History of Macomb County, Michigan, Part 58

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 58

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).

The annual re-union of the Twenty-second Michigan Infantry was held at Mt. Cler . eus September 26, 1874.

In October, 1874, Rev. J. E. Davis, of Macomb, was the oldest Mason in the State. He entered the organization in 1818, and was, in 1874, eighty-seven years old.

The M. E. Church of Romeo was the first public building heated by steam in Ma- comb County. October 11. 1874.

Miss Rush, of Mt. Vernon, committed suicide October 6, 1874.

John Wilkinson, son of Col. Wilkinson, of Romeo, died at Fort Griffin. Texas, No- vember 5, 1874. He received a pistol bullet in the knee; amputation was necessary; but even this extreme course failed to postpone death more than one dav.

The transit of Venns. December 8. 1874, cansed much speculation in the little repub- lic of Macomb. The people offered no resistance to the transit.

Miss Koturah Walker and a Mrs. Lockwood, both sisters, assaulted their aged mother, and were fined $5 each by Justice Snover, December 28, 1874.

The Mt. Clemens Monitor began agitating the city charter question in December, 1874.

The first sleighing parties of the winter of 1874-75 turned out January 24, 1875. William E. Preston's mill. northwest corner of Richmond, was destroyed by fire in the last week in January, 1875.

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HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

John Chapman's house, in Ray Township. was destroyed by fire February 13, 1875.

The annual meeting of the Union Farmers' Club was in February, 1873.

James "White, proprietor of the old Hoag Mill. of Lenox, was caught in the machin - ery and killed, 1875.

Stephen S. Merrill hanged himself at Utica January 26, 1875.

Among the Indians encamped near Romeo in September, 1875, was one who, accord- ing to his own statement, hunted over this section of country more than fifty years ago. The people did not fail to note the starting tear in the eye of this aged hemlock as he re- counted the glories of the departed days, before railroad taxes became a burden and street- sprinklers a necessity, and when the chief occupation of the citizens consisted in slinging arsenicated arrows into the bodies of the stately moose and elk, amid the dim aisles of the grand old forest. They were constrained to agree with our aged friend Lo that those were haleyon days.

'The Congregationalists of Romeo agitated the building of a new church March 23. 1875.

A. B. Sheldon, of Ray, met a tragic death at his own hands April 21, 1875.

An insane man, called by the people the wild man, roamed over the county in May, 1875.

The farewell services in the old Congregational Church of Romeo were held June 15, 1875.

On June 22, 1875, the Grand Trunk Railroad freight train was thrown from the track, the engine and a number of cars wrecked; Matthew Bartle, the engineer, and Mor- rison, the fireman, fatally scalded.

Foster Galbraith, formerly of Romeo, was drowned in the Saginaw at Bay City in June, 1875. His remains were found and shipped to Romeo for interment.

The Mt. Clemens Reporter was resurrected in June, 1875, with Messrs. Keeler & Miller, publishers.

The Proctor saw-mill was destroyed by fire July 4. 1875.

Dr. Balfour left Romeo on Thursday night, July 22, 1875.

Abner Miller, of Mt. Clemens, shot himself accidentally in September, 1875. It ap- pears he was hunting and boating, when, through some carelessness, the charge in his fowling piece exploded and entered his body beneath the ribs.

In September, 1875, a number of Indians visited Mt. Clemens and Romeo, among whom was Tipikaw. one who lived in this county forty years previous.

The Atlas of Macomb County was published in September, 1875. It proved a very useful work.

The Conger dwelling honse, on the line between Sterling and Clinton, was destroyed by fire November 15, 1875, and a child four years old so badly burned that she died the same day.

A case of small-pox was reported in the neighborhood of Romeo November 26, and at Mt. Vernon in December, 1875.

Early in 1876, the people in this district of Michigan thought of utilizing the old Clinton & Kalamazoo Canal in connection with the new canal then proposed.

The judgments against the town of Washington on railroad aid bonds were settled in Jannary, 1876, save a $1,000 bond.

