History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I, Part 67

Author: Edwin Orin Wood
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Federal publishingcompany
Number of Pages: 861

USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I > Part 67

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Hosted by Google

607

GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

have been misspent in wrestling with our old friends A and B, "those pecul- iar men who paid their debts at such irregular times and in such extraor- dinary amounts, and who would haggle over mills and decimals of a mill. Unforgotten and unregretted those golden hours even yet; hours that might and who had the singular habit, when they wished to know the time of day, of reckoning it from the length of a shadow cast by a church steeple in Australia."

LADIES' LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.

The Ladies' Library Association was formed in 1851 and incorporated in 1853. By 1854 it was acquired a library of five hundred volumes. In 1861 the library was nearly destroyed by fire, but, by the awakened sym- pathies of the community and the prompt payment of the amount insured, they were able to take advantage of the low prices of books from a failing publishing house. This nearly repaired their loss and placed in their collec- tion many valuable works. At this time the circulation of a subscription paper for the purpose of providing for the library a more commodious build-

ing met with great success. A lot was purchased on the corner of Beach and Kearsley streets and within the same year of its commencement the cor- ner-stone of the edifice was laid, with Masonic ceremonies, under the super- vision of the Hon. William M. Fenton. The cost of the building was about six thousand dollars. It was dedicated on June 30, 1868. The dedicatory address, by His Excellency, Governor Crapo, contained this high tribute of praise to the ladies for their zeal and perseverance: "They, from the be- ginning to the present time, have never abandoned their task or become dis- heartened in view of discouragements and difficulties. Conscious of the good work in which they were engaged, they have yielded to no obstacles or embarrassments, and the result is this fine structure, both a credit and an ornament to the city, these volumes, the chariots of knowledge, and this hall, which they so well adorn, and of which we all may so well be proud."

This dedication of a ladies' library building was an event new in the annals of our country, but it was soon to be followed by numerous like associations throughout the state. In 1871 the library celebrated its twen- tieth anniversary. On this occasion many literary and floral offerings were contributed and valuable gifts received in money and books. Many tokens of encouragement and commendation were received from persons of long- established literary merit. On March 22, 1876, the centennial year of our nation's life, the ladies celebrated the quarter-centennial of their library. Sev-

Hosted by

Google

608

GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

eral sister libraries were well represented and participated in the exercises by able addresses and poems.

The objects of the society at the outset could not be better expressed than by quoting a portion of a letter from one who was present and bore a part in its organization, Mrs. E. M. Pratt, of Lansing. "We remember," wrote she, "this organization came of a sentiment to secure and foster a more cultivated social and moral atmosphere-not only for ourselves, but for a field beyond -- securing avenues for wider views, for higher and nobler aspirations." Mrs. K. Bartow, of Buffalo, a former member who aided in its formation, wrote thus: "Your kind invitation brings a rush of pleasant memories. Its life and growth have been a precious desire of mine. I regret I cannot clasp hands, as of old, with the members on the appointed day."

The poem written for and read on the occasion by F. H. Rankin con- tained a fine eulogy on the ladies' taste in their selection of books.

Why talk of printing thoughts? Look around. Upon these shelves the answer may be found. No cave of rubies, no Golconda's mine. No golden vein, no Oriental shrine, E'er knew the wealth of treasure locked away- Preserved in printed thoughts; that grand array You ladies have accumulated here, Which we. in this august centennial year- Your quarter-centenary-have met to greet

The fruit of all your labors, so complete. Could guests have finer banquet than we find? Or with more choice companionship be joined? The kings of mind; the emperors of thought ; The intellectual giants who have wrought In every field of literary fame. Is company entitled to acclaim.

