USA > Michigan > Calhoun County > History of Calhoun county, Michigan : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 30
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This same year ocenrred perhaps as interesting an event as ever touched Marshall's village life, in that it proved nation wide in its effects. namely "The Crosswhite affair." The recounting of this has, very properly, been given by the granddaughter of the Mr. Gorham who bore so conspicuous a part in the event. March 7th, 1859, Marshall was organized into a city, with Chas. P. Dibble, mayor; Elias Hewitt, re- corder ; Jonas B. Conklin, treasurer.
During her thirty years of village life, Marshall had figured largely in the affairs of the state.
Mr. Sidney Ketchum, the founder of the town, the mighty moving power of all the financial matters of that early period, beeame hopelessly
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involved during the panic following the issuance of the specie circular by Andrew Jackson. He made a manly effort to retrieve his lost fortunes by buying and seeking real estate in New York city, but fortune frowned on him, and in his decrepitude and age he returned to the theater of his successes, to find a resting place for his weary body. He died September 16, 1862.
In closing the history of Marshall's village life I give a list of names of some of her citizens, who gave largely of themselves to community, state and nation.
In the bar were: Hon. J. Wright Gordon, ex-governor of Michigan and U. S. consul at Pernambuco; Hon. Edward Bradley, congress- man ; Judge Albert Pratt, cirenit and supreme judge and consul to Hono- lulu under Buchanan ; Judge Robert Cross; John Van Arman, the great criminal lawyer of Chicago; Hon. Parson Willard, ex-governor of In- diana; Geo. C. Gibbs, first reporter of the supreme court; Hon. Walter Hayes, congressman from Iowa; Gen. Isaac E. Crary, who, with Rev. John D. Pierce was the founder of the Michigan school system; Wm. P. Greenough, professor in Harvard college and publisher of Latin text books, and Hon. Thos. J. O'Brien, minister to Japan and later to Italy. Of other occupations and professions: Rev. J. D. Pierce, first superin- tendent of public instruction in the U. S .; Hon, Victory P. Collier, state treasurer; Hon. Chas. T. Gorham, minister to The Hague, afterward assistant secretary of the interior at Washington and acting secretary for a time under Grant and Hayes; Hon. Chas. Diekey, U. S. marshal ; Hon. Digby Bell, commissioner of the land offiee; Hon. Montgomery Gibbs, attache at the court of France; John P. Merrell, rear admiral U. S. N.
LANDMARKS OF MARSHALL By Amelia Frink Redfield .
I have been asked to write a brief paper on the landmarks of Marshall. These are not many, but are worth recording for the benefit of the sur- prisingly large number of people who seem to know nothing of our early history, or of the interesting events that have taken place in this old town.
Long ago the old log houses built by George Ketchum and his party in 1830, and the log honse of Dr. A. L. Hayes across the river have disappeared.
In 1831, Rev. John D. Pierce, a Congregational missionary, came and built a double log house on the lot where Mr. Manlius Perrett's house now stands. This was an important eenter, serving as meeting house and post office, but of this there are no remains.
The first frame house of any pretentions was that built by Isaac E. ('rary. Mr. Crary's second wife, in writing her recollections, says it was the first plastered house in the village. Here Jane Elizabeth Crary, daughter of Judge Horatio Hickok, died aged thirty-two years, her obituary appearing in the first issue of the Statesman, September 12, 1839. 1 have a copy of the obituary before me now and it is very quaint. The old house stood on the north side of Main street near
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the West End park until last year when it was removed. Part of it stands back of the double house of Mr. Hoeltzel. The Statesman is still running as a daily paper.
The first brick building in the county was the National hotel, still standing near the West End park and known as the Dean flats. This was opened January 1, 1836, by its proprietor, Andrew Mann, with a ball which was attended by people from miles around. Col. Mann also provided the dinner for the first Fourth of July celebration, in 1836. The table was graeed with roast pigs set every eight feet flanked front and rear with wine bottles. In 1835, Judge James Smith of Canan- daigna and Mr. Montgomery Schuyler came to Marshall together, and Judge Smith in writing of his experiences says: "At Detroit we and several other passengers took an open wagon called a stage and after jolting along two days and two nights, through mnd and swamps, on what was then known as the Territorial road we reached Marshall about sunset of a chilly autumnal day. The stage landed us at the only public house in the lower village (undoubtedly the National hotel) and the landlord met us at the door. On seeing the load of passengers dismount, instead of greeting us with a welcome, he began to storm about and exclaiming angrily that he wished 'every steam- boat on Lake Erie would burn up or sink.' He declared he did not want any more people to stop with him, for his women folks were worn ont already with extra work. Tired and hungry as we were, we were somewhat dismayed by this inhospitable demonstration and began to wonder where we could find food and shelter for the night. But some of the more experienced passengers pleaded with the irate landlord and presented our needy condition so persuasively that he finally con- sented to see what he could do for us, and after some delay a plain but plentiful supper was spread before us and in due time we were provided with heds which we occupied in couples."
