History of Kalamazoo county, Michigan, Part 62

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

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" The only one who foiled them was Barent Hodgboom, the sturdy blacksmith. He was caught as he was passing along the street near the gate, and taken by a strong posse to the tub, where a foaming cup was presented to him, but he, 'fearing these Greeks e'en bearing gifts,' refused to drink. 'Duck him,' rang out the stern command of General Stewart, 'Duck him instantiy!' Three or four strong-armed men seized him, and commenced to execute the command, when with a sudden jerk Hodgboom wrenched his arms from the iron grip of the officers, and away he darted, bounding like a buck over the fence into the street. The officers pursued, but were unable to recapture him.

"Now the plot began to thicken. The band-Bradolph, John Hays, George Russell, and their ilk-had joined them on their organiza- tion, and discoursed the best of music. There was a busy, motley, ludicrous throng congregated about that ' Tub of Lemonade,' situated in the centre of the soft, grassy lawn beneath the umbrageous burr- oaks in front of Tom Sheldon's residence. No Newport, Cape May,

Saratoga, or Long Branch ever became so suddenly popular, and drew so great a multitude in so short a time. The thing was unparalleled ; the heads of the people were fairly turned; Kalamazoo was really getting intoxicated over her 'new spring,'-not exactly mineral, or medicinal, or magnetic, but a fountain that flowed and sparkled with lemonade, and which when once drank of brought on

"'That real, old, particular, brandy, punchy feeling.'

It was in fact a 'Pierian spring,'

"' Whose shallow draughts intoxicated the brain, And drinking largely didn't sober you again.'

"You could see evidences of this all around you. That cup once raised to your lips and tasted, you drank on, and those who drank on -GOT DRUNK. You had only to look about you to see the straggling, reeling revelers on all sides ; some scattered here and there, lounging on the grass like tired soldiers, trying to catch a little respite after a hard-fought battle; while others, yet more sober, but very officious and loquacious, were trying to make themselves useful by waiting on the new-comers about the tub, much to the annoyance of ' Tubmaster- General' Stewart. who would frequently cry out, ' Gentlemen, AS FAST AS YOU GET DRUNK FALL BACK ; this order is imperative and must be obeyed!' This command of Gen. Stewart's became famous, and is often quoted in many parts of the country to-day. During the day the revelers, scattered in groups, had wandered throughout the town. Many amusing anecdotes are told of their adventures, exploits, and valorous achievements, of which we retain only an inkling. That old man with a scythe has all the rest.

" As time wore on, the grounds around the ' fountain' became fairly covered with the staggering, recumbent, lounging revelers. Here were lawyer and student, merchant and clerk, doctor, dentist, and drayman, artist, mechanic, and laborer, man of business and gentle- man of leisure, temperance man, teetotaler and toper, all on the high- way to that dreamy, happy land, to that boozy ' Eldorado,' where the wearying cares and toils of life cease to torment the restless inind.

" The band had discoursed its choicest music as long as it could do so on the perpendicular, but they, after a while, began ' to weave' with the instruments at their mouths, while their lips grew so thick and their fingers so clumsy that their tunes sounded out in jangles. But some of them had taken the precaution to put a piece of codfish in their pockets, and would nibble on that occasionally, as many believed that this would neutralize the effect of the liquor in the stomach ; hence they stood their ground much longer than any one else. But salt codfish even could not save them from the effects of this drink. As we have said, they began to reel and yield to the influence of this ' mixture.' Then their music grew out of tune, discordant and wild. At times you could hear nothing but the solitary 'toot' from the ' off- clyde,' or the ' cronk, cronk' of the trombone ; or, again, the ' blare' of the bugle, the ' snarl' of the clarionct, the heavy sound of the bass, or the 'r-rat-tat-too' of the small drum, straggling here and there, lost to time and tune. Finally, the last faint note of the band died out, and they, overpowered, sought the soft, grassy slope. How long they, with a large part of the revelers, laid under the shade of the oaks, after their delicious symposium, I will not attempt to say ; but during the last part of the afternoon the whole party were aroused from their stupor by the clarion voice of Capt. Luke Whitcomb, who had been elected to that office, calling on them to ' get up' and form into line and be ready ' to march.' After repeated exertions of this kind, Capt. Whitcomb succeeded in arousing the forces under his com- mand. 'Music!' shouted that officer. Then there was a scene whose like we shall never look upon again. To see those men making the effort to arise and get command of their legs once more, to throw off their stupor, rubbing their eyes, yawning, and straightening out their limbs, and trying to adjust themselves and their general rig into natural movement again ; it was a ludicrous scene to look upon, and grew more ludicrous as we witnessed their ambitious attempts to ' sober up' and form into line.

