefit humanity, and one who employs them to gratify personal ambition and selfish desires, at the sacrifice of truth and integrity. " The man who can make two ears of corn grow where but one grew before, deserves better of mankind, and renders more essen- tial service to his country than the whole race of politicians put together." In the sense he intended his stricture on politicians, the context serves to illustrate the practical business life of the subject of this sketch.
Christian H. Buhl, a native of the State of Pennsylvania, of Ger- man antecedents, was born in Butler county, May 9, 1810. His father was a merchant, was also engaged in farming, and was one of the leading business men of that portion of the State where he resided.
After obtaining such an education as the schools of that section afforded, he learned the hatter's trade, and at the age of twenty-one started west to seek his fortune, and located in Detroit in 1833. Associated with his brother, they engaged in the hat and cap trade, to some extent manufacturing their own goods; subsequently they com- bined the fur trade. Their transactions in the latter grew largely, and extended over the entire Northwest. This branch was mainly con- ducted by C. H. Buhl, his brother taking charge of the hat depart- ment.
In 1842, the trading posts of the American Fur Company falling into the hands of Messrs. P. Chouteau & Company, of St. Louis and
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New York, Messrs. Buhl entered into an arrangement with them to pur- chase furs on joint account in the States of Ohio, Indiana, northern Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan, including a portion of Upper Canada. This continued until 1853, when the brothers divided, F. Buhl taking the hat department and C. H. Buhl the fur business, which he conducted on his own account for two years; then, turning it over to his brother, he formed a partnership with Charles Ducharme, and engaged in hard- ware and iron trade, meanwhile purchasing the wholesale stocks of Alexander H. Newbold and Ducharme & Bartholomew, consolidating the two firms, making the wholesale house of Buhl & Ducharme, at that time the largest in the Northwest. Mr. Charles Ducharme dying in 1873, Mr. Buhl purchased the interest represented by Mr. Ducharme, and admitted his eldest son, Theodore, as a partner. Since, and up to the present, the business of Buhl & Son has been prosperous. In 1863 Mr. Buhl purchased the interest of the Westerman Iron Company in Sharon, Pennsylvania, which has since been successfully conducted. He is now the owner, having bought the interest of two former part-
ners. About the same time he purchased the controlling interest of the Detroit Locomotive Works, infusing new life and energy into it, and continued to do a profitable business until the term of incorporation expired by limitation. He was one of the incorporators of the Second National Bank of Detroit, and also of its successor, the Detroit National. Was Vice-President of the first, until reorganized as the latter, of which he was also the Vice-President, until chosen President, on the retirement of Governor Baldwin.
Mr. Buhl was largely instrumental in the construction of the Hills- dale and Indiana, the Detroit and Eel River, and the Detroit and Butler railroads, and while the investments did not prove profitable for him, they have been of great benefit to Detroit, to the farmers, and the busi- ness of the towns through which they run.
During the fifty-five years in Detroit, his business career has been characterized by integrity, energy and industry. The magnificent business blocks erected by him, the many manufacturing industries in which his name appears as a stockholder, is an evidence of his public spirit and interest for the material welfare of his adopted city. Although a Republican since the party was organized, he is not a strict partisan; never sought nor held but one political office. He was elected Mayor of Detroit in 1859, serving during 1860 and 1861.
He is not a politician, except that as an intelligent citizen of a Republic he believes it his duty to keep himself informed as to the con- duct of public affairs, municipal, state and national, and the conduct and contention of political parties-basing his action upon that policy which he conceives will best promote the general business of the country, and protect the people against wrong.
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In all movements of a benevolent and educational character he applies his business rules, and is earnest in promoting their success.
In 1843 Mr. Buhl married Miss Caroline DeLong, of Utica, N. Y. They have had five children, two sons and three daughters; one daughter died in infancy, one in girlhood, and one in womanhood. The sons, Theodore and Frank H., are associated with him in business.
THEODORE H. HINCHMAN.
