USA > Michigan > Branch County > History of Branch county, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 40
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1864 .- Justin Lawyer, Mayor; John Murphey, Clerk ;
George K. Bowker, Marshal ; Amariah G. Stevens, Col- leetor ; Roland Root, Street Commissioner ; George A. Coe, Justice of the Peace; George Starr, Treasurer. First Ward : Frederick V. Smith, Supervisor ; Julius S. Barber, Alder- man ; George S. Gibson, Constable. Second Ward : Theo- dore C. Etheridge, Supervisor ; Phineas P. Nichols, Alder- man ; Walter II. Lathrop, Constable. Third Ward : D. B. Purinton, Supervisor; Nelson H. Saunders, Alderman ; Lansing M. Gray, Constable. Fourth Ward : Franklin T. Eddy, Supervisor; Edward W. Markham, Alderman ; George W. Love, Constable.
1865 .- Justin Lawyer, Mayor; John Murphey, Clerk ; Robert M. Wilder, Marshal ; Edward W. Benton, Collector ; George Starr, Treasurer; David B. Dennis, Justice of the Peace ; Matthias Van Every, Street Commissioner. First Ward : George S. Sweet, Supervisor ; Hiram Foland, Alder- man ; George C. Gibson, Constable. Second Ward : Ovid Allen, Supervisor ; Edwin R. Clarke, Alderman ; Alexan- der Oderin, Jr., Constable. Third Ward : George A. Coe, Supervisor ; Allen Tibbits, Alderman, full term ; James A. McCarty, vacancy ; Lansing M. Gray, Constable. Fourth Ward : Franklin T. Eddy, Supervisor ; Franklin E. Morgan, Alderman ; Darius Chapman, Constable.
1866 .- John II. Beach, Mayor; William G. Moore, Clerk ; George Starr, Treasurer; John Whitcomb, Mar- shal ; Henry C. Williams, Collector ; Matthias Van Every, Street Commissioner ; Wallace W. Barrett, Justice of the Peace. First Ward : George S. Sweet, Supervisor ; Byron D. Paddoek, Alderman; George C. Gibson, Constable. Second Ward : Theodore C. Etheridge, Supervisor ; P. P. Nichols, Alderman ; Alexander Oderin, Constable. Third Ward : George A. Coe, Supervisor ; William S. Gilbert, Alderman ; Lansing M. Gray, Constable. Fourth Ward : Franklin T. Eddy, Supervisor; John H Bennett, Alder- man ; Stephen Paddock, Constable.
1867 .- D. C. Powers, Mayor; D. J. Easton, Clerk ; George Starr, Treasurer ; John Whitcomb, Marshal ; John Chandler, Collector ; Matthias Van Every, Street Commis- sioner ; Benjamin C. Webb, Justice of the Peace. First Ward : J. McGowan, Supervisor ; Lewis B. Johnson, Alder- man ; John Whitcomb, Constable. Second Ward: T. C. Etheridge, H. O. Mosher, Aldermen ; A. Oderin, Consta- ble. Third Ward : George A. Coe, Supervisor ; L. T. N. Wilson, Alderman ; L. M. Gray, Constable. Fourth Ward : F. T. Eddy, Supervisor ; G. W. Watson, Alderman ; J. S. Wolcott, Constable.
1868 .- David C. Powers, Mayor; John Murphey, Clerk ; John P. Youngs, Treasurer ; Roland Root, Street Commis- sioner; David B. Purinton, Justice of the Peace; Henry N. Moore, Marshal ; Gilbert H. Taylor, Collector. First Ward, Jonas H. MeGowan, Supervisor; James Anderson, Alderman ; Ansel E. Thompson, Constable. Second Ward : Theo. C. Etheridge, Supervisor; David N. Green, Alder- man ; to fill vaeaney, Parley G. Benton ; Thomas McComb, Constable. Third Ward : George A. Coe, Supervisor ; David Thompson, Alderman ; William G. Kyte, Constable. Fourth Ward: Franklin T. Eddy, Supervisor ; John JI. Bennett, Alderman ; Jerome P. Wolcott, Constable.
