History of Kalamazoo county, Michigan, Part 63

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

USA > Michigan > Kalamazoo County > History of Kalamazoo county, Michigan > Part 63

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

A gazetteer of the State, published in 1838, by John T. Blois, gives the boundaries of all the land districts, from which we have made the above estimates; but the same author figures up a total of 3,726,863.84 acres of land lying within the Kalamazoo district, and either the boun- daries are wrongly given, or there is some mistake in the statistics. Possibly the district may previously have in- cluded a larger area, and a portion of the sales reported may have been in the region included in the Grand River district-set off in 1838. This is the only plausible ex- planation of the discrepancy. The total amount of moneys received at the Kalamazoo land-office from 1831-58 (three years of the time at White Pigeon) approximated $4,375,000. The total sales at White Pigeon amounted to something less than $400,000, which, deducted from the total, leaves nearly $4,000,000 received at the office in Kalamazoo .*

The amount of school lands set apart in Kalamazoo County, 10,171.80 acres; of University lands, 9559.45 ; of Indian reservations, 31,777.19.

The registers of the Kalamazoo land-office were Maj. Abraham Edwards, from 1831-49; T. S. At Lee, from 1849-57; Volney Hascall, 1857-58. Maj. Edwards died in 1860; Volney Hascall, in 1879; and Mr. At Lee is at present connected with the Indian Bureau in Washington.

Between 1854 and 1861 many improvements were made, and the growth of the place was steady and important. In 1860 the population had increased to 6075, and its business had kept pace with its population. Improved blocks of stores had filled up vacant places in its business streets, or taken the places of frame buildings ; a new bridge was con-

: # See Chapter IX. .

RES. OF FRED'K BUSH, KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

233

VILLAGE OF KALAMAZOO.

structed over the Kalamazoo in 1859; new churches and schools were erected ; streets had been improved, and every- thing betokened increasing business and prosperity.

In April, 1861, the first gun fired by the Southern Rebellion broke over the peaceful land like a clap of thunder from a clear sky. There had been bitter partisan threaten- ings in the halls of legislation, and in the columns of the Southern press, but it was scarcely believed that the threat- ened secession of the slave-holding States would be carried out. The attack upon Fort Sumter opened every eye in the nation to the dread reality,-war had come, and though the Northern people had been long suffering, and inclined to go beyond the bounds of reasonable legislation to propi- tiate their Southern brethren, yet the latter, under their fiery and reckless leaders, had crossed the " Rubicon," and there remained only the trial by battle, the dread arbitra- ment of arms.

As in every other city, village, and hamlet in the North, the people of Kalamazoo were wrought by the echoes of Beauregard's guns to the highest pitch of excitement and determination.

An impromptu meeting of the citizens, without distinc- tion of party, was held on the 15th of April, the second day after the surrender of Maj. Anderson at Sumter, at the office of J. W. Bruce, Esq., and, on motion of Dwight May, Esq., Mr. Bruce was called to the chair, and S. E. Wal- bridge appointed secretary. Mr. Bruce made a few stirring remarks, and the meeting at once proceeded to business. A committee of ten was, on motion, appointed by the chair, to issue a call for a public meeting to be held at Firemen's Hall on the following day. The chair appointed the follow- ing gentlemen : Hon. Charles E. Stuart, Israel Kellogg, Latham Hull, John Dudgeon, Joseph Miller, Gen. F. W. Curtenius, Hon. H. G. Wells, John Parker, Dwight May, and Isaac Moffatt.

A motion was made and carried that a committee of three be appointed to bolt both the liberty-poles in the village to- gether, and raise them in one place.

The second meeting was held at Firemen's Hall, and was numerously attended and very enthusiastic. Speeches were made by Hon. H. G. Wells, Hon. C. E. Stuart, Dwight May, Esq., and others, and there was but one opinion : the Rebellion must be resisted and put down by force of arms. A recruiting-office was immediately opened in Humphrey block, and Benjamin F. Orcutt, who had seen service in the Mexican war, commenced recruiting a company. At four o'clock on the evening of the first day 45 men had enlisted.

The firemen raised a new liberty-pole near the Corpora- tion building, and flung the Stars and Stripes to the breeze, and Charles S. May, Esq., then filling the office of prosecut- ing attorney for the county, received a commission from the Governor on Friday to raise a company, and on Saturday evening had 25 names enrolled. At the same time, Capt. Orcutt was drilling 50 men at the armory in Humphrey block.

Capt. May procured the use of the rooms over Bartlett's bookstore for a drill-hall and armory, and the town was full of martial preparation.

