USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > History of Detroit and Wayne County and early Michigan: A Chronological Cyclopedia of the Past and Present, Vol. II > Part 24
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On being mustered out of service, he found him- self in possession of seventy dollars in Continental scrip. With this sum he settled in Connecticut, studied medicine, and after about five years re- moved to Vermont and engaged in the practice of his profession. Here he rose rapidly in the esteem of his fellow-citizens, and was called upon to fill a number of public offices. He served in the Legis- lature of Vermont from 1798 to 1803, was County Judge for the two following years, and State Coun- cillor for the three years following 1804. In 1807 he was elected to Congress, and in 1808 had the pleasure of voting for the Act which abolished the slave trade. While in Congress, on April 23, 1808, he was appointed by President Jefferson one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of the Terri- tory of Michigan. Soon afterwards he resigned his seat and started for the then almost unknown region. Arriving here, he found the duties of his office arduous and perplexing. He was not only one of the Chief Judges, but the Governor and Judges together constituted the Territorial Legisla- ture, and they also acted as a land board in adjust- ing old land claims, and in laying out anew the City of Detroit. From the time of his arrival in Detroit until his decease, Judge Witherell was prominent in all public affairs. As one of the Judges he did more than any one else to squelch the fraudulent Detroit Bank, and he aided materially in bringing the chaotic laws of the Territory into somewhat of symmetry, and was the author of the "Witherell Code."
His family, who had been residing at Fair Haven,
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Connecticut, did not come to Detroit until 1810, and they remained only about a year, the unsettled state of affairs with the Indians, and their threatening attitude, causing them to return to Vermont. The next year after their return the War of 1812 began, and Judge Witherell, who, in the absence of Gov- ernor Hull, was the only Revolutionary officer in the Territory, was placed in command of the Terri- torial militia. On the arrival of General Hull and the almost immediate surrender of Detroit, Mr. Witherell refused to surrender his corps, but al- lowed them to disperse. He, with his son, James C. C. Witherell, who was an officer in the volunteer service, and his son-in-law, Colonel Joseph Watson, became prisoners, and were sent to Kingston, On- tario, where they were released on parole. They then went to West Poultney, Vermont, and after being exchanged, the Judge returned to his duties, and continued in the same office until February 1, 1828, when he was appointed Secretary of the Ter- ritory.
Judge Witherell was about six feet in height, erect in form, and possessed a positive character. His correspondence shows great facility of expres- sion, a wide range of words, and that he was a stu- dent of books and men is abundantly evident. It was said of him, by one of the most eminent states- men of the age, that " he possessed as pure a heart and as sound an intellect as is ordinarily given to human nature." His sterling integrity, moral worth, and prompt attention to official duties, made him an acceptable judge. He was a man of few words, but of clearly defined opinions, and possessed an almost inflexible will. These qualities of mind, guided by his strong common sense, enabled him to exert a leading influence in whatever position he was placed.
In 1813 he bought what is known as the Wither- ell Farm, and resided upon it until 1836. He then. removed to a residence on the site of the present Detroit Opera House, where he died on January 6, 1838.
The Legislature was then in session in the city, and both it and the Supreme Court of the State passed eulogistic resolutions, and adjourned as a mark of respect.
Judge Witherell was married to Amy Hawkins, on November 11, 1780. She was born in Smith- field, Rhode Island, and was a descendant of Roger Williams. Her father's name was Charles, her mother's maiden name, Sarah Olney. They had six children : James C. C., born July 14, 1791 ; he entered Middlebury College in 1803, but went with the family to Detroit, arriving in a government sloop on June 20, 1810; he died at Poultney on August 26, 1813. Sarah Myra was born September 6, 1792, married Colonel Joseph Watson, and died
in Poultney, March 22, 1818. Betsey Matilda was born in 1793, married Dr. E. Hurd, and died at Detroit in 1852. Mary Amy was born in October, 1795, married Thomas Palmer in 1821, and died in Detroit, March 19, 1874. Benjamin F. H. was born in 1797, and died June 22, 1867. James B. was born May 12, 1799, became a midshipman in the United States Navy, and died of yellow fever on board the United States ship Peacock, during a passage from Havana to Hampton Roads.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN HAWKINS WITH- ERELL was born at Fair Haven, Vermont, August 4, 1797, and was the second son of Judge James Witherell, one of the Judges of the Territorial Su- preme Court of Michigan.