" Capt. Whitcomb's commands were given in his own vernacular and peculiar nasal accent, and about as appropriately as those of a certain officer who had forgotten the military phrase he wished to use, and shouted, ' Ob-li-quee to the right or left as the case may be !' It is certain, at any rate, that Luke's men ob-li-queed into rank most superbly. He then stepped forward, and in splendid military style gave the command, ' march !' Off they started ; some to the ground, some crooking and bending at the knee, some straight as Choctaws for a step or two, then obliquing awfully ; but all endcavored to get

# It is suggested by the editor of the Telegraph that the spot occu- pied by the party was upon the lawn of Gen. Bissell Humphrey, in- stead of Thomas Sheldon.

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HISTORY OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

under motion. A funny-looking procession, as they, two-by-two, locked in with each other, essayed to parade along the streets, Capt. Luke marching at their head with a grand military step and strut. Says 'tubmaster' Stewart, 'Cameron, you ain't as drunk I am, let me walk with you,' and he hitched in with his friend. Then their ' quips and quirks and sallies of wit,' which were exchanged with each other or with those they met, were amusing. The band leading, played their most animating tunes. The procession marched down to the River House, and back to the American, and then along the various streets till, coming up in front of the old Exchange, Capt. Whitcomb cried out 'halt !' Mr. Landlord Hogle immediately appeared at the door, and taking the situation at a glance, he invited the company in ; thinking that he, of course, would make something by their treating each other. 'March !' instantly sounded out, Luke leading the way -not into the bar-room, but straight up-stairs into the dining-room, where the table had remained just as it was left after a picnic dinner. Around this Capt. Luke and his men deployed, and commenced an attack upon the viands.

"Hogle, somewhat alarmed at this movement, had gone up-stairs after them, and while walking down the dining-hall, a loaf of baker's bread went swiftly through the air and hit him in the back. Surprised and indignant, he turned round and demanded, 'Who dared do that ?' and Capt. Luke, with a leg of a turkey, part in his hand and part in his mouth, thundered out, ' Yes, I too demand who dared do so mean an act? Whoever it was, let the villain step back two steps from the table, and he shall be punished !' Not a man spoke, not a man moved ; when Luke said, 'None of my men, Mr. Hogle, threw that loaf, I'll vouch for them.' Hogle saw it was useless to parley, and submitted to the indignity.

" After eating as much as they wanted and drinking toasts, Luke gave the command to descend to the street, when they marched about town till dark.

" Among the incidents of this 'day's doings' we remember the fol- lowing :

" Alexander Cameron and A. J. Van Buren, the blacksmith, walked. together most of the time in their marches about town ; Iliram Under- wood an l Charley Gibbs I remember as 'soldiers' in the ' campaign' of the 5th. It was during their rambles about town that one of the ' campaigners' staggered up to W. G. Pattison (who was sober), in the middle of the street, and putting a hand on each of Pattison's shoul- ders to steady himself, began a doleful temperance lecture ; said he ' was sorry to see him (Pattison) in such a state,-really drunk ; a man of his standing in society ; it was a sad sight for him to witness.' Pattison was amused as well as annoyed by this temperance lecturer, and had no little trouble in getting rid of him. At another time during the day, Bradolph, the leader of the band, had succumbed to the 'mixture' and was lying on the floor in a grocery. Bradolph always dressed with much neatness and taste. He had on a beautiful buff vest and light pants, and as he laid there one of the '5th' came up, and, leaning or ' weaving' over him, began to moralize on the evils of intemperance ; he said his feelings were shocked to see so highly respectable a young man as Bradolph lying there intoxicated! It would have been well for poor 'Brad' if this condoling friend had finished this temperance homily with his gush of sympathy ; but he did not, for ere he got through the spirit came out of his mouth, and was ejected all over Bradolph. The next day Bradolph presented to this sympathizing friend a charge of so many dollars, for having spoiled a fine suit of clothes for him. There was a long talk. 'Brad,' I believe, never got his pay for that ruined suit.