1869 .- Phineas P. Nichols, Mayor ; John Murphey, Clerk ; Lester E. Rose, Treasurer ; Isaac P. Alger, Justice
155
IHISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
of the Peace; Thomas Harrison, Marshal; Corydon l'. Benton, Collector; John M. Saunders, Street Commis- sioner. First Ward : Geo. S. Sweet, Supervisor; Lewis B. Johnson, Alderman ; Silas L. Devens, Constable. Second Ward : Theo. C. Etheridge, Supervisor ; Thomas W. Dick- enson, Alderman ; full term, Nathan Rosenbaum, to fill vacancy. Third Ward : George A. Coe, Supervisor ; Abram McCrea, Allerman ; Andrew S. Rowell, Constable. Fourth Ward : S. S. Scovill, Supervisor; Bleeker 1. Webb, Alder- man ; George W. Bowker, Constable.
1870 .- Justin Lawyer, Mayor; Wm. H. H. Halsted, Clerk ; Lester E. Rose, Treasurer ; David Thompson, Jus- tice of the Peace, full term and to fill vacancy ; Alfred Thompson, Marshal ; John W. Saunders, Street Commis- sioner ; Cornelius Van Ness, Collector. First Ward : David N. Green, Supervisor ; Hiram Shoudler, Alderman ; Silas S. Devins, Constable. Second Ward : Theo. C. Etheridge, Supervisor ; Parley Burton, Alderman ; Jeremiah Rogers, Constable. Third Ward : David Thompson, Supervisor ; Wm. R. Foster, Alderman, full term ; Hiram B. Robinson, to fill vacancy; Andrew S. Rowell, Constable. Fourth Ward: S. S. Scovill, Supervisor ; John R. Champion, Alderman ; George W. Bowker, Constable.
1871 .- David B. Dennis, Mayor; W. H. H. Halsted, Clerk ; Willard J. Bowen, Treasurer ; Hamilton S. Miles, Marshal; John M. Saunders, Street Commissioner ; Charles L. Truesdell, Collector ; Benjamin C. Webb, Justice of the Peace. First Ward : David N. Green, Supervisor ; Spencer Birdsell, Constable. Second Ward : William A. Coombs, Supervisor ; J. Franklin Pratt, Alderman ; Jeremiah Rogers, Constable. Third Ward : Roland Root, Super- visor ; Robert M. Wilder, Alderman ; Andrew S. Rowell, Constable. Fourth Ward : S. S. Seovill, Supervisor ; Blec- ker L. Webb, Alderman ; George W. Bowker, Constable.
1872 .- Henry C. Lewis, Mayor ; Wm. R. Foster, Clerk ; Willard J. Bowen, Treasurer ; Gurdon L. Howe, Collector ; David B. Purinton, Justice of the Peace; John M. Saun- ders, Justice of the Peace. First Ward : David N. Green, Supervisor ; George Canwriter, Alderman ; Geo. II. White- head, Constable. Second Ward : Theo. C. Etheridge, Super- visor ; Uri Blodget, Alderman; Jeremiah Rogers, Constable. Third Ward: Roland Root, Supervisor; David Thompson, Alderman ; Andrew S. Rowell, Constable. Fourth Ward : Franklin T. Eddy, Supervisor ; Jeremiah Wolcott, Alder- man ; Jolin C. Ilall, Constable.
1873 .- Henry C. Lewis, Mayor; William R. Foster, Clerk ; Willard J. Brown, Treasurer ; Roland Root, Jus- tice of the Peace ; John M. Saunders, Street Commissioner ; D. P. Cushman, Marshal. First Ward : 1. D. W. Fisk, Supervisor ; William Burns, Alderman ; Spencer Birdsell, Constable. Second Ward: T. C. Etheridge, Supervisor ; Henry C. Whitley, Alderman; Jeremiah Rogers, Constable. Third Ward : Roland Root, Supervisor; Thomas Smith, Alderman ; Andrew S. Rowell, Constable. Fourth Ward : Henry C. Williams, Supervisor; Lester E. Rose, Alderman ; Charles Weller, Constable.
1874 .- John R. Champion, Mayor ; Charles 1. Trucs- dell, Clerk ; Willard J. Bowen, Treasurer; Alfred Thompson, Marshal ; John M. Saunders, Street Commis-
sioner ; Daniel Bovee, Justice of the Peace. First Ward : Daniel N. Green, Supervisor ; Anthony R. Brown, Alder- man; K. Parish, Constable. Second Ward: Theo. C. Etheridge, Supervisor ; David B. Purinton, Alderman ; John Ray, Constable. Third Ward : Allen Tibbits, Su- pervisor; Smith W. Fisk, Alderman ; Lansing M. Gray, Constable. Fourth Ward : David S. Williams, Super- visor ; John E. Allen, Alderman ; Isaac Bair, Constable.