The small-pox raged around Mt. Vernon during the close of 1875 and beginning of 1876.

The first meeting of the Michigan Agricultural Institute was held at Armada January 11 and 12. 1876.

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HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

The annual meeting ef the Macomb County Sunday School Association was hell at the Congregational Church, New Baltimore, January 25, 1876.

John Keeler and Maria Fellows celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage January S. 1876, at Disco.

A fire broke out in Flumerfelt & Frost's store January 19. 1876, which spread to C. N. Coe's store, and resulted in damage to property estimated at $20,000. The fire depart- ment alone saved the property in the neighborhood.

Another fire broke out at Gray's Opera House February 12, 1876, which destroyed Messrs. Hanscom's, D. N. Lowell's and Maj. Dake's offices, the Masonic Hall. Mrs. Hor- ton's rooms, etc.

The electric fluid entered the MI. E. Church building at Romeo February 27, 1876. and there played some extraordinary freaks.

The burning of William Crittenden's house, April 4, 1876, resulted in the death of Mrs. Crittenden. The lady made a superhuman effort to extinguish the flames, but was euwrapped by them, and would doubtless have been burned to a cinder had not her hus- band rescued her. She died, however, the same morning.

Cyril Hicks, located on the line between Richmond and Lenox, hanged himself June 17, 1876.

The Chippewas of Walpole Island visited Romeo June 19, 1876, and defeated the Continentals in a game of base-ball.

The corner-stone of the Congregational Church was laid July 4. 1876.

Frank Buzzell died at Romeo July 16, from the effects of sunstroke.

Philip Jersey's house was burned at Romeo August 1, 1876.

The frost of August 20, 1876, did much damage to the crops in Northern Macomb and St. Clair Counties. A heavy thunder-storm contributed to render the damage even more serions.

Col. John Atkinson, of Port Huron and Detroit, addressed the citizens of Romeo Sep- tember 28. 1876.

A ferocious Bengal tiger eloped from Barnum's Menagerie January 22. 1877, then at Richmond. The presence of this animal and the small-pox kept the people in a state of alarm for some time.

Marshall D. Ewell wrote his hand-book, " Ewell on Fixtures," in 1877.

Matilda C. Shaw poisoned herself February 24, 1877.

Z. H. Daniels, formerly of Romeo, was reported to have been killed by Indians at Stillwater, Montana, in February, 1877.

I. D. Hanscom resigned the office of Secretary of State Deaf and Dumb Institute, at Flint. in March. 1877.

On the 12th of November, 1877, one of those fatal accidents which thrill a whole community occurred near Memphis. Two young lads abont eighteen years of age went to the woods for a hunt. In crossing a small stream, James Dawson, one of the lads. slipped from a log into the water. In order the more conveniently to climb again upon the log. he passed his gun to his companion, Henry Castle. He, taking the gun with the muzzle toward him, drew it through some bushes. In doing this, the loaded gun was discharged. and the whole contents entered his left side. making a fearful wound, severing the large blood-vessels in the vicinity of the heart and causing almost instant death.

The nephew of E. F. Sibley, of Armada, who shot himself in the head while tempo- rarily insane, died July 6, 1878. The ball passed nearly through the brain, when it re- traced its course, and was found in the top of the head.

The descendants of Lewis and Nancy Davis, about seventy in number, met at the residence of Charles Davis for their annual re-nnion July 4, 1878. There are nine chil-

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HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

dren Mrs. L. Andrus, Mrs. D. G. Stewart Mrs. J. Curtis, Homer and Charles Davis, Mrs. E. C. Ewell, of Romeo; Mrs. Rev. S. E. Warren, of Farmington: Barlow Davis, of Evart: and Rev. L. P. Davis, of Plymouthi.

The Romeo town clock was placed in position August 14, 1878.

A terrible storm of hail swept though a portion of the town of Richmond August 16, 1878. The fruit in the path of the storm was entirely destroyed. Some of the hail-stones were more than five inches in circumference.

