USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > History of Detroit and Wayne County and early Michigan: A Chronological Cyclopedia of the Past and Present, Vol. I > Part 103
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During this same period Rev. Mr. Rainsford, of New York, conducted a series of noon meetings at St. Paul's P. E. Church, and also held other services some of them being highly interesting and largely attended.
CHAPTER LXVII.
POVERTY, AND ITS RELIEF. - THE POOR COMMISSION .- CITY PHYSICIANS. - THE COUNTY POOR.
POVERTY, AND ITS RELIEF.
THE first settlers were mostly poor, but for many years pauperism was unknown. The pluck that inspired the coming to a wilderness, and the vigi- lance which a residence in such wilds demanded, precluded that supineness of which poverty is born. True, there were times of trial and seasons of dis- tress; crops failed, and more than once gaunt famine hovered about the palisades of Pontchar- train. Such times, however, were only incidental. Game and grain were usually plentiful, and the few families who dwelt here ate their own bread and asked no alms of strangers. Not until the Yankees came did "beggars come to town," and then not because the Yankees set the example of begging, but because upon their advent the population in- creased, and as towns grow, beggars multiply.
The relieving of the poor enlisted the attention of the Governor and Judges soon after the Northwest Territory was organized. By act of November 6, 1790, the Court of Quarter Sessions appointed one or more overseers of the poor for each township, and old records show the appointment in 1801, for the township of Detroit, of Jacques Girardin ; James May, Robert Guoin, and Gabriel Godfroy were appointed in 1803; Joseph Campau was appointed in place of Guoin in December, 1803, and reap- pointed in 1804.
In 1806 the sum of twenty-five dollars was appro- priated by the Governor and Judges for the support of the poor in Detroit.
By law of March 30, 1827, each township was authorized to elect two overseers of the poor. On October 29, 1829, each township was authorized to elect five directors of the poor, and the office of township overseer was to terminate after April, 1830. By Act of February 26, 1831, the plan of one director for each township was revived, and in March the following was appended to the notice of an election :
Immediately after closing the polls, a tax will be voted for the maintenance and support of the poor of Detroit for the ensuing year.
At this time the city marshal acted as the almoner of the city, and from time to time small sums were placed in his hands for distribution.
On March 14, 1840, the council appointed a com- mittee to contract with the superintendent of the county poor for the support of city paupers at eighteen cents each per day. The Council Pro- ceedings for 1847 and 1848 show that when occasion demanded, it was customary for the aldermen to vote such sums as they deemed necessary for the support of the poor. The office of city director of poor dates from Acts of April 23, 1833, and March 7, 1834, which conferred upon the council the power to do for the poor what under the State law the county directors were required to do. Up to Feb- ruary 21, 1849, the officer was appointed by the council; after that date he was elected. Under the ordinance of January 14, 1862, the director adver- tised for proposals, and bids were received from various persons for furnishing groceries, meat, flour, and wood. Under ordinance of December 14, 1869, the poormaster gave orders for needed articles upon stores in different parts of the city. Orders amounting to $17,323 were given on about two hundred different stores in 1878; the wood bill for the same year amounted to $3,760. The amount given at any one time to the same per- son, or the total amount given to the same person or family in a given length of time, was entirely discretionary with the director of the poor; his orders on the stores were paid monthly by the city treasurer. That this discretionary power was not always wisely exercised is evident from the report of a committee of the Common Council made in April, 1870; it shows that of 1,236 families who received provisions in February of that year, 400 could not be found, and 223 were unworthy; wood was also reported to have been delivered to 120 different families that could not be found.
