USA > Michigan > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Michigan > Part 26
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The election of officers resulted as follows: Hon. David John- son, President; P. B. Loomis, Treasurer; and H. H. Bingham,
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
Secretary. These were the first county officers of the Pioneer Society.
The vice-presidency comprised 22 members, elected to represent their respective townships and the city of Jackson. Their names and respective districts follow: W. R. De Land, J. T. Durand, Samnel Higby and W. N. Buck, for the city of Jackson; Lewis Brown, township of Parma; James Gennison, Springport; L. Boynton, Grass Lake; Channcey Hawley, Napoleon; Chester Wall. Sandstone; R. H. Anderson, Rives; J. C. Sonthern, Tompkins; H. Daniels, Blackman; Moses Snttle, Liberty; Ira Willis, Pulaski; James Videto, Spring Arbor; Wm. Clapp, Han- over; J. H. Tanner, Henrietta; Jacob Biglow, Concord; A. H. De Lamater. Columbia; L. M. Barber, Leoni; A. A. Qurley, Waterloo; Freeman J. Watkins, Norville; William Root, Sum- mit.
These appointments completed the organization of the good old pioneers, and accomplished much for which the people of the fut- mre must be thankful. Before the adjournment Hon. H. A. Hay- den, Hon. David Johnson and A. H. De Lamater were appointed delegates to the State Convention of April, 1874, and a most im- portant resolution carried. requesting the township representa- tives to compile a history of their districts for the purposes of the record.
THE SECOND MEETING.
During the second meeting of the society in October, 1874, James O'Donnell, editor of the Daily Citizen, B. L. Carlton and W. W. Van Antwerp, of the Daily Patriot, with Tobias Miller, of Ingham county, and Engene Pringle were admitted honorary members. At the same meeting a history of Pulaski township was submitted by Vice-President Ira A. Willis, of Norvell, by F. C. Watkins, and of Grass Lake, by L. Boynton.
THE THIRD MEETING
took place Feb. 22, 1875. The annual election, provided for in the articles of organization, resulted in the return of Col. Michael Shoemaker, President; P. B. Loomis, Treasurer, and H. H. Bing- ham, Secretary; with the following vice-presidents: J. A. Higgins, W. N. Buck, William R. DeLand, J. T. Durand, Jackson City; George Landon, Springport; Lewis Brown, Parma; II. S. Smith, Grass Lake; Channcey Hawley, Napoleon; Chester Wall, Sand- stone; Richard Townley, Tompkins; Henry Daniels, Blackman; Moses Tuthill, Liberty; Ira C. Wyllis, Pulaski; George Hatch, Spring Arbor; Wm. Clapp. Hanover; Samnel Preston, Henrietta; Joel Bigelow, Concord; A. H. DeLamater. Columbia; G. M. Bar- ber, Leoni; A. A. Quigley, Waterloo; Alvinzie Hunt. Norville; William Root, Summit.
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
The retiring president. David Johnson, paid a glowing compli- ment to his colleagues, and formally vacated the chair. Col. Shoe- maker, in accepting the position, reviewed the history of Michigan and dwelt in his happiest manner upon the State, as well as Jack- son county, since 1835. the year of his advent hither. Col. Shoe- maker's address was followed by that of Hon. Levi Bishop, of Detroit, on the " Landmarks of American History." II. H. Bing- ham read a historical paper on Leoni township, written by Z. M. Barber, a vice-president of the society. The appointment of W. K. Gibson. F. Livermore and H. H. Bingham on the historical committee, with instructions to collate and preserve letters and records bearing on the early history of the county. brought the proceedings of this meeting to a conclusion.
THE FOURTH MEETING.
The meeting of June 21, 1877. was among the most important gatherings of the pioneers. President Shoemaker read a record of the deaths of 71 old settlers who passed to their eternity since the last meeting. Hon. Jonathan Shearer, of Plymouth, was present, and gave a recital of his recollections of Jackson county in 1837, together with an account of his adventures in Ingham county during the earlier days of his settlement. Hon. F. Liver- more and Hon. P. B. Loomis recapitulated many interesting rem- inisences of by-gone times. James Bennett read a poem by W. H. C. Hlarmer, and Jonathan Shearer , one written by himself. The election of officers showed the terms of Col. Shoemaker's presidency, H. H. Bingham's secretaryship and P. B. Loomis' treasuryship to be continued. D. E. Wright was chosen vice-presi- dent for Parma township: George Landon, Springport; H. S. Smith, Grass Lake: Chauncey Hawley, Napoleon; Chester Wall, Sand- stone: Richard Townley, Tompkins; Henry Daniels, Blackman; Moses Tuthill, Liberty; Ira (. Wyllis, Pulaski; George Hatch, Spring Arbor: William Clapp, Hanover; Sammel Preston, HIen- rietta: Joel Bigelow, Concord; A. H. De Lamater, Columbia; Z. M. Barber. Leoni: A. A. Quigley, Waterloo; Alvinzie Hunt, Nor- vell: William Boot, Summit; E. Van Horn. Rives: with Marvin Darrill, J. T. Durand, J. A. Higgins and W. N. Bnek for the city of Jackson.