An aged citizen of Disco committed suicide in September, 1878.

During the yellow fever epidemic at Memphis, Tenn., in 1878, the sum of 8264 was subscribed by Romeo people toward the relief of the sufferers.

The electric fluid played havoc on the premises of William Brabb, about two miles northwest of Romeo, September 25. 1878. A large barn filled with wheat was struck early in the evening, and. together with its contents, was totally destroyed. One or more stacks in the immediate vicinity were also destroyed. The loss was $1,000. upon which there was no insurance.

The first accident on the Michigan Air-Line Railroad occurred December 8, 1878. The death of Beecher Gates resulted.

Cornelius Miller, well known in Macomb County, was supposed to have committed suicide by drowning, at Detroit, in October, 1878.

James Whalen, of Warren, was run over and instantly killed on the night of the 24th of October, 1878, by a Grand Trunk train. He was literally torn to pieces. Deceased was twenty-six years old.

A meeting was held at the office of Irving D. Hanscom, November 23, 1878, for the purpose of forming an association for the apprehension of horsethieves.

The death of Mrs. C. N. Chamberlin and her two daughters, at Chattanooga, Tenn .. in October. 1878, drew forth much sympathy from their friends in Macomb.

Benjamin Crissman had his feet crushed by the tumbling-rod of a clover-mill De- cember 18, 1875, which necessitated amputation.

The jury in the case of Sarah Finkle, charged with the murder of Alice Jackson. September. 187S, by aiding her to commit suicide, rendered a verdict of not guilty. during the present term of court. The jury required but one and one-half hours to come to their decision. The case was one of the most peculiar on record in this circuit.

Mrs. August Bliss took a dose of paris green in April, 1878, and died from its effects before medical aid could be summoned.

Clara Heater, a girl of eighteen, living in the family of Albert Hovey. took fifteen grains of morphine, and died April 26, 1878.

Riley J. Spencer was crushed to death by the falling of the plates of a barn, near Romeo, May 29. 1878.

Beecher Gates, who met his death in the Air-Line disaster, was buried, December. 1878.

In Oliver Optic's story, " Out West." a part of the surprising adventures of the hero are laid in Macomb County. MIt. Clemens is referred to as " MIt. Mercy: " the Clinton River as " Glinton " River. The Sherman House is mentioned by name: also New Balti- more, and the club house at the mouth of the river. It will be remembered that Mr. Adams spent a few weeks here in 1877.

There is living at Davis, in the township of Ray. the Rev. J. E. Davis, who was ninety one years old the 1st of February. 1879. He has been for many years a resident of that place. On his ninetieth birthday, he preached a sermon in the M. E. Church at Davis. Until a few weeks ago, lie cut his own firewood and took care of his own horse.

That narrow gauge railroad from Detroit to Grosse Point. thence to New Baltimore,

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HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

St. Clair and Port Huron, at the latter place to connect with the Port Huron & North- Western, was strongly agitated during the winter of 1879-80.

Mt. Clemens was visited by a $6,500 fire during the last week of January, IS79. The building destroyed was a large frame dwelling house on the corner of Robertson and Grant streets. owned by F' G. Kendrick and occupied by G. H. Crane, the proprietor of the principal drug store in the place. Both of the parties were insured to some ex- tent.

John E. Nellis entered on the publication of the Monitor in March, 1879.

The bill incorporating the city of Mt. Clemens passed March 17, 1879.

The members of the Cannon family assembled at the old homestead, where Pearl and Mary Cannon located in 1831. New Year's Day, 1880.

The third re-union of the Gass family was held at Davis January 2, ISSO.

The children and grandchildren of Elijah Thorington celebrated his seventy-first birthday January 9, 1880.

Warren Lawrence cut the old landmark on his farm known as the square-top pine in Jannary. 1880. This made fifteen saw-logs, the shortest being ten feet, the longest sev- enteen feet long. All grew on one stump, about five feet aeross, and branched out twenty- four feet above the ground into three great branches.

