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 65
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NIMBLE FRENCH WITS
Mr. Hivon was a good raconteur and had a fund of reminiscences which he enjoyed sharing with appreciative listeners. One which gave him keen delight was descriptive of a very successful practical joke on an unfriendly redskin, which he called his plaisanterie de trappé. It appears that one of Hivon's neighbors, one Baptiste Dussette was not en rapporte with the. Pottawattamies living along the river, farther west, who were quite anxious to get him into their hands, for some real or fancied act of bad faith, and Dussette was quite as anxious to keep out of the way, suspecting that they might take an opportunity to do him injury ; for this reason he seldom ventured alone into the forest. One day, however, his prudence was overcome by a desire to go farther than usual, alone, to split rails ; and having seen nothing of any of his mauvais garçons as he called them, for some time he ventured forth with his axe and gun. While engaged in his work, and having opened a log with small wedges, about half its length, he was surprised by a party of four Indians, who crept up quietly, from the rear, and secured his musket which was standing against a tree at his side.
"Baptiste," said the chief, "now me got you; long time me want you; you speak bad to Indian; very long time you worry me; me got you sure now ; you better get ready for go wid us up stream."
"Well," said Dussette, with an air of indifference that he was far from feeling, "you have sure got me; but, before you take me away, you and the other chaps help me open this log before we go to the scalping bee, so my boys can go ahead and finish up the rails." They talked a moment together and consented to help their victim. Dussette prepared a large oak wedge, carefully drove it deep into the log where it was partly split, took out all the small wedges, and directed the Indians to put their hands into the opening and pull with all their strength, which they did; when all their hands were well into the crack, Dussette suddenly struck out the large blunt wedge and the green log instantly closed fast on the hands of the Indians, and he had four pris- oners good and fast.
* This fact is not noted by any previous narrator, that we have seen .- Author.
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Dussette capered around in great glee, shouting "Now who's got who ? Guess we'll put off the little game you had fixed up, for a spell, anyway. You stay here, till me get back." And off he posted with his gun and axe, to the music of the Indians' yells and curses. He came back in a short time and made his own terms for capitulation and release.
COLONEL HUBERT LA CROIX
Hubert La Croix was one of the strong characters who made their home permanently upon the River Raisin, after the war. He was one of the most patriotic and active of the French men who early came here to identify themselves with the community of white settlers, and was welcomed as a valuable acquisition. He rose to a position of prominence among his countrymen, and held the post of colonel in the territorial militia. He was the grandson of a wealthy and prominent citizen of Montreal, who bore the same baptismal name. The Montreal La Croix owned a large and substantial "habitation" on grounds located on St. Jean de Baptiste street, which extends from Notre Dame street to the St. Lawrence river. The old chateau still stands on the same spot, a massive and formidable stone structure, with walls three feet in thick- ness. The author enjoyed the privilege in the summer of 1910 of examining the old relic which is described elsewhere, and also of inspect- ing the ancient records in the Seminaire de St. Sulpice, which date back to the year 1664. The form of conveyance by the ecclesiastical authorities to purchasers or lessees of the property in Montreal is the same as employed two centuries and a half ago, and the same as used in the deed of Hubert La Croix, which is given below :
"Pardevant Mtre J. Bonin, Notaire Public pour la Province de Québec, en la Puissance du Canada, résidant et pratiquant en la Cité de Montréal, en la dite Province, Soussigné :
"Furent presents Messieurs les Ecclésiastiques du Séminaire de St-Sulpice de Montréal, résidant en la dite Cité, Seigneurs des Fiefs et Seigneuries de l'IIe de Montreal de St-Sulpice et du Lac des Deux-Montagnes, agissant par Messire Charles Lecoq, Pretre, Supérieur du dit Séminaire, assiste à l'effet des présentes par Messire Jean-Antoine Gaudin, Pretre, Procureur du dit Seminaire, tous deux à ce présents. "
The old chateau in Montreal, and the large square brick house built by Hubert La Croix on the north side of the River Raisin, in 1817 or 1818, being the first brick house built in the county are most interesting landmarks. For many years it was known as the La Fountain home and occupied by Louis La Fountain, and at one time by Mr. Mathew Gibson. This house stands on the eastern line of the ground upon which was fought the battle of Frenchtown, and where occurred the memorable massacre.