Mrs. Damon Stewart writes: "The idea of making the Ladies' Library a free public library was latent in the association. It had come up again and again for discussion. Resolutions to that effect were voted down repeatedly, because not all could see quite alike, and the public did not give much en- couragement, yet there was a very general desire to do what seemed to be the best thing for the city. Finally, at a special meeting, on June 28, 1884, it was unanimously decided to present the library to the city. The following resolutions were adopted, and the Hon. George H. Durand was requested to present them to the city :

"'At a special meeting of the Ladies' Library Association of Flint,

Hosted by Google

GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

609

having associated ourselves together for the purpose of cultivating a taste for literature and establishing a library in our midst ; and,

"'Whereas, having labored, for this purpose for a period of twenty years, we now find our labors crowned with success; and,

"'Whereas, the liberality of a generous public having so greatly con- tributed to this success, we do hereby

" 'Resolve, that the ladies of said association, to show their appreciation of such liberality and believing that the wants of the public will be better subserved in the future by a free public city library ; be it therefore

" 'Resolved, that said association do hereby present to the city of Flint the library and building now belonging to said association, to be forever a free city library and reading room, the ladies reserving the right to appoint four trustees who shall co-operate with said city in carrying out the above object.'

"A committee of the following named ladies was authorized to carry out and put in effect these resolutions by presenting to the said city, through your honorable body, the library building, and such other property as they may have to dispose of, the city to guarantee the carrying out of the above requirements in connection with a debating club. And the said library and reading room to be kept open through every day and evening of the years of the future for the benefit of the public. M. G. Stockton, Arabella Ran- kin, Helen Hill and Lizzie M. Carman, committee.

"Judge Durand presented the resolutions to the common council. The matter was referred to a committee, which reported as follows:

" 'Your committee, to whom was referred the communication of the Ladies' Library Association, find, after a careful consideration of the mat- ter, that it would cost the city to run the library in the present building, to the best judgment of the committee, at least one thousand two hundred to one thousand five hundred dollars per year, with five hundred dollars to start with for new books and rebinding old ones. This would be offset in part by the rent of the lower part of the building, if it could be rented, leav- ing the balance to be raised by tax. It has been said that the fines from the justice's office would go to a free library. We would say that the fines col- lected under city ordinance amount to but little more than enough to pay the justice. The fines collected under state laws are paid to the county treasurer and by him distributed to the schools of the county. We would say that the city would be called upon within the next two years to build two or three bridges at : cost of many thousand dollars. We would also

(39)

Hosted by Google

610

GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

state that within the next two years the city will lose from the tax list per- sonal property to the amount of one hundred and fifty thousand to one hun- dred and seventy-five thousand dollars (W. W. Crapo and Begole, Fox & Company, lumber), a loss at the present rate of taxation of more than two thousand dollars. While acknowledging the value of the gift and the great good that would come of it, yet your committee would deem it unwise under the circumstances for the city to assume any additional burden at the present time.'

"The report of the committee was adopted.

"The more the subject was considered, the more desirable it seemed that the Ladies' Library should be transformed into a free public library. The Scientific Library had, as stated above, made a bill of sale of its library and museum to union school district, January 5, 1877, and with this example in mind, a committee was appointed to consult with the school board, April 25, 1885, and the following resolution was adopted :

" 'That the officers of this, the Ladies' Library. Association of Flint, be and are hereby authorized and instructed, in the name of this association, to execute a deed and bill of sale, of all the property of the association, both real and personal, to union school district of the city of Flint, under the sole condition that said property be devoted to library purposes.'

"This resolution was presented to the school board and, after due con- sideration, the following resolution, presented by Trustee Wisner, was un- animously adopted :

" 'Resolved, that, on behalf of the union school district of the city of Flint, we accept the building on the southwest corner of Kearsley and Beach streets, known as the Ladies' Library Association building, and the books and fixtures which it contains, to be used, or if any portion be sold to be used solely for the maintenance of a public library in the city of Flint;

" 'Resolved, that the committee on libraries is hereby authorized to see that the necessary papers are executed and recorded, transferring the title to said property to union school district ;

" 'Resolved, that we tender our thanks to the ladies of the Library As- sociation for their generous and unselfish act in devoting to public use and the common good so much valuable property, the result of many years of untiring effort and representing not only the labors of the present donors, but of many who have ceased from their labors and entered into their re -- ward, and whose works do follow them.'.

"The secretary of the board of trustees, Mrs. Dibble, was instructed to

Hosted by Google

611

GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

cause to be prepared an engrossed copy of the above resolutions and forward it to the secretary of the Ladies' Library Association.