He was educated chiefly in the East, under the tuition of Dr. Beaman, and in 1817, on the permanent removal of his father's family to Detroit, he com- menced the study of law in the office of Governor Woodbridge. In 1819 he was admitted to the bar of the Territorial Court, and entered upon the prac- tice of his profession in Detroit. On the motion of Daniel Webster, he was subsequently admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States.
He began almost immediately to be sought for public office, and was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1824, and Recorder of the city in 1828. In 1834, and during the most of the year 1835, he served as Judge of Probate and from 1835 to 1839 was Prosecuting Attorney for Wayne County. In 1843 he became District Judge of the Criminal Court, the district consisting of the counties of Wayne, Wash- tenaw, and Jackson, and held the office for four years, and until the Court was abolished by the Constitu- tion of 1850. In 1857 he was chosen Circuit Judge of Wayne County to fill the vacancy made by the res- ignation of Judge Douglass, and was re-elected to this office for two successive terms, serving in all some ten years. During his term as Circuit Judge he also, in 1858, under the law, served as one of the Judges of the Supreme Court, and from 1862 to 1864 was Judge of the Recorder's Court. In addition to the above he served as a member of the convention of 1836 at Ann Arbor, which resulted in securing the admission of Michigan as a State; he was also a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1850. He served as State Senator in 1840 and 1841, as Regent of the University in 1848, and as Historiographer of the city of Detroit from 1855 to 1867. He also held at various periods of time the military offices of Judge Advocate General, Brigadier-General, and Major-General of the militia, and was President of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument Association at. the time of his death. He was President of the State Historical Society for many years, and wrote numerous articles illus-
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trative of the history of Michigan, and in his day no one was better acquainted with the history of Detroit than himself. Many of his recollections were published in the Detroit Free Press, over the signature of Hamtramck, and a number of them were republished by the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. He was one of the corporators of the First Protestant Church of Detroit, and one of the first trustees of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, organized in 1822. He was active and influential in all moral reforms, helped to organize the Bible Society in 1831, and was one of the earli- est to aid in establishing the common school system of the city.
In his prime he was over six feet in stature, genial and kindly in his disposition, and universally es- teemed as an upright and honorable man, and had a host of warm personal friends, especially among the French residents. He was married in 1824 to Mary A. Sprague, of Poultney, Vermont. They had four children, namely, Martha E., James B., Harriet C. M., and Julia A. His wife died in August, 1834, and in 1837 he married Delia A. Ingersoll. They had one child, Charles I. Witherell. The wife and mother died in 1847, and in 1848 he married Cassandra S, Brady, who died in March, 1863. Mr. Witherell died on June 26, 1867.
CHAPTER XCIV.
MERCHANTS.
HENRY JAMES BUCKLEY was born in the city of Baltimore, in 1822, and in 1838 came to De- troit, and entered the employ of Gurdon Williams & Co., produce merchants and forwarders, who were largely interested in the Detroit and Pontiac Railroad, then in process of construction. The same firm were pioneers of the Lake Superior trade, and loaded and sent the first propeller that ever cleared for that region, and, in addition to all their other enterprises, were the owners of the Bank of Pontiac.
Growing out of his connection with the firm, Mr. Buckley, in 1839, served for a time as conductor on the railroad, and, subsequently, as teller in the Bank of Pontiac. At this time he was only seventeen years old, but he had given such satisfactory proof of his integrity and business talent that he won the unlimited confidence of his employers. The amount of labor performed by him would seem incredible, to those unfamiliar with his astonishing capacity for business at that time, and which was even more fully exemplified in his after life. He performed almost the entire official business, both of the bank, and the railroad, regularly going the rounds of the stores and warehouses, to look after shipments, when the other duties of the day had been performed.
In 1854, the firm of Gurdon Williams & Co. withdrew from the business of produce and for- warding, and were succeeded by a new firm, con- sisting of G. O. Williams, H. J. Buckley and N. G. Williams. Further changes took place in 1860 and 1864, and, after the last date, the style of the firm became "Buckley & Co.," their operations being carried on at the identical stand at the foot of First Street where Mr. Buckley had commenced work. The business of the house steadily increased, and with its growth, Mr. Buckley became by degrees closely identified with the interests of the Upper Peninsula, and invested a large share of his earn- ings in developing the resources of that important portion of the State.
