History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 12

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago [Ill.] : Inter-state Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1166

USA > Michigan > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Michigan > Part 12

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Other Minerals .- Ochre beds are found in Jackson county, em- braced in the Woodville sandstone. In several localities ochreous deposits from springs exist in such quantities as to justify attempts at establishing a business.

Oxyd of Manganese has been found at a depth of two feet be- neath a bed of peat, forming a stratum 14 inches thick and ex- tensive in its area. Over 20 years ago this mineral was used as carriage paint by L. D. Gale, of Grass Lake.

Ferruginous Shales .- Ferruginous and chocolate-colored shales occur in the Coal Measures. A paint made up of these shales was used for outside work at Lansing in 1858, and promised to give every satisfaction.

Fire Clay .- A vast deposit of fire clay is found a short distance north of the city limits, which is used in the manufacture of sewer pipe and fire brick, while the whiter portions, together with a finer quality of potter's clay from the beds of Spring Arbor, are used in the manufacture of the better class of pottery work.

Iron Ore is found, but not in sufficient quantities to suggest mining operations. What does exist is of excellent quality, and may lead the geologist to such exploration as may result in the dis- covery of illimitable deposits within this county.

County Peat Fields .-- The peat, lignite and other bituminous deposits to be found in the county are of incalculable value. In this connection Mr. Winchell gives a synopsis of the varied

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

uses in which the much despised peat would take a very promi- nent part :

1. Crude peat as a fertilizer for the soi ..

2. Prepared peat and peat coke as fuel.

(a) For domestic heating purposes.

(h) For the generation of steam.

For the manufacture and working of metals.

3 Peat for the manufacture of gunpowder.

4. Peat, or bitumen from peat, for paving purposes.

5. Crude oil, for lubrication, illumination and gas-making.

6. Petroleum for burning in lamps.

7. Paraffine for the manufacture of candles.

8 Light, inflammable gas for heating.

9. Illuminating gas of superior quality .

10. Lampblack.

These views of the State Geologist are in accordance with those of early and even modern writers. They are not impracticable where peat fields exist, and should be minutely inquired into by the enterprising capitalists of the county.

Description of a Jackson Muskeg .- Near Michigan Center is a muskeg, or covered lake. This was over 100 feet in depth. bearing upon its surface the accumulated boughs, trees, leaves and sands of ages,-the refuse of the forest and the neighboring sand hills .- all hidden beneath a stratum of black, marshy loam, and this again covered with luxuriant grass and herbage. It is, un- doubtedly. hundreds of years since the once extensive and clear waters of this lake began to receive the contributions of vege- table matter and sands which have since converted the neighbor- hood of its present limits into rich and fertile lands, and gave promise to complete their labors as field-makers. In the distant northwest the water is undergoing the same process. Everywhere the treacherous muskeg presents itself, but in a far more primitive condition than the muskegs of Michigan, of which that at Center village is a specimen.

Mr. Winchell, when dealing with this subject, says mimer- ous evidences exist of the movement of heavy bodies over the un- derlying rocks, previously to their burial by the Drift. Wherever considerable surfaces are found exposed they are seen smoothed and striated in the manner usually attributed to Drift agency. The inequalities left in the surfaces of the assorted Drift, upon the with- drawal of the submerging ocean, remained filled with water, which, by constant drainage to the sea in connection with accessions of fresh water only, have become our numerous inland lakes. These for many ages have been constantly filling up from several sources. Around the margin of these lakes is always a belt abounding in every .form of aquatic vegetation, which, decaying, forms a deposit of veg- etable matter, resting upon the marl from the water's edge to the inner limit of vegetable growth. The filling of the interior with transported matter, calcareous sediments, and shells of fresh water mollusks, causes the shallow belt to extend toward the center, and the vegetable deposit to encroach continually upon the laeustrine

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

area, until the whole lake becomes a peaty marsh with a bed of marl at the bottom. Subsequent accessions fill the interstices of the porons soil, exelude the standing water, and convert the reeking marsh into dry and arable land. The beaver and the muskrat may exert some ageney in the inundation and drainage of lands; but a few observations on the borders of our lakes will suf- fice to show that they are by no means the principal agents. The beds of marl and peat thus aceumnlated constitute almost exhaust- less repositories of nutritive matter for the recuperation of the hill- side soils, that have been exhausted of their soluble ingredients by the leaching rains and an improvident system of farming.