The following-named persons were appointed to take the census of 1850 in Macomb County: Armada, A. S. Hall: Bruce. A. H. Shelp; Chesterfield, Charles Connor; Clin- ton, A. H. Canfield; Mt. Clemens, G. C. Forster, Robert Irwin, A. N. Crovier; Erin, G. S. Schuchard; Harrison, F. C. Forton; Lenox, E. L. Raymond; Macomb. Alfred Stewart; Ray, B. R. Davis: Richmond, J. C. Keeler; Shelby, W. S. Andrus; Sterling, R. H. Sliter; Warren, G. B. Walker; Washington, J. R. Stone.

A son of Charles Evans, of Richmond, was crushed to death beneath a land-roller, September, 1880.

The Chautauqua Club, of Romeo, was re-organized in October, 1880.

Mrs. Rose, of Armada, while out driving, October 17, 1880, was thrown from the car- riage and received such injuries as resulted in her death on the 18th of the same month.

The corner-stone of the new court house was laid October 21, 1880.

The Michigan Air-Line Railroad Company ordered a regular train to run over the road in October, ISSO.

George Connor, of Richmond, was killed in the lumber woods in January, ISSI, and his body brought to Armada for interment.

Surveyor W. W. Duffield and party were engaged in running a line for the proposed narrow gauge railroad through Macomb County in January and February, 1881.

The location of the Romeo mineral well was decided upon in February, ISS1.

The sudden, if not tragic, death of Miss Ann Reid, formerly a student of medicine at Ann Arbor, took place in February, 1881. Prior to ridding herself of mortality, she wrote a letter to her mother, giving her resolve to try another world.

A cane was presented to Joseph Ayres by the members of the Supervisors' Board, of which he was a member for twenty-five years, in February, 1881.

The Board of Supervisors appropriated $10,000 for the building of a new jail in Feb- ruary. 188).

Peter MeEachron, in 1845 a carpenter in Washington Township, died at Saginaw February 24, 1881.

L. E. Cannon returned from his surveying expedition in the neighborhood of Point St. Ignace, in March, ISS1.

The first annual shearing festival of the Macomb County Sheep-Breeders' and Wool- Growers' Association was held at Romeo May 11, ISSI.

I. H. Ferling

(DECEASED)

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HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

The Methodist Ministerial Associaion of Port Huron District held the annual meeting at Mt. Clemens May 31. 1871.

The pioneers met at Romeo September 17, 1881.

The contribution of the citizens of Romeo and vicinity to the sufferers by fire in Northeastern Michigan exceeded $5,000 at the close of September, 1881.

T. P. Kennedy celebrated his golden wedding in Octobor, ISS1. He is now in his eighty-first year.

The telephonic connection of Detroit and Mt. Clemens was established September 1, 1881.

M. H. Butler, of Mt. Clemens, was robbed of $1,200 while waiting for a train at Woodward Avenue Station, September 1, 1881.

Capt. Howgate was arrested, August 15. ISS1, at the Avery House, Mt. Clemens, on a charge of embezzlement and taken to Washington.

September 26, ISS1, was observed by all classes throughout the county. Mourning emblems may be said to have enwrapped Macomb in honor of Garfieldl's funerel.

Chauncy G. Cady, of Sterling, paid a visit to Mt. Clemens October 2, ISSO. Sixty years ago that day Mr. Cady first saw Mr. Clemens. There were then four log houses there. An old bridge spanned the river, and on the shore thereof was a whisky still. Mr. Cady was nineteen years of age when he came to Macomb County, and has been a resident of the county over since. He has lived on his farm in Sterling forty years.

Mr. William Beer celebrated his ninetieth birthday December 7, 1881.

Charles C. Foote was appointed guardian of Charles Foote, the Memphis centena- rian, in December, 1881.