Under the ordinance in force in 1879 it was the duty of the director, when applied to for relief by or for any person, to investigate the case, and if such person were not in a condition to be removed to the county poorhouse, temporary relief might be given. In case of the death of persons with- out means, the director had power to give orders on the city sexton for their burial, and in 1877, 333 paupers were thus buried. In all cases of relief granted, whether from public funds, or
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THE POOR COMMISSION.
from funds or articles furnished by individuals, it was the duty of the director of the poor to enter in a book the name of the person receiving aid, the name and number of street he lived on, also the number of his ward, with the kind and amount of relief furnished, and names of the persons on whom the orders were drawn; all of which information was open to the inspection of the public, and re- ported monthly to the council. It was also the duty of the director, within ten days after the monthly report was made, to furnish lists of the persons re- lieved, arranged by wards, with their residences, to the city clerk, and the clerk was to cause not over one hundred copies to be printed, and placed at the disposal of the aldermen. In 1877 5,000 persons, representing 1,250 families, were relieved, and the total expenditure by the city for the support of the poor in that year was $37,284. Add to this the salaries of the city physicians, $2,400, the cost of the general vaccination of that year, $4,000, and the city's proportion of the expenditures by the county in behalf of the poor, and we have a total of nearly $80,000 paid by Detroit in 1877 for the ben- efit of the poor, in addition to the thousands of dollars expended through private charitable organi- zations.
The salary of the director was $1,600, and his term of office two years. A deputy director was also appointed yearly, with a salary of $1,200. The office ceased on the creation of the Poor Com- mission. Following is a list of superintendents and directors :
City Superintendents of Poor : 1827, S. Conant, Levi Cook; 1828, Levi Cook, D. C. Mckinstry ; 1829, D. C. Mckinstry, Cullen Brown.
Directors of Poor: 1830, Robert Smart, James Abbott, Jerry Dean, S. Conant, J. J. Deming; 1831, J. J. Garrison, James T. Penny; 1832, S. Conant, A. S. Porter ; 1833, H. M. Campbell; 1835, A. C. Caniff, J. Eldred ; 1837, Robert Stuart ; 1838, S. Conant; 1839, Robert Stuart; 1840, J. J. Garri- son, G. Paull; 1841, D). W. Fiske; 1842-1843, H. Newberry, Francis Cicotte; 1844-1847, Mason P'almer; 1847, William Cook; 1848-1849, A. C. Powell, G. W. Hooper; 1850-1862, L. B. Willard; 1862-1866, W. V. James; 1866-1870, L. B. Willard ; 1870-1872, Stephen Martin; 1872-1878, L. B. Wil- lard; 1878-1880, W. V. Kies.
THE POOR COMMISSION.
The Poor Commission was created by Act of May 31, 1879, and did away with the offices of director of poor and city sexton. The board consists of four persons nominated by the mayor and appointed by the council, who serve without compensation. Under Act of May 20, 1881, the board appoints its own officers.
The first commissioners were appointed for terms of one, two, three, and four years. Since 1880 one has been appointed each year for a term of four years. Under the laws and ordinances governing the Board, its members are authorized to co-operate with charitable societies and the county superin- tendents of the poor. If any person needing help has resided less than a year in the city, the relief extended is paid for out of the county treasury. By Act of April 10, 1883, the power to relieve all such county poor is lodged with the Poor Commission of Detroit. They have power to purchase and contract for all needful supplies for the poor, also to receive and distribute voluntary donations; they contract for the care of the sick poor, and have charge of the burial of those that die; they may procure railroad tickets for such paupers as wish permanently to leave the city or county. All sick or other poor requiring permanent support are, if possible, moved to the county poorhouse. The commissioners are required to keep a detailed record, alphabetically arranged, showing nationality, age, sex, condition, place and length of residence in city of each applicant for relief, together with a statement of cause of destitution, usual avocation, and the kind and amount of relief afforded.
The expenditures during the first seventeen months of the exis ence of the commission, ending June 30, 1881, were $32,608. The chief items were: orders on groceries, $9,966; provisions furnished, $5,650; railroad fares paid, $264; wood, $4,854; care of sick poor, $5,880; burial of poor, $1,430; 1,648 families, including 6,022 persons, were relieved.
The report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, showed that aid had been given to 1,146 families, or 3,743 persons. The value of the pro- visions distributed was $15, 108.75; of wood, 92412 cords were supplied. The total expenditures for the year were $34,826.94.