Two companies, commanded by Capts. Dwight May and 30

Charles S. May, left Kalamazoo on the 30th day of April, 1861, for the seat of war. We copy from the Telegraph of that period :

"The morning was clear and beautiful, the sun, as one of the speakers remarked, rivaling in splendor the sun of Austerlitz. The two companies, under command of the brothers May, were to leave on the 10.45 train. The town was a complete flutter of excitement. A little before ten o'clock Capt. D. May's company, escorted by the Light Guard, marched up Main Street, and took a position in front of Firemen's Hall. The streets were full of people.

" In a short time the order was given and the military marched down Burdick Street to the railroad depot, led by Hubbard's Band, and followed by an immense concourse of people. Soon after the first company reached the place assigned them in front of the speaker's stand, erected on the north side of Dudgeon's warehouse, Capt. C. S. May's company also arrived, and took its place in the rear. By this time the whole of the open space between the warehouse and depot was filled with people, while the street and every available standing-place for some distance around was occupied. It was no curiosity-seeking crowd that turned out on this occasion, but an assemblage of people to testify their appreciation and sym- pathy for the noble and patriotic volunteers, and the high resolve which animated them.

"Speeches were made by Hon. H. G. Wells, Col. Curtenius, Hon. C. E. Stuart, Rev. E. Taylor, all eloquent and appropriate. And now came the last and most touching scenes. Three cars had been left for the conveyance of the volunteers, and the way being opened, the com- panies at once marched into them. At the same time a rush was made by the crowd to be as near the track as possible, and as the noble fel- lows ascended the platform their hands were grasped by those out- stretched on every side, and the words, 'good-bye,' ' God bless you,' and kindred adieus and exclamations were uttered in every key of modulation. The platforms and windows of the cars were besieged for the last look, the last word. Mothers were there whose only sons were just stepping from that verge which might remove them forever from their gaze. Sisters sobbed a last farewell, wives tore themselves from their husbands, and brothers and friends, with trembling lips and hearts stirred with deep emotions, bade a sad farewell. The waiting was not long. The western train arriving, cut short the final fare- wells, and the train moved off. Shout upon shout arose from the crowd, and was participated in by the volunteers. Amid the noise of artillery, the shouts of the people, the swinging of hats, and the wav- ing of handkerchiefs, the first Kalamazoo volunteers departed."

On the 21st of June, 1861, F. W. Curtenius was com- missioned by the Governor to raise a regiment, and on the 14th of August the 6th Regiment rendezvoused at the fair- grounds in Kalamazoo. On the 30th of that month the command left for the seat of war. This was the first regi- ment of infantry raised here, and was composed of a fine body of men. They numbered 1020 commissioned officers and enlisted men upon their departure. A few days before the regiment left a grand dinner was given them by their friends from all parts of the State, and 10,000 people gave them greeting.

During the summer, Capt. Geo. S. Acker raised a com- pany for the 1st Michigan Cavalry. The company left for Detroit to join the regiment in September.

The 13th Infantry was recruited at Kalamazoo in the fall and winter of 1861-62, and left for the front on the 11th of February, 1862. The Telegraph of February 19th thus speaks of this regiment :

" A week ago to-day the 13th Regiment, which has been quartered in the national park, near this place, since October last, broke up camp and marched secessionward. The morning was temperate and brilliant, and throngs of excited spectators gathered to witness their departure. About nine o'clock the splendid regiment, under the lead of Lieut .- Col. Moore, bade farewell to Camp Douglas, and marched through Portage, Main, and Burdick Streets to the depot, which was

234

HISTORY OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

speedily surrounded by an immense crowd, bidding their friends farewell, and gazing on the varied scenes which preceded the depart- ure. As the regiment had been mostly recruited in and about . Kala- mazoo County, the leave-takings were numerous and affecting, many of them, possibly, the last 'good-bye' of earth.

"Twenty-one passenger-, ten baggage-, and eight freight-cars were required to transport the troops, with their arms, horses, and equip- ments. Two powerful engines drew the long and heavy train.

"Shortly after eleven o'clock all were aboard, and the regiment slowly glided from the depot, amid the mingled cheers and tears of the assembled thousands. At midnight it reached Lafayette, Ind., via Michigan City, and arrived at Louisville the next morning. Col. Shoemaker at once received orders to push his . rifles' forward to form part of the force advancing on Bowling Green. They were transported by steamer to Munfordville, where we for a time lose sight of them."

On the 20th of August, 1862, a company of infantry, under Capt. C. A. Thompson, was about full. This com- pany joined the 19th Regiment at Dowagiac, which left that place on the 13th of September. A company under Capt. Duffie also left about the same time.

