USA > Michigan > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Michigan > Part 22
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To their successors, who can never fully realize their privations, but who now enjoy the fruits of their hardship and toil, we would
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say: Endeavor by your actions to show the survivors that you ap- preciate their character and worth; cheer their hearts and lighten the burdens of their declining years, and yon will have nobly per- formed your part in life, if you make for yourselves as good a record as have our Jackson pioneers.
ADDITIONAL REMINISCENCES.
We complete the history of the early settlement of Jackson connty by quoting further from Col. Shoemaker, as follows:
MERCHANDISE.
The first stock of goods offered for sale was brought in from Ohio by Mr. Jesse Baird early in 1830, and to him belongs the honor of having been the first merchant in Jackson, and of having the sagacity to choose for his enterprise one of the great centers of trade in the State. Mr. Baird was also a contractor of some noto- riety, and to him was given the contract for building the race on the west side of the river, for the saw-mill which was being built for Messrs. Bennett and Thompson.
Mr. George B. Cooper, who came here some time in June, was interested with Mr. Baird, and while engaged about the pond and race received more than he had contracted for, the unusual labor and exposure bringing on him an attack of fever and ague, and to him belongs the unenviable distinction of having been the first to acquire that disease which a few years after became so common as to be in the care and keeping of almost every family in the con- munity. Mr. Cooper had also, following the ague, a severe attack of bilious fever, which came near closing a career which was after- ward, for so many years, so closely and so usefully identified with the growth and prosperity of Jackson.
Another store, with a miscellaneous assortment of goods, such as are usually found in a country store, and supposed to contain any and every article a customer might call for, was opened by Mr. Hogan in the house of William R. DeLand, on the corner of Blackstone and Pearl streets, soon after that of Mr. Baird. The next year, in 1831, Mr. Hogan built and occupied as a store, a frame building on the northeast corner of the public square, front- ing on Jackson street. This was the first frame building erected in Jacksonburgh.
Mrs. John Wellman, who was of the colony of 1830, was the main reliance of the neighborhood for the cutting and making of the clothes of men and boys, where that could not be done in their own families. Her work gave such satisfaction that there was no opposition for three years, and she successfully plied the needle in Jackson for over 35 years.
The first carpenter to settle in Jacksonburgh was John Wick- ham, who came to work on the saw-mill of Bennett and Thompson, and then made it his home. A tannery was established here in
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1830 by Major D. Mills and Christian Prusia, on the site where Gavin's brewery was afterward built, between Pearl and Clinton streets, near the old gas works and ashery. This enterprise was in advance of the wants of the settlement, and did not prove a suc- cess remuneratively. It was abandoned after a desperate struggle of two years or more, worthy of a better fate.
VILLAGE PLATTED.
Some time in the spring or summer of 1830 Horace Blackman. Russell Blackman, William R. Thompson, Isaiah W. Bennett and Benjamin HI. Packard surveyed, laid out and platted "A plan of the village of Jacksonburgh, by Jonathan F. Stratton, surveyor," and caused the same to be left for record at Ann Arbor, in the of- fice of the register of deeds for Washtenaw county, to which this county was attached for judicial and other purposes-Jackson county not having yet been organized.
The original plat was lost, and no record made of it in that of- fice. In 1842 a copy, verified by the oath of Dr. B. II. Packard, was filed for record in the office of the register of deeds for Jack- son county. This document can be found on page 600 of liber 10 of deeds.
This plat ineludes part of the northeast quarter of section three, town three south of range one west, and part of the southeast quarter of section thirty-four, town two south of range one west. That part of the city on this ground is built on lots as described by this plat, except that the public square at the junction of Main and Jackson streets has all been vacated except the northwest quarter, (in front of the Congregational church), and is now occupied by some of the most valuable blocks of buildings in -the city. Three blocks of stores (the best in the city), now stand on the front of three-fourths of what was the public square of the village of Jack- sonburgh.
COUNTY SEAT.