1875 .- John R. Champion, Mayor; Charles L. Trues- dell, Clerk ; Willard J. Bowen, Treasurer; Job Williams, Marshal; Asa Waterhouse, Street Commissioner; Benj. C. Webb, Justice of the Peace. First Ward : Jacob E. Smith, Supervisor ; William HI. Abbott, Alderman ; Johu Lennan, Constable. Second Ward : Levi W. Lee, Super- visor ; Alfred Foster, Alderman ; Charles M. Abbott, Con- stable. Third Ward : Roland Root, Supervisor ; Thomas Smith, Alderman ; Frederick Schaffer, Constable. Fourth Ward : Albert F. Chandler, Supervisor ; Herman H. Flau- dermeyer, Alderman ; Henry Cook, Constable.
1876 .- Stephen S. Cutter, Mayor ; L. P. Palmer, Clerk ; Wm. Job Williams, Marshal ; David B. Purinton, Justice of the Peace; Willard I. Bowen, Treasurer; John M. Saunders, Street Commissioner. First Ward : Jacob E. Smith, Supervisor ; Henry Ray, Alderman ; Hamilton S. Miles, Constable. Second Ward : Levi W. Lee, Super- visor ; William A. Coombs, Alderman ; Win. R. Waden, Constable. Third Ward : Roland Root, Supervisor ; Al- fred Milnes, Alderman ; Calvin J. Dart, for vacancy ; Jo- seph HI. Montague, Constable. Fourth Ward : David S. Williams, Supervisor ; M. H. Parker, Alderman ; John C. Hall, Constable.
1877 .- Charles Upson, Mayor ; L. P. Palmer, Clerk ; Alfred Thompson, Marshal; George Starr, Treasurer ; Roland Root, Justice of the Peace; John M. Saunders, Street Commissioner. First Ward : Daniel Halway, Su- pervisor ; Henry C. Clark, Alderman ; Spencer Birdsell, Constable. Second Ward : David B. Purinton, Super- visor ; Clark Pierce, Alderman ; George S. Culver, Con- stable. Third Ward : Roland Root, Supervisor; Isaac McColom, Alderman ; Joseph II. Montague, Constable. Fourth Ward : Wm. II. Donaldson, Supervisor ; Sylvanus S. Scovill, Alderman ; Lyman .J. Goodell, Constable.
1878 .- A. J. Foster, Mayor ; Albert O. Wood, Clerk ; Orlando G. Noyes, Marshal ; John W. Turner, Justice of the Peace ; Ransom E. Hall, Treasurer; John Keely, Street Commissioner. First Ward : Arthur R. Burrows, Supervisor ; Fred. II. Flandermeyer, Alderman ; Spencer Birdsell, Constable; Frederick V. Smith and Darius W. Fridham, members of School Board. Second Ward : David B. Purinton. Supervisor ; George Firth, Alderman, full term ; P. P. Nichols for vacaney ; Geo. W. Lee, Constable ; George S. Foster and Harvey D. Robinson, members of School Board. Third Ward : Roland Root, Supervisor ; Alfred Thompson, Alderman ; Joseph II. Montagne, Cou- stable ; George W. Stevens and Oscar B. Moore, members of School Board. Fourth Ward : Charles V. L. Ilibbec, Supervisor ; I. S. Woleott, Alderman ; Fred. C. Meyer, Constable; John R. Champion and Justin Lawyer, mem- bers of school Board.
156
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JOIIN HI. BEECH, M.D.,
was born Sept. 24, 1819, at Gaines, Orleans Co., N. Y. He was the son of Dr. Jesse Beech. Ile prepared for college at Gaines Academy, and graduated at Albany Medical College in April, 1841, immediately entering upon the practice at Gaines, in partnership with Dr. Martin Mason, an old practitioner at that place, with whom he continued two years ; thenceforward pursuing the practice singly,
Photo. by E. Kindmark, Coldwater.