The President, in concluding his address, said:
"Since the last meeting of the society there have been a num- ber of deaths among the early settlers, and in the course of nature it will be but a few years until the pioneers of Jackson county will be those born and bred here, and not those whose stout hearts and strong arms first encountered all the perils and hard- ships of frontier life. The log-cabin, brush-fence, fields with stumps all standing, have given way to the comfortable dwelling, with ample and convenient out-honses, to the well fenced, cleared and improved fields. With all these advantages to aid him, the young pioneer wonders that his parents should complain of the
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
hardships and privations attendant upon their younger days. As the signs of border life have passed away, with its privations of every kind, its unremitting labors, its agues, its fevers, and its many discomforts, so are rapidly passing away that hardy race of men and women, who in one generation have accomplished so much, who have subdued the wilderness and have caused Michigan to take a stand among the first States of the Union in wealth, pop- ulation, intelligence and all that goes to make a State in which her sons may take just pride. Among those we are called to mnourn, are:
Daniel O. Barnard, died at Jackson, June 1, 1875.
David Chapel, died at Sandstone.
O. H. Cobb, died at Jackson, July 21, 1875,.
Wm. R. De Land, died 1875, at Jackson. Samuel Higby, died May 12, 1876, at Jackson .
Jas. P. Hawley, died at Napoleon, July 3, 1876.
John Keys, died at Grass Lake.
Ben. G. Mosher, died at Jackson.
Samson Stoddard, died at Concord.
Thomas Tanner, died at Henrietta Jan. 2, 1876, aged 60.
Freeman M Sandford, died at Tompkins.
F. Wilson, died at Spring Arbor.
D. Whiteman, died at Jackson. Simeon Watts, died at Leoni.
Delos Fisher, died at Jackson.
A. Crowman, died at Waterloo, aged 87.
Lewis Darling, died at Tompkins, aged 64 Amasa Hawkins, died at Parma, aged 80. David Williams, died at Waterloo, aged 76 John A. Sloat, died at Napoleon, aged 73. . € John Norton, died at
Fairchild Farrand, died at Jackson.
Daniel Mann, died at Concord.
Wm. Maybury, died at Jackson.
Darman Felt, died at Jackson.
Robert McGregor, died at
L. D. Wheeler, died at Blackman, aged 55.
Owen Griffith, died at Jackson, aged 74. Robert Graham, died at Jackson, aged 65.
S. H. Sears, died at Jackson. Marcus Spencer, died at
G.o. A. Baldwin, died at Jackson.
Allen Case, died Nov. 2, 1875.
S. M. Soper, died at Tecumseh, April 6, 1877, aged 70.
John Morton, died March 28, 1876, aged 75.
Isaac Kibbee, died at Summit, aged 81.
Wm. S. Moore, died at Jackson, March 15, 1877, aged 48.
Ap. Lincoln, died at Tompkins, May 26, 1877, aged 80.
G. G. Gould, died at Tompkins.
Lewis Brown, died at Parma, Oct. 16, 1876.
(' J. Nobles, died Nov. 23, 1876, aged 72. Ab. Sanford, died at Liberty, June 5, 1877, aged 80.
Mr. Palmer, died at Liberty.
Lorin Culver, died April 15, 1876, aged 57.
M. J. Draper. died at Jackson, Sept. 7, 1876, aged 68.
H. McHaughton, died at Jackson, Nov. 1, 1876, aged 40.
T. H. Grosvenor, died at Brooklyn, Dec. 13, 1876, aged 65.
Jesse Alexander, died at Jackson, June 6, 1877, aged 67.
A. H. Peterson, died at Jackson, March 4. 1876, aged 63.
Mrs. H. H. Bumpus, died at Jackson.
Eliza Hand. died July 22, 1876.
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
Mrs. N. Allen, died at Jackson.
