History of Kalamazoo county, Michigan, Part 42

Author: Durant, Samuel W. comp
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia. Everts & Abbott
Number of Pages: 761

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" How sudden the change of the sleeper to life ! Of the warrior at rest to the warrior for strife! As if earth from its bosom had yielded its clay All armed for the conflict, in battle array. Deep silence reigns there 'mid that dark warrior band, As steadfast and stern with their armor they stand.

" But hark ! on the air breaks the Ottawa's yell, More fierce than the shrieks of the demons in hell. Like fiends of despair they come down on the foe; Destruction and Death follow fast where they go. But, see ! the bold Sioux receive the dread shock ; All bravely they stand, as the firm mountain-rock. Lo ! carnage stalks forth on that red battle-field, For rather the warrior meets death than to yield. Ah ! dire is the fight when the brave meets the brave, And rich the red harvest that encumbers the grave.

" But hark ! there is triumph breaks forth in that yell, For deadly the Sioux's red tomahawks tell ; The Ottawa shrinks from that charge of the foe, For the spirit of death is abroad in each blow. They turn-but the form of Wacousta stands forth, And darker his frown than the clouds of the north; More fiercely his yell breaks aloud on the air Than the cries of the Furies urged on by despair.

* * *

* *

"'Tis done ! for the Sioux has fled far away ; No longer he urges the deadly affray : But a tear dims the eye of the Ottawa brave- His chieftain sleeps cold in the warrior's red grave. Wacousta ! Wacousta ! O long will thy name Stand brightly, the first on the pages of fame. Thy spirit has gone to the far father-land, To meet with the manes of thy bright, kindred band. May the waves in sad cadence thy requiem roll, While the soft, gentle zephyrs waft praise to thy soul ! * * * *

A mound marks the spot where the chieftain reposes, And over his tomb blooms a bed of wild roses."

WACOUSTA.

ANOTHER TREATMENT, BY W. C. RANSOM.

" Not altogether free from romance are the localities around our beautiful village. Indeed, America's most dis- tinguished novelist, the lamented Cooper, placed the scene of one of his latest tales along the shores of that beautiful stream which, winding along the base of the amphitheatring hills that surround our village, shines like a sheen of silver in the far-off distance.

" About this beautiful garden-spot of our State it was the delight of the red men to gather. Here were their homes ; here their council-fires ; and here, too, reposed in safety their old men and women while their ' braves,' on some distant expedition, carried terror to the hearts of their enemies. Upon a high bluff below our village repose the remains of one of the most noted chieftains of the Ottawa tribe. An interesting tradition of his people relates the history of his death as follows :

" Many moons ago, ere the pale-face had looked upon the waters of the Michigan, while yet the Ottawas, the Hurons, the Ojibwas, and Pottawattomies held undisputed sway over that vast tract of country which is washed by the surrounding lakes, the Sioux, a numerous and warlike tribe, whose domains extended from the shores of Michigan

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HISTORY OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

Lake to the Mississippi on the west, sent out a large war-party which, passing around the head of the lake, invaded the territory occupied by the Ottawas, who were gathered in large numbers at this point, celebrating the annual feast of the harvest.

" At peace with their neighbors, and not suspecting danger, the Sioux party had approached to the top of the hills that overlook our valley on the west, without the slightest suspicion on the part of the Ottawas of the prox- imity of their dangerous foes. Here they paused and awaited the darkness of night, ere they should make that attack which would send the dusky spirit of many a brave to the ' happy hunting-grounds' of the spirit-land.

" The feast and the dance of the harvest went merrily on around the cheerful fires. The young warrior wooed and won the modest maiden ; the ' brave' recited his deeds of daring ; and the sagamores of the nation looked grave and smiled by turns at the festive scenes around them. Among the Ottawas was one who joined not in the festivi- ties. The eagle's feather contrasted strongly with the dark hair in which it was twined, and his noble bearing pro- claimed him, who sat apart from his comrades, a personage of no common position, for he was the son of Wacousta, the chief of his tribe. Once upon an expedition he had wandered far away from the home of his fathers to the wigwams of the Sioux. There he had sought and ob- tained the promise of the hand of a chieftain's daughter, and returned to his home, promising that many moons should not pass ere he would return and claim his beautiful bride.