" The closing scene in the drama of this strangely eventful day is confined to the front steps of the 'old bank building,' then occupied by John P. Marsh as a residence. Seated here, about nine o'clock in the evening, were a group of Kalamazoo worthies, among whom were Sam Rice, Eb. Walbridge, David Hubbard, John Goodrich, Charley Watson, and others. While sitting there upon the steps, these mellow and social worthies became seized with the desire to 'orate' and tell their experiences. Sam Rice arose first and spoke substantially as follows : ' My name is Samuel A. Rice. I was born in Waitsfield, Vt., and was early taught by pious parents to be honest and industrious, to live a sober and virtuous life. I have endeavored to follow these precepts thus far in life. Am a little drunk to-night, but will be sober in the morning, by -,' and he took his seat. Then Eb. Walbridge arose and spoke his say, almost repeating Sam's speech word for word, save the place of birth, that varied. He was followed by David Hubbard, who repeated Eb's speech. And so it continued

to the last one in the group ; they all went on 'being born,' most of them in Vermont, 'being taught by pious parents,' etc. etc., and they were all a 'little drunk to-night, but would be sober in the morning.' The most unanimous group of social fellows that ever got drunk or made a speech. One of them afterwards remarked, 'Sam Rice struck the keynote for us; if his parents hadn't been so pious, ours would have been the same, and in that case we should have been taught just as Sam was.' These speeches or this speech was heard by one of the inmates of the residence while sitting at an open window above them.

"' The moonlight stealing o'er the scene, Had blended with the lights of eve,'

and lent a charm to the view on this occasion, bringing out in soft relief this interesting group making speeches on the front steps.

" Many of the revelers did not reach home that night. Strayed here and there, they slept along the sidewalk, on the grass, under the burr- oaks. Charley Gibbs and Bill Stewart got part of the way home, and then 'took up' their lodging on the green sward, where they found 'tired nature's sweet restorer.' Some never knew where they slept that night. In fact, to all of them, after having drank of the myste- rious ' mixture,' the day and its scenes were under a peculiar cloud and charm ; they had been wandering in a strange region, full of de- lights and enjoyments, and having passed through it they only had an indistinct recollection of all they had seen and enjoyed.

" There were many people in Kalamazoo who had nothing to do with this 'hot-water' celebration; but it is generally conceded that those who once got a TASTE of it invariably fell in with it.

" Next morning at the ' Old Branch,' the students, as some were sup- posed to have participated in this celebration, received a severe lec- ture from our worthy principal, Dr. J. A. B. Stone, on the evils of intemperance and dissipation. This reproof was well-timed, and hit some of those participants, for their restlessness, as 'the wounded bird always flutters,' betrayed who they were."

Next in importance after the act of the Territorial Leg- islature locating the county-seat at Kalamazoo (then Bron- son), was undoubtedly the opening of the Michigan Central Railway, which took place on Monday, Feb. 2, 1846. Al- though several important lines have at different periods since made connections with the place, yet this was the first, and its advent into the comparatively quiet village marks a most important epoch in its history. The growth of the place, in consequence, at once became greatly accelerated, and this in time led other important lines to make it a point.

Had the Central road passed through some other portion of the county, the centre of business might possibly have arisen at another point. At any rate, the building of this great line through Kalamazoo made its future a certainty .*

An engine and a small train had visited the village on the day preceding (Sunday), and such was the intense in- terest manifested by the villagers in this new mode of travel and transportation that not even the usual sanctity of the day could restrain them, and they abandoned the churches at the shrill scream of the whistle and thronged to the station to witness the new wonder. The engine "St. Joseph" and a single car constituted the " train." On the 11th of the same month there was a railroad celebration and a grand supper at the Kalamazoo House.

Succeeding the completion of the railway came a great influx of business, and institutions of various kinds sprung into existence in the thoroughly rehabilitated town. Im- provement in all branches was marked, and the place started upon a career of prosperity which bore it to the front among the thriving towns of Southern Michigan.

The Central Railway was not completed to Niles until September, 1848.

* See Chapter XXIV.

231

VILLAGE OF KALAMAZOO.

The first telegraphic communication with the world was in April, 1848.

There was considerable excitement over the Mexican war, and a full company of 101 men was raised at Kalamazoo by Capt. F. W. Curtenius .*

The winter of 1848-49 was at times very cold, the mer- cury falling on January 11th as low as 25° below zero, at that time the coldest weather known in this part of the State.

