History of Macomb County, Michigan, Part 33

Author: Leeson, Michael A., [from old catalog] comp
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, M. A. Leeson & co.
Number of Pages: 952

USA > Michigan > Macomb County > History of Macomb County, Michigan > Part 33

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).

P. C. Hart-E. Leonard

B. F. Skinner-M. Moore

L. Sole-S. Scott

S. L. Hill-M. Chapel

S. B. Spencer-D. Graves J. Selleck-S. Wells

C. Chapel-A. Valentine

H. Harvey-H. Russ Thomas Hubble-S. Pooley

D. Crawford-L. Fair

M. Ilaines-B. Dusing

C. Spalding-F. Fish

T. Cherry-M. More

Į. James-E. Watkins

E. Thorrington-L. Brown

L. Collins-B. Hodgen

T. M. Kirkham-M. HIart

C. Thompson-A. Mitchell

A. Cherry-M. Myers

D. Conklin-S. A. Stewart

M. Kingsbury -E. Abernathy

N. Tillottson-P. Hurd

A. Conklin-11. Witt

K. Kittridge-E. Wells

E. B. Throop-E. Turrell

J. Connu-M. A. Funder

J. Lockwood-J. Tweedle

E. Warner-M. Billings

J. M. Combs-M. Still

J. Crittenden-M. Dudley

P. Mitter-L. Ashley

W. P. Wells-E. Ewell

L. M. Collins-M. McKoon

A. T. Merril-J. Iligh

L. Winans-Jane Drake

S. Chattrick-L. Lee

J. Milton-S. T. Herriman

P. T. Walker-N. Gillett P. Woodlick-M. Finch

L. Chatfield-E. Fishbough

J. M. Millard-S. Brown

L. P. Miller-S. M. Cram

T. Wood-S. Anderson

C. Emerson-J. Sholes

N. Moe-C. Higgins

M. Wilber-T. Gregory

T. J. Ewell-E. Lamb

J. B. Marlel-Phillis Lablan

A. Warner-E. Johnson

II. T. Fox-Mary Avery

H. Mann-P. Skinner

H. Wyncoop-A. Mitchell H. R. Witt-H. Brown

A. A. Fuller-A. Shattuck

D. Norris-B. Carpenter

J. Witney-E. Shepherd

O. Fields-C. Fish

A. T. Powell-S. A. Field

O. Wing-H. Crawford R. Wilson-T. Seal

J. Frost-L. Aldrich

A. Parker-M. A. Ray

J. Price-S. Bardnell

E. Wentworth-E. Darling

A. Farr-M. Carl

T. II. Peek-D. Congar

E. L. Walton-C. Stroup

G. W. Fish-M. Brown

H. Pratt-A. Dice

C. F. Witt-E. Brown

M. Goalpin-M. Bennett

J. D. Perry-G. Welts

M. Winslow-M. Welts

S. W. G. Gerill-D. Allen

G. W. Preston-S. Goff

S. Wilson-L. Scott W. G. Wilcox-M. Webster

A. Gagnon-M. Phenix

A. W. Rogers-D. Scott

F. Wilcox-L. Hovey

Zera Gray-L. Westfall

N. Rowley-M. Beagle

T. Wood-T. Case

T. C. Gallup-M. McChesney

N. Rowley-A. Aldrich T. Russ-H. Mitchell

J. Whitney-C. Crittenden

Noble G. Gunn-Sarah Miller

J. C. Ilinks-M. Clark

B. Randall-B. Scott

R. Wickoff-M. A. Orr

11. Haskins-M. Greenley

A. Rowley-B. Goff

Joseph Hinks-J. Clark

S. Spencer-E. Warner

C. H. Sweet-S. A. Bennett J. Smith-M. Gales

E. Cooley-H. Willis

A. Chortier-R. Dunphin

M. Johnson-I'. Baldwin

D. Jacox-H. Spaulding

H. Thomas-L. Pratt

D. Cooley-C. Andrus

C. Lufkins-S. Goodale

T. J. Tubbs-H. Butterfield

N. Keeler-M. J. Bates

W. Woodan-M. Bates

E. Crampton-P. More

J. Flynn-E. Ingraham

G. Newbury-R. Butterfield

G. C. Fletcher-E. G. Hough

William Goodrich-A. Chambers

E. Phelps-P. Arnold

WV. Wylae-A. Beattie

The great majority of those early alliances were attended with the most happy results. In almost every instance, husband was devoted to wife and wife to hus- band: both were faithful to their country, and both traveled down life's course casting blessings along their paths. The old settlers of Macomb have, unlike the old settlers of the more recently organized counties of the State, made this county their home ; here they brought up their children, built their schools and churches, and actually reared up a commonwealth of their own, years before the western county of Kent was organized-even before the American pioneer set his foot in Washtenaw.