" Well did the young Ottawa know that his tribe would never consent to his taking a wife from a foreign nation so long as many an Ottawa girl aspired to his hand; and hitherto he had found no fitting opportunity of making his stern father acquainted with his determination. In the mean time the Sioux girl, tired of the long delay of her absent lover, learning from her father that they were about to visit his country, after much solicitation, was permitted to ac- company the party in their excursion, and was now in their camp; and from her people learned that a night-attack was to be made on the Ottawas, with the intention of cutting them off at a blow. From the outliers she also learned that Wacousta was among them and Omeena, his son.

" To save his family from the threatened massacre was the determination of the Sioux maiden, and accordingly, after nightfall, she started from the camp, and threading her way noiselessly under the dark shadows of the forest, soon reached the camp of the Ottawas.

" Drawing the folds of her blanket closely around her face to conceal it from the sight of her enemies, she quickly found herself at the door of a lodge, from the size of which she judged the owner to be of no common rank. Glancing hastily into the faces of the sleeping occupants, as the flick- ering fire revealed them to view, she saw that Omeena was not there, and turned away to continue the search else- where.

" Hardly, however, had she changed her course ere she met the young Ottawa returning to the lodge which she had just visited. Great was the surprise of the young chieftain at meeting his affianced there; but not less sur-

prised was he when she revealed to him the proximity of his foes and warned him to apprise his family, that they might flee from danger. She then retraced her steps, and, her absence having been unnoticed, was soon seated among the people of her nation.

" Hard was the struggle in the mind of Omeena as he pondered over the intelligence which had just reached him. The struggle was but brief; the glory of the brave and the love of his nation triumphed over every other principle, and soon hundreds of grim warriors sallied forth to form an ambuscade for the approaching enemy. Crossing the Kala- mazoo, they secreted themselves in the dark thicket on its western bank, and awaited the coming of the Sioux. Just as the harvest moon had risen brightly over the eastern hills, the almost silent tread of the warriors betokened their approach ; and now the Ottawa war-cry went up to the bending sky from hundreds of braves, and the deadly affray commenced.

" Warrior with warrior grappled, and together sank in death's embrace. First in the fight moved the stately Wacousta. Eagerly he sought the Sioux leader, to ter- minate the contest by the result of single combat. The morning came, and with it the struggle ceased. The Sioux, defeated at every point, had retreated, leaving their chieftain among the dead.

" Upon his breast reclined the head of a young Sioux girl, whose beauty had not protected her from the merciless tomahawk, as she endeavored in the fury of the fray to shield the fallen body of her father. At a little distance from the Sioux chieftain reposed, on the dewy grass, the body of another warrior, with the plumes which were twined in his hair bedraggled and trailing upon the earth. The serenity of death had calmed the stern features of what had so lately been the great Wacousta.

" Omeena survived the fray, and when the evening shadows again rested upon the landscape, he and his war- riors buried the bodies of the slain chieftains side by side. On their graves they planted the wild rose, and with each returning spring the Ottawa maidens came to strew with forest flowers the resting-place of the young Sioux girl, and the braves to look upon the spot where reposed the noble Wacousta and his deadly foe."

THE EMIGRANT'S CAMPAIGN SONG.

The following song, which was all the rage during the emigration excitement of 1837, will be new to many readers of the present day :

" Come, all you Yankee farmers Who'd like to change your lot ; Who've spunk enough to travel Beyond your native spot, And leave behind the village Where pa and ma do stay ; Come, follow me and settle In Michi-gan-i-a.

"I've hearn of your Penobscot, Way down in parts of Maine, Where timber grows in plenty, But darn the bit of grain ; And I've hearn of Passamaquoddy, And your Piscataqua ; But these can't hold a candle To Michigania.

MICHIGAN ASYLUM FOR THE INSANE.

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"And you that talk of Varmount; Why, what a place is that ? Be sure that gals are pritty, And cattle very fat ; But who among the mountains, 'Mid clouds and snow would stay, When he could buy a prairie In Michigania ?

" And there's your Massachusetts, Once good enough, be sure; But now she's always laying on Taxation or manure. She's cost you pecks of trouble, But de'il a peck can pay ; While all is Scripture measure In Michigania.

" Then there's your land o' Blue Laws, Where deacons cut the hair, For fear your locks and tenets Should not exactly square; Where beer that works o' Sunday A penalty must pay ; While all is free and easy In Michigania.

" What country ever growed up So great in little time, Just popping from the nursery Right into-like its prime ? When Uncle Sam did wean her, 'Twas but the other day, And now she's quite a lady, This Michigania.