His proclivities were proverbially of an adven- turous character, and the many mining enterprises of that region presented a fine field for their exer-
cise. He operated, however, with tact and good judgment, seldom risking largely where the invest- ment was not proved judicious by actual results, and very few copper mines were ever started to the development of which his means and influence were not contributed. His landed property in the mining region grew to large proportions, and his interests there, at the time of his death, were doubt- less more diversified than those of any other man ever connected with the Lake Superior trade.
He was always well versed in mercantile values and shrewd in making a bargain, and, when made, no man was ever more faithful in abiding by a con- tract. He had a high ideal as to what constituted mercantile integrity, and would sacrifice thousands of dollars rather than forfeit his honor, and this not in a vainglorious spirit, but simply as a matter of integrity.
He belonged to the Democratic school of politics, and although warm and enthusiastic, his preferences and convictions were never tainted by bigotry. At the State election, in 1870, he was a candidate for Representative in the State Legislature, and al- though some of his colleagues upon the ticket were men of great personal popularity, he received more votes than any other candidate on the ticket, and was one of the two Democratic Representatives chosen. In 1865 he was unanimously elected President of the Board of Trade.
He was a genial companion, and his manner was always deferential, which rendered him a pleasing associate, and it is worthy of note that in social life he never spoke sneeringly or deprecatingly of others. If he could not speak well of the absent, he would say nothing.
He was married on November 3, 1858, to Mary Williams of Detroit. She is still living, and also their four children-Mary, Henry, Cornelia Wil- liams and James Pinkney. Henry resides in San- tiago, California. Mr. Buckley died November 27, 1870. The Board of Trade and other bodies passed highly commendatory resolutions, and the attend- ance of business men at his funeral was the largest seen up to that time in Detroit, and included over
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sixty members of the Board of Trade, who marched in procession the entire distance to the cemetery.
JAMES BURNS was born November 10, 1810. At the age of nine years he left his home in Lewis County, New York, started in life for himself, and in 1826 commenced to learn the trade of a car- penter and joiner, in Turin, New York. Subse- quently he attended the Louisville Academy, studying in the winter, and in the summer working at his trade.
In 1834 he came to Detroit, where he pursued his trade for a year. The succeeding year he traveled on horseback over a large part of the wilds of Michigan, and bought for himself and others large amounts of wild land.
He afterwards became clerk in the dry goods house of Olney Cook, and after two years' service became a partner, under the firm name of Cook & Burns. For seven years they transacted business in a store on Jefferson avenue, where the Old Masonic Hall now stands, and during that time their establishment became one of the best known business houses in the city. After several years Mr. Cook retired, and T. L. Partridge was taken into partnership, and the firm then became James Burns & Co., and under this name carried on a very successful business for fully twenty years. In 1850 the business was removed to the east side of Wood- ward avenue, just north of Jefferson avenue. In 1866 Mr. Partridge retired, and Lucien A. Smith was admitted as partner, the firm name chang- ing to Burns & Smith, and remaining thus until 1874, when Mr. Burns retired, having been in the dry goods business in Detroit for nearly forty years.
In 1861, when the first Board of Review for the city was provided for by the Legislature, Mr. Burns was nominated by Mayor C. H. Buhl as a member of the Board, was confirmed by the Council, and served in this position twelve years, having been nominated and re-nominated by five successive Mayors and appointed by five successive Councils of different political principles from his own. He resigned in 1873, when elected as Representative in the State Legislature. As a member of that body he was appointed upon the Committee of Ways and Means, and on many of the most prominent special committees, and strove to make himself use- ful rather than conspicuous.
In 1873 he erected the Burns Block on Griswold street, and in 1877, with Mr. Buhl, he erected a block on Woodward avenue, on the site of the old Odd Fellows' Hall.
In 1876 he was appointed, by the Governor, a member of the Board of Control of the State Public School at Coldwater, and in 1877,was elected Presi-
dent of the Board, retaining the position for several years.
Mr. Burns was married on April 20, 1838, to Aurilla A. Bacon. They were members of the Central Methodist Episcopal Church of Detroit for over forty years, longer than any other married couple in a membership of over seven hundred. During this time the location of the church was changed three times, each time being moved north- ward on Woodward avenue. Mr. Burns filled many of the most prominent positions in the church, and always gave largely towards its support.