Oliver Whitmore, Bethuel Farrand and Jonathan F. Stratton were appointed commissioners "to designate the county-seat of the county of Jackson." In their report made March 30, 1830, they say: "A territorial road, called the St. Joseph's road, was last winter laid directly through the heart of the Peninsula. Where this road erosses the Grand river, about 70 miles west of Detroit, a flourishing village is commenced, and the proprietors are ereet- ing mills. The road was opened last winter as far west as Grand river by a company of citizens of Ann Arbor, who, together with the commissioners, gave the village the name of Jacksonburgh. We speak confidently when we say, the State capital will be at Jacksonburgh. So sanguine were we, that we required the pro- prietors to appropriate 10 aeres of land for the State-house square. Upon a commanding eminence near the upper part of this village,
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at a point sixty-two degrees six chains from the southwest corner of the southeast quarter of section thirty-tour, town two south of range one west, we have stuck the stake for the county-seat. The proprietors have given a court-house square, a public square, four meeting-house squares and one college square.'
This report is addressed to "Lewis Cass, Governor of the Terri- tory of Michigan," and signed by the commissioners. Gen. Cass approved their finding, and issued his proclamation declaring the village of Jacksonburgh to be the county-seat of Jackson county.
TOWNSHIP OF JACKSONOPOLIS.
On the 30th of July, 1830. "An act to incorporate the township of Jacksonopolis," passed by the Legislative Council of the Terri- tory. was approved by the Governor. By a subsequent act, ap- proved Feb. 18, 1831, the name was changed to Jacksonburgh. This township, in the language of the act, embraced "all that part of the country being within the limits of the county of Jackson." The township and county were one in extent until 1833, when the county was divided into four townships-Jacksonburgh, Spring Arbor, Napoleon and Grass Lake.
Section 2 of the act of July 30, 1830, provides "that the first township meeting to be held in said township shall be held at the dwelling-house of I. W. Bennett, in said township, on the third Tuesday of August, 1830."
Section 3 provides that the officers elected " at said special town- ship meeting shall not hold their offices longer than the first Mon- day in April, 1831."
William R. De Land was the first justice of the peace, he having been selected for that office at a public meeting held in October, 1830, his commission bearing date the Sth of February, 1831, signed by Lewis Cass as governor, and attested by Jolm S. Mason as secretary of the Territory. Horace Blackman was the first con- stable, he having been specially appointed by Justice De Land. They were officers for Washtenaw county, as Jackson county was not yet organized.
POSTOFFICE AND MAILS.
Isaiah W. Bennett was the first postmaster. The mails came from Detroit once a week. On their arrival those for Jackson- opolis were sorted out and placed by Mr. Bennett in a basket, there to remain until called for. When a letter arrived the news was at once spread through the settlements that so-and-so had on such a day a letter from home, and its contents soon became public property. It was so, at least, to all who came from the same neighborhood.
The postoffice was first kept in the log-house of Mr. Bennett, which stood on the south side of Main street, and on the east side of the public square. In 1834 Mr. Daniel Coleman succeeded Mr.
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Bennett as postmaster, and held the office until his death in 1836, when George B. Cooper was appointed. Mr. Cooper continued to hold the office until his resignation in 1846.
FOURTH OF JULY, 1830.
There was one occurrence of the year 1830 which cannot be al- lowed to sink in the waters of oblivion, and that is the celebration of the Fourth of July, for this proves at how early a day the fires of patriotism were kindled in the breasts of the citizens of this place, which have always glowed so fervently since.
In this first effort Ann Arbor kindly came to our assistance. Mr. Isaiah W. Bennett had invited several of his friends living at Ann Arbor to visit him at his new location on Grand river, and judge for themselves of its importance. They determined to do so on the Fourth of July, and our enterprising settlers determined to make their visit memorable by uniting to celebrate their visit and our nation's birthday at the same time. Having timely notice, a committee of arrangements was appointed, consisting of Mr. William R. De Land, Hiram Thompson and Anson Brown. About 30 of the citizens of Ann Arbor arrived on the evening of July 3, and were hospitably received. They came in with flying ban- ners, marshaled by Mr. Anson Brown of the "Committee of Ar- rangements." Among those in his train were Dr. Benjamin H. Packard, George Corselins, Colonel Jewett, Messrs. Ramsdell, Maynard, Allen, Clark, Dix, Wileoxson, Cyrus Lovell, Messrs. Dix and Track, of Dixboro, and two young ladies, who came the entire distance, five miles east of Ann Arbor, on horseback, and others whose names are now lost, and thereby dropped from the roll of fame.