Capt. R. F. Judson raised a company, which joined the 5th Cavalry about the last of August.

On the 1st of September the 25th Regiment of infantry was organized. Colonel, O. H. Moore ; Lieutenant-Colonel, B. F. Orcutt; Adjutant, Charles H. Brown. On the 27th of September there was a presentation in the village park in presence of the regiment. An elegant sword was pre- sented to Col. Moore, a sword, sash, and belt to Lieut .- Col. Orcutt, and a sword and revolver to Adj. Brown. The regi- ment left on the 1st of October. In October, 1862, rumors of a draft began to be heard, and the valiant men of Kal- amazoo were much troubled thereat. A provost-marshal's office was established in the village in the spring of 1862, and R. C. Dennison appointed marshal for the district. The office was in the Humphrey block.

In the autumn of that year a draft was ordered in Kala- mazoo County, but the quota was finally filled by the requi- site number of volunteers, and the young men breathed free again.

But the quotas could not all be filled in this way, nor even by the payment of large bounties, and the draft at length came in earnest and commenced its work on the 27th of October, 1863, at the court-house. The managers were the provost-marshal and the board of enrollment. At the hour designated the building was filled with interested and (some of them) excited spectators. It is one thing to swing the hat and cheer on the brave volunteers to the front of battle, but quite another to hear your name called by Uncle Sam's appointed officers as a drafted man to fill the ranks decimated by the casualties of bloody war.

And yet the only just and proper way to raise a military force is by a rigid and impartial draft. Had it been en- forced during the Rebellion, many men who could well have been spared, and who ought to have given their services to the country, would have been found in the ranks of the country's defenders, and many who ought not to have vol- unteered, and who were not liable to military duty, would have been spared to families and friends. Every able- bodied citizen should be required to do his part in defense of the government It sounds patriotic to hear it said that more than two million men volunteered to put down the great Rebellion, but justice demanded an equal distribution

of the burdens, and more especially of those which the army bore in the tented field.

The last town on the list was Kalamazoo, and when the commissioners announced the name, a tremor ran through the crowd of listeners. There were 613 names enrolled of men liable to draft, though not necessarily liable to military duty. The surgeon decided the physical qualifications.

Messrs. Brownell, Cohn, Balch, Wood, and Ransom were a committee to superintend the drawing. Slowly the fol- lowing names came from the (to them) Pandora's box : James I. Graves, Thomas Pattison, Oliver Milham, Frank Hubbard, Jacob R. Campbell, Joseph Reego, Frank Mar- sala, Arnold Leys, George D. B. Hall, George W. Earl, John C. Bassett, Bradley Mills, John L. Phillips, Henry Wood, Rix Hammond, Wm. McDimber, Joseph Quintal, Theodore R. Huntington, Stephen Hurd, James McCall, David B. Merrill, Wm. H. Denman, Edward P. Titus, Wm. Seeley, Patrick Rooney, Joseph Shellman, Henry E. Hoyt, Sir Isaac Newton, Benjamin F. Russ, John F. Fo- quet, Joseph I. Kensington, Aurora Burrill, Jr., George W. Coleman, James Agen, George L. Allen, George Young, William Heffron, Thomas Clarage, Jonathan Nickerson, Edwin H. Van Deusen, Solon S. Stanley.

Only a small proportion of these could be held for duty under the law of exemptions, and several additional drafts were ordered before the war closed, but only one other ac- tually took place. Money was plenty, and great efforts were made to hire substitutes, which, in many instances, were looked upon by the soldiers in the field as not only substitutes in name, but in fact, and some of them mighty poor ones at that.

One class of men, who could have served the country better perhaps in line of battle, was known as " substitute brokers." Wealthy men had little difficulty in procuring others to take (for a greenback consideration) their places in the ranks. There were plenty of adventurers who would take the money and then perhaps " jump the bounty," and turn up in another State to play the same game over again. The draft, in many cases, furnished the army with about as good material as the ragamuffin recruits of Falstaff. They would "just as soon cook as not," and managed to stow away " full rations," except in time of actual battle, when many of them could hardly crawl.

The boys at the front made more fun at the expense of these " bounty-jumpers" than can be found in " Joe Mil- ler's Jokes," and their cases were in many instances worse than the perilous life of the skirmish lines. Of course there were plenty of honorable men and good soldiers among those who served their country for a consideration, and the " veterans" were quick to appreciate the difference between these and those who were merely mercenaries. Cases are known where one " bummer" jumped the bounty seven times.

