USA > Michigan > Calhoun County > History of Calhoun county, Michigan, With Illustrations descriptive of its scenery > Part 8
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24
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
the north, the Statesman copying it entire. Messrs. Pratt and Crary were attor- neys for the prosecution, and Emmons*, Romeyne, and Joy defended.
Troutman testified that when they were about to arrest the Crosswhites, the colored people (niggers he called them) assembled and blustered a good deal, but finally Dr. Comstock came and asked him what he was going to do with the family, and Troutman replied he was going to take them back to Kentucky. Com- stock then said, " You see the excitement, and you cannot take them back by legal, moral, or physical force, and you may as well know it first as last; and the sooner you leave the better for you." Then Charles T. Gorham took up the words, and called the attention of the crowd, and offered a resolution : " Resolved, that these Kentucky gentlemen can't take these slaves back by legal, moral, or physical force ;" and it was carried by acclamation. When he asked Gorham why he came there, the latter replied, " I came by the authority of public sentiment, which is above the law." Troutman then demanded the names of all responsible persons present who were interfering with the execution of the laws, and asked Gorham for his name, which he gave; and not hearing it distinctly (or being unable to spell it), asked for it a second time, when Gorham replied, " Charles T. Gorham ; put it down in capital letters, and take it back to Kentucky, to the land of slavery, as a warning to others and a lesson to you." Comstock gave his name as Oliver Cromwell Comstock, Jr., adding, "Don't forget to put the junior on; I don't want my father to answer for my sins." Easterly, Hurd, and Cook gave their names. After Mr. Gorham offered his resolution, Troutman, to test the temper of the " mob," as he termed it, though against the protests of Comstock and Gorham, who pointed out the best citizens of Marshall in the gathering, offered a resolution, that he as a peaceable citizen of Kentucky be allowed to take the slaves before Esquire Shearman (who issued the warrant for their arrest) and prove his property and take them back to Kentucky, but not a solitary voice answered in the affirma- tive. Soon after, Mr. Hurd offered a resolution, " that these Kentucky gentlemen be given two hours in which to leave town, or be arrested for kidnapping." Camp moved an amendment to strike out Hurd's alternative, and add " or be tarred and feathered and rode on a rail," and added, " I will give ten dollars to hold one end of the rail." The amendment was frowned down, but Hurd's resolution was passed nem. con. Troutman tried to argue the case, claiming he had the right under the constitution and laws of Congress to take his property wherever he found it and return it to Kentucky. Gorham replied, " We do not care for the laws of Congress; the dear people are the law, and we are the dear people, and you can't have these people." Dixon testified that he went among the colored people as a detective in the guise of a census-gatherer for the school district, to find out all about the Crosswhites and the number and whereabouts of their chil- dren, and that he did so find out their history, and by that information, so ob- tained, led the Kentuckians to the house at a time when the family could all be taken together. He did not arrest them, because in the face of the excited crowd he could not do so safely. That he commanded the peace among the crowd, for which Gorham called him a contemptible puppy, and Hurd laughed at him. He served the warrants on the Kentuckians, when they adjourned for the day. Dr. Comstock wanted to see the warrant issued for the arrest of the Crosswhites, and advised Dixon to see counsel before he went too far. Dixon and Gorham had several verbal set-to's about the business. Dixon testified he received five dollars from the chivalry for all the business he did for them. John H. Wells proposed that the crowd should kidnap the Southerners by reason of their color being the same hue as the Crosswhites, and innocently (?) asked them if they were not relatives of the slaves. But these proceedings were not favored by the mass of the people, who were not willing to see violence done, but were determined that the Crosswhites should never be returned to slavery, whatever had to be done to pre- vent it. Gorham and Comstock were leading Democrats, and told the South- erners the crowd was not an abolition mob, but the best citizens of the place, and it was useless for them to undertake the recapture, as it would never be allowed in the present temper of the people. The next day the excitement was still intense, Dr. Comstock remarking to a stranger that the people were excited, and he him- self was excited, but he thought they were right in protecting their citizens.
Gorham claimed the negroes as citizens,-he had and would protect them. He and D. Darwin Hughes had a tilt over the matter, in which Hughes characterized the affair as a "d-d Presbyterian operation," and charged Gorham as being en- gaged in a disreputable business for a church member.