A few of those old settlers still survive, and dwell in the land. Their children are here in numbers. The traveler may readily distinguish them. Temperate in

289

HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

a high degree, they reflect the beauty of that virtue which makes amends for a hundred faults ; they possess the physical characteristics of their honored progeni- tors, and still continue to follow in the walks of advancement which their fathers trod.

MARKS FOR CATTLE IN OLDEN TIMES.

Among the ancient customs of the early inhabitants, that of marking the cattle seems to the people of the present time as strange as the descriptions of those marks are ludicrous. The following specimens are taken from the records : -

Charles Tucker's mark for cattle, hogs, sheep, etc., was a hole in the right ear and a slit in the left ear, a record of which was made March 11, 1822.

The mark for Jacob Tucker's stock was, a slit in both ears, recorded April 1. 1822.

Ebenezer Kittredge's cattle had " an under bit ont of each ear," recorded April 1, 1822.

Harvey Cook's mark was " a swallow's tail cut out of the right ear," a record of which was made April 16, 1822.

The cattle, sheep and logs of John Tucker were cropped on both ears, and a record of such mark made Feb. 22, 1823.

John Stockton's cattle, sheep, etc., etc., had a slit in the right ear, a mark recorded Feb. 22, 1823.

Joseph Hayes' cattle had a hole in the right ear.

Justus H. Barker's mark was a slit in the right ear, a square crop off the right ear, and the brand, J. H. B., recorded Dec. 2, 1823.

The mark on Nathaniel Squire's cattle was a square crop off the left ear, a swallow's fork out of the right ear, with the brand, N. S. This was placed on record Dec. 2, 1823.

John Elliott's, senior, cattle were marked with a swallow's tail cut out of the left ear. Recorded April 30, 1824.

Leander Trombley's mark was a half crop off the under part of the right ear, which mark was placed on record Sept. 13, 1826.

Joseph Miller's cattle were known by a square crop off the right ear, which mark was published Feb. 7, 1827.

John Bennett's mark was a swallow tail out of the left ear, not by any means out of Mr. Bennett's left ear, notwithstanding what is implied in the records of Feb. 7, 1827.

John Sawle's cattle were marked by a slit in both ears, and such mark was recorded Feb. 7, 1827.

Ezra Bellow's cattle were known by a half crop off the under part of the left

290

HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

ear. Benjamin Gould's stock were marked similarly under the right ear ; while Wm. Allen's mark was a square crop off the left ear.

Solomon Wales adopted a square crop off right ear, and a half crop under part of the left ear.

Daniel Miller's mark was simply a slit in the left ear, while that of Sardis Burlingham's cattle was simply a half crop off the upper part of the left ear.

George Wilson's cattle had a square crop off the left ear, a slit in same ear, and a bit of under part of the right ear.

Job Hoxie's stock were marked by a crop off the right ear, or a bit out of the under part of the same ear.

Alvin Nye used a square crop on the right, and a slit in the left ear.

Chauncey Throop adopted a square crop off the right, and a half crop under part of the same ear.

Ezra B. Throop's registered mark was a square crop off the right, and a half crop off the upper part of same ear.

Elon Andrus used a square crop off the right ear and a slit in the same.

Russell Andrus' mark for his cattle was a square crop in the left ear, and a slit in the same.

John Keeler's cattle had a bit out of upper side of the right, and under side of the left ear.

Isaac Andrus' mark was simply a half crop off the upper part of the right ear. Lester Gidding's cattle had a hole in the right ear.

Price B. Webster's cattle showed a swallow's tail cut out of the right ear.

Jeremiah Lockwood's were known by a square crop off the left ear, and a half crop off the upper part of the right.

Edward Arnold's stock was distinguished by a square crop off the right, and a half crop off the upper part of the left ear.

Henry Moir's mark for his cattle was a hole through the right ear, and a bit out of the under part of the left ear.

Lucretia Haskin's cattle bore a square crop off the right, and an under slit in the left ears.

Richard Butler s cattle, sheep, and hogs wore a slit in the under part of each ear, and seemed to know all about it.

PONTIAC AND ST. CLAIR MAIL ROUTES.