JOHN H. BEECH, M.D.
until October, 1850, at which time he removed to Cold- water. Meantime he attended several courses of lectures, and spent one winter iu New York, and one in the Phila- delphia hospitals.
During the war he rendered valuable service in the vari- ous hospitals and positions assigned him. He was acting assistant surgeon in the Army of the Tennessee in May and June, 1862 ; was commissioned surgeon of the 24th Michigan Infantry, Aug. 15, 1862; appointed member of the oper- ating board of the 1st Army Corps before Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 12, 1862 ; Dec. 21, 1863, made surgeon-in-chief ( pro tem.) of the 1st Division of the 1st Army Corps, confirmed by special order April 12, 1864, and continued in the discharge of this duty, though the brigade (styled by Gen. McClellan the " Iron Brigade") was changed in divisions and corps, until Feb. 18, 1865; when it was broken up, and its veteran regiments sent North. At Gettysburg, P'a., he was appointed surgeon-in-charge of the Express Office Hospital, July 4, 1863, and continued to hold the position until the 5th of the following August, when illness compelled him to give it up. His resignation as surgeon of the 24th Michigan Infantry was accepted April 4, 1865.
After the war he confined himself to consultations in medicine, operative surgery. and gynecology. IIe was a
member of the Branch County Medical Society ; the Peninsular Medical Society, which he represented in 1854 and 1855 in the American Medical Association, and of which he was elected president io 1856; the American Medical Association, to which he made in 1855 a report on the " Topography and Epidemics of Michigan ;" the Southern Michigan Medical Society, which he founded in 1873, and of which he was elected president in July, 1874; the Alumni Association of Albany Medical College, of which he was elected president in 1874; the Amer- ican Public Health Association ; was elected, April 12, 1870, corresponding member of the Detroit Academy of Medicine, and Nov. 7, 1871, of the Gynæcological Society of Boston, Mass. ; and in 1876 was appointed special eorre- spondent of the Michigan State Board of Health, in con- nection with which it may be stated the law of Michigan prohibiting the tying of the feet of small animals in transit for slaughter was the result of petitions originated and distributed by him. To each of the organizations above named he contributed practical papers and various medical journals.
In April, 1866, he was elected mayor of the city of Coldwater. In the same year he was elected president of the board of the trustees of the Coldwater Female Semi- mary, and from 1870 to 1875 (inclusive) was moderator of the Board of Education of the city.
He was married. Jan. 20, 1842, to Miss Eliza C. Crowns, of Guilderland, Albany Co., N. Y., who died June 5, 1859. Jan. 5, 1861, he married, at Clarkson, Monroc Co., N. Y., Mary Jane Perry, who died June 24, 1872. Aug. 26, 1875, he married Mrs. Sarah E. Skeels, of Coldwater, who is a sister of Henry C. Lewis. Dr. Beech departed this life Oct. 17, 1878, leaving no issue.
COLDWATER, MICH., March 30, 1879.
MESSRS. EVERTS & ABBOTT :
DEAR SIRS,-As I was among the early comers into this part of Michigan, I am requested to contribute something to the history of Branch County, which you are about to publish, by giving some account of myself, and by stating some of the incidents of its early settlement, with which I am familiar.
I was born Feb. 28, 1797, in the State of New York, and was never outside of its limits till thirty-eight years after- wards, when I set out for Michigan. I have lived under the administration of all the Presidents, but for six days only under that of Washington.
Quite carly in life I was ambitious to become a doctor. Having always to depend upon myself, the fruition of that desire was deferred somewhat beyond my wishes, but with such means as I could obtain, after I became of age, I took a preparatory course, and started for Fairfield, Ilerkimer Co., N. Y., to attend the medical college, then in a flonrish- ing condition at that place. My studies were continued at that school between three and four years, until I graduated in the winter of 1826.
Going into the western part of the State in the fall of 1827, I settled in my profession at Webster Corners, on the Ridge road, ten miles east from the city of Rochester.