Morrison, died at Jackson, January, 1876, aged 84.
J. Trumbull, died at Rives.
Southworth, died at Tompkins.
". R. Townley, died at Tompkins
" Maria Smith, died at Jackson, March 6, 1876.
J. W. Bennett, died at Jackson, March 22. 1876.
66 M. L. Field, died at Jackson, March 29, 1876, aged 43.
.. .. J. Webb, died at Jackson June 3, 1876, aged 65.
C. Jones, died June 22, 1876, aged 57
..
E. Howe, died at Jackson, July 22, 1876, aged 85.
..
Sally Moe, died at Parma, Aug 21, 1876, aged 61.
H McArthur, died at Parma, July 29, 1876.
.. M. J. Draper, died at Rives, Jan. 16, 1877.
M. Myers, died at Baldwin, Jan. 20, 1877, aged 90.
. . A. Pease, died at Jackson, Feb. 15. 1877, aged 61.
M Beeker, died at Jackson, March 22, 1877, aged 8% ..
.J. Cole, died at Jackson, April 23, 1877, aged 66.
4. H. A. Jones, died at Parma, May 10, 1877, aged 72.
Isaac Kibbee, died at Summit.
" A large number of those named were not members of this society, but so far as I could inform myself, all had resided a long time in this county, or were of the first of those who made their homes in Jackson county, when it was little more than a wilder- ness.
THE FIFTHI MEETING.
The pioneers and old settlers met June 18, 1879, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the settlement of their county. Judge David Johnson delivered the address of welcome. Gen. G. W. Brown, a veteran of the Sac or Black Hawk war, Judge Baxter, F. A. Dewey, Henry Little, Dr. Robinson, Eugene Pringle, and President Shoemaker delivered many valuable addresses bearing on the early settlement of the county. B. F. Eggleston sang "Forty Years Ago;" HI. Ilendee, of Blackman township, read a classical poem; Miss M. W. Clapp read a historico-biographical sketch of the early settlement of her parents, and Henry Bishop, of Kalamazoo, asked the pioneers and people not to neglect an opportunity to collate every serap of history bearing on Michigan. The ladies of the society entertained 1,500 persons at dinner and did much to con- tribute to the success of the celebration.
The weather was sunny and pleasant, and the grassy grounds, shaded by the thick foliage of the over-arching trees, seemed never more delightful than during the bright and genial hours that marked this occasion.
Floral Hall, in which refreshments were served, was tastefully decorated. Along the aisles on either side of the central platform the double row of pillars supporting the roof were trimmed with evergreen, just above which small flags depended, and the effect of the long and regular array of these miniature banners down the en- tire length of the hall was highly ornamental. The middle space below the skylight was hung with large flags, and festooned with red and blue bunting. The tables, 18 or 20 in number,
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
were set in the north end of the building. Their snowy coverings were looped with sprigs of pine and cedar, and surmounted with baskets and vases of fresh and lovely flowers. The contrast of the emerald and crimson and innumerable dyes of these floral decora- tions with the snowy linen beneath them, was of course pleasant to the eye, and the long rows of tables thus garnished were a most picturesque feature of the hall. At the front entrance was a ban- ner bearing the words: " Welcome Pioneers."
About 11 o'clock the pioneers and a large crowd of people, headed by the C. C. C. band marched from Floral Hall to the speaker's stand in the front part of the grounds to witness the opening exercises, and listen to the address of welcome by Judge Johnson and such other addresses as might be made.
After the playing of "Auld Lang Syne" by the band, Col. M. Shoemaker, President of the society. introduced the Rev. Ira (. Billman, who offered up an eloquent and appropriate prayer. Judge David Johnson, of this city, was then presented, who de- livered the following address of welcome:
JUDGE JOHNSON'S WELCOME.
" Pioneers of Michigan :- I am instructed by the pioneers of this county, whom you have honored this day by your presence at their little social gathering, to bid you a hearty welcome. The few surviving men and women who came to this county 50 years ago or thereabouts, to find for themselves a home, greet you kindly and cordially. The associations of those days call to their minds many reminiscences of the past,-some bright and pleasant, some dark and gloomy. They, in common with you, endured the toil and privation incident to the settlement of a new country; they, in common with you, have enjoyed the blessings of a kind providence in the acquisition of pleasant homes in a delightful country. The bread that was thrown upon the waters that day has returned to them more bountifully than the heart can express.
"The Lord has brought us a goodly land, a land of brooks, of waters, of fountains, and depths that spring out of valleys and hills: a land of wheat and barley and vines: a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.