In 1827, a mail route was established from Pontiac to Port Huron, stopping at Washington village, and this being the only office between the former place and Mt. Clemens, it necessarily served for a very large extent of country. Otis Lamb was the first post-master, and the mail bag was originally carried the entire dis-

291

HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

tance by a man on foot, and afterward on horse-back for ten or twelve years, the mail carrier always remaining at Washington over night. Each letter cost the re- ceiver twenty-five cents, and such was the scarcity of money that a young man living there (now a wealthy resident of Oakland County) was obliged to leave a letter in the office for three months before he could by any means obtain the re- quired amount. In 1836, Dr. Dennis Cooley was appointed post-master, which position he held for twenty-three consecutive years, his own residence being the post-office for the greater part of that time. Shortly after his appointment, the mail was brought by stage from Detroit viu Royal Oak and so continued until the completion of the G. T. R. R., when it was transferred to that road stopping off at Utica Station, and a regular line of easy coaches, lumbering stages, or dilapidated buggies, were alternately the means of transit, the same being controlled by Ira Pearsall for very many years. This arrangement remained until the D. & B. C. R. R. was in running order when the mail-bags and numerous passengers to and from Utica were accommodated by S. L. DeKay, his stages making regular trips between Utica and Romeo four times daily ; and through all these variations and the con- ditions of wind and weather we have known no such thing as a failure of first-class mail arrangements until July 18, 1879, when, for some unexplained reason, the route ceased altogether, and the large amount of mail matter for this place and Davis was left to the tender mercies of a chance carrier. The mail for Brooklyn was always received at Washington, they having had no separate office until 1876, when a tri-weekly route was established between that village and Washington, and an office established at Brooklyn under the name of Davis.

TEMPERANCE AND HOUSE RAISING.

The following paper on the rise and progress of the temperance cause in Mal- comb County, not only contains a moral, but also much interesting and historical subject matter. The writer is secretary of the County Pioneer Society, a man wed- ded to the cause of temperance, and thoroughly conversant with men and events connected with the county. He says : " At the date of settlement of the central and northern township of Macomb, the use of intoxicants upon all noted occasions, and indeed upon the most common events of pioneer life, was held to be a necessity. Liquor was used as a cure for all diseases that assailed the system. At births, weddings, and deaths, its inspiring aid was sought. Prominent in the history of each new settlement were the bees, for the progress of work which one alone could not very well accomplish, such as loggings and raisings. At those bees whisky was free, and was to many the secret loadstone which attracted them to the place. Arriving at the place, if it were a logging, two expert hands chose sides, and select- ing the site and arranging the position of the heap, each led his men to the work.

292

HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

At the close of this work results were noted, and one side or other declared victors, not in the amount of whisky each had consumed, but in the number of log heaps each had erected. If it were a raising, for which they were called together, sides were chosen in the same way. Each party would take one end and a side of the structure, and proceed to roll the logs together in a lively fashion. At each corner a man was stationed, whose business it was to saw, trim, and shape the ends of the logs, so as to form the corner, and upon their skill and activity, depended largely the appearance of the house when completed. A man who could make a square plum corner in the least time was in demand. Occasionally a frame was to be raised, and men were invited from far and near, with the tacit understanding that whisky was to be an adjunct of the occasion. The timber used in construction was much larger than is used in similar structures now, and as no mechanical appliances were brought together in elevating it, a larger force was called together. Refreshments might be served or not at the option of the proprietor, but the liquor should be in sight, and near at hand. After the frame was erected, the men gathered in file upon the beam, and if a few drops of the contents of the jug remained, they were swallowed, and a name was called for. If a barn. it might be named the settlers' pride or the Queen of the settlement, if a house, the ladies' pride, or family pride, and then the jug was hurled into the air, when the company dispersed.

It soon came abont that a feeling of antagonism to the use of whisky strength- ened by the occurrence of sundry accidents, the results of whisky, began to pre- vail, and very naturally as the sides were chosen, whisky was made the dividing *point, and its friends, and the friends of temperance, were arrayed against each other. At a raising of a frame house, the two parties went up to put the plates in position, and in the zeal of the former not to be beaten by the temperance party, they lifted the plate over the posts, and let it drop on the ground below. One man whose hat was caved in, seized the jug and cast it into a well close by. At another time, a man whose leg was broken, was carried home two miles upon a door. Among the first raisings in the northern townships was that of Nathaniel Bennett's barn. The mechanic who worked upon the frame was a staunch temperance man, and wished that the raising of this barn should be accomplished without the aid of whisky. Bennett, although favorable to the cause of temperance, was fearful it would be a failure. The mechanic was so confident, however, that Bennett's ob- jections were overruled, and it was bruited round that the affair was to be of a temperate character. Both sides resolved to make this a test case, and men gath- ered from far and near to view the strife and see the fun. As fast as the forces reached the premises, they naturally divided into two armies. The temperance men soon went to work, and the liquor men sat upon the timbers, and stood in the way, offering obstacles. There was no scarcity of timber in those early days, and the

293

HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

great beams and plates of green timber sorely taxed the muscles as well as the patience of the workers. When, at length, the sills were in their places, and the bents put together. the liquor party came in a body and sat down upon the timbers directly in the way of further progress. It required the use of some threats, and a good deal of persuasive eloquence to move them, and a portion went off in a huff, while the remainder helped to put up the frame.