" Up on the river Clinton, Just through the country back, You'll find in shire of Oakland The town of Pontiac, Which, springing up o' sudden, Scar'd wolves and bears away, That used to rove about there In Michigania.

"And if you follow downwards, Why Rawchister is there ; And farther still Mount Clemens Looks out upon St. Clair. Besides some other places Within Macombia, That promises population To Michigania.

" Or if you'd rather go to A place called Washtenaw, You'll find upon the Huron Such lands ye never saw, Where ships come to Ann Arbor, Right through La Plaisance Bay, And touch at Typsylanty In Michigania.

" Or, if you keep a-going A great deal further on, I guess you'll reach St. Josey's, Where everybody's gone; Where every thing, like Jack's bean, Grows monstrous fast, they say, And beats the rest all hollow Of Michigania.

"But of all the darndest countries Beneath the shining sun,

Old Kalamazoo can take the rag When all the rest are done.

There, in the burr-oak openings, . Big Match-e-be-nash-e-wish Raised double crops of corn and beans, And ate them with his fish.

"Then come, ye Yankee farmers, Who've mettle hearts like me, And elbow-grease is plenty To bow the forest-tree. Come take a ' Quarter Section,' And I'll be bound you'll say This country takes the rag off, This Michigania."

CHAPTER XXIII.

MICHIGAN ASYLUM FOR THE INSANE.

THE first step towards the establishment of suitable ac- commodations for the insane in Michigan was taken in the year 1848, when, upon the recommendation of Governor Epaphroditus Ransom, formerly a citizen of Kalamazoo, the Legislature made provision for an asylum, and ap- pointed a commission to determine its location, which was fixed at Kalamazoo in the year 1850. The place chosen consisted of but ten acres of ground, and was badly located, and in 1851 this was sold and a farm of about one hun- dred and sixty acres, comprising a large proportion of the present property, was purchased in its stead. Subsequently, two additional tracts, together including about thirty-five acres, were purchased and added to the original farm, making the total one hundred and ninety-five acres. It is situated in the southwest portion of the village, upon section 21, and centrally distant, in a direct line, four hundred and twenty rods from the court-house.

A carefully-prepared plan for the institution was fur- nished by Dr. John P. Gray, superintendent of the New York State Asylum at Utica; but, owing to a failure on the part of the Legislature to appreciate the magnitude of the work required to accommodate the insane of the State, there were not sufficient funds appropriated to justify the erection of buildings until 1854.

The work proceeded slowly, and it was not until 1859 that a portion of the buildings sufficient to accommodate about ninety patients was opened for their reception, under the superintendence of Dr. E. H. Van Deusen, who held the responsible position until 1878.

The portion first completed was in the south wing of what is now the female department.

The work was seriously delayed by the war of the Re- bellion, and it was not until 1869 that the first building was completed and opened with accommodations for three hundred and fifty patients; one hundred and seventy-five of either sex.

But the rapid increase of the population of the State produced such demands upon the institution that the year following its completion it became much crowded, and Gov- ernor Baldwin recommended an appropriation for a second building, to be fitted exclusively for male patients. The Legislature accordingly appropriated two hundred and eighty thousand dollars for another building, and this was pushed rapidly to completion in 1874. It is situated to the south of the original building, and far enough away

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HISTORY OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

(about five hundred and fifty feet) to prevent danger of fire communicating from one to the other. The two build- ings complete furnish accommodations for about six hun- dred patients and the necessary officers and attendants. They are constructed of brick, with stone trimmings, and are very substantial. Dr. Van Deusen directed the erection of the new male department and many of the outbuildings.

A portion of the original building was destroyed by fire in 1857, while in course of erection, involving an addi- tional outlay of about seventy thousand dollars. The two departments have a bakery and laundry in common, but otherwise are distinct from each other.

The building devoted to female patients has a frontage of seven hundred and twenty feet. Its centre and portions of the wings are three stories in height. The transverse wings extend back one hundred and fifty feet.

The building occupied by males is five hundred and twenty-five feet front, with transverse wings one hundred and thirty feet deep. This building is mostly three stories in height.

The total cost of the institution, including land, build- ings, and appurtenances of every description, has been about eight hundred thousand dollars.

The disbursements, on account of " current expenses," from April 1, 1859, to April 30, 1876, were one million seventy-eight thousand three hundred and eighteen dollars and ninety-eight cents, and the appropriations for 1877 and 1878 were, for improvements and repairs, fourteen thou- sand eight hundred and thirty two dollars ; and for current expenses, thirty-five thousand dollars. The latter item averages from fifteen to twenty thousand dollars annually.

