History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 48

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

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

approach of a freight train, and was consequently crushed to death. The deceased was numbered among the old citizens of Jackson. His funeral showed the high esteem in which he was held by the people.

In March, 1873, Albert Reinke was killed at the Cooper-street crossing of the M. C. R. R.

The death of Geo. McCabe, from being run over by the cars May 24, 1873, and the heroic attempt at rescue on the part of the brakeman, Wm. Ryan, formed subject for public gossip during the month.

The death of James Whalen, May 17, 1875, from injuries caused by being run over by the cars on the M. C. R. R., resulted in the holding of an inquisition by Coroner Zunder. The evidence of C. C. Collins, a brakeman, given before the coroner's jury, ascribed the following expressions to the dying man: "I'm done for; I'm gone up. I don't blame you, nor any one but myself; it was all an accident." The jury found a verdict in accordance with the statement of this witness.

The death of a deaf mute named Charles B. Hibbard, a man of 30 years of age, from being run over by the cars, was one of the accidents of June, 1876.

The death of Geo. H. Carl at Spring Arbor, June 3, 1877, was another of the sad events of the year. He fell from the end of the fourth car from the rear, and the other cars passed over him, cutting his body in two parts.

In the morning of July 23, 1877, an old man named Kimball was hunting a bee-tree in what is known as Happy Valley, between Manchester and Norvell. Going a short distance into the woods he left two little ones, a grandson and granddaughter, aged re- spectively four and six years, on the railroad bridge. The little ones playing about in the free sunshine knew nothing of the awful danger which awaited them, and which soon after made its appear- ance in the shape of the morning freight train bound for Jackson, rushing down grade around the curve south of the bridge. The little boy saw his danger, and managed to get to one side of the bridge, where he was safe; but the little girl, bewildered and terri- fied beyond measure, ran straight on before the engine, which, not- withstanding the engineer had seen the children, whistled "down brakes," and reversed his lever, was rushing on the bridge with terrible force. The old man had heard the train, and knowing well his darlings' danger, had, with all the mighty effort his feeble muscles could command, reached the bridge, but too late; the en- gine, missing the old man, had struck the little one, and the first car hit the old man, completely tearing him in pieces.

On Aug. 10, 1877, the son of William Peake, of Concord, a boy five years old, was run over by the cars and decapitated.

Thomas McKinney, of Concord, was run over by a freight train and killed, Oct. 22, 1877. It is supposed he was the victim of drink.

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

The drowning of Peter Gunther, Dec. 18, 1877, was attributed to his determination to commit suicide.

An M. C. R. R. train going east on the night of May 4, 1879, ran over a man lying on the track, midway between Leoni and Grass Lake. Upon reaching the latter place blood was found on the pilot, which was the first evidence the train-men had of the casualty. Upon learning the melancholy intelligence, Alonzo Gallup, the restaurateur at 141 Main street, went to Grass Lake and immediately identified the body as that of his brother. The deceased is spoken of as an industrious man, and faithful to the interests of those he served. He was nnmarried, and his age was about 35 years.

A sad accident occurred in December, 1880, whereby W. W. Van Ostrom, better known in Jackson as Will Douglass, an adopted son of L. P. Douglass, of Albion, lost his life. Ile was employed as switchman by the Michigan Central Railroad Company, and with engine No. 81 was doing some switching in the neighborhood of the coal mines north of the city. Having occasion to uncouple a coal car, on which he was standing, he gave the signal to "slack back," and leaning over the end of the car to remove the coupling pin, lost his balance by the concussion of the backing engine and was thrown under the wheels of the cars, receiving such injuries that he died in a very short time.

Andrew Fitzpatrick, an old man of 60 years, was run over by an M. C. R. R. switch engine, and died the following day. During the short term between the accident and his death, Messrs. Brown and Clark, of the M. C. R. R., rendered the old man all the kind- ness possible, and after his death ordered his remains to be interred at the company's expense.

The death of Lovette Grover, resulting from being run over by the cars, near the Air Line junction, was a sad event.

The death of Charles H. Lane, in April, resulting from being crushed under the cars, was an addition to the many sad events of the time.

DEATIIS BY OTHER CASUALTIES.

The first inquest in the county was held on the body of Geo. C. Pease, by Coroner Thomas McGee, in 1836.

In 1838 Mr. Whipple was again required to conduct an inquisition on the body of R. Perry, whose death seemed to be shrouded in a little mystery.