A national salute was fired at sunrise. The ordnance used for that purpose was the anvil of Josephus Case, accompanied by all the rifles and muskets on the ground, and these were as many as there were men and boys capable of handling fire-arms; for at that day all had arms of some kind, and knew how to use them. Cap- tain A. Laverty was master of ordnance, and made it lively for the boys. What with the anvil, shooting at a mark, and miscellaneons firing, there was kept up during the day a lively fusillade.
The order of proceedings was regular. The president of the day was Isaiah W. Bennett, Esq., assisted by Hiram Thompson, who discharged their duties in a manner satisfactory to all. Mr. George Mayo read the Declaration of Independence, and all agreed that it was well done. An able and interesting oration, appropriate to the time and place, was delivered by Gideon Wileoxson, Esq., of Ann Arbor. Mr. John Durand was chaplain of the day; though not a minister of the gospel, Mr. Durand was a strict and conscien- tious member of the Methodist Church, and was known to be strong in prayer. Ile opened the services on the hill, before the delivery of the oration, with prayer, and his fervent manner and evident sincerity caused his words, which were fitly spoken, to be very impressive.
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Mr. Horace Blackman was marshal of the day, and Lieutenant Edward Clark, of Ann Arbor, was assistant marshal. The manner in which the exercises were conducted, under their masterly order- ing, excited the admiration of every Pottawatomie who was so fortunate as to witness the procession, which, forming on the public square, marched to the brow of the hill near the south end of Jackson street, where the oration was delivered.
The festivities of the day closed with a dinner prepared by Mr. and Mrs. Terry, who then kept the Bennett tavern, and was served in a bower built for that purpose south of the tavern. Tradi- tion has failed to hand down to us the " bill of fare" of the good things with which the table was loaded on that occasion: neither have the toasts given, nor the responses made thereto, been handed down to us; but we are assured that a happier set of people, or a "jollier lot of fellows" never met at the festive board. Over 80 persons, all that could at one time be accommodated, sat down at the first table, and there was in attendance at this celebration every white person at that time within the limits of the county, and a large proportion of the Indians. The latter joined most heartily in the celebration, although they did not understand exactly why they did so, or what it was for.
IMPROVEMENTS, CROPS, SUPPLIES.
From 20 to 30 buildings were erected in the summer and fall of 1830, and settlements were made in the vicinity in several direc- tions. Farms were beginning to be opened up and cultivated. Some corn and other crops were raised, so that in the winter ot 1830'31 the pioneers had not to depend entirely upon having the means of livelihood brought from abroad.
The first land cultivated in the county was by the Blackmans, on their purchase on the old Indian corn-field lying between Blackman ereek and Ganson street. In the fall there were several fields sown to winter wheat.
Our hardy settlers were industriously working to provide for their future wants, and particularly to save themselves from the long and fatiguing trips they were now obliged to make to Wash- tenaw county for their seed and bread. The little colonies in Jackson county could get no seed wheat or other grain at a less distance than Mill creek, and no wheat or other grain ground nearer than the mills on the same stream, at what is now Dexter.
The erops raised this year, and the wheat harvested from this fall's sowing-the yield from which was very gratifying-were of great benefit to the little settlement. For hay they found a ready, abundant and excellent supply in the grasses on the marshes, which were on the borders of all the streams and lakes in the county. This was a most favorable circumstance for the pioneer, as it enabled him to feed his teams and winter his stock, if he was so fortunate as to have any, at an expense much less than he could otherwise have done. Mr. Blackman and his associates
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cut and secured over 80 tons of this hay the first summer they spent in their new homes.
The settlements after the first summer became in a great measure self-supplying, so far as they depended upon agricultural products, but for long years were under the necessity of taking those tedious and unprofitable trips to the grist-mill at Dexter, which took up so much of their valuable time and was so exhaust- ing to their scant stock of ready money.
FARMS AND FARMING.