Pre-Columbian, if' not Antediluvian .- Imbedded in these ac- cumnlations are found the remains of the elephant, mastodon, and elk. A fragment of a mastodon's molar was found by Dr. Miles, at Green Oak, Livingston Co. A perfect molar of an elephant was exhumed by some farmers in the northern portion of Jackson county. And so on, throughout the counties, these relics of the dim past are brought forth from their primitive hiding places to of- fer new subjects for inquiry. During the progress of the first geo- logical survey, Prof. Sager, then State Geologist, exhumed in the western part of the State the candal vertebræ of a whale.

Artesian Wellx .- The late successful boring of several artesian wells in the southern part of the State has created a very general desire to know to what extent artesian borings would prove suc- cessful in other parts. Several unsuccessful borings have been made rather by experiment than by any adequate knowledge of the existence of such a geological structure as could furnish rea- sonable grounds for the expectation of success. From what has been stated of the general conformation of the strata underlying the Lower Peninsula, the accumulation and retention of vast reser- voirs of water will appear obvious and necessary. Rains falling on the surface pereolate down until the water reaches an impervious stratum, along which it flows until it reaches the lowest depression of such stratum, somewhere beneath the center of the State, and some hundreds of feet from the surface. The water-bearing strata are, therefore, porons sandstone, immediately underlaid and over- laid by impervious strata of an argillaeeons or calcareous character. Each porons sandstone stratum becomes in this manner surcharged with water, admitted at its outerop. It is obvious that by boring down at any point within the circuit of the onterop of water-bear- ing stratum, until the stratum is pierced, the water will rise to a level with the rim of the basin which holds it. If the place of boring is lower than that point, the water will rise to the surface and overflow ; if higher, it will not. In the southern part of Jack- son and the northern part of Hillsdale counties the sandstones of the Napoleon and Marshall groups outerop at levels considerably higher than the general elevations of the Peninsula, and it is likely that the impediments to a free eirculation of the water in these strata prevent them from sinking to the level of the lowest portions of the basin in remote parts of the State.

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

As a consequence artesian borings might prove successful through- out the southern half of Jackson county. It must not be supposed. however, that the artesian wells of Jackson are supplied from this source. If I have succeeded in the identification of the rocks in that vicinity, these wells are supplied from the Parma sandstone. Albion is outside the rim of this formation, and the wells there have to be continued down to the bottom of the Napoleon sand- stone. Marshall is outside this rim, and rests just upon that of the outcropping Marshall group; and hence I should not expect that the contained waters would rise to the surface. The artesian (salt) wells of Grand Rapids are supplied from the Napoleon group. the water being salted from the group immediately above. The wells of Saginaw issue from the same sandstones and are salted in the same way.

In the southern part of Jackson, where the streams have cut their way through these rocks, the contained waters rush forth in extended chains of most beautiful and copious springs. The indi- cations seem to justify the conclusion that the wells at Jackson are supplied from a local basin. It appears, therefore, that a reliable opinion on the prospect of success at any particular point involves not only a knowledge of the general conformation of rocks, but also an acquaintance with the special geology of the region in question. The purity and salubrity of well and spring water in the Lower Peninsula are generally very great. An analysis made by T. C. MeNeil, A. B., of the Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, resulted as follows :

Depth of well, north of University Campus, .70 ft. 8 in.

Temperature of water. .50° Fah.

Free carbonic acid in 100 parts. .015593

Solid constituents.

Carbonate of lime.

.017800

magnesia

006053

.. * iron. .000290

Chloride of sodium

.000448

Sulphate of soda.

.000507

Carbonate of soda

.000152

Sulphate of potash .000678

Silicic acid. .

.000730

Organic matter

.002300

0.028963.