The above was in the testimony of the prosecution. The different defendants were dropped from time to time, until only Gorham, Hurd, and Comstock were left to bear the brunt of the final judgment, which was rendered on the second trial,-the jury disagreeing at the first one,-and which amounted to nineteen hundred dollars damages and costs, some eleven hundred dollars more. The attorney, Pratt, took the damages for his fee, and Troutman had his expe-
rience for his pains. The case was most ably defended, and, although the de- fendants were not allowed to testify in their own behalf, yet they accounted for every person on the ground, and also showed that the evidence of Troutman was manufactured, and words put into the defendants' mouths which they never uttered, to make a case for political effect. While the trial was going on " Dave" Stuart took Gorham one side, and said to him he was sorry to see him-Gorham -connected with the case, for they wished a judgment just at that particular juncture to let the south know that they could have their rights in Michigan ; and a judgment in Michigan, and especially in Detroit, rendered by a Michigan jury and against Michigan men for interference with those rights, would give great weight to certain schemes then in process of incubation. (Governor Cass was then a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the presidency.) The case was plain enough to Gorham without that friendly intimation, to which was added the gratuitous information that when the judgment was obtained, they, Stuart and others, would put their hands into their pockets and help pay the amount. Austin Wing was United States marshal and manipulated the jury, and witnesses were produced whose testimony was shown by the defendants to be totally unreliable ; but the fiat had gone forth : a scapegoat was wanted, and the defendants Gor- ham, Hurd, and Comstock stood in the breach, and were saddled finally with the sins of the people, and sent into the wilderness of political chicanery, with the hope that they would remain long enough to take the candidate through ; but the hero of Buena Vista carried the day, and the only effect the trial had was to make the case a pivotal point upon which the compromise of 1850 turned, and the omnibus bill included a more stringent law for the south to recapture her fugitive slaves from the north. Mr. Clay, in his famous efforts in the compromise, in the United States Senate, alluded to the Marshall affair as a proof that the law of 1793 was insufficient for the recovery of human property, and thus Marshall became the cynosure of all the Union for a time. The chief actors do not regret the part they actually took in the matter, looking at the results, which finally culminated in the overthrow of the institution of slavery. John Van Arman conducted the case of Crosswhite against the Southerners for breaking in his house, and it is said caused the chivalry to " grow white about the gills" and faint by reason of his caustic examination.
The presidential vote of 1840 resulted thus: Democratic, 1169; Whig, 1153; majority, 16. In 1844 the people indicated their preferences after this manner: giving James K. Polk 1528, Henry Clay 1357, and Birney, the Abolition candi- date, 226; Democratic plurality, 171. In 1848 the Democrats polled 1487 votes, the Whigs 1254, and the Free Soilers gave Van Buren 745; Democratic plurality, 233. In 1852 the Democratic candidate, General Pierce, received 1824 votes, the Whig candidate, Major-General Scott, 1784, and the Abolitionists polled 440 votes; Democratic plurality, 38. In 1856, the first year of the Republican party's history, Fremont received 3495 and Mr. Buchanan 2151, and the Prohibition candidate 122; Republican majority over all, 1242. In 1860, Mr. Lincoln re- ceived 4072 votes, Mr. Douglas 2448, Breckinridge 45, and Bell 38; majority of Republicans over all, 1541. In 1864, Mr. Lincoln was indorsed for a second term by 3742 of the people, and General Mcclellan's supporters numbered 2521, and there was a single scattering vote in the county; Republican majority, 1220. In 1868, General Grant received 5048 votes, and Governor Seymour 3200; Re- publican majority, 1848. In 1872, General Grant was indorsed by 4487 of the people, and Mr. Greeley received 2353 votes, O'Conor 100, and Black 124; Re- publican majority over all, 1910. In 1876, Governor Hayes received 5167 votes, Governor Tilden 3885, and Mr. Cooper, the Greenback candidate, received 84 votes; Republican majority over all, 1198. In 1853 the Maine law, so called, was submitted to the people for rejection or adoption, and received the following vote in the county: for adoption, 2482; against, 727. At this election some in- dividual cast the following-inscribed ballot, to place himself squarely upon the record: "I go for the Maine law, for the extension of suffrage to white females, the abolishment of all penal laws for not keeping the Sabbath, for the distribution of the public lands to actual settlers, and for free trade, free schools, free speech, and universal taxation, in which church property shall find no exemption, and cowards' castles no legislative protection .- J. B." "J. B." looks a little Pick- wickian, and suggests "tough old Joe Bagstock" of Dickens. In 1850 the vote on the adoption of the new constitution stood 2340 in favor to 180 against it, and the clause on negro suffrage received 623 votes in favor of its adoption to 1834 against it.