Sidney Ketchum built in 1831 a log cabin on the lot where he afterwards built his brick house. Here he gave the first social party given in the county. Every person in the town was invited including babies, and most everyone attended. Mrs. A. L. Hayes, in writing of it later said: "It was a fine entertainment and the company were well appearing, and well dressed. It would not disgrace Marshall or any other town at the present day." In 1837, Mr. Ketehum built the first brick dwelling house in town. It was called the Mansion House and soon gave its name to the street on which it stood, Mansion street. This house is now the home of Mr. William J. Dibble. After Mr. Ketchum moved away this honse was used as a young ladies' seminary. I have a folder sent out in 1855 advertising the school.
"Young Ladies' Institute, Boarding and Day Sehool
"The Mansion House and ample grounds surrounding it, formerly owned by Sidney Ketehnm, Esq., have been purchased for the purpose of establishing a boarding and day school under the direction of Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Pierce, principals. The position of Marshall being a central point between Detroit and Chicago, renders it easy of
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access from all towns both east and west. Situated in one of the most beautiful and healthful towns in the west, amidst a society that has always been distinguished for its refined, elevated, and highly moral character this institution is most confidently eommended to public favor.'
Deacon Lord also put up a brick dwelling at the same time, and a very fine one it was for the day. This house is now owned by Mr. William Lewis and is situated on the corner of State and Mulberry streets.
The old school house that stood just east of the present home of Mr. Edgar G. Brewer was the scene of the first communion celebrated in the county. A two days' meeting was held by the Methodists, June 6 and 7. 1832, the Rev. Pilcher of the Tecumseh circuit had charge. The Congregational church was organized in 1832, by Rev. Pierce. At the first meeting May 20, twenty-five persons were in attendance. They met in the log school house as did also the Episcopalians later. In 1895, it was serving as a barn, but has since been removed.
From the time of the foundations of the town were laid it was ex- pected that Marshall would be the capital of the state. The bill fulfilling this pledge actually passed the senate by a majority of fourteen, but as is reported, by influenee it was thrown out of the lower house, de- feated by a majority of only two. We still have our Capitol hill in the southeastern part of town.
Stone Hall, at present the home of Mr. Wmn. F. Church, was one of the earliest houses built in town and is still one of the most beau- tiful homes. It was begun in 1837 by Dr. Andrew L. Hayes, the first physician of the county. The lumber was drawn from Allegan, and the stone taken from our celebrated sand stone quarry. Luther Hayes, who was the first white boy born in the county, died here in 1847, and Walter I. Hayes, afterward congressman from Iowa, was born here in 1841. In 1853, Walter Hayes begged his mother to write a poem about the house which she did; much of it is of intimate family affairs, but much is of local interest, though not a masterpiece as a poem. She says :
"There are many locust trees about the home we love From which we named the place, we call it 'Locust Grove.' The roof in front is supported by five pillars all of white, They form a pleasant portico where we often sit at night. The two parlors are in front with four windows to the floor Each opening on this portico and answering for a door. Thou hast played here in the deep shade when thy heart was full of glee Here too thon often sat upon thy father's knee, While he told thee of the olden times when the wolf and bear Roved over these plains and chased the timid deer. He told thee of the Indian, too, who gave the friendly hand To the white man, who ungrateful drove him from his land." Etc. etc.
The first brick bloek built in the village is now standing on Exchange street, back of the G. A. R. hall. It contained the first hardware store in the county. This was opened in 1836 by David Wallingford and Vol. 1-16
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Montgomery Schuyler, the latter afterwards dean of Christ Church cathedral in St. Louis, Missouri.