In furtherance of their work, on December 13, 1880, the commissioners opened a store in Firemen's Hall, from which they supplied various articles of food to persons in need. The store was closed on March 26, 1881, and they returned to the old plan of giving orders on grocers. These orders may be presented at any grocery ; but a printed notice on the order forbids the delivering of liquors, or of any articles except flour, potatoes, sugar, bread, tea, coffee, meal, rice, lard, soap, beans, fish, candles, oil, and matches. The amount and price of each article must be noted on the order, and certified to by the grocer.
The office of the commission was at first located in the City Hall, but in November, 1881, it was moved to the New Market Building.
The commissioners have been: 1880, Thomas Berry, A. W. Copland, Henry Heames, and Joseph B. Moore.
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CITY PHYSICIANS.
1881, T. Berry, H. Heames, J. B. Moore, E. Kan- ter ; 1882-1884 W. K. Muir, H. Heames, E. Kanter, J. B. Moore; 1884-1886, W. K. Muir, H. Heames, J. B. Moore, S. Heavenrich ; 1886, H. Heames, J. B. Moore, F. K. Walker, S. Heavenrich; 1887, J. B. Moore, F. K. Walker, S. Simon, W. V. James. P. H. Dwyer, secretary, and John F. Martin, superin- tendent, have served from 1879.
CITY PHYSICIANS.
The first intimation of the existence of this office is found in the Proceedings of the Council for May II, 1829; because of fear of small-pox, the follow- ing resolution was passed :
Resolved, that the gratuitous services of the medical gentle- men of the city be respectfully solicited in behalf of our citizens whose pecuniary circumstances render them objects of their benevolence.
In 1837 there was another "small-pox scare," and Doctors Russel, Rice, Cowles, and Breckenridge were appointed to vaccinate the poor at the expense of the city.
An Act of February 21, 1849, provided for the election of one city physician each year. By the charter of 1857 the council was given the power of appointment, and in May of that year the number of city physicians was increased from one to four. By ordinance of January 31, 1860, the city was divided into three districts, and one physician ap- pointed for each district at a salary of $300. An ordinance of January 9, 1874, provided for increas- ing the number of districts and physicians to six ; and on an order from the mayor, the director of the poor, or an alderman, it was their duty to attend the sick poor in their respective districts. An ordi- nance of January 14, 1879, divided the districts as follows : First District, Wards Ten and Thirteen ; Second District, Wards Six and Eleven; Third Dis- trict, Wards Four and Seven; Fourth District, Wards One, Two, and Three; Fifth District, all of Wards Eight, Nine, and Twelve lying south of Michigan Avenue; Sixth District, Ward Five, and all of Wards Eight, Nine, and Twelve lying north of Michigan Avenue.
The physicians were required to furnish all medi- cines for the poor at their own expense, and when requested by the Common Council were to examine into and report all sources of danger to health in their several districts; and under ordinance of 1863, it was their duty to vaccinate without charge any person applying to them. On making affidavit at the end of each quarter that all persons who called for that purpose had been vaccinated, they were entitled to $12.50 per quarter in addition to their regular salary, which was determined yearly by the council. In 1877, under a general plan of
vaccination, the six city physicians reported that between June 29 and July 17 they had vaccinated 6,054 persons.
Under ordinance approved May 31, 1882, the dis- trict system was abolished, and provision was made for two physicians for the entire city, to be ap- pointed by the Board of Aldermen on the second Tuesday of June in each year. The charter of 1883 provided that the city physicians should be appointed by the Board of Councilmen on nomina- tion of the Board of Health. The appointees are required to have a regular diploma from a respect- able medical collage, with five years' experience as a physician, and to give their whole time to the city patients. An office assistant is also provided, who, in the year ending June 30, 1884, filled 8,070 pre- scriptions and prescribed for 2,148 cases. The out-door physicians made 6,551 calls.