As a business man, Mr. Burns's unfailing char- acteristics were industry and integrity. As a citizen, he took a spirited interest in everything that tended to the prosperity of the city, doing much towards its material improvement by the erection of fine buildings, and contributed freely of his means to worthy and benevolent enterprises. In all his inter- course with others he was plain and unassuming ; his advice and judgment on business matters was frequently sought, and he was eminently methodical in the management of his own affairs, and trusted and esteemed as a man and a Christian.
He died on December 7, 1883. His daughters, Mrs. Henry A. Newland, Mrs. Rev. J. M. Buckley, and Mrs. A. M. Henry, all died before him. His wife and three grandchildren are still living.
WILLIAM KIEFT COYL only son of James Coyl, sea captain, and Lydia (Hicks) Coyl, was born in New Haven, Connecticut, February 13, 1808. The first years of his life were spent in New York City with relatives, descendants of the early settlers of New Amsterdam, after one of whom he was named. Among his earliest recollections was the crowd which ran through the streets crying Peace ! Peace! after the War of 1812 which left him fatherless. In his tenth year he went to live upon a farm near New Haven, where in spite of a toilsome life and few opportunities for study open to a country boy at that time, he managed to obtain a fair education.
It has been truly said that "the man is best edu- cated who by any means has made his powers available," and energy, clear thinking, and prompt decision, were qualities brought West by this young New Englander. His first location was with Mr. John Deusler, near Canandaigua, New York, where he learned the trade of making grain cradles and other farming utensils. In his twenty-second year he came to Birmingham, Michigan, built a saw mill, and, in connection with Mr. John Benjamin, commenced the manufacture of agricultural implements, and there produced the first iron plows made in this State.
While in Birmingham he married Jane Bell, and shortly after, in 1836, moved to Detroit. His first enterprise here was the bu lding of the " check-
Janus Bunny
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MERCHANTS.
ered store " on Woodbridge street, between Wood- ward avenue and Griswold street, where he carried on a grocery and hardware business, and kept the adjoining hotel. To this house, in February, 1838, many of the wounded in the Patriot War were brought for surgical treatment, receiving from him, and other well known citizens, substantial aid and sympathy.
The records of the Pioneer Society show, that it was mainly through his " energetic efforts in raising money and employing teachers," that District School No. I was opened and kept in operation. His account book of 1838 contains an interesting state- ment of the running expenses of this small beginning of our present fine public schools. Other entries in the old book show that this gratuitous work was done at a time when he was sustaining heavy losses in the so-called wild-cat money of the time. Later on he moved to Woodward avenue, where he was burned out in the memorable fire of 1842. An estimate of this loss closing with the pathetic words, "I have lost all that I ever made, and now begin again," re- minds one of Emerson's definition of manly cour- age :- " It is directness, the instant performance of that which he ought."
In 1844 he moved to the then farthest up-town store, on the corner of Woodward avenue and Cam- pus Martius, conveniently near the Pontiac and Michigan Central depots, fronting on the Campus. Here he shipped green and dried fruits, cheese, and other produce of Eastern States, to dealers in the in- terior of Michigan, and later on, was the first to under- take the shipping of fresh meat to Boston. His busi- ness increasing, he moved to the warehouse at the foot of Bates street, and afterwards to the foot of Wayne street, also occupying the north half of the Michigan Central freight depot, on Third street, where he stored and shelled over half a million bushels of corn, the first important shipment of grain ever received from the interior of Indiana. The biography of any old merchant is also a history of the business methods of his time, and the books kept by Mr. Coyl show that the grain, produce and forwarding business was then carried on in an entirely different manner from transac- tions in grain at the present day. Farmers brought their produce directly to the warehouse, where, in one busy day, six thousand bushels of grain were bought and paid for, the teams waiting to be unloaded extending, in a double line, from the dock to the Franklin House, at the corner of Bates and Larned streets. The capacity of the largest vessels then running to Buffalo and Oswego was about 10,000 bushels, and it took forty-eight hours to load this amount, by means of box-shaped hand-carts. New inventions have lightened labor and increased trade, but a wise writer has said "the machine unmakes
the man." The qualities then brought into exer- cise in overcoming difficulties, attending to number- less details, and in handling many men, developed strong characters ; men of unquestioned integrity, who took especial pride in the fact that they "always paid one hundred cents on the dollar."
