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 53
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In 1881, the Monroe Index was born, but as it was not an index to much of anything, the ambitions of Fred B. Lee, its publisher, were not realized.
THE RECORD-COMMERCIAL
The Record Publishing Company was incorporated under the laws of Michigan, April 6, 1900. The first officers of the company were Charles Ilgenfritz, president ; Dr. P. S. Root, vice-president ; Carl Franke, secretary ; Wm. G. Gutman, treasurer. This organization continued without change until 1902, when an election of officers resulted in the choice of the following: C. E. Greening, president; secretary and treas- urer, W. G. Gutman, the two offices having been consolidated. The paper has from its beginning been under the management of Honorable Carl Franke, until his election to the office of Judge of Probate, when F. J. Sill has acted as manager and editor, August 26, 1901. The Record Publishing Company was organized for the object of publishing a Republican newspaper, and to do general printing. In April, 1904, the company purchased the holdings of D. T. Josephine, and Fred D. Elmer, in the Monroe Commercial, the oldest paper in the county, estab- lished by Edward G. Morton. and consolidated the two papers under the name of the Record-Commercial. In September, 1904, the company pur- chased the building on Bridge street, as a permanent home, and occupied it for the first time on Thanksgiving Day of that year. The present offi- cers of the corporation are: Dr. P. S. Root, president; L. G. Grassley, vice-president; W. G. Gutman, treasurer, and A. B. Bragdon, Jr., secre- tary and manager. It is a bright and enterprising paper, and covers the county with a corps of correspondents, who furnish the news of their localities in a weekly letter. It is a loyal and aggressive county paper, devoted to the welfare of the interests of its people as expressed in the motto on its title page : "Monroe first and always."
OUTSIDE OF MONROE
Outside of Monroe, in the county, villages grew up to compete with the shire town in business and in the natural desire to patronize home enterprise and home talent. To foster this spirit, the logical course was to establish a "home paper," and very creditable local newspapers were established in three or four of the more populous villages.
In 1872, the Enterprise was established in Dundee by John Cheever, which before 1875 changed ownership three times, the last owner being
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W. W. Cook, who removed it to Leslie, Michigan. The Dundee Re- porter was commenced in May, 1876, by H. Egabroad, and conducted a very creditable little paper until 1882 when it was sold to James E. Carr, and flourished apace under his management. The Dundee Ledger was published for a short time, but finally consolidated with the Reporter.
Petersburg, the enterprising village in the western part of the county, in Summerfield township, with a population of about 600, also felt the desirability of having its own organ, and in 1871, Henry F. Gage launched the Avalanche, which was loyally supported and survived for nearly two years, when the plant was destroyed by fire, and the paper was not revived; but in 1876 the River Raisin Clarion began sending forth its stirring tones, under the manipulation of John W. Seeley; its suspension six months later was due entirely to that vexatious cause-a chattel mortgage. A more satisfactory experience was the fortune of the Petersburg Bulletin, founded in 1881 by I. D. Boardman, who made the paper a pronounced success. The Weekly Journal was begun in 1883, by O. C. Bacon, and after a short tenure of life met the same fiery fate as its predecessor, the Avalanche, but unlike it rose Phoenix-like from its ashes, and sustained its existence for a year or two when it was sold to E. A. Gilbert.
CHAPTER XXXII THE MEDICAL PROFESSION
THE COUNTY SOCIETY-DRS. JOSEPH DAZET, LUTHER PARKER, ROBERT G. CLARKE AND GEORGE LANDON-THE COUNTRY DOCTOR IN VERSE- DRS. EPHRAIM ADAMS AND ALFRED I. SAWYER-JAMES Q. ADAMS
The history of medicine and medical practitioners in any community is more of a personal nature than that of any other science and profes- sion. This truth will be evident from the following relating to the sub- ject as it applies to Monroe county.