A similar test case was held at Utica about the same time. A large store house was to be raised, and the mechanic was very fearful that it could not be done with- out whisky, but upon the promise of Payne K. Leach to assist with his mill hands and tackle box, the attempt was made and success won.

In the township of Lenox, a like test was made some years later, resulting in favor of temperance.

If the case were that of a man, who was himself temperate, and who dis- couraged the use of spirits on principle, little was said ; but if stinginess was the cause of it being withheld, sad work was often made of both timber and frames. Sometimes timber was carried back to the woods ; at other times a single bent would be set up, and all hands either go away or refuse to do more. At other times timbers would be united in all ways but the right one, and in each case the whisky should appear before the work would be completed. After those test cases had been tried, trial bees of all kinds without the use of liquors were of frequent occurrence, and public sentiment in favor of abstinence grew in favor and strength.

Organized action against intemperance was first taken at Romeo. In the year 1830, Deacon Roger's Pledge was circulated and gained a few names. Those who agreed to abstain from the use of wine and beer, and other alcoholic beverages, had a capital T prefixed to their names on the pledges, and were called T-T's or teeto- talers. At least one who signed Deacon Roger's Pledge has kept it for fifty-two years-Dr. Hollister, of Chicago. The effects of this pledge was soon visible in the community. One after another, old and young, spoke against the use of spirits, and arrayed themselves on the side of temperance. A farmer who had thought that haying could not be prosecuted without liquor, sent his boy to the store at the corners with the little brown jug to get it filled. This was accomplished, the jug emptied, and sent to be refilled. Soon after a storm came up, and the father and the son left the field after hiding the jug. Upon their return the old man took up the pitcher to drink ; but before doing so, he paused and set it down. After a few minutes thought he emptied it upon the ground, and said. " My son let us never touch this stuff again as long as we live." The father kept this resolution, but the son is a drunkard to this day. And thus the leaven was at work.

" Men thought, spoke, and acted." In a letter from Dexter Mussey to the Secretary of the Pioneer Society, under date April 7, 1881, that old settler states :

294

HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

There was a Washingtonian Temperance society formed here as early as 1844, but accomplished but little. At a subsequent date the Sons of Temperance seemed to take the lead in some parts of this State and the west shore concluded to imitate the Sons of Temperance by holding weekly meetings, or at least once in two weeks. This we did during one winter, 1848-9, but failed to keep up an interest or ac- complish much good. We then concluded to try the laws, and organized a division of cleven members, and after working hard for one year found ourselves with thirteen members, had received three, expelled one, dismissed one to join elsewhere. Then we commenced an aggressive course and soon had one hundred names and then for three or four years succeeded well, prosecuted the rum-sellers and all went on well until the Prohibitory law passed, and then all seemed to think the work completed and the Division dissolved and very little was done for the cause of temperance. After a time there was a lodge of Good Templars organized and went very well and with tolerable success for a time until it was turned into a political organization, when it shared the fate of all its predecessors. ( Died.) At still a subsequent date a Division of the Sons of Temperance was organized with tolerable success as to members, but not with much success in staying the tide of intemper- ance. This last organization is still in existence and is the only organization here which proposes to amend solely against the liquor business, and it is doing very little to what it ought to accomplish, the work it professes to have in hand. The present law has been enforced to a considerable extent, but not by the Sons of Temperance. There were fourteen prosecutions for violations of the law, and in every case with success.

A RETROSPECT.

My home ! the spirit of its love is breathing In every wind that plays across my track :- From its white walls, the very tendrils wreathing, Seem with soft links to draw the wanderer back.