The Calhoun County Patriot, announced January 18, 1839 :
"Marshall Honse
"We have the pleasure of announcing to our friends abroad, and the travelling public that this large and elegant hotel has been com- pleted and on Saturday last was opened by Mr. W. L. Merrifield, with a sumptuous publie dinner." This hotel built by the Marshall House Company was most elaborately furnished, costing about $30,000.00. It surpassed at any time any hotel in the northwest and was a noted resort for years. It was originally quite a handsome building, with fluted columns, and balconies, and is said to have been planned by Mr. Upjohn, the architect of Trinity church of New York. One wing is still standing facing East End park and is occupied as a dwelling by Mrs. Belle Perrin.
During the winter of 1836-7 the few Episcopalians got together and the village was canvassed to ascertain what amount could be raised toward the building of a church. Lay services were being held in the old school house. The same spring the bishop of that diocese, Samuel McCoskry, visited Marshall and preached in the school house which was the second service of the church in the village. Dr. Schuyler writes, "That was a glad day for the little band of churchmen, when they were ready to present to the bishop a neat and tasteful church for consecration." When the new Episcopal church was built, 1861, the little church was taken by the German Lutherans and used by them for many years. It is now standing on IIamilton street and is used as a blacksmith shop. I have always understood that the marriage of Miss Bellona Pratt, danghter of Judge Abner Pratt, to Gen. Crary, was the first marriage to take place in the old church. Miss Pratt was the second wife of Gen. Crary and after his death became the second wife of Joseph C. Frink.
In June, 1836, Chauncey M. Brewer and Chas. T. Gorham arrived in Marshall and immediately opened a general store. In 1840, Mr. Gor- ham withdrew and went into the banking business, and Mr. Brewer continued with the store which is still run by his son, Edgar Brewer. This is the oldest continuous business in the town and probably in the county.
The first services of the Roman Catholic faith were held in 1837, when Father Morrisey came from Northfield to take charge of a funeral. After this he came six or eight times a year, by stage or on horseback to conduct services. No church was built until 1842. The first altar was obtained from Saint Ann's church in Detroit, then the cathedral. It is a valuable relic and is preserved in the chapel at St. Mary's cemetery.
The Presbyterian church was organized June 21, 1841, in the Marshall Academy, which stands at 53 High street, directly back of Mr. Clinton Cook's residence. Rev. Elias Child acted as moderator, and James P. Greaves as clerk, with thirty-eight members from the
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Congregational church as charter members. For some time church services were held in the court house that stood in the city park. In 1842, Jabez Fiteh built a brick colonial church on Main street. This the society bought after Mr. Fitch's death and used it until the present edifice was built in 1872. It was too bad that the old building was torn down as it was quaint and pretty. It is perhaps a sign of progress to desire something better than we have had before but it has its un- pleasant side if we judge from a sentimental point of view.
The Colonial house, now owned and occupied by Mr. Charles E. Gorham, was built about 1840, by Jabez Fitch of New York. It is said to have been designed by Richard Upjohn the noted New York architect. Mr. Charles T. Gorham bought the place in 1851 and it was the scene of many gaieties; every governor of the state down to Pingree was en- tertained in the house as well as Charles Tappan, first president of the university of Michigan, Dorothea Dix, Senator Chandler, W. A. Howard, Hon. E. B. Washburn, ambassador to France, Hon. John M. Francis, ambassador to Austria and Greece, IIon. Thomas O'Brien, present ambassador to Rome, and many others. In 1861 the first mili- tary company raised in town, Company I, First Infantry, was enter- tained by Mr. and Mrs. Gorham at a lawn party. Devillo Hubbard was captain, Selden Gorham was first lieutenant. Mrs. Gorham presented each man with a Testament as a parting gift. At the west side of the place near the front entrance is a large oak tree under which Rev. John Pierce and General Crary were wont to sit on a log and disenss their plans for a school system. They were both educated men interested in educational affairs and conversant with the best systems at that time in use in the world. Mr. Crary, as chairman of the committee on eduea- tion in the first constitutional convention (1835) introduced the artiele relating to education which was adopted by Gen. Crary's suggestion to Governor Mason. Rev. Pierce was made superintendent of public instruction, the first one in the United States. This system as adopted was much in advance of the thought of the day and no commonwealth makes provision more broad or thorough for the general education of the people. The newer states of the union have been glad to follow the example of Michigan. Gen. Crary and Rev. Pierce are both buried in our beautiful Oakridge cemetery, the grave of the latter being marked with a simple shaft given by the school children of Michigan. Another interesting monument is that over the grave of Isaac Newton Hurd, the first person to die in the town. He was buried on his own land near the river. After the Marshall cemetery on Oak Ridge was opened in 1839, his body was moved, as was that of Mrs. Pierce and others. The inseription on his monument says: "Erected to the memory of Isaac N. Hurd, who was born at Arlington, Vermont, September 4, 1804, and died at this place of cholera, July 21, 1832.