The city physicians have been: 1842 and 1843, J. H. Bagg; 1844, C. N. Ege; 1845 and 1846, H. Lemcke; 1847, Z. Pitcher; 1848-1851, L. H. Cobb ; 1851-1853, J. B. Scovel; 1853, P. Klein; 1854, E. P. Christian; 1855-1857, J. B. Scovel ;
1857. District I, W. Cowan; District 2, C. R. Case ; District 3, S. M. Axford; District 4, J. B. K. Mignault.
1858. District 1, William Cowan; District 2, C. R. Case; District 3, S. M. Axford ; District 4, Robert Mullaney.
1859. District 1, I. M. Allen; District 2, L. Davenport ; District 3, E. Lauderdale ; District 4, H. Kiefer.
1860. District 1, Ira M. Allen ; District 2, Louis Davenport ; District 3, Edward Lauderdale ; Dis- trict 4, Wm. J. Cranage.
1861. District I, Chas. H. Barrett; District 2, Caspar Schulte; District 3, F. W. Sparling ; Dis- trict 4, Dwight D. Stebbins.
1862. District 1, I. M. Allen and J. M. Alden; District 2, Edward Schroeder ; District 3, C. R. Case; District 4, R. Mullaney.
1863. District 1, L. H. Cobb; District 2, Nich- olas Pfeiffer and P. Klein; District 3, C. R. Case ; District 4, R. Mullaney.
1864. District I, L. H. Cobb ; District 2, Edward Kane; District 3, J. M. Alden; District 4, Davis Henderson.
1865. District I, L. H. Cobb; District 2, 'E. Schroeder ; District 3, J. M. Alden ; District 4, R. Mullaney.
1866 and 1867. District 1, Henry Newland; District 2, E. Schroeder ; District 3, Davis Hender- son ; District 4, R. Mullaney.
1868. District I, Henry F. Lyster ; District 2, C. H. Barrett ; District 3, C. Schulte ; District 4, Wm. A. Chandler.
1869. District I, H. F. Lyster ; District 2, F. X.
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THE COUNTY POOR.
Spranger ; District 3, C. Schulte ; District 4, W. A. Chandler.
1870. District 1, John M. Bigelow; District 2, Andrew Borrowman ; District 3, Peter P. Gilmartin ; District 4, Elisha Leach.
1871. District I, H. F. Lyster; District 2, John Flinterman ; District 3, Wm. H. Lathrop; Dis- trict 4, W. A. Chandler,
1872. District 1, H. F. Lyster ; District 2, J. Flinterman ; District 3, H. E. Smith ; District 4, William G. Cox.
1873. District I, Joseph C. Ferguson ; District 2, Alonzo Harlow ; District 3, Henry O. Walker ; Dis- trict 4, R. A. Jamieson.
1874. District I, Harris A. Goodwin ; District 2, A. Harlow ; District 3, J. C. Ferguson ; District 4, H. O. Walker; District 5, Hamilton E. Smith ; District 6, R. A. Jamieson.
1875. District 1, H. A. Goodwin; District 2, A. Harlow; District 3, J. C. Ferguson ; District 4, H. E. Smith ; District 5, Theo. F. Kerr; District 6, Chas. Ewers.
1876. District I, H. A. Goodwin; District 2, J. P. Corcoran ; District 3, J. J. Mulheron ; District 4. G. A. Foster ; District 5, T. V. Law ; District 6, Chas. Ewers.
1877. District 1, Chas. F. Herzog ; District 2, C. Schulte ; District 3, Augustus Kaiser ; District 4, Geo. A. Foster ; District 5, Geo. W. Montgomery ; District 6, Edward Lichty.
1878. District I, A. F. Hoke; District 2, John Georg ; District 3, A. Kaiser; District 4, Wm. A. McDonald ; District 5, Albert G. Bissell ; District 6, E. Lichty.
1879. District I, J. W. Monaghan ; District 2, O. P. Eaton; District 3, G. Jacobs ; District 4, H. E. Smith ; District 5, A. Harlow ; District 6, J. J. Mulheron.
1880. District 1, F. Kuhn; District 2, G. Jacobs ; District 3, O. P. Eaton; District 4, T. V. Law; District 5, H. E. Smith ; District 6, R. A. Jamieson.
1881. District 1, F. Kuhn; District 2, J. G. Johnson; District 3, A. Thuener; District 4, T. V. Law; District 5, W. Chaney; District 6, R. A. Jamieson.