What a change has come over the land since they first saw it ? The metamor- phosis from the sickle and the cradle to the modern harvester is not more wonder- ful than other changes which have been wrought ; and he who brings up sad re- membrances of a hard day's work, and a lumbago caused by the swinging of his cradle or scythe, smiles, when he thinks of that semi-barbarous period that could neither produce a harvester nor a mower, nor a sulky plow, nor any of these new machines, which make the practice of agriculture a luxury. To-day he mounts in- to the seat of one of these farm implements, as he would into his buggy, and with the assurance that, no matter what the condition of the grain or meadow, whether tangled, lodged, or leaning, he can master a quarter section of land more thoroughly and with greater economy than he could have managed a five acre field a quarter of

295

HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

a century ago. The change is certainly material ! The old settlers realize it ; but yet they look back to the never forgotten past, when contentment waited upon the work of the old cradle, plow and spade,-to that time when the primitive character of all things insured primitive happiness. Then contentment reigned supreme, and con- tinued so to do until knowledge created ambitions, and those ambitions brought in their train, their numerous proverbial little troubles.

CHAPTER XVI.

ORGANIZATION.

The third decade of the Nineteenth Century will ever be memorable as the era of emigration from the Eastern States, and the hunt after Western homes. During those years the people of the Original States rose to a full conception of the worth of the land, and the almost unbounded country which the toilers of the Revolution won for them. They resolved to direct their steps westward. Michigan was not forgotten. The country from the St. Joseph to the Grand River, along the valley of the southern Huron, and northwards still to the Saginaw-the home of the Otchipwes-was explored by them and settlements effected. Years before this, however, Macomb County was not only explored, settled ; but also organized. In 1818, three years after the organization of Wayne, and one year after the organi- zation of Monroe, Macomb County was erected by an act of the Territorial Legis- ative Council.

For some years previous to 1818, the American and French pioneers built their log huts, and transformed portions of the forest iuto spots of pastoral beauty. Many acres were then fenced round, and the stacked harvest of the preceding year could be seen by the traveler. The country was then replete in beauty ; the singularly attractive monotony of the wild woods was varied by tracts of cultivated land, the homes of the settlers, and the villages of the aborigines.

Solidarity of interests joined the pioneers in a bond of fraternity, the strength of which tended to render their loves and friendships lasting. Solidarity of inter- ests taught the pioneers to offer the hand of fellowship to their savage neighbors- the Otchipwes; and solidarity of interests pointed out to them the results of seek- ing for the organization of the districts in which they lived into a little Republic.

On the completion of the farm labors of 1817, those white inhabitants-those true foresters-did not seek repose ; but turning their attention away from manual labor, embraced mental work, to the end that their political condition might advance hand-in-hand with their social status.

296

HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

Before the spring-time called them to their fields again, they had established for themselves a county and a county government. The action of the Legislative Council, and the State Legislature in regard to the townships of Macomb, is reviewed in the following acts and summarization of acts :

ST. CLAIR TOWNSHIP.

The act of the Legislative Council, approved January 5, 1818, provided, that the district beginning at the opposite shore of the River Huron, including the shore, and running along the shore of Lake St. Clair, to the mouth of the river St. Clair, and along said river to Fort Gratiot, and extending in the rear as aforesaid, shall form one township, and be called the Township of St. Clair.

MACOMB COUNTY ERECTED.

A petition was presented to Gov. Cass, signed by a number of the inhabitants of this Territory, requesting that a new county may be laid out therein ; which was responded to as follows :-

Now There fore, Believing that the establishment of such county will be conducive to the public interest, and to individual convenience, I do, by virtue of the authority in me vested by the ordinance of Congress, passed the 13th day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, entitled " An ordinance for the government of the Territory of the United States northwest of the river Ohio," lay out that part of the said Territory included within the following boundaries, namely : beginning at the south- west corner of township number one, north of the base line (so called), thence along the Indian boundary line north, to the angle formed by the intersection of the line running to the White Rock upon Lake Huron ; thence with the last mentioned line to the boundary line between the United States and the British Province of Upper Canada ; thence with the said line southwardly to a point in Lake St. Clair due east from the place of beginning; thence due west to the eastern extremity of the said base line; and with the same to the place of beginning, into a separate county, to be called the county of Macomb.

And I do hereby appoint William Brown, IIenry J. Hunt, and Conrad Ten Eyck, Esquires, commission- ers for the purpose of examining the said county of Macomb, and of reporting to me where it is the most eligible site for establishing the seat of justice thereof.

And I constitute the said county a district for the purposes required by the act entitled "An act to adjust the estates and affairs of deceased persons, estate and intestate, and for other purposes," passed the 19th day of January, one thousand eight hundred and eleven.

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 Macomb County, Michigan, Part 33

Author: Leeson, Michael A., [from old catalog] comp Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago, M. A. Leeson & co. Number of Pages: 952

Author: Leeson, Michael A., [from old catalog] comp
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, M. A. Leeson & co.
Number of Pages: 952