In February, 1864, the 13th Infantry came home on veteran furlough, and a grand reception was tendered them by the citizens of Kalamazoo. Following them came the 1st Cavalry, and the town was alive with "yellow jackets."

The 28th Infantry was recruited at Kalamazoo in the summer and autumn of 1864. It was formed of two frag- mentary regiments, the 28th and 29th.

VILLAGE OF KALAMAZOO.

235

Several drafts were ordered during 1864, but Kalamazoo County escaped until the 15th of February, 1865, when a call was made for 65 men. There was great excitement and a vast amount of " figuring" to escape from the call, and the matter ended in a few men only entering the ranks.

To an old soldier there is something unpatriotic, not to say cowardly, in the thought that the free-born citizens of any portion of the Republic should seek to evade by every possible means military service in times of such emergency as occurred during the civil war. If a country is worth boasting of, or living in, it is worth fighting for when the dire necessity arises, and he is but a sorry specimen of an American who will dodge the issue.

The village of Kalamazoo is credited with about 1000 men who entered the service during the war. Certainly a splendid showing, and its people have a right to speak with pride of the heroic men who took their lives in their hands and went forth to battle in defense of a popular govern- ment and the dearest rights of a common humanity.

Soldiers' aid societies sprang up in every part of the country, and Kalamazoo County contributed its full share of necessaries and comforts to the hospitals and fields of the war.

In this department the name of woman shines conspicu- ously in the records of the dark and terrible days of the Rebellion, when sons, and brothers, and husbands, and lovers were breasting the tide of war. Everywhere her nimble fingers prepared those appliances for the comfort of the sick and wounded which only woman knows how to supply, and many a noble example of patient toil and suf- fering in the gory hospitals of those days we may point to with pride as evidence that the women of America will always stand foremost in every work of mercy.

A Ladies' Aid Society was organized in Kalamazoo, in 1861. Mrs. T. P. Sheldon was President in 1862; Mrs. L. H. Stone, Secretary, and Mrs. D. B. Webster, Treas- urer. In 1863 the following officers were chosen, and con- tinued in office until the close of the war : Mrs. John Pot- ter, President ; Mrs. T. P. Sheldon, Secretary ; Mrs. D. B. Webster, Treasurer.

Among the directors were Mrs. Dr. Sill, Mrs. Hill, Miss Mary Penfield, and Miss Eliza Fisher.

The total amount of moneys received during its exist- ence was $5272.87. The expenses for wood, rent, etc., were $178.55. The amount of money expended for various materials, cotton and woolen bedding, etc., was $2945.25.

The remainder was expended in various ways for hos- pital stores, and for the relief of the sick and wounded and their families.

A State Sanitary Fair was held at Kalamazoo in Sep- tember, 1864, under the management of the Ladies' Sol- diers' Aid Society, and the net proceeds amounted to $9300.

The State Fair was also held upon the grounds of the National Horse Association in 1863 and 1864. Both were eminently successful.

Since the war the population and commercial importance of Kalamazoo have advanced rapidly, and there is probably no town in the Union of its size (excepting heavy manufac-

turing points) that does a larger general business. The building of new railroads and the completion of those then under way have added largely to its facilities.

The Kalamazoo and White Pigeon line (now a part of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern system) was com- pleted to Kalamazoo in 1867, and the Kalamazoo, Allegan and Grand Rapids road, an extension of the former, prop. erly speaking, followed in 1868. These two now form a main feeder to the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern line, and add greatly to the business of the place.

The Grand Rapids and Indiana road was completed in 1870. This line, extending to Petosky on the north, and with its connections to Cincinnati on the south, forms a continuous line over three hundred miles in length, and crosses a score of important roads in its course through Indiana and Michigan. Its lumber and general freight business is heavy, and its passenger traffic, particularly through the warm season, very respectable and steadily in- creasing. This is the only road which has established shops at Kalamazoo.

The South Haven road, an institution largely con- structed by local capital, was also completed in 1870, and, under the management of the Michigan Central Company, is doing a good business. It has opened a valuable region to the business of Kalamazoo, and will at some future time be quite likely to form a link in a through line between De- troit, Milwaukee, and the region west of the lake.

The statement of Postmaster Kendall, which we give in another place, showing the growth of the postal business of the village, is wonderfully suggestive of a solid, thrifty, and busy town.

THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, 1876.

In common with a thousand other cities and villages throughout the land, Kalamazoo did honor to the hun- dredth anniversary of the nation's birth.

