History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan, Part 46

Author: Durant, Samuel W. cn
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia : D.W. Ensign & Co.
Number of Pages: 772

USA > Michigan > Eaton County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 46
USA > Michigan > Ingham County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 46

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).

The Second Michigan Cavalry, occupying the extreme left and actively engaged from early morning, were driven by noon aeross the little Harpeth. While crossing, the rebel infantry rushed forward, flaunting their flag, and shouting triumphantly, "You are our prisoners !" But their exultation was altogether premature. Skillfully avail- ing himself of a little bend in the river and of an adjacent woods, Gen. Croxton had placed there a regiment in am- bush. Opening upon the enemy a galling and enfilading fire upon his flank, the Second Cavalry lost no time in improving their opportunity to the utmost, and so, to the great chagrin of the rebels, made good their eseape to the other side.

The ambulances were thus thrown into a very hazardous position on the flats between the two rivers, and an orderly was dispatched by Gen. Croxton to Dr. Ranney, telling him that his command would soon fall back, and he must look out for the consequences. But the order not being peremptory, the doctor continued to gather up the wounded men in the train now slowly moving to the rear and near the eentre, which was in the village of Franklin. A second time the orderly galloped up, with positive orders to move on at once if he did not expect to be captured. But the order was more easily given than obeyed. Fort Granger, which the Second Cavalry had helped to build, and which they had ealled after their old colonel, now opened their bat- teries on the enemy's line. The Confederate artillery re- turned the fire with equal spirit. While thus between the fires the Federal centre gave way, and the enemy per- ceiving their advantage rushed in like a torrent, carrying the hill, taking cight of our guns, and planting the rebel flag on our breastworks. But again their rejoicing was not to last. Col. Opdyke, in one of the most splendid counter- assaults of the campaign, retook our guns and captured ten rebel flags and three hundred prisoners into the bargain.

It was now night, and the train of ambulanees was still in very critical circumstances. Our own cavalry had gal- loped through fields and woods, miles away to the left and rear, to guard our flanks. The soldiers about the fort were beginning to start camp-fires, when suddenly Dr. Ranney heard the command, " Put out those fires !" and in the stentorian voice recognized that of Col. Streight, whose acquaintance he had made a few months before in Libby prison. At onee making himself known to the colonel, he asked for further orders. " Move on to Nashville," was the reply ; " for unless you and your ambulances occupy the field alone, there is no other way for you. I am now in command of the rear-guard, and shall soon move there myself." Just in time to get in advance of the rear-guard, Dr. Ranney had the satisfaction of bringing every ambulance and every soldier safe within the defenses of Nashville. That was a proud day in the history of the young surgeon, which none of his friends, either in the army or out of it, are willing should be forgotten.

But the work of the ambulance and its various attend- ants is not yet done. By December 9th, Hood had estab- lished his lines south of Nashville. The season is against him, for it is a week of severe cold. Numbers are no longer in his favor, for the Fabian policy of Thomas had been successful. The " besieged" (?) were more than the besiegers, and in all respects in much better shape. To " sit by the fire at Nashville," they must pass through another fire much worse than that of Franklin. Thomas orders an advance. The first day's work gives him six- teen guns and twelve hundred prisoners ; the second day's work gives him in all four thousand four hundred and sixty-two prisoners, two hundred and eighty-seven officers, and fifty-three guns.

One of these prisoners, Gen. E. W. Rucker, in command of a division of rebel cavalry, was known by the Federal cavalry as " the man on the gray horse," who often dashed up to the Federal lines to get them into a position to ex- change shots. While fighting hand to hand with a Union captain, his left arm was shattered just below the shoulder by a ball. As the first Federal surgeon to see him, Dr. Ranney courteously offered the general's staff surgeon his assistance, and the professional courtesy was returned by a request to perform the operation himself. The next morn- ing he sent him in a comfortable conveyance to Nashville. The last time Dr. Ranney saw "the man on the gray horse" previously was just before the charge at Chickamauga, which resulted in his own capture.

After Hood's defeat by Gen. Thomas a hot pursuit was made by the cavalry, and consequently many Confederate wounded fell into the hands of the Federal surgeons for treatment. Hood got over the Tennessee with a remnant of his army and the loss of his last gun. The Union cavalry, having reached the Tennessee, wintered at Flor- enee and Waterloo. Meanwhile, Dr. Ranney had been commissioned as a full surgeon, and the hospital depart- ments of his corps being organized into divisions, he was put in charge of the First Division Hospital Department, and appointed its chief operator.