THE COUNTY SOCIETY
The Monroe County Medical Society was organized many years ago, and includes in its membership nearly all the practicing physicians in the county. Dr. Philander S. Root is president, and Dr. Charles Tracy Southworth secretary, both of Monroe City. The following is a list of members, and their place of residence : W. F. Acker, Monroe; Ralph Brown, Whiteford; E. M. Cooper, Carleton; E. S. Cornwell, La Salle; E. V. Dusseau, Erie; C. L. Fought, Erie; E. W. Kelley, Tem- perance ; H. E. Kelley, Ida; L. C. Knapp, Monroe; G. B. McCallum, Monroe; H. L. Meek, Petersburg; J. H. McCall, Carleton; S. O. New- comer, Ida; O. L. Parmalee, Ottawa Lake; J. T. Roach, Newport ; G. W. Richardson, Dundee; J. B. Haynes, Dundee; P. S. Root, Monroe; F. Sissing, Monroe; C. T. Southworth, Monroe; A. E. Unger, Dundee; A. B. Leamington, Maybee.
DR. JOSEPH DAZET
It is believed that Dr. Dazet, a native of France, was the first physi- cian to settle upon the River Raisin; he arrived here in the summer of 1784, and took up his residence in a house standing on the present site of the Ilgenfritz homestead, and here he also had his office. He and his wife lived alone, and were particular friends of the early Catholic priests, Father Frechette and Father Richarde. The inhabitants at that time consisted wholly of French and Indians, so that although he was an able, successful practitioner, his list of patients here was limited. He re- moved with his wife to Detroit in 1830, and there they both died within a few years thereafter. An occasional peripatetic vendor of nostroms called at the settlement, but found little encouragement to repeat their visits.
DR. LUTHER PARKER
Dr. Luther Parker settled at the River Raisin soon after the War of 1812, and commenced practice alone until Dr. Conant arrived in 1820, when a partnership was formed, and the firm continued to practice in
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Monroe for several years. He had two sons, Samuel S. and Isaac; the former was for some time landlord of the Murphy House, still standing on West Front street, and at one time practiced medicine.
DR. ROBERT G. CLARKE
Dr. Robert G. Clarke was one of the first physicians of the place and commanded the respect of the community not only as a physician but as a public spirited citizen. He was not a politician in any sense, and sought no offices, but discharged his duties as a private citizen in uphold- ing the law, and used his influence in the selection of proper men to hold municipal and county offices.
The outbreak of cholera in 1834 caused some alarm in the settlement, and there were a few deaths which, with the fatalities of many cases in Detroit, did not allay the fears that an epidemic was to decimate the population. Happily, however, the doctors were able to check the rav- ages of the disease, and tranquility reigned once more.
In the lists of names of former physicians in Monroe, we find those of Dr. Alden, Dr. William M. Smith, Dr. Silas R. Arnold, Dr. White, Dr. Martin, and others, who creditably practiced here for longer or shorter periods, but are now but faintly remembered. Of a later period there were others, now passed away, whose names were household words. Dr. Southworth, Dr. West, Dr. Heath, Dr. A. I. Sawyer, Dr. Dorsch, Dr. Shafer, Dr. Uhlendorf and others.
DR. GEORGE LANDON
None are more affectionately remembered than Dr. George Landon, who came to Monroe in 1831, and at once began the practice of his pro- fession ; his admirable social qualities and cheerful manner in the sick room, his broad charity and lively, sympathetic nature gained for him an extensive practice as well as a wide circle of warm personal friends. He was born in Sheffield, Massachusetts, December 15, 1795, received his education at Pittsfield, and attending lectures later in New Haven; was married in 1825, to Miss Elizabeth Abby Noble, daughter of Deodatus Noble, of Williamstown, Massachusetts. Four years after his coming to Monroe, he entered into a partnership with Dr. William Smith under the firm name of Landon & Smith. This partnership continued for a period of forty years, until the death of the latter. Upon the death of his for- mer wife, in 1834, he married, on September 6, 1834, Miss Euphemia M. McQueen, of Schenectady, New York. He was elected county treas- urer on the Republican ticket in 1860, and was appointed by the gov- ernor, examining surgeon of the board of enrollment for the first district of Michigan. He died on March 4, 1874, after an illness of some months. Dr Landon was in its true sense a Christian gentleman, an elder in the First Presbyterian church for many years and universally respected. His children were: Francis (Hall), George M., Mary (Dausard), Dr. Henry B., Abbey and John E .; three of these survive.
THE COUNTRY DOCTOR IN VERSE
The late Dr. Henry Drummond, of Montreal, the happiest of delin- eators of Canadian character in his delightful volume of dialect poems,
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"The Habitant," gives us a characteristic picture of the good old coun- try doctor, which will be recognized in the following extract :
"But Docteur Fiset, not moche fonne he get Drivin' all over the whole contree, If de road she's bad, if de road she's good W'en every t'ings drown on de springtam flood, An' workin' for not'ing haf de tam, mebbe !"