The solid constituents of some wells in Jackson and neighboring counties sum up a total equal to .037936, with free and partially combined carbonic acid equaling .028500 in 100 parts. This is the quality of the water which is supplied to the citizens of Jackson, and in it they possess something even superior to that produced by the celebrated wells of Europe, and almost equal to the finest artesian water on this continent. Many of the facts in the foregoing pages, dealing specially with the geological forma- tions of this county, were collected from a geological report published in 1861, under the direction of A. Winchell, State

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

Geologist. A great amount of attention has been evidently be- stowed upon the subject by him, so that now, 20 years after his geological survey, it may be said with truth that he was precise in his professional dealings, and almost exact in his locations and descriptions. The enterprise of the citizens has tended to eclipse the brightest day-dreams of the geologist; but there is yet work to be done before all the magnificent mineral resources of the county vield up their riches.

SANITARY.

Noxious exhalations which arise from moist, rich, and productive lands are generally termed miasma. The greater the amount of vegetable productions the greater the amount of these exhala- tions, so dangerous to the health of the animal system. Moist- ure, heat and natural decadence of substances are the primary causes of its generation. Heat alone will not be able to produce it; because, under the intense warmth of the Sahara desert, miasmatical vapor does not exist, nor does it show itself under the intense cold of Northern latitudes. Therefore it is evident that it requires heat, moisture, and decaying vegetable substances to produce it. These are to be easily found in this county. The rich alluvial soil, over which, in the past, the commerce of nations might have been put afloat, together with the gradual and ever progressive growth and decay of its rich vegetation, to which may be added the heat of the summer months and the dampness that waits upon the approach of spring, render the locality peculiarly adapted to the generation of vapors, charged with poisonous particles of matter which are undoubtedly very detrimental to health. From the opinions expressed by a few of the leading medical practitioners, it is evident that Jackson is not subjected to the evils which miasma is calculated to foster. How is this? It is because the county is partially drained, and therefore com- paratively free from miasmatical producers. It is said with some degree of accuracy that the drainage of marshes expels it; while the process of absorption and evaporation, which results after an inundation, reproduces it where it had previously existed. Now Jackson's marshy days are almost passed, and the chances of an inundation are of a most limited character, so that on both these points our citizens can rest secure in the certainty that disease will not be fostered by the generation of miasma. However there are other causes at work which may form melancholy substitutes for the ordinary marsh. Cess-pools, badly-kept sleeping rooms, and other such hot-beds of disease are sadly prevalent. This is a matter which should reach the home of every householder in the county, and be studiously inquired into by him; because neglect of sanitary precaution is always certain to lead to most deplorable results. It is a matter affecting the interests of the public that all these cess-pools be cleaned out and kept clean, otherwise the pernicious odors arising from them will become

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

concentrated in the air, and ultimately roll along the surface with a fatal laziness which may carry disease, if not death, into the mansions of the wealthy as well as the hovels of the wretched. The elevated position of the county insures health to the in- habitants, always provided they do not stay the progress of nature by their own negligence or artifice.

OCTOBER IN THIS COUNTY.

Nature has done much for this district, and seems to vie with man's art in making the land beautiful. The fall, more particularly, renders life most enjoyable, and fills the weary heart with peculiar delight. The beauties of the October days in this section of the State have often been sung, and periodically spoken of as being the most glorious part of the year. While praising the mildness of the weather and the many tints of the foliage, yet we hardly recognize how infinitely superior they are. The coldness and moisture and simple browns of many lands ought to send their travelers to this, if only to enjoy these fine days and bright colors of middle autumn. There is no more enjoyable time for journeying; the intense heats of summer are moderated; a suf- ficiently cool air is gently blowing from the south; the occasional morning fogs are dissipated in a few hours; a soft haze fills the whole air, and by noon there is a quietness and softness pervading all nature that soothes the mind, giving a sense of most exquisite contentment. It is quite common to say that the foliage is brighter or less bright this year than in some previous ones; but after all it is doubtful if there is as much difference as is supposed. Cer- tain localities may be differently affected at different times; but one who looks over an extensive range of eonntry will find the brilliant, glowing colors showing themselves everywhere. The natural ripen- ing of the leaf produces the various changes which we see, though perhaps these are sometimes expedited or hindered by an early frost. A people as genial as the climate render a stay · in this portion of Michigan something to be remembered. It brings with it true and untold pleasures, pleasant associations, scenes that may hold a place in memory, peace and health.