157
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
I remained at that point three years, then removed to Honeoye Falls, some sixteen miles south from that city, where I lived till I came to Michigan, in 1835. The Rev. Francis Smith, whose eldest daughter I married in 1831, having disposed of his home and other property, I was in- duced to set out with him on a tour West, in quest of a new home, intending to proceed as far as the Mississippi River, should nothing be met with to suit before we got there. We left our homes about the middle of May, and
Photo. by E. Kindmark, Coldwater. W. B. SPRAGUE, M.D.
had for our companions in travel Mr. Bradley Crippen and Philo H. Crippen, his son, who also had married a daughter of Mr. Smith. With two horses and a light, covered wagon, we took our course by the way of Buffalo, Cleveland, and the inevitable Black Swamp, and, after crossing the Maumee at Perrysburgh, went down that river a few miles, and turning north, crossed the plains to Dundee, on the River Raisin. This route was chosen to escape the Cottonwood Swamp, through which the road was reputed to be about as bad as that of the Black Swamp. Before we reached Coldwater we fell in company with Mr. James Fiske and L. D. Crippen, who had started from their homes in Penfield, cast from Rochester, about the same time we had set out. There were six persons now in our company, and it was decided to stop when we should arrive at Coldwater, look at the country, and learn the chances for buying, etc. Our stoppage at this point resulted in the purchase of a thousand acres or more of land, lying on sections 21 and 22,-all of which is now included within the limits of our city. These lands were parceled out by mutual understanding between the six purchasers respectively. My portion fell upon the west half of the cast half of section 22, where I have lived with but little change ever since.
The parties who sold in this transaction were Robert J. Cross and Win. II. Cross, his brother, Allen Tibbits, Joseph Hanchett, and Peter Martin. The couveyances were all completed, I believe, in the first week of JJune, 1835.
The parties on both sides in this matter, except myself, were men of more than ordinary ability and experience financially, and it would have been a paper of much interest to-day, had a journal of all that passed between the parties before the negotiations were completed been kept and handed down to the present generation. Mr. Fiske, L. D. Crippen, and P. H. Crippen, his brother, made arrange- ments to take possession immediately, while Mr. Bradley Crippen, Mr. Smith, and myself returned East, intending to remove with our families in the fall.
On our return to Coklwater, we started the 8th of Sep- tember, and arrived at our destination the 2.1th day of that month, passing through Canada on our route, having sent all our heavy goods by way of the Erie Canal and the Lake to Detroit.
Early in the season of 1836 a partnership was formed, consisting of Francis Smith, Thomas Dougherty, and my- self, with a view of building both a saw-mill and a flouring- mill, at the west end of what is now Pearl Street, in our city.
Work on the saw-quill was begun the same season, by a Mr. Worden, of the State of New York, and was finished some time in the fall. The flouring-will was commenced quite early in the spring of 1837, and completed early in the following winter. The late Samuel Ethridge, well known to all our citizens, served us as chief engineer, archi- tect, and builder.
Both of these structures were built in what was then the modern style, and were calculated to be of great value to the public, as well as to the proprietors.
Twenty years or more afterwards these mills were con- sumed by fire, after having changed hands several times. The flouring-mill, occupying the place of the original one, and now owned by W. A. Coombs, was built by L. D. Crippen and Rathbun Alden, but not until some years had elapsed.
It was during the second term of Jackson's administra- tion that we bought a home in Coldwater, at a time when the Democratic party had become exceedingly popular and strong.
The population flowing into Michigan that year and the following one, having been mainly from the State of New York, consisted very generally of men belonging to the Democratic, or Jacksonian party.
This was especially true of Branch County. What few belonged to the opposite party on our arrival were soon largely outnumbered, and the principle that the spoils of office belonged exclusively to the party in power had come to be rigidly believed in, and enforced on every occasion.
Although I never preferred to hold a public office of any kind, or take a very prominent part in politics, it was deemed by my political friends to be necessary for me to share a part of the spoils. This was owing in some measure to the great profusion of offices to be filled immediately after Michigan was made a State, and to the sparseness of the population at that period.
I was first made clerk of the township of Coldwater. That was at the spring election of 1836, and at the Novem- ber election succeeding I was appointed an associate judge, having for my chum in office the late Ilon. Chester Ham- mond, of Union City.
158
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
The first term of the Circuit Court in Branch County. was held at the village of Branch, which continued for a time to be the county-seat. Here Judge Epaphroditus Ransom, who was soon afterwards elected Governor of our State, presided.
The court convened in a school-house, standing then on a delightful eminence some twenty rods west from the old hotel, where all received their rations, and where Judge Ransom lodged while he stayed. The judge was a man of a dignified appearance, and of an affable turn. He was from Vermont, having removed to Michigan while it was yet a Territory, settling at Kalamazoo.