Theodore H. Hinchman, a native of the State of New Jersey, was born in Morris county, March 6th, 1818.
The immediate ancestors of Mr. Hinchman were born in the same State as the subject of this sketch, and were largely engaged in mining and smelting specular iron ore of that portion of New Jersey, but after the close of the war of 1812 iron became depressed and the business was discontinued by them.
His father, John R. Hinchman, moved to the city of New York and engaged in the grocery business in that city in 1825. The mother of Mr. Hinchman was Mary DeCamp, who was educated at the. Academy of Samuel Whelpley (author of Whelpley's Moral Philosophy which, for a time, was a text book at Princeton College).
Samuel L. Southard, who later was member of the United States Senate from New Jersey, was a tutor in Whelpley's Academy.
John R. Hinchman and Mary DeCamp were married at Newton, N. J., on January 19th, 1809, and celebrated their golden wedding January 9th, 1859.
John R. Hinchman died at Brooklyn, N. Y., November 16th, 1859. Mary DeCamp, wife of John R. Hinchman, died at Brooklyn, N. Y., on July 16th, 1860. They had four sons and six daughters, all living in 1889.
Theodore was the eldest of the four sons, and was seven years of age when his parents removed to New York, and the most notable event which impressed itself upon his recollection was the opening of the Erie canal, on which occasion there was a display of canal boats and other vessels on the Hudson.
He attended the public schools of New York until reaching the age of thirteen, when he was placed in a retail drug store. After remaining a year, on the recommendation of Guy M. Hinchman, he obtained a situation in the wholesale grocery house of Johnson & Sons, which at that time did the most extensive business, in that line, of any in the United States. His principal duties in the situation were in the office, collecting and banking, at the same time obtaining a general
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knowledge of the business. He remained with this firm four years, and during that time was a member of the Mercantile Library Asso- ciation of New York, and improved his leisure time acquiring a know- ledge of books, thus laying a foundation for general intelligence.
About this period John Owen, in his semi-annual business trip to New York, having transactions with the house of Johnson & Sons, conceived a friendship for Mr. Hinchman and made him a formal offer to come west and take a clerkship in the drug store of Chapin & Owen. This proposition was accepted, and in the spring of 1836 he came to Detroit. He continued to serve in that capacity until March, 1842, when he became a partner, and the firm of John Owen & Com- pany soon became extensively and favorably known throughout Michi- gan and the west.
September 8th, 1842, he married Miss Louisa Chapin, daughter of Dr. Marshall Chapin, former partner of Mr. John Owen, a brief sketch of whose life will be found elsewhere in this volume.
In 1853 Mr. Hinchman purchased the interest of Mr. Owen, and also entered into the ship chandlery business at the foot of Wood- ward avenue (burned out and discontinued 1875). The drug and grocery business is continued in the name of T. H. Hinchman & Sons. The sons so associated are John M., the eldest, admitted in 1868; the second, Ford DeCamp, admitted in 1869, and the third, Charles Chapin, was admitted in 1874. All are active partners and are the peers of any of the young business men of the State.
In his early business life Mr. Hinchman resolved to save one-half of his yearly income and adhered to that rule until 1870, when com- mercial travelers lessened the profits of the business.
He became president of the Merchants' and Manufacturers' Bank (now Merchants' & Manufacturers' National) from its organization in 1869, and is still its president (1889.)
The following are among the number of his public services: Was a member of the fire department from 1839 to 1862, of the Board of Fire Commissioners from 1867 to 1879, when, having received the nomination for State Senator, he resigned. He was commissioner of sewers from 1855 to 1860; in 1876 was elected to the State Senate and was recognized on the several important committees as a "working member." The most honorable and congenial position held by him was as president of the Merchants' and Manufacturers' Exchange, to which office he was elected annually from its organization in 1878 to 1886. He was a member of the Board of Control of the State Indus- trial Home, located at Adrian, four and one-half years, also a member of the semi-Centennial Commission, appointed by Governor Alger.
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