1882. E. J. McPharlin, Ferdinand Kuhn; C. P. Frank, assistant.
1883. W. Chaney, G. D. Stewart; C. P. Frank, assistant.
1884. G. D. Stewart, E. A. Parkinson, C. P. Frank.
1885. G. D. Stewart, S. H. Goodwin, C. P. Frank.
1886. S. H. Goodwin, C. P. Frank, Joseph Schulte.
1887. Schulte.
Alonzo Bryan, F. D. Heisordt, Joseph
THE COUNTY POOR.
Under Michigan Territory, by law of October 8, 1805, on notice to three justices of the peace that a person was poor and incapable of self-support, they, as constituting the Court of Quarter Ses- sions, were authorized to direct the marshal to con- tract for the support of such person at a cost not exceeding twenty-five cents a day. By Act of February 1, 1809, the judges of the district courts were authorized to appoint three overseers of the poor for each district. In 1817 the poor were again placed in care of the Court of Quarter Sessions, with provisions similar to those of the Act of 1805. On February 17, 1824, an act was passed giving the county commissioners the care of the poor, and under their direction the sheriff was to advertise yearly for proposals for the care of paupers. By Act of June 23, 1828, the Board of Supervisors was empowered to appoint three directors of the poor for the county, and by Acts of July 22, 1830, and March 7, 1834, the Board of Supervisors was given power to appoint one or more superintendents of the poor. Under the Revised Statutes of 1838 the county commissioners were authorized to appoint three superintendents of the poor, to hold office one year, and to have the general superintendence of the county poor and the poorhouse. The Act of March 11, 1844, which created the Board of Audi- tors, authorized the appointment of three superin- tendents of the poor yearly for terms of three years each. An Act of 1885 provides that three superin- tendents of the poor, and the Board of Poor Com- missioners of Detroit, shall jointly constitute a board to care for the poor of the county. They are charged with the care of the county asylum, the poorhouse and farm ; with the control of those who are sent there; and of the sick poor sent to hospitals or State asylums. They are expected to pay weekly visits to the poorhouse and the asylum, and to constantly provide for and supervise the management of both institutions. From time to time they contract with various hospitals for the care of the sick poor, the usual price being about $3.50 per week. The total expense of caring for the sick, poor, and insane in 1870 was $33,523 ; and for the year ending September 30, 1887. $63,176, of which $25,762 was expended for provisions ; there were also used provisions raised on the farm valued at $7,317, The superintendents are paid $50 each per month.
If a poor person has lived in the county less than a year he is deemed a county pauper, and the whole county is chargeable for his support. If he has lived longer than a year in any part of the county, the township or city where he resides is under obli- gations to take care of him.
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648
THE COUNTY POOR.
The county superintendents of the poor have been :- 1838-1841, James Hanmer, Ammon Brown, W. B. Hunt ; 1841-1843, W. S. Gregory, S. H. Aldrich, James Hanmer ; 1843-1845, James Han- mer, Morrison Swift, W. G. Porter, T. J. Owen (part of term) ; 1845, Titus Dort, Peter Desnoyers, Ammon Brown; 1846, Charles Peltier, Ammon Brown, James Bucklin; 1847, C. Peltier, J. Bucklin, Warren Tuttle; 1848, C. Peltier, W. Tuttle, Elijah Hawley, Jr .; 1849, W. Tuttle, Ira M. Hough, C. Peltier ; 1850, C. Peltier, Ira M. Hough, E. Hawley, Jr. ; 1851, D. A. A. Ensworth, E. Hawley, Jr., J. Shearer ; 1852, C. Peltier, E. Hawley, Jr., I. M. Hough; 1853, Hugh O'Beirne, I. M. Hough, R. P, Clark ; 1854-1857, F. W. Hughes, I. M. Hough, R. P. Clark ; 1857-1860, James Safford, M. T. Lane, Titus Dort ; 1860, J. Safford, M. T. Lane, D. Sackett ; 1861-1863, M. T. Lane, S. W. Walker. T. T. Lyon ; 1863, R. D. Hill, S. W. Walker, T. T. Lyon ; 1864, T. T. Lyon, B. Hodgkinson, A. Sheley; 1865-1869, B. Hodgkinson, William