It was upon these premises that a number of British coins were found which were probably dropped in the snow by soldiers of the Forty-first Regiment of Grenadiers, who encamped there-or by the Canadians. The house is sometimes pointed out to sightseers, as having been in the midst of the battle, and as being the stronghold in which the wounded, the women, and children were sheltered during the bloody scenes of that January day in 1813.
These statements and descriptions are of course entirely incorrect, as there was no brick house standing there at the time. The square open- ings in the wall are also described as the holes which were made by can- non balls fired from the artillery used by the Canadian volunteers. As a matter of fact they are the holes left in the walls by the masons, after
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taking down the scaffolding. (In those days the trick of laying up brick walls from the inside had not been learned.)
Hubert La Croix came to Frenchtown from his birthplace in Montreal in the year 1800, and he resided here continuously the balance of his life which terminated in September, 1827.
Upon the organization of the militia by Colonel John Anderson, under the order of Lewis Cass, the governor of the territory, La Croix' name was the first to be enrolled as a private soldier. After the forma- tion of the militia company, La Croix was unanimously chosen captain, continuing in command up to the breaking out of the War of 1812. He was at Fort Detroit when General Hull surrendered that post, and was taken prisoner by the British under Brock, and taken to Malden, Canada, where he was for some time kept, with other prisoners on a prison ship, afterwards removed to Quebec. When the war was ended, Captain La Croix returned to the River Raisin, and upon the organization of Monroe county, in 1817, he was appointed a colonel in the militia and first sheriff of the new county. He was related to the Navarre family and the large family of Roberts, his eldest daughter being the wife of the late Antoine F. Robert of Frenchtown-the younger daughter marry- ing James Navarre, a farmer on La Plaisance Bay.
THE LA CROIX MANOR HOUSE
The manor house in Montreal is a type of those built by the aristo- cratic and wealthy families of the old regime. It is constructed of the same gray stone that characterizes all the landmarks of the city. The front, extending some sixty feet, is very plain, a row of windows reliev. ing the austerity of its frontage. It is a house of parts,. and was likely built in installments. The original building is entered by an ornate doorway, and stairs lead directly to upper rooms. The balustrades, of handsome design, still remain, the solid oak offering resistance to the wear of time, while the curio fiend has not as yet been allowed to despoil the place.
The stairway, broad and handsome, leads to the second story, and to the smaller garrets above that again. On the first floor Hubert most likely conducted his business. Here there are two huge apartments, heavily shuttered, and a handsome archway relieves the plainness. The cornices are another exhibition of what the carpenter of Villa Marie was capable of, and they are fine specimens.
The fireplaces closed in modern times by a sort of wooden shutter, bears finely carved panels which date back through the centuries, while flowers and edgings of intricate workmanship add to the general design.
The fireplaces are huge, and the glow of the blazing logs, no doubt, sufficed for light on many a cold winter's night.
The walls of the structure were built with an eye to the blasts of winter, and are exactly three feet thick, the roof being tinned, though this work was done at a fairly recent date. On the second story, accord- ing to the opinions of those interested in the building, the ball room of the household was situated. It is now cut up into several compartments, but there are evidences to show that at one time there were no partition walls, and here gay throngs danced in the holiday season.
The cellars are huge, and in the northern part stood the fireplace where the household cooking was done. It was a giant affair, but improvements necessary for the present occupants demanded that it be demolished, and so it was. The "corner" is still intact, however, and lately a ventilating apparatus was discovered. It is simply a plain box
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structure making an opening through the massive wall, and allowing air, into the kitchen.
On the lower end of the house toward the river, was later erected an addition, the walls in this instance being only two feet thick, though the addition was designed after the original building, and it would be difficult to find evidences of a later architecture. The other additions that form a rectangle are not as old as the dwelling proper, yet the wall in the northern side is a giant affair, and shows great strength.
