USA > Michigan > Monroe County > History of Monroe County, Michigan : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests Volume I > Part 35
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70
HON. WARNER WING
None has probably achieved a more honored position than Judge Wing nor received the approval of his fellowmen to a greater degree. On the occasion of his death in March, 1876, the following tribute from a former law partner and a lifelong friend, Hon. Robert McClelland, was written :
"DETROIT, March 11, 1876. Dear Sir :- Yours has been recd., and the haste required prevent my writing as I should desire.
"Judge Wing (if I mistake not) was a practising attorney, in partnership with Hon. D. A. Noble, when I arrived in Monroe, Feby. 1833, and I believe District Atty. for Monroe county. He discharged the duties of this office admirably, but became disgusted with the duties of, and the small compensation attached to it.
"He was elected Senator, and I believe served as such in 1838 and 1839. He was one of the foremost in the Legislature, during his service; and to show its appre- ciation of his standing, the democratic majority nominated him for election for U. S. Senate, but some three or four of the majority (democrats)-voted against him in joint convention, on the ground that he was a member of the Senate, and there- fore ineligible, according to the constitution of 1835. The majority (democratic), being defeated by the disaffection of some 3 or 4 of their own party, would not abandon their nominee, and there was no election that session, and in the next, the whigs had the majority and elected Porter.
"The Judge and myself entered into partnership in 1840,-which continued until he was appointed Judge of the Circuit Court-the judges of the Circuit Court then constituting the Supreme Court. Whilst in that Court, he tried the long, intricate and exciting case, generally known as the "Conspiracy Case," (the burning of the Michigan Central Railroad Depot). The patience (and he was naturally petulant and excitable) and learning, skill and courtesy displayed by him on the trial, and in his charge to the jury, were commended by all. He was certainly one of the best and most upright judges, that ever sat on the Bench.
"He studied his profession (perhaps partly) with William Woodbridge (after- wards Gov. and Senator) in Detroit, and was his great favorite. He was at a Mass. Law School (I think Northampton, but I may be in error)-and well acquainted there with Gen. Franklin Pierce-who always spoke well of him. Austin E. Wing was a collegiate but I believe Warner was not, yet the latter was a fine scholar.
"Being for a long time on the Bench, his life was rather quiet, and he seldom engaged in politics or suffered his name to be mentioned therein. He was always a firm adherent of democratic principles, but not a partisan. He was as honest in his politics as he was in his morals and religion. There are few of the old residents, better known, or more distinguished. He was most industrious, and indefatigable, and a more faithful, cautious and reliable professional man hardly exists.
"Always lively, joyous, full of fun, and fond of jokes, he was high-toned, chival- rously gallant, and never was even charged (to my knowledge) with anything mean or improper.
"For many years, indeed since the early part of 1853, we have been separated, and because of our different pursuits, have not had much intercourse, yet I, as well as all his old friends, will feel his loss, and regret, that by his peculiar modesty, and hatred to notoriety, he has been of less service to his fellow citizens than he should have been. If he had done as many others of far inferior ability have done, the people would as I shall, mourn his demise as that of a great and good man.
"In haste. Yours truly,
"R. MCCLELLAND.
"To John M. Bulkey, Esq., secy. etc."
1
259
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
HON. WARNER WING
Warner Wing was born in Marietta, Ohio, September 19, 1805. His father's name was Enoch Wing and his mother's maiden name was Mary Oliver. On his father's side he was descended from one of the old New England families. His father's grandfather, John Wing, was one of the two brothers of Welch extraction, who came from England at a very early day, and with their families were among the first settlers of New Eng- land. Judge Wing's grandfather, also named John, settled in Conway, Massachusetts, where he had seven sons, the names of some of whom were: Peter, Isaiah, Eli, Enoch-"good old Bible and Puritan names," as Judge Wing noted on a scrap of paper which he has left.