"There were about four thousand books in the library. The deed thus giving the Ladies' Library in trust to the union school district, was signed by Frances McQuigg Stewart, president, and Anna Walker McCall, secre- tary. July II, 1885, the remaining thirty-seven dollars fifty-five cents in the treasury was given to the Woman's Relief Corps as the successors of the Soldiers' Aid Society. From 1885 until 1905 the public library occupied the same buildings, the list of volumes increasing each year with the growth of the city."

This general survey of our library's growth must pay a special tribute to that same Dr. Daniel Clarke, elsewhere mentioned. It was due in large part to his critical knowledge of literature and science that so high a stand- ard was originally set. He not only supervised the selection of new books, but enriched the little library with many volumes from his own shelves. Any one who prowls today among the less frequented nooks of the library will still discover a few well-bound, finely-printed old classics, with the name of this benefactor in autograph on the fly leaf. Many lovers of good literature feel indebted to him for showing the way to a better appreciation of the world's best minds, and hold him, though unknown, in grateful remem. brance.

FLINT PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Wheels and the printing press have made the world more neighborly. That cosmopolitan Scot, Mr. Carnegie, who has taken the whole country under his wing, made it possible in 1905 for Flint to erect a steel-framed house for its books. It is constructed of stone, in style suggestive of the Greek, on the corner of Clifford and East Kearsley streets. The interior furnishings are handsome and a good collection of photographs ornament the walls. Perhaps the greatest treasure contained in the library is one of the original volumes of Audubon's "Birds of America," now priceless. This volume, together with three descriptive volumes, was a gift to the Ladies Library Association in 1876 from Hon. William L. Bancroft, of Port Huron. On the second floor of the building is housed the museum of the Genesee County Historical Society, thus forming a valuable adjunct to the available literature concerning this locality. The work of the head librarian, Mrs. Lena Caldwell, extending over a period of thirty years, cannot be over-esti- mated.

Four deposit libraries have been placed in different sections during the

Hosted by

Google

612

GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

past year, collections of books being sent from the public library to the Dort school, the Fairview school, Hurley hospital and the Marvel Carburetor Com- pany and it is planned to establish five or six more of these libraries during the coming year. In view of the fact that the present public library is inadequate for the needs of the city, land has been purchased adjoining the building on the east, and large wings will soon be added to make room for the rapidly increasing number of volumes.

The annual report for the year closing July 1, 1916, shows a circulation for the year of 67,965 volumes and 8,226 persons enrolled on the card system. There are 17,376 volumes in the library, 1,745 of which were added during the year just ended. The board of education in 1914 set aside a room to be known as the "Genesee County Historical Room and Museum." It has developed into a very valuable collection of pioneer and pre-historic relics and specimens. The Silas Collins collection, the gift of Silas Collins, of Grand Blanc, is one of the best in the country.

BURTON LADIES' LIBRARY.

The Burton Ladies' Library was organized in 1882 by a group of women, residents of the township of Burton, Genesee county. The charter members were, president, Mrs. Dan Church ; secretary and treasurer, Mrs. Orson Bing- ham; librarian, Mrs. Ella Rockwood; Mrs. John W. Eldridge, Mrs. Morti- mer Hammond and Mrs. Ed Granger.

The first volumes were donated by the members and purchased with funds raised by the organization. At the time that the Ladies' Library Asso- ciation of Flint transferred their library to the union school district of the city of Flint, all of the duplicate volumes on hand were purchased by the Burton Ladies' Library and gradually the collection was formed. In 1890 William Hammond, of Burton, donated a site on the corner of the Davison and Covert roads and through the efforts of the members a library building was erected at a cost of about six hundred dollars. Funds were secured by subscription and upwards of one thousand volumes were housed in the library building. For nearly twenty-five years the association continued, but for the past ten years, the conditions in rural life being materially changed, the library has been closed and in 1916 the land was disposed of. At Goodrich and Atlas, thriving ladies' library associations are maintained, also at Flush- ing and Fenton.

Hosted by Google

GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 613

This, Books can do-nor this alone; they give New views to life and teach us how to live; They soothe the grieved, the stubborn they chastise, Fools they admonish, and confirm the wise ; Their aid they yield to all ; they never shun The man of sorrow, nor the wretch undone; Unlike the hard, the selfish and the proud, They fly not sullen from the suppliant crowd ;

Nor tell to various people various things, But show to subjects what they show to kings.