The project of building plank-roads was agitated in 1849, and the books for the Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids road were opened for subscriptions in August of that year. (See Chapter XXIV.)

The California gold excitement prevailed considerably in Kalamazoo in 1849-50, and in the beginning of February, 1850, about 50 persons left for the new " Eldorado."

In April, 1849, Mr. Alexander J. Sheldon was appointed village marshal, and under his energetic management began the system of public improvements upon streets, sidewalks, etc., which has made Kalamazoo the pride of the country. Previous to that year no attempt had been made by the village authorities in this direction. Mr. Sheldon began by laying down a plank walk in front of St. Luke's Episcopal church, and this soon began to be appreciated. He was clothed with discretionary power to a considerable extent, and exercised the functions of his office with excellent judgment and without partiality.

His enterprising spirit communicated itself to the board of trustees, and by-laws and ordinances for the improve- ment of the place were framed, entered upon the record, and put in execution promptly and efficiently under the marshal's direction. Sidewalks and crossings were con- structed, obstructions removed, and soon the place began to show a decided improvement, and gave evidence that its public men were alive to the necessities of the occasion. The streets were surveyed, their lines accurately located, and then followed a season of grading, building of good walks, planting of trees, etc.

Starting with the thorough and energetic work of Mr. Sheldon, the village has kept up a system of improvements to the present time. On the 1st of April, 1851, Mr. Shel- don made an able and exhaustive report to the board of trustees, in which he thoroughly discussed the whole sub- ject of the village government. The report enumerated a large amount of labor and money expended upon streets and bridges, including bridges over Arcadia Creek on Rose, West, Edwards, Pitcher, Church, and Jail Streets (the latter since changed to Park Street), and one in the west part of the village, farther up the stream.

He makes the significant statement that when the mu- nicipal authorities took possession of the road fund, there was not " what might be termed a passable road or safe bridge in the corporation." Kalamazoo Avenue was first improved in 1851. The Arcadia Creek was at that date a great source of trouble and complaint, by reason of its lia- bility to overflow from freezing and in time of heavy rains.

He speaks of improvements made on the park in the way of fencing, grading, graveling of walks, planting of trees and shrubbery, etc., and recommends the purchase of a

fire-engine, and calls the attention of the board to the want of an adequate water-supply.

In 1853 occurred the somewhat noted episode denomi- nated the " Arcadia War." The difficulty grew out of a difference of opinion between two citizens, Hill and Rals- ton, regarding jurisdiction over a portion of Eleanor Street, lying south of what was then Dodge's foundry. The two men claimed to own that part of the street and refused to vacate it, denying that the street had any legal existence. At the expiration of the time given by the board in their notice to the parties to vacate, they having refused to com- ply, the marshal was ordered to proceed with the removal of their buildings. The attempt was made on the 19th day of August. Upon the marshal's appearance on the ground, Hill and Ralston peremptorily forbade any attempt at removal, and expressed a determination to resist to the utmost. Upon the workmen, under charge of the marshal, attempting to commence work they were fired upon by the parties, and Charles Burdick was severely wounded. He was carried from the ground, and an attempt was then made by the marshal to force an entrance into the building whence the firing proceeded, and where Hill, Ralston, and a son of the latter were intrenched, but it was unsuccessful. In the encounter two men, belonging to the police force, were slightly wounded. Soon after, Deputy Sheriff B. F. Orcutt appearing on the ground, the men inside surrendered to him, and were taken before Justice Kendall for examina- tion, which resulted in holding the elder Ralston to bail in the sum of $800, upon the charge of maiming young Bur- dick, and in the further sum of $300 for resisting an officer. In the absence of any attempt to procure bail he was placed in the county jail. Hill and the younger Ralston were also held in the sum of $300 each, on the charge of resisting an officer, but they procured bail and were set at liberty. The old man Ralston soon tired of lying in jail, and was let out upon procuring the required bail. The case was in court for several years.

QUARTER-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.

The celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the settlement of Kalamazoo took place under the auspices of the Ladies' Library Association, on the 21st of June, 1854. The matter had been a subject of discussion for a consider- able time by the association, and the celebration had been finally determined upon.

Col. F. W. Curtenius was selected as orator, and Hon. E. Lakin Brown as poet for the occasion, and both gentle- men responded favorably. The arrangements comprehended a procession, music, speeches, toasts, and a public dinner to be spread in Firemen's Hall.