The preliminary steps were taken in a mass-meeting held at the court-house on the 3d of May preceding, at which Foster Pratt, M.D., was chosen chairman, and George Torrey, Esq., of the Telegraph, acted as secretary.

The executive committee appointed to raise funds, elect officers, and make all necessary arrangements for the cele- bration, was composed of the following citizens : Col. Delos Phillips, Chairman ; D. O. Roberts, George H. Evens, H. T. Badger, Thomas O'Neill, William Shakespeare, Col. Ste- phen Wattles, A. C. Wortley, Daniel Waterbury, Charles Trebing, T. R. Bevans, Hon. Alexander Cameron, Dr. L. C. Chapin, Col. G. Edwin Dunbar, Dr. Foster Pratt, William Keavey.

Col. Dunbar was elected Secretary, and William Shake- speare, Treasurer.

A numerous sub-committee was also appointed to divide the labors.

The order of the day included a grand procession, music, an oration, reading of the Declaration of Independence, a poem, and an extensive exhibition of fire-works in the evening.

The 4th of July, 1876, opened misty and damp, but as the sun climbed into the heavens the fogs disappeared and the day was beautiful. At sunrise a national salute of 37

HISTORY OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

guns was fired, and the thundering echoes were supple -. mented by the peals of many bells, stirring the valley with resounding echoes from hill to hill.

The village was alive with people at an early hour, and at eleven o'clock A.M. the procession was formed under the conduct of Col. G. Edwin Dunbar, Chief Marshal, assisted by Edwin M. Irish, Courtlandt Babcock, and T. Wallace Sherwood.

ORDER OF MARCH.

At ten A.M., as signaled by the ringing of bells, the different bodies formed under direction of the marshals, and were in readiness to take their positions in the grand column, which moved promptly at eleven A.M., upon the second ringing of signal-bells, as follows :

FIRST DIVISION.

Col. Delos Phillips, Marshal; Lieut. W. F. Sherman, Assistant Marshal.

1. Crossett's Cornet Band, of Constantine.

2. Kalamazoo Light Guard, Capt. Robert F. Hill.

3. Centreville Cadets, Capt. M. A. Benedict.

4. German Workingmen's Benevolent Association.

5. Holland Workingmen's Benevolent Association.

6. St. Augustine's Benevolent Association.

7. Other uniformed companies.

8. Other civic societies.

9. Citizens on foot.

This division formed on South Pitcher Street, right on Main.

SECOND DIVISION.

Capt. Leroy Cahill, Marshal; Capt. Joseph Roberts, Assistant Marshal.

1. Peninsular Commandery Band.

2. Peninsular Commandery, K. T, Sir W. S. Lawrence, E. C.

3. Three Rivers Commandery, K. T., Sir George C. Brissette, E. C.

4. Kalamazoo and Paw Paw Lodges, I. O. O. F.

This division formed on south side of Main Street, right on Pitcher.

THIRD DIVISION.

Thomas O'Neill, Marshal; Capt. John Gilmore, Assistant Marshal.

1. Phillips' Star Organ Band.

2. Kalamazoo Fire Department, Thomas O'Neill, C. E.

3. Fire Department's guests.

4. George Washington and lady, in carriage, with liveried foot- men, etc.

5. Chariot, with Goddess of Liberty and ladies representing States.

6. Officers of the day and invited guests in carriages.

7. Village officers in carriages.

This division formed on Cherry and Portage Streets, right on Pitcher.

FOURTH DIVISION.

Capt. C. C. Jennings, Thomas R. Bevans, Marshals; Capt. Edwin Childs, Assistant Marshal.

1. Kalamazoo Cornet Band.

2. Kalamazoo County Cavalry.

3. Old stage-coach.

4. Representatives of the trades and industries.

5. Organized Granges in carriages.

6. Citizens in carriages.

This division formed on Cherry and South Streets, right on Portage.

The procession moved from corner of Main and Pitcher Streets, west on Main to West; south on West to South; west on South to Michigan Avenue; countermarched on South Street to West; south on West to Cedar; east on Cedar to Burdick ; north on Burdick to Kalamazoo Avenue; west on Kalamazoo Avenue to Rose; south on Rose to Court-House Square.

The Holland Workingmen's Benevolent Association escorted a beautiful evergreen chariot, filled with young girls dressed in white, representing the States. On this chariot, in large letters, was the motto, "Our Parents came from the Netherlands."

Third Division .- The admirable characterization of George and Lady Washington, by Dr. H. O. Hitchcock and Mrs. Alexander Cam- eron, attracted universal attention.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Kalamazoo county, Michigan, Part 63

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