That the present house was preceded by a smaller, though stouter castle is evidenced by discoveries made by Mr. Ponthieu while excavating. Two giant foundations were happened upon, formed of two walls, each of which were some six feet in width, and as they were not relative to the existing building, it was decided that an earlier one existed, perchance a store house for furs, for that was the fashion of the day.
The woodwork throughout is of a lasting sort, oak predominating, and the carving in all cases is severely plain and characteristic of the thoroughness with which everything was carried out.
Through the years following the death of the La Croix family, many of Montreal's elite are said to have occupied the place, though no records can be found, some of them having been destroyed in the fire which burned down the first seminary. This is the most interesting link that connects Monroe today, with the people of ancient Montreal and New France.
FELIX METTY
Among the early French settlers upon the River Raisin were several whose vigorous constitutions and simple mode of life carried them to a venerable age, an unusually large number of centenarians having passed nearly their whole lives in Monroe county. One of these notable Frenchmen was Felix Metty, who died here, almost upon the identical spot upon which he had lived for almost a century, at the age of one hundred and two years.
The deceased was born in Canada, nearly opposite Detroit, in the year 1756. And at the period of early manhood removed to Detroit, where he participated in many of the perils and sufferings, incident to those times and to this frontier, until after the war of 1812, when he removed to Frenchtown and there remained till the day of his death. The old gentleman retained his vigor of body and mind until about a year before his death, walking regularly from the residence of his son, some three or four miles to the Roman Catholic church in this city, of which he had always been a devoted and faithful member. He was universally esteemed by his neighbors and friends, as a strictly upright man in his dealings, kind and humane in his feelings towards his fellow men.
JOHN B. SANCRAINT
was one of the earliest settlers at the River Raisin, coming here from Quebec of which province of Canada he was a native. His father, Flazet Sancraint was interested in establishing missions in connection with the Jesuits through the northwest, and with his son spent many months planting missionary stations at Black Rock, Fort Meigs, Maumee, Huron, on the present site of Toledo, and at Gibralter, having for their guide a converted Pottawattomie chief, Se-go-guen. This expedition covered about a year and a half. Mr. Sancraint returned to Quebec, and from that time was engaged as a trader with the Indians, making his annual trips from Quebec to Detroit, his headquarters. He then made the acquaintance of and married Miss Margaret Soleau in the
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year 1785. Continued an Indian trader until 1805, at which time he was commissioned by the government of the United States post trader, with headquarters at Detroit. Through his influence many of the early French settlers were rescued from the barbarity of the Indians. In 1801 he accompanied Father Richard on his missionary tour to the Indians and half-breeds at Lake Huron and Lake Superior. He received a commission from the United States government and assisted in removing the Indians west of the Mississippi, when he died in the year 1838.
CAPTAIN LUTHER HARVEY
One of the earliest of the American settlers in Monroe, was Captain Luther Harvey, an active, energetic and most worthy citizen, who died in Monroe on Sunday, September 14, 1878. Captain Harvey was at the time of his death one of the very few then living who was privileged to witness the great naval battle on Lake Erie on September 10, 1813, when Commodore Perry's notable victory over the British fleet, gave Michigan back to the Americans, and practically ended the War of 1812.
Captain Luther Harvey was born in Burlington, Vermont, in 1789, removing with his father's family to the "Genesee Flats," New York state, where they remained until 1802, when they removed to Buffalo. He remembered that Buffalo, at that time, (1802) had but five or six houses, certainly not more than a dozen, a portion of them frame but most of them of logs, hewed. One of these buildings was a store known as the "Contractors," kept by one Tupper, who had charge of the government property, stored there for distribution among the different military posts scattered around the great lakes. For this purpose a small government vessel named the "Contractor" commanded by Captain Lee sailed once a year on this expedition.
A British vessel, the "Camden," came occasionally to Fort Erie. It was once driven down the rapids and compelled to winter there, but was released the next spring. This vessel was soon afterwards made a prison ship during the war, and many American soldiers were impris- oned there, and very badly treated. He remembered the vessel bringing some of the famous native French pears from Detroit on one of her trips and how delighted everyone was to get this delicious fruit.