The morning of the appointed day came with rain and clouds, but towards noon the weather cleared, and the re- mainder of the day was all that could be desired. The following was the order of exercises :

Music by the Kalamazoo Band. Hymn by Professor Graves, sung by the assembly. Prayer by Rev. Mr. Hoyt. Singing by the Glee Club. Address by F. W. Curtenius. Singing by the Glee Club. Poem by E. L. Brown.

# See military chapter.

232

HISTORY OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

After the dinner was over a great number of regular and volunteer toasts were offered and responded to in the hap- piest manner, the Ladies' Library Association coming in for a remarkable share of attention. Col. Curtenius' address was replete with information and sound scholarship, and was listened to by the assembly with the closest attention.' In the course of his remarks he alluded in feeling terms to the founder of the village, Titus Bronson. The beautiful and classic poem written by E. Lakin Brown, of Schoolcraft, and read by him before the meeting, will be found in Chapter XXII. Other extracts from the proceedings of the day will also be found in the same chapter. Articles were contributed by T. S. At Lee, Volney Hascall, Esqs., and others; and the occasion will long be remembered by those who partici- pated in

"The feast of reason and the flow of soul."

An attempt was made to change the organization of the village to a city in 1857. A petition to the Legislature was drawn and circulated among the citizens, but the project does not seem to have been favorably received. Between 1854 and 1860 many improvements were made in the vil- lage. On the 27th of May the corner-stone of the Mich- igan Female Seminary was laid in the presence of a large number of citizens. In May, 1858, heavy rains produced a great flood in all the streams in this part of the State. The Kalamazoo overflowed its banks, and a portion of the bridge on Main Street was under water. The planks were saved from being floated away by placing heavy weights upon them. Whitcomb's mill and distillery sustained considerable damage, as the lower floors were under water. The river was estimated to have had fifteen feet in its channel. The Portage Creek also rose to a great height, and all the bottom lands were flooded. Even the quiet and peaceable Arcadia Creek, so gentle ordinarily that a person may step over it dry shod, now took on the airs of a rushing mill- stream, and, bursting its barriers, overflowed a considerable portion of the village lying to the north of the Michigan Central Railway. The damage along its course was con- siderable. The season of 1858, notwithstanding the de- pression in business circles, seems to have been one of extraordinary activity in the building line in Kalamazoo. The Telegraph gives a long list of improvements in the fall of that year, including a large outlay upon the insane asylum, Gregory's Commercial College, removed here from Detroit, the Kalamazoo College, the Ladies' Seminary, the Catholic church, etc., and makes a summary of amounts expended as follows :

Public buildings. .$64,000

75 new dwellings

70,000

Repairs and additions to dwellings

14,000

Business buildings.

9,700

$157,700

Besides these large amounts, a great deal of labor was expended on the streets, walks, etc.

There was quite an exciting general election in the fall of 1858. After the campaign was over, a large number of prominent citizens tendered a grand banquet to Hon. David S. Walbridge, member of Congress elect, which came off at the Burdick House on the 29th of November, pre- vious to his departure for Washington.

"Grace Greenwood" visited Kalamazoo in October, 1858, and wrote a very complimentary article descriptive of the place and its surroundings, which was published in the New York Evening Post. She describes the mound in the park as an "Indian Mound."

On the 15th of December, in the same year, Hon. Hor- ace Greeley delivered a lecture before the Library Association in Firemen's Hall upon " Great Men."

In 1858-59, a new bridge was constructed across the Kalamazoo River on the Gull Prairie road, and large amounts of money were expended in filling and grading the approaches on either bank, the one on the east side ex- tending a long way over the low bottom lands towards the bluff.

LAND-OFFICE.

The land-office, which had been for nearly twenty-five years an institution of great importance to Kalamazoo, wound up its affairs in 1858-59, and closed business, the government lands in the district having been disposed of. The Kalamazoo land district included the entire counties of Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph, Branch, Calhoun, Kalamazoo, Van Buren, and all of Barry and Allegan Counties except the northern tier of townships in each, which were in the Grand River district. The area included about 118 town- ships, covering, if all were full congressional townships, 4248 square miles, or. 2,718,720 acres. The fractional townships along the State line of Indiana would reduce these estimates slightly.

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History of Kalamazoo county, Michigan, Part 62

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