Tennessee once more repossessed, now for Alabama I While Gen. Canby was operating from the south, the move-

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ment at the north was led by Gen. James H. Wilson, de- tached by Gen. Grant from the Army of the Potomac, and sent West with his veterans for this particular purpose. His command consisted of about fifteen thousand men, and was known as the Cavalry Corps of the Military Division of the Mississippi. His objective point was Selma, where, after a long and fatiguing march, a decisive battle was fought, re- sulting in the capture of many prisoners and a large amount of army-stores. Wilson pursued the enemy to Montgomery, which surrendered under a flag of truce, and then pushed on to Columbus, and Macon, Ga.

It may be well imagined that this was an exceedingly active campaign, and that the number of sick and wounded requiring surgical aid was very great. At Macon the hos- pital departments of the three divisions constituting the corps were consolidated. Dr. Ranney was ordered to receipt for all medical stores to the surgeons in charge of the other divisions, and to establish a corps hospital in the building formerly used by the State of Georgia as an asylum for the deaf, dumb, and blind. About three hundred patients were gathered here from various places on the line of march, and some ninety soldiers who had been under the. care and treatment of the rebels. The case of the latter was pitiable in the extreme. Either through meagre facili- ties, or actual neglect of rebel surgeons, their wounds had been suffered to become gangrenous ; arteries had sloughed and required ligation. In some cases amputation had to be resorted to to save life, but in the end not one of that number died.

Macon being only twenty miles from Andersonville, when the rebel armies surrendered the prisoners at this murder- ous and ever-accursed place were of course released. The poor starved and emaciated prisoners who were unable to join their own commands or bear transportation home were provided for in the corps hospital. The horrors of that well-known stockade or " prison-pen" will be remembered long after those of the " Old Sugar-House," in the days of the Revolution, are forgotten. It was just as much cross- ing the death-line to go into Andersonville prison as to go out of it. So indignant was Dr. Ranney at the enormous outrage here perpetrated on civilization and humanity that he complained of Capt. Wirtz for his brutality, and had him arrested and placed under guard. In this connection it may be as well to remember that when the war was ended Capt. Wirtz was the only rebel that was legally hung, and most richly did he merit it. The only regret is that those in higher office who shared in his unparalleled crime did not have a similar share in his well-deserved punishment.

Nor was this the only instance in which Dr. Ranney resented the abuse of office. When he found those of our own army who were deliberately taking advantage of their position for private and mercenary purposes, at the expense of the public good, he did not hesitate over his own name to notify Governor Blair and other authorities at home, and secure efficient measures for the remedy of such abuses. Tros Tyriusve nihi nullo discrimine agetur. Rebel or " Yank," it was all one to him; where corruption was, it must be cauterized and its progress arrested.

During the month of July, 1865, the Second Michigan Cavalry was mustered out of service, but the ability of

Dr. Ranney as a surgeon was now too well known to leave him without employment. Gen. Croxton, of Gen. Ed Mc- Cook's division, under whom he had served in the Chatta- nooga campaign, offered him a commission as surgeon of the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Colored Infantry, which he accepted, and with which he remained until it was mustered out, in January, 1866. During the latter part of his service he was at Augusta, and, his duties with his regiment being light, he'attended a course of lectures in the Georgia Medical College.

And now, having " gone through the war," as Lee has it in his farewell to his disbanded army, April 9, 1865, our history once more returns to biography.

In February, 1866, Dr. Ranney established himself as physician and surgeon in Lansing, Mich. Here he has built up a solid and steadily-increasing practice, and now holds an enviable position in his profession, not only in the capital city, but in all the adjacent country. In 1866 he assisted in the organization of the Michigan State Med- ical Society, of which he was then elected, and of which he has ever since continued to be, the recording secretary. In 1873 he served as president of the Michigan Central Med- ical Society. In the same year he was elected correspond- ing member of the Old Wayne County Medical Society. In 1872 he was chairman of the Lansing board of health. He has been resident surgeon at Lansing to the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad Company, and the Chicago and Lake Huron and the Chicago and Northeast- ern Railroads. He is a member of the American Medical Association, and has often been a delegate to that body from the Michigan State Medical Society, and served as the committee on necrology for Michigan in 1879-80. Nor have his labors been confined merely to the practical duties of his profession. To its periodical literature he has contributed papers upon " Bandaging for the Relief of In- flamed Mamma ;" " Lipera ;" " Bad Water a Cause of Ty- phoid Fever ;" " Progress of Medical Science, with Hints upon Vulgar Errors impeding it," etc.