A little girl named Lona Snyder fell from the fourth story of the Union Block, and died May 20, 1871.

The cloud surrounding the death of Mrs. Elizabeth Powell, Sept. 17, 1870, still remains, and never, perhaps, will be removed.

The burning of little Hattie Decker, in November, 1871, was another terrible warning to parents.

The drowning of a negro boy while skating on the mill-pond and the death of Mr. Harrington, of Sandstone, resulting from

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

being thrown from his wagon, were among the closing incidents of the year.

The death of a 12-year-old son of Seneca Stevens, of Tompkins, in 1871, resulted from strangulation while attempting some acro- batic feat.

H. T. Wickwire was accidentally killed while raising a building at the corner of Ganson and Park streets, Aug. 26, 1873.

The death of a little daughter of G. R. Hull, of Sandstone, in August, 1873, from a wound inflicted by a scythe, was one of the saddest events known to the people of that township.

In January, 1876, Edward Hall was thrown from his horse and killed, while riding from his dwelling to the village.

The inquisition into the cause of Miss Addie Roberts' death took place in March, 1876.

The death of Byron Helmer, from the accidental discharge of a double-barreled fowling piece, occurred on Christmas day, 1876.

The horrible death of Jolin Lambert, a convict, on May 26, 1877, while engaged in the trip-hammer shops of the prison, was a terrible warning to men who labor around machinery.

The death of George Milberry, from being crushed by the turbine wheel of the Etna Mills, Aug. 25, 1877, was one of the mysteries of the year.

The inquest upon the death of Mary R. Goss, in 1877, created much gossip.

A sad and fatal accident occurred Jan. 13, 1879, at the manu- factory of the Middlings Purifier Company, corner of Jackson and Clinton streets, by which Hammond S. Rolfe, the well-known millwright, lost his life. It appears that the unfortunate man was engaged in belting a purifier preparatory to testing it, when by some means the belt caught the machine in such a way as to pull it upward and overturn it. In falling it struck Rolfe, pinning him against a large post and crushing in four ribs on each side, causing almost instant death. The coroner caused the body to be removed to the family residence, No. 25 Oak Hill avenue. A jury was summoned, composed of Charles Powers. F. D. Pease, W. L. Lawson, S. E. Rogers, P. Casey and William Budington, who found a verdict of accidental death.

Wm. Gardner, an inmate of the county poor-house, was killed by a falling tree in December, 1879.

FIRES.

The old Marion House-one of the relics of ancient Jackson, a survivor of the fire of Nov. 7, 1870-was reduced to ashes between + and 8 o'clock on the morning of the last day of 1880. The flames spread rapidly to the adjoining brick block on the east, swept through it with amazing rapidity, leaving the office of the Jackson City Bank alone unscorched. The morning was bitter cold, and the labors of the fire department misdirected for a time. To that branch of the city service, however, is due the safety of

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

Morrill & Camp's store, if not that of the entire block in which it is situated, as well as of the range of commercial houses east of the Jackson City Bank.

The fire of June 12, 1871, resulted in the destruction ot property valued at over $7,000.

The burning of a portion of the Jackson Foundry and Machine Company's Works, Sept. 28, 1871, resulted in the destruction of $15,000 worth of property.

The freight house of Gardner & Son, Leoni, was destroyed in May, 1873. The total loss was $6,000; insured for $2,500.

A fire broke out April 18, 1875, in the double house 43 and 45 Mechanic street, entailing a loss upon the owners of that and adjoining property of $9,500.

The house of Jeremiah Marvin, on the plank road north of the city, valued at $4,000 or 85,000, was destroyed by fire in April, 1875. Owing to the exertions of Capt. Bedford and members of the Bennett Hook and Ladder Company, the valuable barn or granary was saved from the flames.

An incendiary set fire to the house and barn ot Mr. Angell, Rives township, in April, 1877. The loss resulting was about $4,- 000.

Early in the morning of Jan 11, 1881, an alarm of fire was sounded, caused by the discovery of fire in the old wooden build- ing used as a machine shop by T. E. Lusk. The fire department was out promptly, but the flames had gained considerable headway among the inflammable material, of which there was quite a large amount in the building, and from the first appearance of the fire- men on the ground it was apparent that the fight would be to save the adjoining property rather than the building where the fire started. For some time only one stream of water could be obtained, owing to inability to open the hydrants, and the fire got so hot as to seriously endanger Hayden's mill. A second stream was eventually obtained, and with that playing from the opposite direction the firemen were able to control the flames and keep them from spreading. It did not take long to reduce the old building to a dismal looking ruin filled with bent and twisted shafting and useless machinery.