ARCHEOLOGY.

The archaeological discoveries made in this county are confined to souvenirs of its Indian occupaney. The burying grounds of the red man were numerous before the white settler passed over them with the plowshare. The Indian corn-fields, doubtless, held a position hitherto occupied by the gardens of a prehistoric race, and these, in turn, disappeared before the march of the civil- izer; so all that remains of Asiatic or Indian origin are the scalp- ing-knife, stone-pipe and rusted peltry, a stone hammer, bone knife, and some polished work in limestone. The bones of masto- don, mammoth and elephant have been unearthed in the district,

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

and round the city of Jackson are spots which it is said bore a re- semblance to the garden beds of the ancients, when the early set- thers first beheld the great ford of the Washtenong, or Grand river. Mr. S. O. Knapp, of Jackson, whose archaeological labors are well known, did not prosecute a search throughout this county for rel- ics of the past. This is to be regretted, since it is not at all improbable that the ancient wanderers made this county a place of meeting, and doubtless left many evidences of their stay.

CHAPTER II.

EARLY SETTLEMENT OF JACKSON COUNTY.

In chronicling the history of Jackson county and its early settlers, a task usually difficult has been made comparatively easy, owing to the courtesies extended to the writer by the officers of the Pioneer Society and many members of that organization, who placed the records at the disposal of the writer, or prepared special papers for this work. It may be impossible to collate all the fragmentary scraps of history for the past half century; but enough will re- main recorded in this chapter to enkindle in the memory of the surviving pilgrims recollections of kindred facts, not given ns, which would otherwise lie wrapped in oblivion. Records of such items should be made as they are brought to light, that the histo- rian of the future may have abundance of material from which to compile. Studious care will be taken to leave uncertain infor- mation unrequisitioned, and to observe accuracy and truth.

ANTE-PIONEER HISTORY.

That the Indians of many tribes met within the present confines of Jackson county in their travels between Chicago and Fort De- troit has been conceded; nor is it questioned by many that at a very early period, perhaps prior to the Revolution, the Potta- watomies, Kiekapoos, Shawnees, Foxes, Sacs, and some wandering Otehipwas, met near the present capital of the county, then the Washtenong country, and ensanguined the wilds east of the meeting of the trails with their blood. The bones which had been so exten- sively scattered over the wilderness in 1830, and found even at pres- ent, point to this as having been the terrible battle-ground of the barbarians. The legends of the Northern Crees and Assinniboines speak of Central Michigan as the scene of the " great battle, " and even the war songs of the Pottawatomies did not fail to notice it.

In 1673 the holy Marquette, with the gallant Joliet, appeared among the tribes of the Northwest, and prepared the barbarian mind to conceive an idea of the white invader who was destined to occupy the Indian hunting-grounds within a century and a half. The first white men who are known to have arrived at the meeting of the trails were involuntary visitors. Their names were McDonagh and Limp,-two soldiers of Harrison's army corps. -- reported missing while en route to Detroit in 1812. But from what little can be learned from the British blue books, it may be pre- sumed that the Pottawatomies seized upon many more American troops, and wreaked their vengeance on them close by or within 9

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

the limits of Jackson city. Those soldiers were the first white settlers; their ashes rest here, and over their graves rises a beauti- ful city, while the barbarians who put them to death are vanished, banished or slain.

BAPTISTE, THE TRADER.