The vote of 1876 by townships was as follows:
Republican. Democratic.
Cooper.
Total.
Albion.
.. 402
321
1
724
Athens.
.. 211
199
3
413
Bedford
189
76
35
300
Burlington ..
.204
200
5
409
Battle Creek township
175
83
4
262
Battle Creek city
898
491
15
1404
Convis.
.149
106
255
* Judge Emmons, of the United States court, lately deceased.
25
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Republican. Democratic.
Cooper.
Total.
Clarendon.
.. 193
103
2
298
Clarence ..
11
169
1
287
Eckford.
191
88
1
280
Emmett.
215
67
10
292
Fredonia.
104
142
246
Homer ..
245
211
465
Le Roy.
229
69
Lee.
89
182
1
272
Marengo ...
144
180
1 1
261
Marshall city
.455
550
1005
Newton.
130
78
208
Pennfield.
189
56
254
Sheridan ..
270
215
6
491
Tekonsha
.247
160
407
THE POPULATION
of the county of Calhoun by decades from 1840 is given as follows: commencing with a single family in 1831, the census of 1840 revealed a population of 10,600 souls. These souls had increased and multiplied during the next decade till they numbered 19,169 in 1850. Over 10,000 were added the next ten years, the count being 29,398 in 1860. In 1870 the people were numbered again, and there were 36,571 of them, of both sexes. In 1874 the State authorities could not find so many as the United States marshal did four years before, and returned but 35,655 of all kinds and colors. They were distributed among the townships and cities as follows:
Males.
Females.
Total.
Albion ..
.1304
1310
2614
Athens.
672
635
1307
Battle Creek township
514
472
986
Battle Creek city.
2527
2796
5323
Bedford.
692
664
1356
Burlington ..
792
732
1524
Clarence.
532
500
1032
Clarendon.
547
462
1009
Convis ...
519
422
941
Eckford.
594
547
1141
Emmett.
663
617
1280
Fredonia.
519
465
984
Homer.
922
850
1772
Lee
612
503
1115
Le Roy.
635
572
1207
Marengo ..
678
575
1253
Marshall township.
500
453
953
Marshall city.
2224
2399
4623
Newton.
465
426
891
Pennfield ....
580
530
1110
Sheridan.
877
810
1687
Tekonsha.
788
759
1547
18,156
17,499
35,655
CHAPTER IX.
EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS : THE FIRST SCHOOL-STATISTICS OF 1876- THE FIRST SERMON-FIRST RELIGIOUS SOCIETY-FIRST CHURCH-PIONEER PREACHERS-SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST COLLEGE.
WHEN the pioneers of Calhoun came to its borders, from their New York and New England homes, they brought their institutions and their household goods with them. As soon as a cabin had been rolled up for a shelter for the domestic treasures, and land sufficient cleared and broken up to assure them of an existence, their attention was turned towards the school-house and the church.
Education and religious worship ran parallel to each other in the early days, even as it does in these later ones. The motives that led to the settlement of America by Europeans are classified under three leading ideas,-the thirst of gold, exemplified in the Spanish conquest ; the cavalier's idea of living on the labors of others, that found expression in African slavery ; and the desire for education, upon which the Puritan idea of New England was founded. The latter has overthrown both of the others, and its precepts and practice are fast perme- ating the whole structure of American society. It is that idea, and its outgrowth, that has founded schools and built school-houses on almost every cross-road in Calhoun County, that has from a single log house in 1832 expanded into nearly two hundred brick and frame buildings, where twelve thousand pupils can be edu- cated from the very A B C of school instruction to the highest attainments of a classical course. And this advantage, enjoyed alike by every county in the State of sufficient population to warrant the outlay needful therefor, is largely the result of the labors of two of Calhoun's citizens, pioneers whom their fellow- pioneers have in times past delighted to honor, and for whose memories they have the loftiest sentiments of respect.