The average cost of maintenance per individual, includ- ing disbursements of every kind, is a trifle less than five dollars per week.

The amount received from counties and individuals for the support of patients to April 30, 1876, was eight hun- dred and sixty-six thousand and twelve dollars and twenty- eight cents, and the sum appropriated by the State for the same purpose was one hundred and ninety-three thousand one hundred and ten dollars and thirty-nine cents.

The number of patients admitted to Jan. 1, 1879, is 1425 males and 1354 females ; total, 2779. Discharged, males, 1177 ; females, 1070; total, 2247. Transferred to State charge, 95 males, 122 females ; total, 217. Remain- ing, males, 250; females, 284; total, 534.

SITUATION.

The situation of the buildings is exceedingly fine and healthful, on the height of lands overlooking the valley of the Kalamazoo River, and elevated above it about one hun- dred feet. About one-fifth of the grounds is covered with a fine, thrifty growth of forest-trees, principally oak and hickory, and the extensive lawn in front of the institution is covered with a scattering growth of oak, open and clear of underbrush, adding much to the beauty of the surround- ings, and furnishing an agreeable and ample shade in warm weather. In the rear of the buildings a belt of timber affords protection from winter winds, and also acts as a preventive of malarial infection.

The Arcadia Creek, a clear and rapid stream, runs through

the domain, and the land gradually falls away by a series of ravines, to the west of the buildings, into the valley of the creek, affording excellent opportunity for thorough drainage.

Of the land, about sixty acres are devoted to grass and woodland, interspersed with walks and drives ; the remainder, about one hundred and thirty-five acres, being used for agricultural purposes. The soil is a sandy loam, favorable to the growth of corn, small grains, grasses, vegetables, and fruits, and produces abundantly.

WATER SUPPLY.

The water with which the institution is supplied is ob- tained from a well sunk in the valley in rear of the build- ings. It is thirty feet deep and sixteen feet in diameter, the water standing uniformly about seventeen feet deep, and being practically inexhaustible. It is clear and cold, coming through coarse gravel in the bottom of the well, and entirely free from all chemical or mineral impurities.

The two departments of the institution are supplied by four-inch pipes, which carry the water to large reservoirs near the principal buildings. It is forced up by both steam- and water-power, the former supplied by the laundry engine, and the latter by a large water-wheel, operated by a small stream running through the grounds, and having a fall of about thirteen feet.

The buildings are furnished with tanks in the attics, which are supplied from the main reservoirs, one having a capacity of eighty thousand gallons. These tanks supply the boilers, from which all the rooms are furnished with steam for heating purposes.

DRAINAGE.

This is in very perfect condition. Iron pipes connect with the various sinks, bath-rooms, water-closets, etc., and run to a common point in front of the buildings, where they discharge into a large sewer, egg-shaped, three feet by two in dimensions, which runs under the carriage-way to a distant part of the grounds, and empties into two filtering-tanks, which retain the solid portions of the sew- age while the deodorized liquid flows into a small stream and is carried away. The tanks are cleaned out every year and the filters repacked.

WARMING AND VENTILATION.

Ventilation is secured by forcing air into the coil cham- bers by means of a large propeller-fan, which receives air from the outside and delivers it equally upon radiating surfaces under the different wings. The radiating surfaces consist of large coils of wrought-iron pipe, in which steam is distributed from the boilers, and from which the water of condensation is conveyed back to the hot-water cisterns, and thence to the boilers. Directly above these coils are distributing-flues which convey the heated air to the wards ; and from the wards exit-flues convey the foul air to the attics, which communicate freely through five ventilating cupolas with the open air.

Steam for warming, ventilating, cooking, hoisting coal, and for running the machinery of the laundry and shops is sup- plied by four horizontal, tubular boilers, in the boiler-house.

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INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

These boilers are sixteen feet long and five feet diameter, each furnished with fifty four-inch flues, mud-drums, and steam-chests, complete. The great chimney, or "stack," is upwards of one hundred and fifty feet high, securing a per- fect draft and carrying off the smoke. The boilers are ar- ranged for bituminous coal, which is delivered upon a side- track, built to accommodate the institution, and connecting with the Michigan Central Railway. An inclined plane connects this track with the boiler-house. It is eight hun- dred and fifty feet in length, and has an ascent of one foot in nine, making a total rise of about ninety-four feet. A strong wire rope, worked around a large drum by the laun- dry engine, hauls up a dumping-car which empties itself at the summit. The facilities for receiving and handling sup- plies are convenient and ample for all purposes.