The most of the teams owned by the pioneers were composed of oxen, as they were much the most serviceable in the clearing of the land necessary for improvements of any kind, and particularly in logging, in plowing among and removing stumps, and in build- ing the log and brush heaps preparatory to burning after the tim- ber had been cut down. They were also much better adapted than any other teams to the state of the roads, or rather to the en- tire want of any other road than the tracks made by those who had " gone before " on the same route, with no bridges across the streams, and no causeways across the marshes, with no more cer- tain guide from point to point than the blazes made on the trees to designate the route. With these teams our patient, frugal and in- dustrious pioneers were obliged to go from 20 to 30 miles for most of their provisions the first year, and for six years to get ground their little grists of wheat, corn or buckwheat. Mr. John T. Durand informs me that it always took him three days with his ox team to make the trip to the mills at Dexter.
The first orchard set out in the county was planted by Mr. A. W. Daniels, on his farm adjoining the now City of Jackson. Mr. Daniels, in September, 1830, came in and built a log house on his farm, on which he is now living. He brought with him a yoke of cattle and a wagon loaded with provisions and farming implements. The trees for this orchard were sent him by his father. Mr. John Daniels, who had been here in 1829.
When returning with his ox team from Detroit with his load of trees, his wagon got stuck in the low wet ground at the ford. at the crossing of Grand river at this place, and he was obliged to leave it until the next day, when he procured sufficient assistance to en- able him to get it out of the quagmire.
SUPPLIES, FOOD.
The first winter, that of 1830-31, was the most trying of any our little settlement of Jacksonburgh had to endure. Food was scarce and prices high. There was but little money to spend among our settlers after they had paid for their lands, bought their teams and stock, built their log houses, and made such improve- ments as the scant time left after this was accomplished would allow. It was here that great benefit was derived from our red
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brethren. Notwithstanding the fact that the white man was die- possessing them of their houses, their inheritance and their country, and that they were being exterminated by their Christian brethren, they in the innocence of their hearts acted toward the suffering white settlers, the part of the good Samaritan. The supplies of venison, game, maple sugar, berries and fish furnished by " Poor Lo" were of the last importance to our pioneers during the long · winter and the first of spring. No more welcome sight was looked for than to see a string of Indians approaching single file with a lot of venison or wild turkeys hanging across their ponies, for this not only insured a replenishment of the stock of provisions, but also that it was to be done on very favorable terms, for of all classes of men the Indian has the least and poorest ideas of values, and our sharp, shrewd first settlers from New York and New Eng- land were not very sernpulous in their dealings with those upon whose good will they were so dependent. All kinds of provisions had become extremely scaree, and prices correspondingly high. Potatoes sold for twenty-five eents each.
Some hogs brought into the neighborhood had got into the woods and ran wild. They were not pleasant objects to meet if without firearms, and were really more dangerous than the wolves. bears, or any other of the wild beasts of our forests. They, how- ever, at this juncture, served a good turn, as in the vicinity of Jacksonburgh, always since skilled for her sharpshooters, they were systematically hunted, and salted down when there was enough of the pork to justify that process. There was plenty of shaek in the woods, the hogs were not very plenty, so that they were generally in very good condition for the pot, to which they were as welcome as flowers in May.
No pork or potatoes could be bought nearer than Plymouth, in Wayne county, where those who were obliged to buy had to go, the trip taking up the better part of, if not an entire week.
What with the Indians, wild hogs, and such other seant resour- ces as they could command, our little community passed safely, if not comfortably, through the winter, and though they were sub- jected to many trials and suffered many hardships, yet they did not despond, but hailed the advent of spring as bringing with it not only a release from the cold and discomforts of winter, but also the genial warmth of the spring-time, which enabled them to prepare the ground for the seed-time. and gave them the hope of a harvest which would, in a great measure, render them independ- ent of other sources of supply.
During the winter the hardy and industrious ax men had chopped. logged, piled and burnt the brush on such fields as they intended to cultivate for spring crops. Frequently the. brush-heap was the work of the women and children, so ready were all to help to get the homestead improved, and to aid in preparing for the expected erop.
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HARDSHIPS.
Indians, fleas, wolves and bears were all so numerous as to be somewhat troublesome. The Indians and sand-hills were equally covered, if not filled, with fleas, and the latter added not a little to the annoyance and discomfort of our first settlers.