General Isaac E. Crary and Rev. John D. Pierce, pioneers of Marshall in 1831-32, are justly regarded as the fathers of the present school system of Mich- igan, because they worked together to digest a system, examining the eastern systems
and the Prussian plan of education, and together devised what appeared to be the best calculated to produce the desired results. General Crary, as chairman of the committee on education in the first constitutional convention, introduced the article on that subject, and it was adopted. One particular point was provided for which exhibited wisdom and foresight on the part of the framers of the article.
Provision was made, by Congress, for the State to assume control of the sixteenth sections donated by the general government for public school purposes in the town- ships, and also to control the donation of the seventy-two sections for college or seminary purposes. This was a wise precaution, especially in the former instance, for by so doing the lands were held until prices advanced, and a handsome endow- . ment was thus obtained for the common school. The people of Michigan cannot hold the memories of these two pioneers in too high esteem, nor reverence them". too much, for their grand work's sake.
The first school-house built in the county of Calhoun was a small frame build- ing erected on the street now known as Mansion street, in the city of Marshall, near the Presbyterian parsonage as now situated, in May, 1832, and which build- ing served for several years afterwards for a gathering-place for religious worship and secular meetings, and for holding courts and all kinds of public business. It stands now just in the rear of its first location, and is used as a stable. The first school-teacher was Eliza Ketchum, who is now deceased. It was not long after this before schools were opened in Albion, at Athens and Battle Creek; and before six years had rolled by, every one of the twenty townships of the county had one or more school-houses. The first brick school-house was built in Marshall, on Green street, and is still occupied. It was erected in or about 1840.
Academies sprang up in Marshall and Albion in 1839 and 1840, and the higher grades of instruction were brought within the reach of the people. It is safe to say that no county in the State possessed so cultivated and intelligent a class of pioneers as did Calhoun, and the effect is easily discernible forty years after- wards, in the most elegant high school buildings in Battle Creek and Marshall cities, the neat and commodious brick and frame structures scattered throughout the townships, and the Albion and Battle Creek colleges. There has ever been an air of refinement and culture about the old county, at once attractive and ele- vating to all "of like precious faith" who have come within its influence.
The school statistics for the year ending September 1, 1876, will give the con- trast, pleasing and striking, of the days that are now, and those that have been. We append them by townships, in order that the exhibit of each may be more fully seen.
Athens had seven frame school-houses, capable of seating four hundred and seventy-six persons, and valued at $5625; four hundred and six children of the requisite school age, between five and twenty years, were resident in the town- ship, of whom three hundred and sixty-four attended the schools, which were in session an average of seven and one-half months each. Six male teachers taught twenty-nine and one-half months, and received $1245 therefor ; and seven females taught thirty-two and one-half months, and received $690. The total expendi- tures amounted to $2788.54.
Albion had one stone, six brick, and three frame school-houses, with eight hundred and forty-four sittings, valued at $49,300; of nine hundred and thirty six children, eight hundred and two attended the schools, which were in session an average of over eight months each. Five male teachers received $1985 for twenty-five and one-half months' services; and twenty-two females, $3308 for one hundred and ten months. The total expenditures were $12,762.65, including $4240 paid on bonded indebtedness, of which $23,600 is still outstanding and unpaid. Albion village has a most excellent graded school, where the higher branches of literature are taught.
Bedford had one brick and eleven frame school-houses, with five hundred and ninety-four sittings, and valued at $12,200 ; of four hundred and ninety-four children, four hundred and four attended the schools,which were in session an average of eight months each. Seven male teachers received $1255 for thirty- three months' work, and twenty-five females received $1158 for sixty-six months ; the total expenditures being $3835.55, including $945 on indebtedness. .
Burlington had two brick and six frame school-houses, with five hundred and thirty-two sittings, valued at $8900; of four hundred and ninety-two children, four hundred and thirteen attended the schools, which were in session an average of eight months each. Six male teachers received $886 for twenty-three months' work, and fifteen females received $990 for fifty-six months; the total expenditures being $2588.88. One graded school in the township.
Battle Creek township had two brick and seven frame school-houses, with four hundred and ninety-seven sittings, valued at $8700 ; of three hundred and thirty- two children, two hundred and seventy-six attended the schools, which were in session an average of seven and one-half months. Six male teachers received $789 for twenty-three months' services, and thirteen females received $805 for forty-five months ; the total expenditures being $2489.30.