"Let her rain or snow, all he want to know, Is just eef any one's feelin' sick ; For Docteur Fiset's de ole fashion kin' Doin' good was de only t'ing on hees min'; So he got no use for de politique.'
DR. EPHRAIM ADAMS
That tells the story of many of the old-time physicians. Dr. Adams was one of these; as, in his old mud-stained buckboard, he drove far and near in the settlement, with his capacious "saddle bags" well filled with simple remedies-and the more heroic sort, as well, ignoring weather conditions, danger, and the almost certain circumstance of little, if any pay. He was the good angel of the poor, looked upon by all as the one upon whom any call might be made for any sacrifice with the full assur- anee that it would be unhesitatingly answered. night or day. hot or cold, storm or sunshine. It is said that this charitable though perhaps im- provident "man of medicine" kept no books of accounts, no record of his calls, preferring the exercise of that faith in the human race, which he trusted, in the integrity and gratitude of his patients to "pay if they could. if they could not, how can they be expected to?" There were those. however, who were mean enough (one blushes to say it) to evade payment of the good doctor, even though they were abundantly able to meet his modest claims, if ever made.
Dr. Ephraim Adams was born in Wyndham county, Vermont. in the year 1800, of Puritan ancestry. His parents died when he was but six years old, leaving four other children in very straightened circumstances. Ephraim was bound out to a farmer, with the understanding that he should receive a thorough education and college training. This stipu- lation was faithfully observed. and after attending the Hanover Medical College in New Hampshire, he entered Dartmouth College, from which institution he was graduated December 19. 1822. He married Mary Paddock of Watertown, New York, and in 1824, he came west and settled on the River Raisin. in the times that tried men's souls, and when Amer- ican pioneers had just begun to seek homes in the northwest. The In- dian and the Canadian Frenchmen were his neighbors, and the trials of the young couple were not few nor light. He entered at once upon the practice of his profession, with no competition to speak of. His kindness and liberality won him many patients and more friends; but doctors were not considered as absolutely a necessity in the early days- when the house-wife attended to all the matters pertaining to the health of the household.
Dr. Adams held several honorable public offices in the early days of this county. He served as one of the judges of the county court in 1827, with James J. Godfroy and Riley Ingersoll as associate justices. He did not court politics, but resumed his professional practice, which he con- tinued uninterruptedly until his death in Monroe in 1874. He appar- ently had novel but liberal estimates of the duties of a physician; fore-
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most appeared to be the observance of the virtue of charity ; he gave as much of his time and his skill to the wants of the poor without payment as to the rich and well-to-do who employed him. He enjoyed the respect and confidence of the people in his long and arduous rides through the newly settled country, and of the medical profession of the county, which grew into a large and important fraternity here, the reputation of the practitioners being far more than local. Dr. Adams' worth re- ceived a fitting tribute at his death, from a professional contemporary, who said :
"Dr. Adams more nearly filled up Pope's estimate of an honest man than almost any other that I ever knew. Besides being an honest man he was one of the purest, most unprejudiced, and unselfish of men."
The poor of the county certainly had great cause to mourn his death, for he never waited for fair weather, nor good roads, nor moneyed remu- neration when called by them.
James Q. Adams was a brother of the doctor's, who came to Monroe at an early day as a practicing lawyer, having once been an associate of Hon. Robert McClelland. He was a man of great public spirit, and iden- tified with the many enterprises of the bustling young village; was the projector and builder of the River Raisin and Lake Erie Railroad Com- pany, president of the Bank of Monroe and La Plaisance Bay Harbor Company, a valuable public man in the community, and was the second mayor after the establishment of the town, the first being George B. Harleston. For several years he was the postmaster of Monroe, and was continually active in the affairs of the village. He died in Monroe, May 6, 1874.