" Early and sudden was Newton's fate Severe and awful death his visit paid, His thoughts went forth to meet him on his way . And Gayety forgot it was to die."
During the winter of 1847, there stood on the property now owned by Mrs. Marvin Ferguson, a humble dwelling. A colored family named
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Crosswhite occupied the house. Adam Crosswhite was born in Bourbon, Kentucky, October 17, 1799. His father was under the laws of the state his master, his mother being at the time of his birth, a slave. At an early age, Adam was given to his half sister as a servant. Miss Crosswhite afterward married Ned Stone, a notorious slave dealer, who if not the original Simon Legree, of "Uncle Tom's cabin," might have been, so similar were his life and character to those so graphically por- trayed by Mrs. Stowe. Stone retained possession of the boy for a time and then sold him to a man named Troutman for $200.00. When twenty years of age the boy was traded off to one Frank Giltner, with whom he stayed until forty-five years of age. At that time he was married and had seven children. Becoming aware that Giltner was going to sell part of his family he watched his opportunity, obtained a skiff and with his family pushed off for Madison. There he was received by the under- ground railroad managers and sent north. Crosswhite's experiences in reaching Michigan might be written into an interesting book. In Marshall he was known as a quiet, industrions man. Early in the winter of 1846 there came to Marshall a young man, who represented himself to be a lawyer in search of business, but in fact was Giltner's representative in identifying his fugitive slaves, and planning their recapture. He did his work well through artifice and with the help of aid which he hired in Marshall, but he did not succeed in perfectly concealing his plans. The abduction was finally attempted, early on the morning of January 27. 1847. Crosswhite saw their approach and succeeded in giving an alarm. Though there was no violence the crowd gave the men to under- stand that they would not allow the slaves to be taken. Finally Trout- man met the remonstrances with a demand for their name. One of them replied, "Charles T. Gorham, write it in capital letters." Another replied, "Oliver Cromwell Comstock, Jr. Take it in full so that my father will not be held responsible for what I do." Another was Jarvis Hurd. These were well known citizens of pecuniary responsibilities. Later in the day George Ingersoll took the family to Jackson in a wagon and sent them on the cars to Canada. In a few days the Kentuckians returned to their state which was soon aflame with wrath at this "North- ern outrage." Finally the state made an appropriation for the prose- cution of all concerned in the escape of the Crosswhites. Troutman returned to Michigan in the summer of 1847 and brought action to recover the value of the rescued slaves in the United States conrt against a large number of defendants. The case as tried was practically a prosecution of Messrs. Gorham, Comstock and Hurd. The trial lasted three weeks, and the jury disagreed. In 1848 the second trial began. Prominent Democratie politicians went to Mr. Gorham, who at that time was a Democrat, and declared they were personally friendly to him, but they wanted the case to go against the defendants. Lewis Cass was candidate for President, and the politicians wanted at that particular time, as they expressed it, the South to understand that Detroit and Michigan sympathized with the slave-holding element. The case came to trial, was ably defended by Judge H. H. Enfinons, J. F. Joy and Theodore Romeyne. After a hard-fought struggle the case was decided as Cass wanted it to be, for the slave hunters. The defendants were
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required to pay about $1,000.00 and costs. Henry Clay took the case into the senate and there advocated the necessity of a more stringent fugitive slave law. The "riotons scenes ( ?)" enacted near the humble cabin of Crosswhite, received national consideration. History tells the rest. Mr. Clay took a personal interest in this matter as the Giltner and Clay plantations were near each other. The result of Clay's effort was the passing of the fugitive slave law. After the trial the Cross- whites returned to Marshall. Living in Battle Creek a few years ago was an old negro bootblack, Ben Crosswhite, who, when asked, "What did you have to do with the war?" would reply, "I was the cause of de war."