AS A MAIL CARRIER
About 1806, Ilarvey took a contraet under Postmaster General Granger, to carry the United States mail from Buffalo to Erie, about one hundred miles, once a week. He stayed one week in Erie to meet the mail from the south, another week being consumed going and returning on his route. There was then a house at Fredonia, another at Chautauqua. Cattaraugus and Chautauqua rivers were not bridged, and at the latter there was no ferry. In good weather he went on horseback. in bad weather on foot, as it was impossible for horses to ford the streams or to get through the woods and swamps. Notwithstanding these obstacles and difficulties, he never missed a trip while he was in that service. On one occasion, while travelling with his horse, he was delayed and chased by wolves to Fredonia, then called by the Indian name Canadoway. The mail was very light, often containing nothing at all.
A MASTER COMMISSARY
Provisions and even necessities for Buffalo and Erie, were then obtained from Canada, chiefly from Fort Erie which was an old settle- Vol. I-33
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ment. Pork was imported into Canada from Ireland and had a great reputation for its fine quality. Hay was brought over on the ice in winter. Salt came from the Saline district about Onondaga, by way of Oswego and Lake Ontario, it was hauled around the falls to Fort Schlosser three miles above, thence it was shipped in boats to Erie and distributed to the country south. The boats used in transportation were long and heavy, painted red and capable of taking a cargo of one hundred barrels of salt. They were provided with sails, but were pro- pelled up Niagara river chiefly by setting poles, and manned by eight men. A barrel of "Pennsylvania rye" was generally on tap in the stern with a convenient tin cup, and was the resort of the boatmen whenever, like Dame Gamp, they "felt so dispozed." Whiskey then was more common on land than good water, and sold for twelve and one-half to twenty cents per gallon for the best, while that luxury flour cost $40 per barrel. There was no commerce on the lakes, worthy the name, but soon private enterprises were started, a small schooner called the "Lark" was built and owned by Dr. Cyreneus Chapin. He was a man for the times, and engaged actively in business enterprises. There was then no harbor on Lake Erie, nor were there anywhere piers or other improvements. The captain of the Lark made several unsuc- cessful attempts to get into Chautauqua creek, which was obstructed by reefs. This failure roused the ire of the doctor, who vowed in many "strange oaths," to take command of the craft himself and run her up the river or run her to the-place said to be easy of entrance. He undertook the feat, and by dint of much maneuvering and hard work he accomplished it and returned in safety.
Mr. Harvey remembered the building of the first steamboat on the lakes, the "Walk-in-the-Water," which was built at Black Rock in 1818. Her first trip was to Detroit, from which she returned safely, and started for the second venture; hard winds compelled her to anchor at Port Abino, some twenty miles from Buffalo, where she sprung a leak, attempted to reach the latter place, but was driven upon the beach instead. Her crew were saved, but the vessel went to pieces.
Captain Harvey said that the engine, which was a novel and inde- scribable affair,was sold and afterwards went into the "Superior," another boat built the next year. In 1810, Harvey moved to Pennsyl- vania, then to Ohio, settling in Conneaut, with many others from the east. He remained there for a few years, then went a little farther west to Cleveland. While living in Cleveland, news arrived of the declaration of war with England in the summer of 1812. In August, General Hull surrendered Detroit. A call was made by the governor of Ohio for troops, which were, with state militia to be sent to the defense of the new settlements on the frontier. Harvey volunteered and joined the company of Captain Parker. Settlers in northern Ohio were very few and scattering; Cleveland was the merest nucleus of a village. A wagon road from Erie led as far as Huron, but west of Cleveland there was no bridge. About the River Huron was a tract called the "fire lands," being a donation by congress to sufferers by fire in Connecticut. Many settlers had gone on under this benefaction sometime before and formed quite a prosperous settlement. Near the river and in the prairies bordering it, there were some pretty large farms.