Mr. Coyl was of a retiring disposition, and, although an earnest whig in early life, had no desire to become prominent in local politics or societies. The only office he ever held was that of member of the Board of Estimates. In 1856 he retired from active busi- ness in the city, and became interested in Iowa lands. In 1860 he built the block corner of Woodward Ave- nue and Campus Martius, subsequently improving other property, and, with business caution, entering into all plans for the welfare of the city.
When the war opened, his two sons were among the first to respond to the call for volunteers. Wil- liam H. Coyl, a student of scarcely twenty when commissioned Major, left a brilliant record as Lieu- tenant-Colonel of the 9th Iowa Infantry, and Judge Advocate of Kentucky. He died in 1866 of disease of the lungs, the effect of a wound received at the battle of Pea Ridge. During the war, Mr. Coyl spent much time in seeking out and assisting sick and friendless soldiers, and, in later life, a fondness for young men became characteristic. His pleasant office made attractive with means for social games and current literature became a resort for young men of all professions. Such companionship, like mercy, "is twice blessed." He found diversion and kept pace with the times in reading and dis- cussing with "the boys " the social, scientific, and religious questions of the day. In him they found a sympathetic friend, and often a wise helper, but he was so quiet in his benefactions that few besides the recipients knew of them.
He died August 13, 1883. Samuel B. Coyl, and a daughter, Jean L., are the only surviving children.
THOMAS ROBERT DUDLEY was born in Hunton, Kent County, England, December 11, 1833, and is the son of Robert and Elizabeth (Boughton) Dudley. His paternal ancestors lived in Kent for centuries, while his mother represented one of the oldest Yorkshire families. His father, a prosperous farmer, died in early manhood, leaving his widow with three children, of whom Thomas was the youngest. The family after the father's death lived with the children's grandfather, Robert Dudley.
Thomas R. Dudley attended the village school until he was ten years old, and then entered the Clapton School, of London, where he remained five years. Equipped with a fair education, he then be- gan his business career as clerk in a provision store. While thus engaged, a gentleman from Cincinnati, connected with the provision trade, visited his em-
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MERCHANTS.
ployer, and, in his hearing, spoke so enthusiastically of the opportunities for advancement for young men of energy in the New World, that Mr. Dudley deter- mined to start for America as soon as possible.
He induced his brother, George P., to agree to ac- company him, and in 1851, drawing from the bank the small sum of money left them by their father, they secured passage on a packet ship plying be- tween Liverpool and Philadelphia, and after a voyage of forty-five days, landed at the latter city, where Thomas soon secured employment in a banking house. In the meantime, his brother obtained a situation in a furniture factory, but, in 1852, came to Detroit, and here he was shortly after joined by Thomas, where the latter immediately began to learn the wood carving trade, in the furniture factory of Weber & Stevens. After serving his appren- ticeship, he entered the sale department, and for twenty-three years, through the several changes in the personnel of the firm, remained with the same house, serving in all departments of the business.
In January, 1876, he went to Philadelphia, and, with George W. Fowle, began the manufacture of fans, on an extensive scale. The venture was not particularly successful, and was discontinued in September of the same year. Mr. Dudley then re- turned to Detroit, and opened a small wholesale and retail furniture store, in the Strong Block, on Jef- ferson Avenue.
With a perfect knowledge of the demands of his trade, acquired by long experience, rapid success followed his undertaking, and his trade increased so rapidly, that in the following March, it became neces- sary to secure larger quarters, and he removed to 129 Jefferson Avenue. At the same time George W. Fowle became a partner, under the firm name of Dudley & Fowle. Their business continued to grow until it has reached really large proportions, The warerooms consist of seventeen floors, each 80x100 feet in dimensions, and their sales amount to nearly a quarter of a million dollars annually, and extend over Michigan and several adjacent States, giving employment to a large number of men. Active and progressive, the members of this firm have made the name of their house well-known to the trade, and in the space of ten years, from a small beginning, with limited capital, they have attained a leading position in the furniture trade of . Detroit. This is due in great measure to the energy and business sagacity of Mr. Dudley, who has been untiring in his exertions, and his efforts have ex- hibited good judgment.
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