THE CHOLERA SCOURGE AT MARSHALL ( 1832)
The worst scourge that ever visited Calhonn county came suddenly and unexpectedly in the summer of 1832. On the morning of July 20, the little settlement at Marshall was startled by the report that Isaac N. Ilurd, one of the founders of the village, was sick with the cholera. At noon on the 19th, he moved among his fellow pioneers in the fullness of health and strength. At sunset on the 20th, after an illness of twenty hours, he was dead. A coffin was hastily constructed and a grave dug. Under a murky sky and through a gently falling rain, . guided by the flickering light of rude torches, men bore his body in silence and laid it to rest in the first grave that opened in Calhoun county to receive the white man's dead. One after another was stricken with the dreadful malady until every house had its sick and every family its dead.
In this time of ealamity, among those sought to relieve the sick and comfort the dying was the wife of Mr. John D. Pierce, a Congregational missionary. She was a refined and cultured woman who had come less than a year before with her husband and two small children to share in the labor and the honor of laying the foundations of a new civiliza- tion in intelligence, morality and religion. Returning weary and faint after ministering to the sick, she was seized almost at once by the fatal disease. All night long, the anxious husband stood a lonely vigil by the side of the suffering wife, ministering to her wants as best he could, while in the same room the babes slept, all uneonscious that death with hurrying step was coming to lay his icy hand upon their mother. Just as morning drew back the eurtain of the night, the gentle spirit took its departure and the husband without food or rest began at once, with his own hands, to prepare the body for its burial, while his uncared for babes cried for the mother whose ears eould no longer hear their call, nor hands labor to relieve their wants. While two others lay in an adjoining room suffering agonies peculiar to the disease, the body of Mrs. Pierce, without religious form or ceremony, was borne to the grave that waited to receive it.
Among others in the community, were three brothers from Kentucky. One of these fell mortally ill and the other two, after making hurried arrangements for his burial, mounted their horses and fled from the com- munity, never to return. Children and youth and parents, all felt its blighting touch. The school house was turned into a hospital for the
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sick and the hillside into a graveyard for the dead. Some left the stricken community in the flight of fear and terror; others bearing back to eastern homes and friends the children bereft of father or mother or both. For weeks, the pall of gloom hung over the stricken community and for years, conversation was hushed as its frightful memories were recalled.
In Athens township, the ravages of the same disease struck terror to the bravest hearts in that new and growing settlement. There, the lives of five in a single family, father, mother and three sisters, went out with startling suddenness. Exaggerated reports of the conditions in Marshall and Athens spread through all the regions around about and in all of these, brave men and courageous women waited with fear and trembling, not knowing when, or where, or to whom the dread specter might appear. It is still regarded as the gloomiest period in the history of the county.
MARSHALL BANKS
The first bank in Calhoun county was chartered in 1836. It was located in Marshall and was capitalized at $100,000.00. Sidney Ketchum was president and George S. Wright, cashier. It closed its doors Sep- tember 15, 1840, and ceased to do business. This bank was started in the days when the rivalry between the east and west end, or "upper town" and "lower town" as the two sections were called, was intensc. The business men of the town having determined that Marshall ought to have a bank, it became a very live question as to where the institu- tion should be located. Dr. Hayes, S. Camp, S. S. Alcott, Charles D. Smith, with other prominent "west end" citizens felt they ought to have the say as to location. The books were opened at the National House and the stock was being subscribed very quietly but very generally by the west enders, and everything seemed to be going as they wished. Towards evening, however, and just before the closing of the books, George Ketchum of the "east end" came in, and taking up the book, looked it over, after which he took his seat and began to subscribe for himself and friends various amounts of stock and to pay into the hat, the receptacle for the first installment, the five per cent of the subscrip- tion demanded on the same. The subscriptions grew apace and the money accumulated in the hat until the west enders saw the Ketchums, Sidney and George, with their adherents getting control of the stock, whereupon Smith seized the book at the same time Ketchum reached for the deposits, which he succeeded in retaining, and the organization of the bank was temporarily delayed. Later the matter was compromised by the Ketchums securing a controlling interest, a bank building was erected just inside the line of the plat of the lower village where in due time the Calhoun county bank opened for business.
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