STORMS AND LIGHTNING.

A young man between 18 and 20 years old, son of Wm. Gallup, of Columbia township, was struck by the electric fluid during the storm of April, 1840, and killed instantaneously. He, unfortunately, sought the shelter of an oak tree at the beginning of the storm, and fell a victim to his want of knowledge in regard to its conduct- ive qualities. The only mark left by the swift destroyer on the body of the deceased was a slightly singed spot on the crown of the head.

The terrible tornado which swept over the State in 1855 is thus described by A. F. Gorton, of Waterloo, who witnessed its forma"

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

tion and its start on that wild race over the township. He states that on May 15, 1855, this terrible whirlwind formed a focus near the western side of section 24 in the marsh. He happened to be in the vicinity about 6 o'clock that afternoon, and saw two tiers ot clouds, one moving north, the other south ; the upper tier seemed to descend, and as it approached the lower tier, the grass and water in the marsh seemed to rush toward the center until a for- mation, resembling a large black stack, sprung into existence. Another moment and this swept forward in an easterly direction, making a thorough clearance about 70 rods in width. Mr. Gor- ton's buildings, Mr. W. Beeman's barn, Mr. J. K. Yocum's barn, Mr. P. McKean's house, barn and other buildings, were demol- ished. Mrs. McKean was fatally injured, Mrs. Wm. Hawlett's two children were carried through the forest a distance of 30 rods and cast into a marsh, but yet escaped all injury. The water of a small lake near Mr. McKean's house was uplifted completely and carried forward in an immense wave; a young lady's dress was carried by the terrific whirlwind a distance of 16 miles, and lodged carefully in a tree top on Boydon's plains. Having played a number of practical, and a few innocent, jokes, it traveled onward to Washtenaw county, repeated its serious doings there, and ulti- mately expended its fury beyond the Detroit river.

The gale of June 22, 1875, which swept over this county, and gained the proportions of a tornado in Hanover township, destroyed four houses and caused serious injury to the Methodist Church of the village. This is the second effort of the winds to uproot the sacred edifice. At Sandstone, 32 apple-trees in the orchard of A. F. Hawkins were broken down or torn up by the roots. Haw- kins' dwelling, also, was subjected to its violence, and suffered some injury. Oliver Chapel, of Sandstone, had a quantity of his valu- able timber destroyed. James Whittaker had his timber lands cleared to the extent of 10 acres, and lost heavily. The barn of Charles Woodliff was completely demolished. The air seemed to be filled with sticks, vines and leaves throughout the path of the

storm. The ricocheting of this tornado was very "striking." In Concord township the tornado uprooted a half-mile of fence on the farm of N. H. Ray. The effects of the terrible gale in Parma township were more disastrous, and its phenomena most strange. The terrible electric storm of November, 1875, created even as much alarm as it did injury. The committee's troubles entailed upon the telegraph officers of the county, and the killing of a span of horses belonging to Porter Harrington, of Spring Arbor, are among its results.

A cyclone came up in Grass Lake, about 2 o'clock one afternoon, accompanied by wind and hail, and laid waste everything before it, cutting apples, cabbages, etc., into a pomace, and breaking win- dow-lights that were not protected by blinds. The wind-cloud raised and lowered at intervals, and each time it struck the ground it dealt destruction to everything that came in its way. The first damage done was about two miles southeast of the village, where

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

the wind came down in the vicinity of L. A. Parson's farm, level- ing fences and blowing away shocks of eorn. It then took a short run to H. Haines', took a chimney off his house, skipped over to Martin Haines', carried all his corn shocks on to C. Hamilton's farm, and lifted the roof off Mr. Hamilton's barn, set it down in the field and then passed to the southeast. James Clark had two cattle killed by lightning, and several others were losers to some extent by having their fences and unhusked corn blown all over their farms. The cloud next lowered near J. F. Gregory's, taking the roof off his house, passed over to Marcus Davis', serving his house in the same manner as Gregory's. Wm. Pixley's farm was next in the line of the storm, but a little more fortunate than the others; only a portion of the shingles were taken from the roof of his house, while his barn was split in two, and one part turned half around. The wind had by this time become terrific in de- structiveness and passed into 10 acres of heavy timber belonging to Orren Coppernall, and in less time than it takes to write this, only two trees of that vast forest were left standing. Tall, sturdy oaks of years and years' growth, were snapped off by the wind in its mighty fury as easily as a pipe stem in the hands of a child. Three large trees were next blown across Chas. Pixley's house, smashing in the roof. G. V. Barber's barn was torn to pieces and left lying in a confused heap, while the wing of his house was lifted from the foundation, carried a few feet from the upright and dropped again right side up with care, after which the cloud raised and passed to the south, and no more damage from it is reported. A number of window-lights broken by hail was the only damage done in the village, the cyclone going too far south to strike it. It is estimated that the damage done by wind and hail was nearly $10,000.