Mrs. Lewis, of Lenox, Macomb Co., Mich., was eighty-nine years of age January 1, 1SS2. She is also a pensioner, her husband, Laban Lewis, having been a soldier in the war of 1812. "Grandma," as all call her, has learned the happy faculty of growing old cheerfully and joyfully, having a heart large and warm enough to embrace the world of . mankind, and send a ray of hope and cheerfulness to all with whom she associates. Her hands, though having been employed for nearly eighty years, are actively engaged in some useful labor. Within the past three years, she has pieced eighty bed-quilts. Since she was eighty, she has made a spread, on which she has taken two first premiums at the Armada Agricultural Fair, where there are always large shows of fancy and needle work. She has been the happy mother of fifteen children, eleven of whom lived to years of ma- tnrity; eight are still living, the youngest being forty years of age. Five are residents of this county, viz .: Wesley Lewis, of Mt. Clemens; Nelson Lewis and Cliste M. Wilder, of Lenox: Mrs. Harriet S. Wilder, of Richmond: and Mrs. Emeline McCain, of Mt. Ver- non.

The citizens of Shelby turned out 200 strong, October 28, 1881, and followed the tracks of a bear three miles. They found Bruin docilely following a couple of tam . In- dians.

Dogs seriously interfered with the running of the train on the St. Clair & Midland Railway in the winter of 1881-82. It is said they ran out from farmhouses along the line and licked the grease off the journals, thus bringing the cars to a stand. At the next annual meeting, the Board of Directors will ask that they be authorized to adulterate the axle grease with strychnine. The stockholders say they will indorse this or some other scheme, as they are bound to make connections, even if it is necessary to bond the road and hire a boy to run on ahead and tie up the dogs.

The Democrat, of Romeo, stated there is less whisky sold in Romeo than in any other town of its size in the State, and a Mt. Clemens editor who has sampled the Romeo brand says this statement is correct and easily accounted for. In reply, the Romeo Ob- 32

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HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

serrer said: " We don't brag on the quality of our whisky. We are frank to admit that Mt. Clemens can beat ns in that regard. The quality is regulated by the demand."

Jacob Reimold. of Harrison, was at Mt. Clemens December 24, 18SI, and created a great sensation. He was drawing a stone boat through the main streets, with a huge box. on which was painted something like this:

CITY OF HARRISON, LEAVES MARKET STREET EVERY FIVE MONTIIS. BY ORDER OF COMMON COUNCIL, S. B. RUSSELL, MAYOR.

Mr. Reimold tried to get some of the Aldermen as passengers, but. with a strange persistency, they all declined the friendly invitation of the jovial Charon. This morning. a large sign is up to the foot of Market street, on which is painted. " Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, 'Behold. I will deliver my people from the east country!' " A large hand points in the direction of Harrison.

The eclipse of the moon occurred at midnight, June 11 12. 18SI. By some strange freak of nature, the people of Macomb were favored with a tropical Christmas: but, to remind them, as it were, that they were still north of the Torrid Zone. the Northern Lights shone in all their brilliancy on the night of December 24, 1881.

The city election of Mt. Clemens took place December 13, 1881. with the following result : First Ward-Fries, Republican, 40; Russell, Democrat, 60; Russell's majority, 20. Sec- ond Ward-Fries, 64; Russell. 92; Russell's majority, 28. Third Ward-Fries, 29; Russell, 87; Russell's majority, 5S. Russell's majority in the city, 106. The election was made necessary owing to the summary action of Gov. Jerome. It appears that Mr. Russell, as Mayor of the city, entered into one or more contracts with the city, contrary to law regarding city officers. The work contracted for was faithfully done. yet there · remained some justification for even a summary execution of the law in the case. Mr. Russell's re-election was the surest sign of his popularity and business integrity.

In December, ISSI. Winsor Dixon, a former resident of Macomb County. and well known to the residents of Richmond Township, murdered a cattle buyer of the name of Phillips, in Sanilac County, and robbed him of $5.000 in money. Dixon was soon arrest- ed. and, the night succeeding his arrest, committed suicide by taking poison. He died the next day.