In 1817, at the age of twelve years, Judge Wing came to Detroit and remained some years. About the year 1828 removed to Monroe, where he continued to reside up to the time of his death. He attended a law school at Northampton, Massachusetts, for a time, and also studied in the office of Judge William Woodbridge of Detroit. As early as 1833 he was practicing law in partnership with Hon. David A. Noble in Monroe. He was elected to the state senate and served in 1838 and 1839, where he is spoken of by one of his lifelong associates as "one of the foremost of the legislature." In 1840 he entered into partnership with ex-Gover- nor Robert McClelland, with whom he practiced until he went upon the bench of the circuit court in 1845-the judges of the circuit court con- stituting the supreme court of the state as then organized. In 1851 he was elected chief justice, which position he held until 1856, when he resigned. After this time he acted as general counsel for the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad up to the time of his death, which oc- curred at Monroe, March 12, 1876. The funeral services were held at the Presbyterian church in Monroe, of which he was a member, con- ducted by the Doctors Mattoon, Putnam and Boyd. The funeral was very largely attended by the bar of Monroe county, as well as members of the bar of Lenawee, Hillsdale and Washtenaw counties, also members of the bar from Detroit, Cleveland and Toledo.
One of the most notable cases that came before Judge Wing judic- ially was the trial of the long, intricate, exciting case known as the railroad conspiracy case ( for the burning of the Michigan Central depot).
HON. DAVID ADDISON NOBLE
son of Deodatus Noble, was born in Williamstown, Massachusetts, Novem- ber 9, 1802, and died in Monroe, Michigan, October 13, 1876. He was fitted for college in the school of Parson Moses Hallock in Plainfield, Massachusetts, and entered Williams College in 1821, from which institu- tion he graduated with honors in 1825. In college he was a good scholar, distinguished for accuracy and soundness rather than for fluent recita- tions. In September, 1825, he entered the law office of Hermanus Blecker in Albany, New York, remaining there until the winter of 1826, when he went to Hudson, New York, where he entered upon his literary work as assistant editor of the Columbiad. In the following year he moved to New York, entered the law office of Benjamin Clark on Franklin Square, at the same time gave lessons in French in Bancell's academy. He was a fine Greek and Latin scholar, and during the winter was en- gaged in correcting the publisher's proof-sheets for a Greek work. He subsequently opened a law office with David Logan at No. 4 Pine street. He was in the practice of his profession about two years in New York and for a short time was in partnership with Hon. Charles O'Connor.
In 1831 he removed to Monroe, Michigan, where he resided the re-
260
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
mainder of his life. He here opened a law office with Hon. Warner Wing. He was an accomplished French scholar, which was of great advantage to him with the French population. It was as a counselor that Mr. Noble was chiefly distinguished, his thoroughly disciplined mind, his habits of patient research and his superior judgment peculiarly qualifying him to arrive at correct legal conclusions. He was elected recorder of the city in 1833, and while acting in this capacity drew up the city charter. Was twice elected alderman and in 1842 mayor of the city. In 1845 Mr. Noble was chosen to represent his county in the legislature, which he did with ability and to the satisfaction of his constituents. On November 10, 1846, Mr. Noble secured the charter of the Michigan Southern Railroad. In 1847 he was appointed a member of the harbor and river convention at Chicago. Subsequently he was appointed one of the committee of five to carry out the wishes of the convention, at which time he wrote a full statistical report of the commerce of the lakes. In 1852 Mr. Noble was elected to Congress from the Second district. In 1858 he was appointed manager of the Louisville, New Albany and Chicago Railroad, which position he held four years.
HON. WOLCOTT LAWRENCE
was born in one of the towns adjoining Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on the first day of November, in the year 1786. He was married to Caroline Stebbins of Springfield, in the same state, November 26, 1816. In early life he availed himself of the advantages of education afforded in the rural district where he was born and without the advantages of a college education became eventually, by close application to study, an excep- tionally well-informed and indeed a well-educated man. He applied him- self to the study of the law in the office of one of the most eminent of the profession in Pittsfield, and for a time practiced his profession in that place. In the meantime the new country of the northwest had begun to attract the attention of the enterprising young men of the New England states and many were preparing to seek their fortunes in the new land of promise. Mr. Lawrence was one of these and, in accordance with a previous understanding between himself and his affianced, almost imme- diately after their marriage they came to Michigan and established their home on the River Raisin at Monroe. Here in December, 1817, their first child, Lucretia Williams, afterwards the wife of Alpheus Felch, was born. The inhabitants on the River Raisin at that time were chiefly French and the daughter above mentioned was the first child of American parents born among them. The old French settlers were accustomed to tell of the enthusiasm with which the newcomer was received by them. The warm-hearted French mothers and daughters greeted her with gush- ing tokens of the most ardent love and affection. Tradition tells that they were accustomed to borrow the "Yankee child" from house to house that they might in turn welcome her with their caresses and love.