MISCELLANEOUS.

The first salaried official of the county was Phineas Farrand, District Attorney, in 1836. The supervisors ordained that his salary should be specified, and the term of his engagement defined.

The omission of the letter u in the old-time spelling of " Ann Arbour," was recognized officially in this county as early as 1837. The records of the supervisors for this year show that Wm. R. De Land, the County Clerk, made use of the new method of orthography for the first time.

The following lines appeared on the envelope of a letter, sent through the mails in September, 1837 :

Postmaster, now beware, And do the thing that's fair ; Send me on to Michigan, Where there lives a certain man ; George T. Cowan is his name, In his hand I wish to be lain ;

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

Now, don't make a miss, I'm bound for Jacksonopolis, Jackson county, Michigan,

Near where lives this certain man, Who, when he understands I'm there,

Will come and pay my postage fair,

And take me to my journey's end,

And to my tale an ear shall lend.

In 1839 the lands of the squatters in the Grand River valley were sold, under an enactment of the general Government. Notwith- standing the efforts of the settlers to buy in those lands, on which they expended so much labor, the impolite, if not unjust, measure, extended itself to their cabin hearths, and with the eviction ban- ished peace forever.

In 1840 the census of Jackson showed a population of 13,135 souls. Forty years later it is set down at 42,040, or three and one- fifth times that of the first census. The advance in all matters which ornament the civilization of our time has exceeded even the increase in population, so that there is little room left to doubt the extraordinary progress which the journalist or historian of the next half century will have to report, if only the county continues to stride forward with similar rapidity to its prosperous march in the first half century of its existence.

In July, 1845, a company of men in the service of the Jackson Mining Company proceeded to Jackson mountain for the purpose of indulging in the copper speculation. The company was or- ganized with Col. A. V. Berry as president, and F. W. Kirtland, secretary.

The bank failures throughout the State in 1845 affected this county to some degree. A Wisconsin journal, in referring to their number and extent of liabilities, remarked : "New Hamp- shire is a good State to emigrate from. We say Michigan will be a good State to leave until they get rid of a good number more of her bank scoundrels." How different are banking affairs now ! Jackson city has full confidence in ber financial concerns.

An assembly of influential citizens was held at Jackson August, 1845, to protest against the exorbitant freight charges levied by the Central railroad. The meeting was organized by the appoint- ment of Col. A. V. Berry, President; S. Stoddard and T. E. Gidley, Vice-Presidents, with Samuel Higby, Secretary. Messrs. David Johnson, Phillip Thurber, H. A. Hayden, G. Thompson Gridley, Edwin S. Lathrop, Abram V. Berry and Peter E. De Mill were appointed a committee to prepare a memorial praying for the reduction of rates.

The operations in connection with sinking the shaft of the Porter coal mine were commenced Feb. 1, 1871, A. J. Hobart, President of the company, breaking the ground.

The trial of John W. Hulin, a clerk at the State's prison, charged with the embezzlement of $17,000, resulted in his confinement within the prison for a period of five and a half years. The sentence was delivered by Judge Higby in March, 1872.

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

In July, 1871, Olin N. Lewis sued the proprietor of the Daily Citizen for libel, setting forth damages amounting to $5,000. The plaintiff attained merely an unenviable notoriety.

The mysterious girl, said to be an inmate of the Michigan State's prison, until some one would lead her forth from her hermitage to make her a wife, was brought under notice in 1873. The following letter was received at the Jackson Patriot office in reply to an adver- tisement offering $80,000 to him who would marry her.

Mr Editor, Esq.,

HINSDALE, N. Y., March 5, 1873.

DEAR SIR, Jackson, Mich.

Last fall Geo. Trumbul or T. Pangbun advertised a reward in your paper of 80,000 Dollars to have his daughter married out of the Michigan State prison. Pleas send me a coppy of the back number that has that advertisement in. I think it was put in your paper Sept. or Oct., 1873.