"Had the inspired prophet, who was describing to his people the land of Canaan, seen and surveyed Michigan he could not have described it more happily. He, however, gave them warning that the enjoyment of the gift of so fine a country was upon one condition, and that was, that they should not forget their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, and he testified to them that in the day they should forget their dependence on Him. they should surely perish. I think it is a law of our being which stamps itself upon our minds and consciences, that every gift of Providence is held and enjoyed upon the same condition; for to forget our dependence is to forget our obligation. The penalty falls upon nations and individuals alike.
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
"It is not worth while to indulgein any tears upon this subject, for there is another law equally as potent and certain, and that law is the law of progress. The world is growing better, and has been growing better day by day, sinee man began to worship the sun as the image of his Maker, and for long ages before that time. I know that among a certain class it is a common thing to say, and they believe what they say, that the present aspect of the moral condition of the world is gloomy enough; and they will talk to you about the golden age when men were virtuous and happy. There never was a Golden Age. The whole thing was a myth, a conception. But there was a stone age in the early part of the world, and it was an age of suffering, an age of barbarism. an age when poor human nature groped its way in the dark eaves of the earth, living on such fruits as they could gather, and on the raw flesh of such beasts as they could conquer. That is the golden age our progenitors enjoyed and the only one. This is not partic- ularly a delightful picture of the condition of our ancestors, but it is well to understand what the truth is, and learn that in no age of the world has man retrograded. History, tradition and everything that ean throw any light upon the past, teaches us that the law of human life is the law of progress. Man has always been advanc- ing.
" To prove this proposition to be true, that is, that we are advanc- ing into a higher life, let us for a moment review the history of the past. Two thousand years ago, and in all prior ages, nations at war made no prisoners, with very few exceptions. The Canaanites were extirpated, as a nation, by the Israelites. Samuel, their prophet, hewed down Agog in the presence of his king, who had probably saved him as a trophy of his victory; and it must be re- membered that those were the chosen people of God, and alone worthy of His care and protection. The Medes and Persians and Assyrians and Chaldeans and other Asiatic nations did the same thing. There was a noble exception to this general rule to be noted, in a single instance. It was the captivity of the Jews by the Babylonians. They carried with them not only the men, but also the women and children, who were not very profitable, as slaves; but whether it was beeanse of the humanity of the victors, or beeanse of their belief that their eaptives were not fit to die, is a problem which the history of the times has not solved. The Greeks and Romans showed the same brutal indifference to lite, the same low standard of humanity. Some of the most sanguinary wars on reeord were between and among the Greeks themselves. They rarely saved prisoners except for slaves. Rome exhibited more legislative ability, and when she erushed a nation she took it into her own embrace, but oftentimes it was the embrace of death.
" The Middle Ages represented a little better state of public morals. The vast Roman empire had crumbled to pieces under its own weight, and it was sueeeeded by a great many petty gov- ernments, more or less liberal, but generally arbitrary and des-
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
potic. They were constantly at war with each other. The only organization during that whole period that acted upon any consist- ent and well-defined policy was the Church. The world must be saved or damned. It was the function of the Church to save, and the means she resorted to to effect that object has been much con- demned.
"What better evidence have we that our conception of what is right or wrong is laying its foundation deep in the human heart, and which in the end will regenerate mankind? I do insist that the world is making rapid advances in its conception of truth and justice and mercy; and from this I will not swerve one jot or tittle; for on the truth of the proposition hangs all our hopes of the fut- ure: and I do believe that the Infinite in IIis wisdom has created man for some purpose which he has not yet reached; that he has a glorious destiny to which he is slowly but certainly advancing.
"Now. allow me to occupy a moment's time in calling your attention to the material changes which have taken place in our day and generation. Assuming the fact that some of us have lived out the days allotted to man, to such I can say that we have seen changes more marked and more significant in their results than all the generations of men before us. Seventy years ago, nay 60, we plowed our ground with a wooden plow. We might say without any great departure from truth, that we stirred the ground with a wooden stick. We sowed our wheat broadcast; we cut it with a sickle; we threshed it with a flail, and cleaned it with a corn-fan, and when we got a bag filled, we put it on the back of a horse, put a boy on top of the bag and sent him to mill. How we do these things now I need not tell you, for you already know. Yon know also the thousand and one improvements that have been made in the mechanical departments. I cannot let the opportunity pass without calling your attention to the subject of electricity and to heat expansion or the power of steam, two forces of nature that have been mainly utilized in our day. When we use the word electricity, we have a vague idea of a certain mysterious, imponderable. indefinable something; but we know nothing of its nature; we have learned how to generate it, and to a certain extent how to control it; we know it passes through metalic substances with wonderful rapidity, and through some substances it will not pass at all. It was from 1752, when Franklin drew it from the clouds, for almost a century a plaything among the scientific men of the day. In 1844, and about the time that little man, James K. Polk, was nominated for the presidency, it became utilized by our own countryman. S. F. B. Morse, who immortalized himself by giving to a dead world a living messenger, which was to change its destiny. We now send messages to all parts of the world with the speed of thought, and with it we talk and sing to our neighbors many miles away.