Although a lawyer by profession, the sparse population and meager business affairs of the settlement on the Raisin afforded him at first little opportunity for professional practice. American settlers, however; rapidly flowed in, and they brought with them the means and the enter- prise which soon changed the business character of the place, and filled the region with an active, intelligent and prosperous population. Courts were established and clients were not wanting. He continued to practice law for many years, but he gradually withdrew from it, devoting his time and attention to mercantile and lumber business and to the care of his real estate.
His settlement here was in the days of territorial government of Michigan, and when by act of Congress the legislative council of the
261
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
territory of Michigan was established, whose members were chosen by popular vote, he was elected a member and he took his seat in that body June 7, 1824; and by the repeated suffrages of his constituents he con- tinued a member of the council until 1831. During all this time he was chairman of the judiciary committee and one of the most active and influential members of that branch of the local government. In 1836, after the organization of the state government, he was elected one of the associate justices of the circuit court for the county of Monroe, and he continued to occupy that position until 1839, when, by a change in the judiciary system of the state, the office was abolished.
Judge Lawrence died at Monroe, April 29, 1843.
HON. JEFFERSON G. THURBER
One of the prominent members of the bar of Monroe county was Jefferson G. Thurber, who resided in Monroe for twenty-four years, up to the time of his death, which occurred on May 5, 1858. Mr. Thurber was a native of New Hampshire, born in the village of Unity in the year 1807, received his education at the Academy of Canandaigua, New York, taught school and studied law during his young manhood, and in 1833 came to Monroe and opened a law office on Washington street and en- tered actively into the practice of his profession and into the political affairs of his city and state. He filled several offices of importance and . always with perfect satisfaction to his constituency ; prosecuting attor- ney of the county, judge of probate, and in 1852 was chosen speaker of the house of representatives of which he was elected in that year. He also served one term in the state senate. Mr. Thurber was a very genial, companionable man, possessing qualities which gain friends among all classes, and enjoyed the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens. The Monroe county bar took appropriate action at the time of his death and adopted the following resolutions.
At a meeting of the bar held at the court house in the city of Monroe on the seventh day of May, 1857, the meeting was called to order by the president of the bar, Hon. D. A. Noble, and the following preamble and resolutions, reported by a committee appointed for that purpose, were unanimously adopted :
"When amid the busy and active scenes of life the announcement is made that death has removed from our midst one who has daily mingled with us in its pleasures and its conflicts, participated with us in the dis- couragement, the struggles and the high expectations of professional life, and shared in its hopes and successes, we feel that sense of bereave- ment which finds a necessity for consolation, as well in the brightened memoirs of that association and companionship that forever sunders, as in the brighter hopes of that future which none but the dead can realize. And we feel that it is not all of death to die; to the living, pleasant memories, dear associations and sustaining faith survive; to the dead, the realization of that hope which cheers the dying hour and throws its gilded ray across the tomb, is consummated. And we recognize the truth of this sentiment in the decease of our friend and associate, the Hon. Jefferson G. Thurber.
"Resolved, That by the death of Mr. Thurber the bar has sustained the loss of one of its members alike endeared to it by his uniform courtesy and kindness, and respected for the ability and integrity with which he fulfilled its high duties. That society has lost a member, always ready to give his best exertions for its welfare and advancement, and one who, in the responsible positions of district attorney, judge of probate and repre-
262
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
sentative and senator in the halls of our state legislature, always dis- charged his duty with ability and fidelity to the trust reposed in him.
"Resolved, That we tender our strongest sympathy to his bereaved wife and family, and assure her and them that we would not obtrude upon the privacy of their own grief any but the kind and sincere expres- sion of our own sorrow and of deep sympathy in their severe affliction.
"Resolved, That as a testimony of high regard of the character of the deceased and of respect to his memory the members of the bar will attend his funeral in a body and wear the usual badge of mourning for the cus- tomary period of time.
"Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be published in the National Press and the Monroe Commercial, and that a copy of the same, signed by its officers, be presented to his widow and family.