DR. ALFRED I. SAWYER
was born in Lyme township, Harm county, Ohio, October 31, 1828. His parents, Stephen and Dorothy Sawyer came to this country from England in 1819, settling near New Haven, Connecticut, thence remov- ing to North Bend, on the Ohio River. Afterwards, with others from Connecticut, they settled on the "Connecticut fire lands" known as the "Western Reserve." He acquired, under difficulties, an ordinary com- mon school education, later taking up studies to fit him for a profession. He was fortunate in securing a connection in 1852 with a firm of physi- cians in Norwalk, Ohio, pursued his studies with close application, attended lectures in Cleveland and in the spring of 1854 received the degree of M. D., afterwards attending the medical department of the New York University until 1857. After visiting several places in the selection of a place in which to practice medicine, he came to Monroe in May, 1857, where he decided to remain. He was made a Mason in Feb- ruary, 1858, a Royal Arch Mason in 1859, a Royal and Select Mason in 1863, and a Knight Templar in 1868. Elected Senior Warden of Monroe Lodge No. 27 in 1863, and Worshipful Master in 1864, 1865, 1866, 1867, 1868, 1869, 1870, 1879, 1880, 1881, and 1887.
During this time he was presented by the Lodge with a beautiful Past Master's Jewel. He was High Priest of River Raisin Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, from 1867 to 1871, inclusive.
Was elected Grand Principal Sojourner of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of the State of Michigan in 1869.
Grand Captain of the Host in 1870. Grand Scribe in 1871, Grand King in 1872, Deputy Grand High Priest in 1873, and Grand High Priest in 1874.
Was made Chairman of a Committee to revise the Grand Constitution of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Michigan in 1875, which
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required four years for completion, and is today the fundamental law of the order in Michigan.
Represented the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Michigan in the General Grand Chapter of the United States at Denver, Colorado, in 1883.
Was elected Grand President of the Grand Council of High Priest- hood in 1872, immediately after submitting a masterly report of the history and chronology of the order. This office he held for several years.
Was elected Grand Principal Conductor of the work in the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masons of Michigan in 1873,
Was first Eminent Commander of River Raisin Commandery No. 19, K. T., in 1868 and again in 1886.
Was elected mayor of the city of Monroe in 1869, 1870 and 1878 and was a member of its school board for nine years.
But as his untiring zeal and faithful devotion has made him a leader in political, educational, masonic and social circles, even so he has shone, if anything, with far more brilliancy in his chosen profession, and among his learned colleagues.
Dr. Sawyer was largely instrumental in the establishment of the Chair of Homeopathy in the University of Michigan.
In 1889, at Minnetonka Beach, Minn., the members of the National Institute of Homeopathy recognized the faithful labors of this untiring physician, and unanimously elected him to the presidency of the oldest medical institution in America.
Dr. Sawyer married Sarah, daughter of Phillip R. and Nancy D. Toll, of Monroe, to whom were born two children, Alfred and Jennie T. The Doctor enjoyed an extensive practice in Monroe for a number of years, dying at his home in Monroe.
CHAPTER XXXIII EDUCATIONAL IIISTORY
CATHOLEPISTEMIAD ( UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN ) -UNIVERSITY BRANCHES -DISTRICT SCHOOLS-FIRST MONROE UNION SCHOOL-PRIVATE SCHOOLS - BOYS' AND YOUNG MEN'S ACADEMY - MONROE YOUNG LADIES' SEMINARY-ROSE COTTAGE HOME SCHOOL-"CROWNING OF THE MAY QUEEN."
On the 26th day of August, 1817, just after the visit of the President. James Monroe, he, with Governor Cass departed southward, and con- tinued quite a lengthy trip, the circumstances and incidents of which. with the speeches and receptions afterwards formed a volume, hand- somely printed and bound in leather which was sold at the bookstores and probably sent to the "faithful" as a souvenir of his visit. Its title was "The President's Tour."