But the people of Branch County, like all other new communities where the population is sparse and the country unimproved, were unfortunate; they could not boast of a solitary lawyer, while parties in litigation were driven to import that article from a distance in order to maintain ap- pearances, if from no other motive.
Howe, from Lima, Indiana, another lawyer from Jackson, and the indomitable little man, Columbia Lancaster, of Cen- treville, put in their appearance at this first session of the Circuit Court.
After Coldwater became the county-seat, courts were con- dueted in a rickety old building that stood where the brick residence of the late Dr. J. H. Beach is now seen. By that time, however, the Hon. Alpheus Felch had become presiding judge.
During the Harrison campaign this old building received the name of "Coon Pen." It was well entitled to this name, and bore it long after it was given up for court pur- poses. Lawyer Van Arman, who has since become a noted criminal lawyer, now living in Chicago, Abner Pratt, Gov. Gordon (all these of Marshall), and John Chipman, of Niles,-familiarly known as " Black Chip," from the dark color of his skin,-all of these were at one time to be seen in court at the Coon Pen.
The next office that fell to my lot was that of judge of Probate, to fill the unexpired term of E. A. Warner, who had been elected a State senator. I was notified of my election by H. B. Stillman, then county elerk, Jan. 20, 1842. My time expired in January, 1845. I think that Peter Martin, already mentioned, was the first one to fill this office after the county was regularly organized. He bore that title, I know, at the time we came here on our first tour. He was succeeded by Martin Olds, of the town- ship of Batavia. Mr. Olds bore other offices in his day with much credit to himself and the county. Grand juries were required in those days, and I remember that he was appointed foreman of the grand jury at the first session of the Circuit Court for the county after the adoption of the State constitution. E. A. Warner, before named, sue- ceeded Judge Olds, I think.
At the November election, 1845, I was chosen to repre- sent our county in the Legislature by a small majority over another Democrat, who had received a regular nomination, I believe, at a caucus some time before the election. I re- ceived notice of this election from C. P. Benton, county elerk, dated Nov. 13, 1845.
But I shall find it pleasant here to refer again to my first visit to Coldwater. I remember that I lodged at the house
of Joseph Ilanchett the first night of our stay. He had built a comfortable log house, which stood just across the alley passing the north end of E. R. Clarke's drug-store. Mr. Hanchett had a well a few feet from the east side of his house (which was then the front side) that furnished the coolest and purest water that we had met with anywhere on our journey. Indeed, our town might justly have de- rived its name from the fact, that at nearly every point within the corporation water of the same excellent quality may always be obtained at but little expense.
My bed-fellow was James, a son of Mr. H., a precocious lad, then of some eighteen years. IIe afterwards became known as a genial and very active business man in our midst, staying here a number of years.
His forte lay principally in originating large structures to be used for hotels and the like, fondly anticipating that they would be in immediate demand from the rapid growth of our population and an increase in travel. But his am- bition soon carried him far ahead of the age. It had be- come a disorder with him, contracted perhaps in his youth, a few years before, when the effects of the wild-eat plague bore so heavily everywhere on the business and morals of the community. Ile went to Wisconsin many years ago, to remember only with regret, perhaps, the visionary sehemes of his younger days. Of the capacious structures he built there is not one now left. They were too balloon-like and subject to fire, which in those times was an element of progress and improvement that always lingered suspiciously around any premises of that character. The log, dwelling built and occupied by his father survived them all for many years, but was at length nearly consumed by fire. Scores of lasting memorials, however, were snatched from its ruins. From some of the logs only partially consumed a large number of nice canes were made by our indefatiga- ble and public-spirited citizen Dr. I. P. Alger, and dis- tributed by him among many of the pioneers that were then living.
The writer was presented with one of these, which he wished to be preserved as an heir-loom in his family, taken perhaps from the identical timber upon which he rested the first night after a tedious journey of some five hundred miles, and from the walls of a tenement where after his arrival here he took his first repast. The house stood also in the near vicinity of a spot destined to be his own future home perhaps as long as he lived. Many reminiscences of much more value than these I have mentioned will, I trust, be furnished by other pens much better qualified to make the pages of your book interesting to the reader.
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