"D. A. NOBLE, President.
"T. BABCOCK, Secretary."
JAMES Q. ADAMS
was a typical western pioneer lawyer, who came to Monroe in the early days of the territory and entered actively into the stirring scenes of the settlement of this section of the country. He was a native of Keene, New Hampshire, where he was born in 1798, and graduated from Dartmouth College and studied law with the leading lawyer of the place, and also upon his arrival at Monroe, finally being admitted to the bar and soon after joined Hon. Robert McClelland, who had already opened a law office in Monroe. Was elected prosecuting attorney of Monroe county. For years he held the office of postmaster of the city of Monroe. He was president of the corporation that constructed and equipped the rail- road from Monroe to LaPlaisance and was also president of the River Raisin and LaPlaisance Bay Railroad Bank. He was a shrewd and suc. cessful practitioner. He died in New York City, aged sixty-seven.
GOUVERNEUR MORRIS
was, at the time of his death, the oldest member of the Monroe county bar, having reached the age of more than four score years. He was born in Springfield, Windsor county, Vermont, February 1, 1809. He was grand-nephew of that other Gouverneur Morris, for whom he was named, who was a member of the convention which framed the Federal consti- tution and was one of the committee appointed to make the final revision of that instrument. The committee placed it in his hands and it is generally believed that in its language and arrangement is the work of this eminent man. He died in 1818. Gen. Lewis Morris, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a son of Richard Morris, who was once chief justice of the state of New York, a soldier of the revolution at seventeen years of age, and was later on the staff of General Schuyler.
Gouverneur Morris came to Michigan in 1840 with his wife, who was Frances V. Hunt, of Vermont. They settled at Brest, Monroe county, which at the time was a stirring village and in the optimistic views of its aspiring citizens was destined to become a large and prosperous city ; these dreams failing to be realized, he with others turned their attention to farming. In 1855 he removed to the city of Monroe and continued to reside there until his death. He was elected to the office of county treasurer in 1860. Upon the expiration of his term of office he formed a co-partnership with Roderick O'Connor, a prominent merchant engaged in the dry goods business; he retained his interest in this line of mer- cantile life while he still practiced law, and entered actively into poli-
263
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
tics. Mr. Morris held various county and city offices, among them super- visor, city treasurer, county treasurer, circuit court commissioner, judge of probate and circuit judge for the first term of the twenty-second ju- dicial circuit, composed of Monroe and Washtenaw counties. Judge Mor- ris was afflicted with an impediment of speech which was a serious handi- cap to his practice in jury trials, but every consideration was given him by his associates of the bar.
TALCOTT E. WING
of Monroe was born in Detroit, Michigan, September 24, 1819. His father, Austin E. Wing, was a graduate of Williams College, Williams- town, Massachusetts, in 1814, and moved from Detroit to Monroe in 1829 with his family. He was one of the first sheriffs of Wayne county and was for three terms delegate to Congress from the territory of Michigan. Subsequently he was regent of the University of Michigan, and in 1842 was a member of the state legislature, afterwards holding the office of United States marshal. He died at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1849. He was a public-spirited man, identifying himself with all public enterprises of importance. He was prominently connected with the temperance move- ment, being president of the first state temperance society. His wife, the mother of Talcott E. Wing, was Harriet Skinner, daughter of Benja- min Skinner, Esq., of Williamstown, Massachusetts. Talcott E. attended the old academy on Bates street, Detroit, until the family removed to Monroe, when he continued his education under the Rev. John O'Brien and Rev. Samuel Center, principal of the Monroe branch of the State University. He entered in 1836 Knox College, Gambier, Ohio. The following year he went to Williams College at Williamstown, Massachu- setts, from which he graduated in 1840. Returning to Monroe he entered the law office of his uncle, Warner Wing, afterwards associate justice of the supreme court, who was at that time practicing law in partnership with the Hon. Robert McClelland. He was admitted to practice in 1844. In 1849 he formed a copartnership with Ira R. Grosvenor for the practice of law, which continued for eight years. He was elected judge of pro- bate in 1864 and re-elected to that office in 1868, since the expiration of the last term continuing his practice, although not an active member of the bar. He has held a number of minor local offices and was instru- mental in organizing the union school at Monroe, of which he was a trus- tee for a number of years, and since 1844 he has held the office of United States circuit court commissioner. Organizing the banking firm of Wing & Johnson, he retained an interest in it until 1864, when it was merged with the First National Bank of Monroe, of which he has been president and cashier. He was elected an officer of the State Historical Society in 1882, and at its meeting held at Lansing June 2, 1887, was made president of the society and was re-elected to that office in 1888.