The bears and wolves were also the cause of much annoyance. They would prowl around the dwellings in the night time, and most of the housewives of those days insisted that they had seen them at their windows peering in with ferocions looks, as if they were desirons of gratifying their appetite at the expense of some of the smaller or weaker members of the family. We have no rec- ord that any such deplorable event occurred, though many hair- breadth escapes are related of women and children in passing after dark from house to house.
We have now passed the year 1830, the first year of our infant settlement, and shall proceed more rapidly, as did the growth of the village. The first year is essentially the year of the pioneer, and deserves to be treated more particularly and more at length than any other. No incident is too trivial or too unimportant to narrate, if it in any manner illustrates the ways, manners or mode of living of those who first made their homes in the wilder- ness, for such at that time was almost the entire of the interior of Michigan.
The first quarterly meeting held in Jacksonburgh by the Epis- copal Methodist Church was on the 14th and 15th of April, 1832. and met in the new log house of Bennett and Thompson, the sec- ond house built in the place. At this pioneer meeting there was made a pioneer convert who made a confession of faith, and was received into the bosom of the Church.
Soon after the conference adjourned, the Rev. Joseph H. Smith, of the same Church, came here from Canada, and established a Sabbath-school and Bible class; but in 1832 both were discontinued, owing, as some said, to the Black Hawk war, and others to the sickness in the settlement.
DR. OLIVER RUSS.
In the spring of 1831, Dr. Oliver Russ built a log house on the east side of the river and on the north side of Ganson street, for his brother, Mr. Nathan Russ, who came here with his family that year.
As illustrating the state of the streets, or rather the want ot them, and also the energy and determination of Dr. Russ, the fact may be stated that the boards for the doors and casings of this house were carried by the Doctor on his back from Bennett's saw- mill, over a mile in distance, crossing the river on the log bridge at Main street. The memory of Dr. Oliver Russ is highly treas- nred by all the old citizens of Jackson. No man has left behind him more pleasing recollections, for he was one of that original
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type of men who invested the veriest trifles with interest by his manner of treating them. He was brusque but very kind-hearted and but few men lived in Jackson who would put themselves to as much trouble and inconvenience to perform an act of real charity. Of this he gave a remarkable proof by going to, and re- turning from Marshall on foot in 1832, where there were several cases of cholera. His professional services being necessary, he, without hesitation, set out on foot to traverse the then thinly set- tled country, alive only to the sense of duty, and without thought of anything but to do it. The question of compensation was never allowed to interfere with his actions in the practice of his profes- sion.
FIRST TOWNSHIP MEETING.
The county of Jackson and township of Jacksonburgh were at- tached to Washtenaw county for judicial purposes. The first town- ship meeting for the election of officers was appointed to be held at the house of Wm. R. Thompson, on the 4th of April, 1831. Each officer was to be voted for by ballot until a choice was made, and then the next in rotation, until all were in this manner elected. I'nder the territorial laws, the meeting was called to order on the morning of the 4th day of April, by Wm. R. DeLand, Esq., acting in his capacity as justice of the peace, and then proceeded to elect Alexander Laverty moderator, and Hiram Thompson clerk, who, having taken and subscribed the necessary oath of office, constituted the necessary board of election. Proclaination was then made that notice of said election had been duly given, and that the polls of the election were then open for the reception of ballots. The office of supervisor was the first in order, and there were 31 votes cast. Here we have in township and county, which in extent are one, 31 votes cast at an election which was likely to call out every voter.
After the election there were adopted by the meeting some munic- ipal by-laws, which had been prepared, for paying bounty on wolf scalps, and for the regulation of cattle running at large, after which the meeting adjourned, well satisfied with now having a local gov- ernment of their own.
The common council of the city of Jackson are not in such fear of wolves as to cause them to offer rewards for their scalps, but with them there is no more troublesome question than that of re- straining cattle from running at large in the streets, and when the average alderman votes on the question, he is inclined to vote for the largest liberty, having in his mind the otherwise indignant voter who at the next election would most likely go for his political scalp, if he did not even value it sufficiently to offer a reward for it. as did our worthy pioneers for that of the wolf.
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