On August 26, 1812, Captain Parker's company of 108 men, left Cleveland for Huron, to protect the property of the inhabitants who had fled south, leaving everything which they could not easily carry, including an abundance of provisions. At camp Avery, six miles from the mouth of the Huron, the soldiers built a block house, also one three
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miles above. From Huron to Sandusky and along that river, there was nothing but one Indian trail. Harvey remained with Captain Parker in camp until the ensuing winter when with his consent, he entered the employ of Major Lupper, a commissary, and was at once detailed to carrying dispatches from Cleveland to Fort Meigs, on the Maumee, then in command of General Harrison. He followed the lake shore with one man only in company, by trail, sleeping generally on the ice, wrapped in his blankets, and ever on the alert for lurking Indians. On his first arrival at Fort Meigs, after delivering his dispatches to General Harrison, he asked for food and clothing. The general replied : "I can give you pork and flour, but nothing more; we are building the fort and there are no barracks; you see the tents are all full." So, as before, he and his comrade camped upon the open fields, where they cooked their dough and pork.
DESPITE HARRISON, PROVISIONS SAVED
After the trip to Fort Meigs, in January, 1813, Harvey was employed to take charge of the ox teams used in transporting flour and other supplies from Cleveland to the fort, having six yoke of oxen on the way in February. He was nearing Huron river, one day, when he met an express rider mounted on a very good horse going at a very rapid pace ; he halted and handed Harvey a written order from General Harrison, announcing the defeat of General Winchester at the River Raisin by the British and Indians. The enemy, in force, it stated, would soon be down upon the Huron settlements and no time must be lost in turning loose the cattle and rejoining the troops. Harvey replied that he should do no such thing; neither turn loose the cattle nor unload the flour unless receipted for by some responsible person. Harvey then drove across the ice to the house of a Mr. Wright, a well-to-do farmer. This house was a substantial one of hewed logs and safely protected against attacks from Indians. After much discussion, and consideration of the dilemma of Harvey, the farmer agreed to take the flour, about sixty barrels, give Harvey a receipt for them, storing them in another log building near the house. Harvey then led the oxen back to Cleveland, and on a farm secured a safe place for them.
General Harrison, when he abandoned Fort Meigs had on hand a large quantity of pork. It had been driven through to the fort in the live hog, from Kentucky at great labor, difficulty and expense. These hogs had been killed and salted down, which together with a large supply of other provisions were stored under sheds below the fort. These sheds General Harrison ordered fired; this order was obeyed, and soon the flames were merrily consuming the food that the men would have been glad to have a little later. After the troops moved out, and had reached some distance, a number of Frenchmen living in the vicinity extinguished the flames and saved nearly all the provisions.
Seeing that no Indians made their appearance, General Harrison and his officers got over their panic in three or four days and returned to the fort, where, but for the timely and prudent action of the French- men, his army would have found themselves in a condition bordering on starvation. Harvey's teams of oxen and their loads of flour after- wards reached their destination in safety.
AT THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE
Mr. Harvey, while admiring the fighting qualities of General Harri- son, and his influence with his men, had no such high opinion of his
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judgment and courage under sudden requirements of emergency. In August, 1813, young Harvey with the family were at Huron. The fleet of Captain Perry were cruising about the islands in Lake Erie, looking for the British fleet under Captain Barclay, finally coming to anchor between Cunningham's Island and Sandusky. Anxious to see the fleet at closer range, Harvey hired an old French batteau that was scarcely seaworthy, in which Colonel Spaulding had escaped with his family from Maumee. On the farm was a large quantity of melons, cucumbers. corn, the size of "roasting ears," beans and potatoes; also in the dairy, a good supply of butter and other eatables; with this generous assort- ment of provisions Harvey determined to supply Perry and his men with or without compensation, depending upon circumstances after he had boarded the fleet. With five or six other young fellows who were also exteremely anxious to see the fine fleet of vessels, loaded upon the batteau all that she could safely carry and started. It proved a most timely, profitable and welcome expedition. Not a person from shore had visited the fleet, and all were ignorant that a settlement existed in that vicinity-moreover they were almost destitute of provisions. The boat was allowed to come to the side of the flagship "Lawrence," and the purser took possession of the cargo and paid Harvey liberally for it, and told him to bring as much more as he could handle on the same terms. Expressing a desire to see the young commodore (then captain) he was introduced and spent a few very proud moments in conversation. Harvey probably remembered this event more clearly than any in his life.
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