For forty years Mr. Wing was a member of the Presbyterian church of Monroe, being one of the board of trustees, and was in 1886 elected and ordained an elder of the church. He was instrumental in estab- lishing Sunday schools in the county, and took an active part in teach- ing and superintending them. He was married in 1844 to Elizabeth P. Johnson, daughter of Colonel Oliver Johnson of Monroe, the fruits of that marriage being four children, three sons and one daughter. The eldest, Talcott J. Wing, was a merchant at Westfield, Massachusetts. Charles R. Wing, the second son, is a lawyer of Monroe and Austin E. Wing is cashier of the Peoples State Bank of Detroit. The daughter is the widow of James Little, residing in Monroe. He was again married in 1859 to Elizabeth Thurber, daughter of Jefferson G. Thurber, by whom
264
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
he has one son, Jefferson T. Wing, who is engaged in business in Detroit.
In 1886 Mr. Wing entered into an agreement with a firm of pub- Jishers to write a history of the city and county of Monroe, which was completed four years later, only a few days before his death, which or- curred at his residence on Elm avenue on January 25, 1890, after an illness of but a few hours.
CHAPTER XXI
GEOLOGY OF MONROE COUNTY
EARLIEST INHABITANT-PREHISTORIC REMAINS NEAR BIG PRAIRIE- SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF LIMESTONES-WORK OF STATE SURVEY-ROADS AND ROAD METAL-STONE AND STONE CRUSHING-THE WOOLWITH QUARRIES-RAISINVILLE QUARRIES-IDA QUARRIES-LITTLE LINK QUARRY-OTTAWA LAKE QUARRIES-NEWPORT QUARRIES-THE FRENCHTOWN QUARRIES-THE STONE BUSINESS OF MONROE-MONROE STONE COMPANY-MONROE QUARRIES-LASALLE QUARRIES-BEDFORD QUARRIES-WHITEFORD QUARRIES.
"The earliest inhabitant, of whom we have any traces in southeastern Michigan," says Prof. W. H. Shuzer of the Geological Survey of Michi- gan, in his Geological Report on Monroe county, "was the so-called 'Mound Builder.' "" The tendency comparatively of recent investigations of the Ohio and Mississippi valleys is to destroy, more and more, the gap between our historic, eastern Indian and the mound building type of savage, who depended more upon the soil for his subsistence and defense. It must be admitted, however, that he was intellectually the superior of the Indians who dispossessed him of his fertile fields, and drove him, probably southwestward. He cultivated the soil extensively, wove cloth, burned pottery, manufactured a superior stone implement and worked our copper mines for the red metal. For purposes of burial and sacrifice, and apparently for use as signal stations, from which messages could be flashed across the country, after approved modern methods, he con- structed hemispherical and conical mounds of loose earth. Although no mounds or fortifications are known to exist within the limits of this county, the characteristic implements are here found and it is certain that this interesting type of savage man roamed its forests, drank from its clear springs, and navigated its waterways. Neighboring localities have been found to contain unmistakable evidences of this, in semi-circular structures, where Toledo now stands, which were described by G. K. Gil- bert in the Geological Survey of Ohio, in 1873; others along the Detroit and St. Clair rivers were explored over thirty years ago by Henry Gil- man, and described in publications of the Smithsonian Institute, and of the Michigan Pioneer Society. At favorably located points fortifications were constructed, sometimes of great magnitude and displaying a sur- prising degree of military skill and testifying to the patience and skill of these people. History opens with tribes of the great Algonquin nation in possession of this region; the Ottawas, Chippewas and the Pottawat- omies. The Wyandotts, or Hurons of the French, originally dwelt upon the St. Lawrence, and are believed to have their descent from the powerful Iroquois, by whom they were driven westward to Michigan and continu- ally persecuted by them-at one time, almost annihilated.
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.