4
.121
139
302
324
Marshall township ...
26
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Clarendon had one log, one brick, and five frame school-houses,with three hun- dred and forty-nine sittings, valued at $2660 ; of thirty-five children, two hun- dred and ninety-seven attended the schools, which were in session an average of nine months each. Four male teachers received $480 for twenty-two months' work, and thirteen females for forty-six months received $813; the total expendi- tures being $2137.96.
Clarence had three brick and five frame school-houses, with six hundred and fifty-six sittings, valued at $10,400. Of four hundred and fifty-four children, three hundred and fifty-eight attended the schools, which were in session over seven and a half months each on an average. Four male teachers received $685 for sixteen months, and twelve females for forty-five months received $698 ; the total expenditures being $2950.31.
Convis had two brick and four frame school-houses, with two hundred and ninety- five sittings, valued at $3200. Of two hundred and ninety-nine children, two hundred and fifty attended the schools, which were in session an average of eight months each. Eleven females received for forty-seven and a half months' services $941; the total expenditures being $1169.26.
Emmett had two stone, one brick, and eight frame school-houses, with six hundred and forty sittings, valued at $14,100. Of four hundred and fifty-nine children, three hundred and ninety-four attended the schools, which were in session an average of eight months. Five male teachers received $1030 for twenty-six months' services, and seventeen females for seventy-three months received $1622; the total expenditures being $3329.97.
Eckford had one brick and eight frame school-houses, with three hundred and eighty-six sittings, valued at $6550. Of three hundred and forty-six children, two hundred and eighty-four attended the schools, whose sessions averaged seven and a half months. Eight male teachers received $840 for twenty-five and a half months' services, and fourteen females for forty-one and a half months received $682; the total expenditures being $2116.87.
Fredonia had eight frame school-houses, with three hundred and ninety sittings, valued at $4100. Of three hundred and fifteen children, two hundred and seventy- two attended the schools, whose sessions averaged seven and a half months. Five male teachers received $709 for nineteen months' work, and nine females for thirty-nine months received $660; the total expenditures being $1649.87.
Homer had one stone, one brick, and six frame school-houses, with six hundred and ninety-five sittings, valued at $14,500. Of six hundred and thirteen children, five hundred and twenty-one attended the schools, whose sessions averaged eight months each. Six male teachers received $1438 for twenty-nine months' work, and fifteen females for sixty-eight months received $1686; the total expenditures being $3998.69. One graded school in Homer village.
Lee had one log and seven frame school-houses, with four hundred and sixty-two sittings, valued at $3850. Of four hundred and forty children, three hundred and thirty-eight attended the schools, whose sessions averaged six and two-thirds months. Five male teachers received $366 for twelve months' work, and thirteen females for forty-two months received $807; the total expenditures being $1684.71.
Le Roy had eight frame school-houses, with four hundred and thirty-five sittings, valued at $4300. Of four hundred and sixty-eight children, three hundred and twenty-six attended the schools, whose sessions averaged seven and a half months each. Seven male teachers received for twenty-seven and a half months' services $904, and nine females for thirty-two and a half months received $520; the total expenditures being $1672.32.
Marshall township had seven school-houses, with three hundred and seventy-four sittings, valued at $5200. Of two hundred and thirty-five children, two hundred and twenty-four attended the schools, whose sessions averaged over eight months each. Five male teachers received $563 for twenty months' services, and nine females for forty-three months received $681; the total expenditures being $1497.63.
Marengo had three brick and six frame school-houses, with four hundred and sixty-two sittings, valued at $10,650. Of three hundred and ninety children, three hundred and thirty-five attended the sessions of the schools, which averaged eight months. Five male teachers received $825 for twenty-one months' services, and eleven females for fifty months received $1040 ; the total expenditures being $2783.69.
Newton had nine frame school-houses, with five hundred and fifty-six sittings, valued at $5675. Of three hundred and sixty-eight children, three hundred and eighteen attended the schools, whose sessions averaged over eight months. Seven male teachers received $823 for twenty-three months' services, and fourteen females for forty-two months received $679; the total expenditures being $1633.26.
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