As a physician he is unusually quick and skillful in his diagnosis of disease ; simple, judicious, and conservative in his treatment ; very gentlemanly and conciliatory in his contact with his patients ; and just that kind of physician who, when once known, is most valued, and loved alike by rich and poor. The men of all others for whom he seems to entertain a most vehement dislike are the various quacks and pretenders to medical knowledge, whom a wise and stringent Legislature ought long since to have driven from a State as intelligent as that of Michigan.

In politics, though by education and choice a Republican, he is not of the noisy kind, or at all inclined to make him- self conspicuous on the stump. In religion he has equally decided opinions as in medicine. IIe believes that its ten- dencies and results ought always to characterize the medical man, who at every step in his career, in the very tissues and organs of the human frame, should not fail to see sub- lime and beautiful evidence of the wisdom, power, and good- ness of the great Creator. Its true demonstration he thinks is quite as often in the life as in the elaborate argument.

It would naturally be expected that a man who had gone through so varied and trying an experience would endeavor

1SS

HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

to secure for himself a happy home. In September, 1869, Dr. Ranney was united in marriage to Isabella E. Sparrow, daughter of Bartholomew Sparrow, late of Enniscorthy, Ireland, a woman of great tenderness of disposition, and admirably adapted by her many virtues to dignify and adorn domestic life. They have one son, a bright boy of seven years, who, when he is older, may learn much from this sketch of his father's life how to regulate and make a true success of his own.

Many-oh, how many !- were our unreturning brave who died on the battle-field, who perished by the wayside, who wasted away their inestimable lives in rebel hospitals and prison-pens through starvation and neglect. The evil which of all others has threatened the body politic of late has been poverty of blood. It will take more than one genera-

tion to make good the loss. Yet one thing is ever to be remembered : but for such surgeons as Dr. Ranney, who jeopardized their lives in the high places of the field, our loss would have been incalculably greater. They have re- turned, indeed, many of our Boys in Blue, without a leg or without an arm, but, thank God ! they have at least brought baek their undying love for the Union, and enough of their glorious spirit has been left to save us from a civil war far worse than rebellion, and thus give us " the grandest prospect of a national development which has ever opened upon the human race." We close, then, our sketch in the same spirit in which we commeneed it,-HONOR TO THE GREEN SASH AS WELL AS TO THE RED.

GEORGE DUFFIELD. LANSING, Mich., Oct. 22, ISSO.

Annie E Cortsite

Harry Contrato

HENRY CORTRITE.

Henry Cortrite was born in the town of Phelps, county of Ontario, State of New York, in the year 1838. At the age of sixteen, with his mother and a younger brother and sister, he removed to the Peninsular State and settled in Genesee County. As Henry was the elder of the three children the responsibility rested upon him to earn a living for his mother and the two younger children. With a willing hand and a pair of strong arms Henry performed this duty, and in a most satisfactory manner to his mother. In 1858 they removed to Plymouth, Wayne Co., where Henry made the acquaintance of Miss Annie E. Moreland, his present companion. Eight years later he was married and commenced business for himself at Plymouth, Mich., in the manufacture of fanning-mills. Being well adapted to this business he made it a success. In 1875 he removed

to the capital city, where he now resides, carrying on the same business. The family consists of Mr. Cortrite, wife, and twelve-year-old daughter, Nettie.

EDWIN BEMENT.

Among the truly representative men who contributed to make Lansing what it is was Edwin Bement, the founder of one of the most important industries in Central Mich- igan. He was of New England origin, born in Westfield, Mass., Aug. 26, 1811, and was the oldest of four children.

Jan. 1, 1820, his parents left the old home, with their children and household effects, in a lumber-wagon, for the then remote frontier of Northern Ohio, and after a month's journey arrived at Randolph, Portage Co., where they set-

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CANNING MI

المؤسسة

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LANSING TOWNSHIP.

tled. In this vicinity Edwin Bement spent his boyhood, serving an apprenticeship as a millwright. In 1837, at the age of twenty-six, he removed to Fremont; where he and his brother Orson erected a grist-mill and an oil-mill. Two years later Mr. Bement married Miss M. Louisa Roberts, and in 1842 they removed to what is now Fostoria, Ohio, where he and his brother built the first grist-mill in that vicinity, and also purchased a small foundry. Here Mr. Bement resided some twenty-six years, six years of which he was engaged in the stove and hardware trade. In 1869 he sold his business in Fostoria and removed to Lansing, erect- ing a foundry for the manufacture of agricultural implements, etc. In this enterprise he associated with himself his three sons, Arthur, Willis, and Clarence. This business under- taking has been eminently successful, and is to-day one of the most important manufacturing establishments in Central Michigan.