-CRABBE.

Hosted by

Google

CHAPTER XXI.

RES LITERARIA.

In reviewing things literary in the history of a county one is held within bounds, as the scope is necessarily limited. Genesee county, however, has contributed to the world of letters numerous creditable offerings which will live to perpetuate the names of those who wrote them.

It is to be regretted that a complete bibliography of Genesee county authors with titles of their productions are not available. To the one who prepares such a list the public will owe a debt of gratitude. Among those who have earned a place in such a list, are M. S. Elmore, Dr. Luther Lee, W. R. Bates, Rev. C. A. Lippincott, D. D., Mrs. Ida McGlone Gibson, Mrs. Arabella Rankin, Fenton R. McCreery and Arthur C. Pound.

In volume 14 of the "Michigan Historical Collections" may be found an epic of the Saginaw country, by Judge Albert Miller, one of the very earliest of the pioneers, a native of Vermont, who visited Grand Blanc when there were no white men in the surrounding counties. This contribution, "The Rivers of the Saginaw Valley Sixty Years Ago," is of value histori- cally. Starting from the Kawkawlin, "a noted stream for fish and game," the writer passes "over all the ground, that near the valley streams is found," including the streams of Genesee.

Among the earlier residents of this locality who were gifted with a literary taste and ability, was Mrs. M. Louise Thayer, the wife of Artemus Thayer, a well-known resident of early Flint. Mrs. Thayer was the eldest daughter of Manly Miles, who came to the settlement of Flint River in 1837. She was a woman of refinement, exceptionally fond of society, and the enthusiastic patron of every organization that found a place in the early life of the town; a lady, in the old-school sense of the word, who gave fresh impetus to the associations of a struggling village and growing city. Mrs. Thayer was one of the early promoters of the Ladies' Library and an efficient officer of that organization. She was the author of many short poems of much merit and charm. A volume of her literary produc- tions was published a number of years ago, but is now unobtainable.

In 1869 Mr. and Mrs. Thayer celebrated their silver wedding, the first

Hosted by

Google

615

GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

silver wedding ever celebrated in Flint, on which occasion a poem of wel- come, composed by the hostess, was read. We select the opening and clos- ing verses :

Kind Friendship seems to wreathe gay crowns tonight, And garland every brow with rosy light ; Faces all beaming with glad smiles we see In harmony with bright festivity, Which is the off-spring of this day and hour --- To us a precious anniversary,

O'er which soft, silvery clouds in honor soar. ** * * * *

* * ** *

O'er thirty years of retrospect we stray Through scenes that seem but as of yesterday ; Yet all this lapse of time but makes more dear These reminiscences from year to year,

And often, mayhap when the day is. dying, Will come from out the pines a requiem For early loves, for childhood's pleasure sighing, For life responses to that earliest hymn. Voices from native hill answering came, Awakening echoes in our lake-bound home. Sweet murmurings of the past will ever linger In fond day-dreams. When Time's all potent finger Points to our rest; upon the soul's release, May we embrace you all in that bright Home of Peace.

Flint, Feb. 7, 1869. Silver Wedding.

Francis H. Rankin, Sr., of Flint, the publisher and owner of the Gene- see Whig and the Wolverine Citizen for many years, was a man of broad intellect and ability. Previous to his coming to America in 1848, he was connected with The Citizen or The Dublin Monthly Magazine, a literary periodical of Dublin, Ireland, and was also the author of a number of poems which appeared in Blackwood's Magazine. After his arrival in this country a number of his poems appeared in Godey's Lady's Book, published in Phila- delphia. Mr. Rankin contributed much to the literary life of the commun- ity and it is a regrettable fact that his productions were not issued in book form and preserved to posterity. Mr. Rankin's sonnet, "The Aeolian Harp," appeared in the Dublin Citizen in 1841.

Hosted by Google.

616

GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

THE AEOLIAN HARP. .

Hush ! Hush ! Can that be sound, which thus I hear, So tremulously sweet, so softly low ; Too weak for joy, too musical for woe. Which falls so faintly, gently, that the ear . Is left to doubt its being; 'tis so near In its relationship to silence? List ! Do ye not hear it struggling to exist? 'Tis conqueror. And now in wild career It rushes like a tempest fiend along ; Now shivering with rage-still musical- Now shouting like a revelling bacchanal : Now mimicking the syren's softest song :

Now rising o'er the wind's loud voice-anon,

Hanging on his last kiss to die when he is gone.