CHAPEL AND KITCHEN BUILDING.

By an ingenious arrangement these departments are made to occupy the same building, which is situated immediately in the rear of the centre of the female department, and con- necting with the main building by means of a brick corri- dor. Below the ground-line there is an extensive cellar, a refrigerating chamber, and rooms for ice, meat, and milk. The basement story is occupied by a large kitchen in front, and by store-rooms, cooking apartment, and bakery, and in rear by a large dining-hall for the accommodation of the employees of the institution. On the next, or main floor, is the chapel-room, fifty-five by thirty-two feet, and in rear of this, twelve comfortable rooms for domestics. This building is of brick, one hundred and six feet in length and thirty-five feet in width, covered with a slate roof. Over the corridor, connecting with the main building, is the library-room.

The male department is similarly fitted up with regard to ventilation, heating, water supply, kitchens, and all other appurtenances necessary to the comfort and convenience of the patients, and for all other purposes, though on a some- what smaller scale. The food is distributed in this depart- ment by means of cars running upon a miniature track to the respective dumb-waiters in either wing.

ORGANIZATION.

The entire management of the asylum is, under the act of organization, committed to a board of six trustees ap- pointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, and holding office for terms of six years.

The board appoints a medical superintendent as chief executive officer, who has administrative charge of all mat- ters pertaining to the institution. The subordinate officers, as assistant medical superintendent, assistant physicians, steward, treasurer, and chaplain, are appointed by the trus- tees upon his recommendation.

Trustees .- Hon. Charles T. Mitchell, Hillsdale, Presi- dent; E. O. Humphrey, Esq., Kalamazoo, Secretary ; E. S. Lacey, Esq., Charlotte; F. R. Williams, Esq., Elk Rapids; George Hannahs, Esq., South Haven; Robert Burns, Esq., Kalamazoo. '

Resident Officers .- George C. Palmer, M.D., Medical Superintendent ; Edward A. Adams, M.D., Assistant Medi- cal Superintendent ; William L. Worcester, M.D., Halsey

L. Wood, M.D., Thomas R. Savage, M.D., Assistant Phys- icians ; Henry Montague, Steward; William A. Wood, Treasurer.

CHAPTER XXIV.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

Indian Trails-Early Roads and Traveling-The Old Territorial Road and Early Taverns-The Stage-Coach-Canals-River Navigation -Plank-Roads-Railways.

IT is a well-known fact that the degree of civilization to which a nation has attained is indicated by the means of 'locomotion made use of by its citizens. The ancient em- pires of the Eastern Continent in the zenith of their power constructed a most superb system of intercommunication with their various provinces, of which the celebrated " Ap- pian Way" of the Roman Empire was a noted example; and the Spanish invaders of Central and Southern America, in the sixteenth century, found an admirable system of solid and durable roads, which had been constructed cen- turies before their advent. In Peru the great roads built by the Incas, and in Mexico and Yucatan those constructed by the emperors of the Aztecs and the earlier rulers of the Colhuas and Toltecs, were on a surprisingly grand and per- fect scale, fully equaling in every respect the famous Roman ways.

A few hundred years ago, so late as the reign of Queen Elizabeth, there were no roads in Britain fit for the passage of wheeled vehicles (the traveling being done on foot and on horseback ), where now we see as fine a system of roads of every kind as can be found in the world.

The earliest roads of historic times in the United States of America were no doubt the trails of the savages. They made use, also, to a great extent, of the multitudinous streams and lakes for which the northern continent is so celebrated, and many of their great war expeditions were mainly carried on in canoes. It was the peculiar situation of the Iroquois confederation, at the head-waters of the Hud- son, the Delaware, the Susquehanna, the Ohio, and many of the tributary streams of the St. Lawrence, that gave them such a superiority over the surrounding nations, for they could start from the centre of the confederacy at Onondaga, and in their light canoes fall upon their enemies in all directions.

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History of Kalamazoo county, Michigan, Part 42

Author: Durant, Samuel W. comp Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia. Everts & Abbott Number of Pages: 761

Author: Durant, Samuel W. comp
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia. Everts & Abbott
Number of Pages: 761