Daly, A. Ives ; 1869-1871, B. Hodgkinson, William Dyson, William Daly ; 1871-1873, William Dyson, E. Visger, B. Hodgkinson; 1873-1875, J. A. Patrick, W. Dyson, E. Visger ; 1875, J. A. Patrick, A. Ives, J. R. Hosie ; 1876, J. A. Patrick, J. R. Hosie, J. W. Keith ; 1877, M. Dunn, J. W. Keith, N. P. Thayer; 1878-1879, N. P. Thayer, M. Dunn, Jacob Guthard ; 1880, M. Dunn, J. Guthard, J. C. McDonald ; 1881-1882, M. Dunn, J. C. McDonald, D. Shanahan ; 1883, J. J. Vrooman, M. Dunn, D. Shanahan ; 1884, J. J. Vrooman, D. Shanahan, G. M. Henry ; 1885, J. J. Vrooman, G. M. Henry, P. Blake ; 1886, G. M. Henry, P. Blake, A. Mitchie ; 1887, H. Horner, P. Blake, A. Mitchie.
County Poorhouse.
The first record concerning a poorhouse in Wayne County is found in an Act of June 23, 1828, author- izing the people to vote, on the first Monday of July, on the question of erecting a building. The vote was against its erection : many persons, how- ever, deemed such an institution a necessity, and by Acts of July 22, 1830, and March 3, 1831, the Board of Supervisors was authorized to build.
On September 22, 1830, a meeting of citizens of Detroit was held, and a resolution passed in favor of the project. Messrs. H. M. Campbell, S. Conant, and D. French were appointed a committee on site and plan, and in October, 1831, the Board of Super- visors appointed a committee to contract for a build- ing. This committee proving negligent, on March 8, 1832, a new resolution was passed to purchase land for a poor-farm, the expenditure for land and building not to exceed $1,200. In accordance with this resolution, on March 27, 1832, about seventeen acres were purchased at a cost of $200. The land
was on the east side of the Leib Farm, and fronted on the Gratiot Road.
On October 4, 1832, a contract was made with D. French to erect a house for $950. His contract was duly fulfilled, he was paid on December 31, 1832, and-remarkable fact-the entire cost of land and building was $50 less than the amount appro- priated. The building was a wooden structure, long and low. On January 5, 1833, J. P. Cooley was appointed keeper.
While these preparations were going on, that fearful scourge, the Asiatic cholera, was hovering over the city. In the season of 1832 it began its work, and in 1834 carried death and sorrow to many households ; nearly fifty children were made orphans, many of whom were sent to the poor- house. Moved with pity for their condition, on March 8, 1833, the Sisters of Charity, through Bishop Rèse, applied to the Board of Supervisors, asking to be put in charge of the county house, as most of the parents of the children had been of their faith. A contract was at once entered into with them, with the privilege of revoking it at any time. Under this contract, in July, 1834. Rev. Martin Kundig, the German Roman Catholic priest, who had won golden opinions from all sects by his assiduous labors in behalf of the victims of the cholera, was installed as superintendent. In March, 1836, he contracted to take care of the poor for sixteen cents per day each, but as provisions were very high, and as he was compelled to take his pay in county warrants, he lost much money. In 1837 he agreed to care for the poor at twenty-two cents each per day. During the summer there were from 80 to 100 inmates in the poorhouse, with an average of sixty confined to their beds. At the close of this year he was again compelled to take his pay in warrants, as the county had nothing else to give him, and on these he lost from 40 to 60 per cent.
Appreciating the value of his services to the State, the Legislature of 1837 voted him $3,000, but this did not make up his losses. The next year he had charge of three hundred persons, and was obliged to feed and clothe them without the aid of a dollar of current money from the county. This so embar- rassed him that his personal property was seized and sold at auction.
On April 11, 1839, the inmates of the poorhouse were removed to the farm now occupied by the county.
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