Enclosed pleas find 25 cts for postage, &c. When you send the paper pleas write on it if she has been married yet. Pleas send soon and oblige.

First rolling mills in operation in Jackson county were formally opened Nov. 30, 1872, but were not in regular working order until March 8, 1873.

The first colored juror ever sworn on a jury in Jackson county was on the trial of the civil cause before the Circuit Court, Jan. 21, 1873.

Clark Conrad, or Connoran, and Joseph T. Crum, two criminals, were before the courts of Jackson in September, 1873.

The Rico-Nicolls trial, and the consequent suspension of Rev. Wm. Rice from his position as minister of M. E. Church, formed the sensation gossip of December, 1873.

In 1873 a man settled here, who claimed the honor of emigrating 44 times. In 1875 he wrote to Texas for a pamphlet, and soon after made his 45th journey to the Lone Star State.

The firm of Withington, Cooley & Co., in 1874-'5, exported some of their manufactures to the French capital. In May, of the latter year, orders were renewed, so that the goods produced by Jackson manufacturers found a ready market in the great trans- Atlantic city, claimed by Frenchmen and partially acknowledged by others, to be the center of progress and enlightenment.

The celebration by the Burns Club, of the poet's birthday was held at the Hibbard House, Feb. 1, 1875. The speakers included George Lake, Eugene Pringle, Rev. Moses Smith, IIon. W. K. Gibson, T. A. Wilson and W. W. Van Antwerp. Vocal music was rendered by Mrs. Jean Armour, Mrs. Waldron, Mrs. Neilson, Miss McNaughton and Robert McNaughton, while the instrumental parts were effectively performed by A. J. Gould and Mrs. Waldron. Dr. McNaughton and W. K. Gibson recited a few popular poems appropriate to the occasion. The festivities were carried out in a most agreeable manner, and the anniversary of the Scottish plow- boy's birth was honored by the people of the city.

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

A STRANGE SUIT.

The case of Lawlor vs. Ruthmillar created much gossip in January, 1875. Mrs. Lawlor sued a saloon-keeper for damages resulting to her from the sale of strong drink to her husband. She would, decidedly have claimed a favorable verdict had not the fact of her divorce from Lawlor in 1871 opposed her.

A most peculiar, and fortunately a very uncommon, contract was said to be entered into May 9, 1875, between John Thompson, of Napoleon, on the first part, and Wm. Grover, who lives near the line between Summit and Liberty, on the second. The precious commodity contracted for was the six years' bosom companion of Grover-a woman-his wife. For this lady, Thompson offered $5 worth of joiner's tools, which offer was subsequently changed to $3 worth of tools and $2 cash. Thompson and Grover fulfilled the contract, and the former took home his purchased bride. The coolness characterizing this transaction centers in the fact that the purchaser took the "lady of his heart" to his father's house and all seemed to be content.

The exodus of 30 or 40 farmers from Jackson county in May, 1875, created some surprise. The new colonists' destination was Isabella county, this State, where they had purchased improved farms.

Burglars entered the clothing store of E. Weizer & Bros., Union Block, on the morning of May 11, and abstracted $500 or $600 of their finest goods.

In May, 1875, the new store of W. M. Bennett & Son was opened. It is one of the most extensive and magnificent dry-goods estab- lishments in the State, and vies with many in the cities of the Union.

A circular letter was received at the postoffice July 5, 1875, ad- dressed: "To the best looking singer in Jackson, Mich." The letter was delivered to F. S. Clark, who returned it, with the inscription : "Opened by mistake." After a series of wanderings it bore the following remarks: "Opened by me, but being better looking than the best, I turn it over to A. J. Gould. C. M. Brockway." "Mr. Brockway is mistaken; this belongs to Prof. C. B. Scheffler. A. J. Gould." "Some mistake here; I have no use for R. D. Bul- lock's mail. C. B. Scheffler." "Respectfully transferred to W. H. Wood. R. D. Bullock." "Mrs. Myron Cole: Here is one of your letters. Pardon the mistake. W. H. Wood." "Having acci- dentally opened this letter, I find it is intended for Sanford Hunt. Mrs. M. Cole."

The strike of the coal miners in July, 1875, was of the most im- politie character. The Porter Mining Co. employed a number of green hands to take their place, while the Walker Co. procured the labors of 50 convicts. The result of their untimely action lost to themselves employment, and to the city all that benefit which arises from the labor of 80 regular coal miners, as the convicts en- gaged could not form their substitutes in this connection.

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History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 48

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