CATHOLEPISTEMIAD ( UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN )
On this day, also, the legislature, then sitting at the capitol in Detroit. passed the act to incorporate the Catholepistemiad, or' University of Michigan. This institution, which was identical in law with the present University, contained thirteen didariac, or professorships, which were most comprehensible. These were to embrace (1) catholepistemia, or universal science, the incumbent of this chair being President: (2) authropoglossica, or language, embracing all sciences relating thereto; (3) mathematics; (4) physiognostica or natural history : (5) physio- sophica, or natural philosophy; (6) astronomy; (7) chemistry; (8) iatrica, or medical sciences; (9) occonomia, or economical seience; (10) ethies; (11) polemitactica, or military sciences; (12) diegetica, or his- torical sciences: (13) ennocica, or intellectual sciences. all of which em- bracing all the epistemum or sciences relative to the minds of animals. humans, -to spiritual existence, to the Deity and to religion-the didae- tor or professor, of this being vice president. The professors were to be appointed and commissioned by the Governor-each might hold more than one chair, and their salaries were payable out of the public treas- ury; the taxes being increased fifteen per cent for that purpose. The united faculty formed the corporation, with power, not only to regulate its concerns, but to establish colleges, academies, schools, libraries, mu- seums, athenæums, botanic gardens, laboratories and other useful literary and scientific institutions "consonant with and to the laws of the United States of America and of Michigan," and to appoint teachers through- out the counties, cities, towns, townships and other geographical divisions of Michigan. These subordinate instructors and instruetrixes were also to be paid from the public treasury. On the same day. the salaries of the professors were fixed at twelve dollars and a half, instructors twenty- five dollars, President twenty-five and vice president eighteen dollars:
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whether these munificent sums were for weekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly compensation is not stated. Appropriations were made at the same time to pay all of these, and a further sum of one hundred and eighty dollars to apply in lots and a building. A gift of two hundred dollars more was made a few weeks later, towards inclosing the building. Reverend John Monteith and Reverend Gabriel Richard were appointed to the various professorships. The former was a Presbyterian minister and the latter was a Catholic priest, both fine scholars, exemplary men, and greatly beloved in the community. Primary schools or branches of the university were established in Detroit, Monroe and Mackinaw, with a classical academy and college in Detroit.
Thus was launched, after most careful study and thought the first school system of Michigan which with subsequent enactments and pro- visions has ever been held in the highest esteem by scholars and men eminent in the profession, as a most wise and admirable system. Gen- eral Banks of Massachusetts, paid a handsome tribute to the school sys- tem of Michigan in the course of his oration, delivered on the occasion of the unveiling of the bronze statue to General Custer at West Point Military Academy in 1879. He used these words: "He, (General Cus- ter) was fortunate in the enjoyment of the munificent and altogether admirable educational advantages of Michigan, the first of the new, and the rival of the oldest and richest states, in all that appertains to the education of the people."
The growth in number of students on the rolls of our great college, the high standard of scholarship and the limitless influence for good upon the nation, fully confirms the appropriate eulogiums which have been pronounced by educators and statesmen, while the common schools, and advanced grades of union schools in the state, enjoy a degree of popular favor and support which well maintains the whole educational scheme in our state. In the judgment and wisdom of the organizers of the university it was deemed expedient to first establish the branches, provided for in the charter, while the erection of the university was in progress.
UNIVERSITY BRANCHES
The branch at Monroe, occupied the old long yellow frame schoolhouse then standing at the southwest corner of Macomb and Second streets, the site now occupied by the Lincoln High School building. The first instructor was Rev. Samuel Senter, and the next Prof. John Allen.
These branches, of course were intended to pursue courses of studies leading up to the requirements of the University-as primary schools. But upon completion and opening of the University at Ann Arbor, these branches were discontinued, and upon the establishment of the high schools in connection with the union schools, nothing was lacking to take the students, thoroughly equipped into the very highest branches of learning taught in the several departments of the University, so that applicants provided with the diploma granted by the high schools are ad- mitted to the university without examination.
Until the branches of the University of Michigan were abolished and the educational systems consolidated at Ann Arbor, the Monroe branch continued, the last principal being Hon. Ira Mayhew, who later held the office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction. He was a noted educator in his day.
DISTRICT SCHOOLS
The usual "district schools" such as were in vogue during the earlier years of Monroe, were under the supervision and control of Vol. 1-27
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"district boards" not always qualified to fill such office, who employed teachers and "regulated" matters generally. No. 4 school house at a later date stood on the corner of Harrison and Fifth streets, a frame building of one story painted white and having a belfry in which hung the old bell that called together the forty or fifty scholars who attended.
Before the indulgence in the luxury of a bell, the custom was for the teacher to proclaim the hour for assembly by pounding on the door frame of the outside door with the ruler which he used for corporal punishment during the sessions-an employment for this instrument of torture which was most obnoxious to the mischievous boys and an object of terror to the refractory ones, especially when manipulated by a teacher named Stuart, who was especially gifted in the manner of wielding this formidable weapon.
FIRST MONROE UNION SCHOOL
The corner stone of the first union school in Monroe was laid on June 24, 1858, and must have been an event of very general interest.
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