"The steam-engine is of slower growth. The utilization of steam- power cannot be justly given to any one man. James Watts did much to improve the engine a hundred years ago. Robert Fulton
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
first applied it to the propulsion of water-crafts in 1807, and Geo. Stephenson to the locomotive in 1829. The locomotive was first used in this country in 1830. It soon came into general use as a mechanical power, and the steam-engines now in use in this country for manufacturing purposes alone are, it is said perform- ing the labor of 50,000,000 of men.
"The locomotives on the great thoroughfares from the Atlantic to the Pacific are performing an amount of work exceeding the capacity ot all the horses in the world. The immensity of this work is beyond all calculation, yet it has but just commenced. We can hardly comprehend what a hundred years will accomplish.
"This is the way the world is progressing; this is the way it is moving, and he who does not fall into the ranks and move on with it, will surely be trodden under foot, and the old nations of the world which have been sleeping for ages must, like Rip Van Winkle, wake up and march on with it also, or be crushed out of existence.
"And now the question may be pertinently put, but none can answer it. If we do continue to march upward and onward, to what haven shall we arrive ? We may ponder on this, for it is the problem of life and eternity. We may think, and the power to do so is the best gift of God. I must bring my remarks to a close. You have my thanks for your attention, and my best wishes for your future welfare."
COL. SHOEMAKER'S ADDRESS.
"Ladies and Gentlemen of the Pioneer Society of Jackson County :
" It is now two years since there has been a meeting of this so- ciety. In the meanwhile there has been un active interest taken in all matters relating to the early history of the State in other counties, and by the State Pioneer Society.
"I would recommend that hereafter there be held two meetings in each and every year, as provided in the constitution of the so- ciety : a winter meeting for the transaction of business, and a sum- mer meeting tor social intercourse. The winter meeting should not be neglected, as the constitution provides that the officers of the society shall then be elected. and the general business of the society transacted. The summer meeting is of still greater impor- tance. That should be in every respect a social reunion which every pioneer in the county and every son and daughter of a pioneer should attend, to renew old acquaintances and make new ones, so that old and young may feel that those are not becoming estranged who should be bound to each other by ties as strong as that of blood or kindred.
" The relentless seythe of time is rapidly mowing down the ranks of those who first encountered the hardships and privations. and enjoyed the excitements peculiar to pioneer life, and their sons and daughters should see to it that their names are not buried in oblivion. Every township should have its historian, and a cor-
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
rect history should be written, not only of the first settlement of every township, but also, and more particularly, a brief biography of the first pioneers, giving their lives in full. as well before they came to Michigan as up to the time of their death. or to the pres- ent time of living.
" These sketches will add to the interest of our meetings, and furnish material of the most reliable kind tor the history of the first settlement of the State. If this is much longer delaved a large amount of knowledge that can now be obtained will be lost by the death of the few remaining pioneers who 50 years ago stuck their stakes in Jackson county.
"We have now something from the townships of Leoni, Grass Lake, and Pulaski, and a few personal sketches of pioneers, but our record is a meager one, and should no longer be neglected. There is now existing ample material for a full history of the first settlement of each township, and for the biography of most of the first settlers, and the preparation of it shouldd' no longer be ne- glected. The sons and daughters of our pioneers should see to it that the record is made and given to the society so that it may be preserved.
"As there was no meeting of the society in the winter it is now incumbent upon the members to elect officers to act until the next meeting of the society. There should also be provision made for proper books, in which may be placed such histories and biog- raphies as are now in possession of the society, and also those which may hereafter be prepared and presented to it.
"There are many members of the society who have but an im perfect record upon its books. It is very desirable that all such should be completed, and members are requested to examine the membership book, and those who have not done so should give the secretary the information necessary to enable him to make their record complete.
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