At an early hour on the morning of February 16, 1882, an effigy was seen suspended above the main street of Romeo, of one who was charged with a heinous offense.

The Romeo Magnetic Well was inaugurated in January, 1882.

Early in February, 1882, there was an organic revival of the Grange in Macomb County, occasioned principally by the visit of C. L. Whitney, G. L. of the State Grange.

January 18, 1882, the children and intimate friends of Mrs. G. W. Preston met to celebrate her sixty-fourth birthday. Mrs. Preston came with her parents, when a child of ten years, from the town of Rush, county of Monroe, New York, to a home in the wilder- ness of Macomb, in 1828. She was a school-teacher at seventeen, and a bride at nineteen years of age. Miss Anise Arnold, who was present at her marriage, was also married in this county, and. while accompanying her husband to the West, is supposed to have per- ished, with her whole party, in the Mountain Meadow massacre.

Charles B. Gillem, aged seventeen years, living four miles east of Armada, killed his mother February 28. 1882.

The iron for the new bridge across the Clinton at Mt. Clemens was placed on the bank of the river March 11. 1882. The stone pier for the turning-table of the bridge was completed in February, 1882, and the bridge opened in May, 1882.

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HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

Fred C. Buzzell. editor of the Romeo Democrat, was married to Miss Agnes M. Sis son, daughter of Orrin M. Sisson. of Romeo. March 13, 1882. The ceremony was per- formed at the Church of Our Father ( Universalist ). Detroit, by Rev. Dr. Rexford.

In May, 1882, the house of Bruno Van Landerghem. at Mt. Clemens, was entered and ransacked by burglars, who stole a $200 goldl watch and a sum of money, the amount of which is not stated.

A project was discussed of boring a third mineral well at Mt. Clemens and carrying the water by a pipe line into the Biddle House, Detroit, which would be converted into a vast sanitarium, in May. 1882.

George Manning, of Detroit, leased the Romeo mineral well for five years, from May, 1882. Mr. Manning will build a large bath-house just south of the American House, on Main street, and fit it up in first-class style.

John Teats, son of Edward Teats of Harrison, living a mile down the river. was killed April 4, 1882. in a strange manner. He was leading a fractions horse from the barn to the water-trough. Members of the family, who chanced to be watching him, saw the horse make a violent jump to one side. Then Teats dropped the halter and fell to the ground. He was picked up dead with a broken neck.

CHAPTER XXIX.

MT. CLEMENS CITY.

What progress has been made within the last decade by the people of Mt. Clemens is almost conveyed in the words which form the heading or title of this sketch. Here we have a city of over 3,000 inhabitants, holding the place of the pleasant little village of a few years ago; of the little distillery hamlet which marked the spot at the beginning of the century; of the Indian village which induced the first American pioneers to select it as a most eligible site for a hamlet, a village, a city. Here did the beginnings of Macomb County take root. Hither did the honest statesmen of Michigan's Territorial days hie for rest and recreation, to find both amid the boundiess hospitality of her first white citizens. Sheis not so old as Detroit, Fort Gratiot, Mackinaw or St. Ignace: there is no distinct account of her being visited by the exploring priest, Marquette or Nicolet. or Menard: yet. apart from all this, she has a history distinct from all her sister cities of the State, in the peculiarly quiet, unostentatious way she leaped from her humble position to hold a high place among the cities of the Union. Having once made this leap, she followed up her success, and con- tinues to advance, slowly but steadily, to that point which her resources and geographical position render her capable of attaining. What Mt. Clemens may be when her centennial year comes round cannot be prophesied; but, if the same progress which marked the past decade of her history is upheld. the same enterprise which now characterizes many of her citizens fostered. and the same intelligence which guides her people far away from jeal- ons bigotry continued, the centennial day of platting the village of Mt. Clemens will dawn upon a community great and prosperous beyond the brightest day dreams of the present times.

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History of Macomb County, Michigan, Part 58

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