Mr. Bement died March 8, 1880. The sons continue the business established by their father, who was a man of fixed principles and high moral character. Honesty and industry were the essential media of his success. He had

a good business education, in his younger days attending the best schools in that portion of Ohio where he lived, and was a successful school-teacher for several winters. At an early age Mr. Bement united with the Congregational Church at Randolph, Ohio, and from that time to the day of his death was an active and consistent member. He was instrumental in forming the First Presbyterian Church in Fostoria, superintending personally the construction of the church edifice and contributing largely to meet the ex- pense. lle was an elder in this church from its organiza- tion until coming to Lansing, when he became identified with Plymouth Congregational Church as one of its dea- cons, and was at one time superintendent of the Sunday- school. Mr. Bement was an outspoken and fearless tem- perance worker, and exemplified in his person the principles he advocated.

Politieally, he was an uncompromising Abolitionist. Hav- ing in him the inherent love of freedom and a natural hatred of oppression, he took strong grounds in favor of emancipa- tion, and at a time, too, when public sentiment was largely pro- lavery.

LANSING TOWNSHIP .*

NATURAL FEATURES. GEOGRAPHY.

THE township of Lansing, which is designated in the United States surveys as town 4 north, range 2 west of the principal meridian, is situated in the northwest cor- ner of Ingham County. It is bounded on the north by Clinton County, on the south by the township of Delhi, on the east by the township of Meridian, both in Ingham County, and on the west hy the township of Delta, in Eaton County. The township-lines were surveyed by Lucius Lyon in 1825, and the interior lines by Musgrove Evans in 1827.

WATERCOURSES AND LAKES.

The township is traversed by two principal streams, Grand River and Cedar River. The former enters the township on the northwest quarter of section 30; flows northeast through sections 19, 20, and 21; thence nearly north through section 16 to the centre of section 9, where it turns northwest and runs thence to near the centre of section 5, when it turns sharply to the southwest and flows through section 7, leaving the township on the northwest quarter. It is naturally a rapid stream, and affords a large amount of water-power, only a portion of which has heen utilized. Its average width in the township may be stated at 200 feet, though it varies from 100 to 400.

The Cedar River, one of the principal branches of Grand River, enters the township from the east, on the southeast

quarter of section 13, and flows in a general southwesterly course to the west line of section 23, when it turns towards the northwest and unites with the main stream on the northeast quarter of section 21. This is also a rapid-flow- ing stream, and has an average width of about 100 feet in the township.

The Sycamore Creek, a considerable mill-stream, enters the township from the south in section 35, and flowing in a general northern direction through sections 34 and 27, unites with Cedar River in the southeastern part of section 22. A considerable branch of this creek flows through sec- tions 32, 33, and 27, and unites with it near the south line of section 27, a few rods east of the Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw Railway.

A small stream, the outlet of a little lake on the north- east quarter of section 35, enters Sycamore Creek near the township-line. Another more considerable creek flows northwest through seetions 25 and 24, and enters the Cedar River on the northeast quarter of section 22. The outlet of Jones' Lake, in the northwest part of the township, flows in a devious eourse through section 5, and unites with Grand River near the southwest corner of that section. These are all the streams of importance. Several inferior brooks are found in various portions of the township.

There are two small lakes or ponds within the township. Of these the largest is the one known as Jones' Lake, lying partly in sections 4 and 5, and covering an area of about twenty acres. Its margin is more or less marshy. The other is situated in the centre of the northeast quarter of section 35, and is much smaller in dimensions.

# By Samuel W. Durant.

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HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

TOPOGRAPHY.

The township is comparatively level, with its surface divided into three principal areas by the two rivers. The lands along Grand River are generally high and rolling, and the river has banks more or less abrupt. In places there are ridges approaching the dignity of hills, but nothing of any remarkable elevation. The valley of the Cedar River is broad, level, and comparatively low, and subject more or less to annual overflow, and there is considerable low-lying land along Sycamore Creck.

SOILS.

The soil is composed mainly of sandy and clayey loam, with the latter predominating. The lowlands are in places made up of a dark vegetable mould, as may be seen on por- tions of the Reform School lands on section 14, and there are some marshy tracts, but probably nearly every acre of the township is susceptible of drainage and cultivation.