Hark ! How the chord of merry joy now rings! Hear how it thrills in gladness! There-'tis gone; And now a sweet, sad, melancholy tone Swells slowly on the air, and with it brings Remembrances of long-lost precious things: Telling of withered hopes; affection crush'd; Of chill, chill hearts that once with warm love gush'd : Of sun-bright visions that have made them wings And flown away withal, to come no more; Of the young, gentle spirit's early blight, Ere the first blossom of its life was o'er, Too fragile to withstand the world's hard smite

'Tis gone! Sinking to silence, like the wail Of music's dying spirit, on some far-off gale.

William J. Walker, son of the Rev. Warum Walker, a Baptist clergy- man, and nephew of Levi Walker, one of the early residents of Flint, was the author of a book of manuscript poems which has been preserved in the old Walker library, as possessing much merit. Mr. Walker studied for the law, but died within a short time after his admission to the bar. Included in the book of verse is the following :

EVENING PRAYER. The last faint twilight fades; The gloomy pall Of evening's gathering shades Is flung o'er all, Now while, as parting day In darkness dies away, We lift our hands to pray. Lord, hear our call.

Hosted by Google

617

GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

We ask no gold nor fame, Nor length of years; O, save from sin and shame And calm our fears. All lowly as we kneel, Thy pard'ning love reveal,

Our wounded spirits heal, And wipe our tears

As sinks the sun to rest In western seas,

And dies on ocean's breast The evening breeze, Oh, thus let all our woes

In death serene repose: Such be our last repose When Heaven decrees.

Soon shall the morn resume Its glorious sway, And soon shall gild the tomb A brighter day ; When earth from pole to pole Shall burn and, like a scroll. The heavens together roll And pass away.

Mr. Alvah Brainerd, of Grand Blanc, published, in 1865, a small book- let concerning the pioneer life of that locality, which is of much interest historically. The little book is now out of print, but the few copies which have been preserved are of value as a record of early days in Genesee county.

Mrs. Royal W. Jenny, the wife of the one-time editor of the old Gene- see Democrat, was the author of a book of verse which was published in the eighties. Her granddaughter, Miss Florence Jenny, has inherited much of the literary ability of her grandparents and is now entering her fifth year as teacher of German in Vassar College. Miss Jenny obtained her degree from a German university, and a few years ago collaborated with Professor Mosher, of Oberlin College, in editing a German text-book which at present is being used in several of the large colleges of the country. Her sister, who was Miss Ethel Jenny, is now Mrs. Selden Osgood Martin, whose hus- band is director of the bureau of research of Harvard University." Mrs. Martin, who is a graduate of the law department of the University of Michigan, and the winner of a scholarship at Radcliffe College, is the author of a series of articles on "Railroad Research in Massachusetts," which appeared a few years ago in one of the leading Eastern publications, and is

Hosted by Google

618

GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

also a .contributor to a number of literary magazines. Mrs. Martin makes her home at Garden City, Long Island.

William Stevenson, a resident of Flint for many years, was the writer of over four hundred hymns, which have been published in various collections. He was also the author of "Sights and Scenes in Europe, or Pencilings by the Way," which was published in 1882, being the outgrowth of a series of letters written to the Wolverine Citizen in 1881, while the writer was touring England and the Continent. Mr. Stevenson's "Hymn to the Sea," composed during a Sunday morning service on shipboard, brings to mind in the opening chapter of this entertaining volume, his talent as a song writer :

Eternal Father, Sovereign Lord, Whose glory fills the skies, To Thee, from all that dwell below, Let highest praises rise.

Thy hand the moving waters spread, The winds obey thy will ; And ocean's troubled, heaving breast Thy mighty arm can still.

To Thee we trust our feeble breath ; Our ways are in thy hand; Thy watchful care will safely keep Secure on sea, as land.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I, Part 67

Author: Edwin Orin Wood Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Federal publishingcompany Number of Pages: 861

Author: Edwin Orin Wood
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Federal publishingcompany
Number of Pages: 861