The French-Canadian voyageur came next, and he was followed by the French trader. The presence of the Frenchman among the wigwams of the wild hunters rather detracted from the morals of the former than added to the intelligence of the latter. He introduced his peltries first, and followed up his commercial suc- cesses by the sale of fire-water. He ultimately acquired the proprie- torship of a squaw, and for years shared in the sympathies and manners of the savages among whom he dwelt. As a rule, the ear- lier traders, after many years' intercourse with the red men, de- camped from their wigwams, separated forever from their Indian wives, and sought the civilized life of olden days; but the last French trader known in Jackson county was faithful to his savage spouse for a long time and continued to dwell on the old camp- ground long years after the last of the Pottawatomies disappeared from the county. This trader was generally known by the name of Baptiste Boreaux, and claimed to have traded with his dusky customers from the year 1815 to the period of the great influx of immigration. The little lake in Henrietta which bears his name is the only monument of his early visit and his stay; but there are many living who remember him well, and bear testimony to his rude excellence. Generation after generation of savages ap- peared upon the scenes of Indian life, roamed through the forest, or paddled their canoes down the streams of the county, while yet be- yond them and around swarmed the civilizers, the immigrants from the East. The white man at length appeared. The Indian did not flee from his approach, but lived among the deer and wolf and bear which abounded in the district and offered them pleasure and food. Sometimes a group of redskins would assemble in the rnde cabin of the backwoodsman, light the pipe of peace, and tell such stories as the following:

THE STORY OF THE FLOOD.

Wap-ka-zeek, a chief of one of the bands of Indians inhabiting Jackson county, related the following legend of the deluge to Barnard, an Indian trader:

"One morning water for washing was brought to Mann, and when he had washed himself a fish remained in his hands. And it addressed these words to him: 'Protect me and I will save thee.' 'From what wilt thou save me ?' ' A deluge will sweep all creatures away; it is from that I will save thee.' 'How shall I protect thee ?' The fish replied: 'While we are small we run great dangers, for fish swallow fish. Keep me at first in a vase;

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

when I become too large for it dig a basin and put me into it. When I shall have grown still more, throw me into the ocean; then I shall be preserved from destruction.' Soon it grew a large fish. It said to Manu: 'The very year I shall have reached my full growth the delnge shall happen. Then build a vessel and worship me. When the waters rise, enter the vessel and I will save thee.' After keeping him thus Manu carried the fish to the sea. In the year indicated Manu built a vessel and worshiped the fish. And when the delige came he entered the vessel. Then the fish came swimming up to him, and Manu fastened the cable of the ship to the horn of the fish, by which means the latter made it pass over the Mountain of the North. The fish said: . I have saved thee; fasten the vessel to a tree that the water may not sweep it away while thou art on the mountain; and in proportion as the waters decrease thou shalt deseend.' Manu descended with the waters, and this is what is called the descent of Manu on the Mountain of the North. The deluge had carried away all creatures, and Manu remained alone."

The Sac war excitement reached the ears of the Jackson Indi- ans, so that their councils were turned from peace to war. They assembled at intervals round

THE COUNCIL FIRE.

The legislative hall of the Indian had the starry skies tor a dome. The wall of night girdled it; the council fire afforded the dusky chiefs and "bucks" sufficient illumination, and brands with which to light the circling pipe. Among the gnarled trees which formed the background the shape of the teepees was defined in the gloom. Wolves were yelping all'around. A pack in the immediate vicinity was answered by hundreds of voices from the surrounding darkness.

The old chiefs had been to a couneil with the white brother. Two suns had passed since their return, laden with presents, which had made the old chiefs' hearts glad, and every young buck in the village envious. One by one the old men rose, their story was told, and each had the same good word to say. The white brother was strong; his number exceeded that of the buffalo (heavy grunts from all sides); he had pony soldiers without number, and walk-a- heaps (infantry) till no Indian could eount them !- this all by way of indicating how strong the white brother was, also the white brother's heart was very good; he was anxions for peace, and will give the red brother blankets, sugar, spotted buffalo (rattle) and divers other good things. This and much more was gone over by the old chiefs; and when at last they had finished, an unbroken silence prevailed while the pipes passed round the circle many times. Then a young buck arose slowly, and moved swiftly toward the fire. He had but little to say. The old chiefs were very wise. They had the frosts of many winters on their heads. Their teepees were large, and filled with many things which make the heart of an Indian glad. Their ponies were many and fat. They were

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

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History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 12

Author: Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago [Ill.] : Inter-state Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1166

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago [Ill.] : Inter-state Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1166