Originally the township was heavily timbered with oak, elm, maple, beech, ash, sycamore, cherry, and many other deciduous forest-trees, and large areas are still covered with the primitive forest. Excellent brick clay abounds; marl is present in the low basins ; sand and gravel are abundant, and possibly peat may exist in some of the marshes. The bowlder drift affords stone for ordinary purposes, and in one or two localities, perhaps, the sand-rock overlying the coal formation comes to the surface or near it. The soil when cleared and cultivated is excellent for the growth of the cereals, and all the vegetables of the northern temperate zone, and fruits of various kinds, including apples, peaches, pears, cherries, grapes, and wild fruits, flourish remarkably. The season of 1880 is prolific to a wonderful degree in these luxuries.

ORIGINAL LAND-ENTRIES.

The following list shows the names of those who origi- nally entered the lands from government in what is now the township of Lansing. The school section (16) forms a part of the city of Lansing, which was laid out by the State land commissioner in 1847.

Section 1 .- James C. Allen, Rosalvo F. Griffin, 1837; Joel Ilayford, Ephraim W. Bixby, 1851; Henry Stoel (Stowell), Jneob B. Bennett, 1852; Shepard Bemis, 1854; Stephen W. Downer, 1863. This see- tion is fractional, and contains 629 neres.

Section 2 .- Frnetional, containing 630.46 aeres. Riehard Lewis, 1836; Benjamin Earle, 1846; Isaiah G. Frost, James C. Allen, John C. Bull, James Shaw, 1847; Edward Thornberry, 1852.

Section 3 .- Fractional, 630.24 neres. Nathan II. Delano, Henry Whipple, George Lewis, all in 1836.

Section 4 .- Fractional, 617.36 neres. William H. Townsend, 1835; Williamn R. Watson, Verdine Ellsworth, Alexander Hutchins, all in 1836; John G. Snider, C. G. Jones, 1837.

Section 5 .- Fractional, 592.42 acres. William II. Townsend, Isane N. Hedden, 1835; Hornec HI. Comstock, John R. Jewett, Samuel G. Blies, 1836; George Smith, Rosnuna Laeon, 1837.

Section 6 .- Fractionnl, 666.38 aeres. Catharine N. Forbes, Thomas Stevens, David Frink, 1835; Gerardus Clark, Samuel Marks, 1837.

Section 7 .- Fractional, 614.61 aeres. David Meech, 1835-36; Rich- mond Whitemarsh, James Seymour, 1836.

Section 8 .- Fractional, 632.88 acres. Willinm II. Townsend, 1835; Frederick Bushnell, Richmond Whitemarsh, James Seymour, all in 1836. l'artly in city of Lansing.

Section 9 .- Fractional, 600.09 acres. Willinin HI. Townsend, 1835; Frederick Bushnell, 1836. In eity of Lansing.

Section 10 .- Now iu city of Lansing; full, 640 acres. Horace H. Comstock, Leland Green, Robert G. L. Peyster, James Seymour, all in 1836.

Section 11 .- Full, 640 acres. Mortimer B. Martin, Riehard Lewis, 1836; Miles N. Stanley, William Hogle, 1837; John C. Bull, George T. Clark, 1847.

Section 12 .- Full, 640 aeres. Adam L. Roof, Robert Toan, Heze- kiah Smith, Daniel Nicholson, 1847 ; Simeon Dearin, 1848; Sherman Bemis, 1853.

Section 13 .- Fractional, 620.28 acres. Horace H. Comstock, George W. Wright, John F. Lawrence, all in 1836.

Section 14 .- Frnetional, 631.85 acres. IIorace H. Comstock, George M. Mills, Mortimer B. Martin, Henry Olmsted, 1836; Gerardus Clark, 1837.

Section 15 .- Full, 640 aeres (in eity of Lansing). Oliver Johnson, Thomas Lawrence, James Seymour, 1836; E. J. Penniman, 1837.

Section 16 .- Fractionnl, 607.04 acres. Lnid out by the State as a part of the town of Michigan, now city of Lansing.

Section 17 .- Full, 640 aeres. Frederick Bushnell, James Seymour, 1836. East half in eity of Lansing.

Section 18 .- Fractional, 676.68 aeres. Frederick Busbnell, James Seymour, 1836.

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History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan, Part 46

Author: Durant, Samuel W. cn Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia : D.W. Ensign & Co. Number of Pages: 772

Author: Durant, Samuel W. cn
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia : D.W. Ensign & Co.
Number of Pages: 772