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 69
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"I asked him about the sick and wounded, who were burnt up in the hospital, or shot to death as they fled shrieking through the flames. 'I saw their bones,' he replied, 'when the ruins were still recent; I came on with the corps of Kentuckians which advanced soon after into this country, and subsequently so eagerly avenged their countrymen at the battle of the Moravian town, where Tecumseh was killed. I walked to the place where the wounded met their fate on the banks of the Raisin, with several others, one of whom was Colonel Richard M. Johnson, the man who had the distinction of ending Tecumseh's career, as he was on the point of throwing his tomahawk into the colonel's breast. Colonel Johnson did not speak as he looked upon the bodies of the murdered men, in the deep pit arranged for their burial-but as he turned away with tears flowing down his cheeks, he exclaimed: "there lies the best blood of Kentucky, spilled in the defense of the poor settlers of this beautiful valley." The words are as nearly those used by the old Kentuckian as I can remember them, in describing this sad spectacle. Of the seven hundred young and brave fellows who met their cruel death here, most of them were of the best families; lawyers, law students, young physicians, merchants, and the sons of opulent farmers and planters-in short the very flower of Kentucky. One family alone lost a father, two brothers, an uncle and a cousin, the youngest not yet seventeen. '
" 'Speaking of the troops who were concerned in the early operations in this region' continues my narrator in his letter. 'I have heard a number of interesting accounts from different persons of the formation of the several corps. One of these I will venture to repeat : A graduate of William's College, Massachusetts, who had been recently admitted to the bar, was riding through the State of Kentucky, possibly with the design of finding some favorable place at which to fix his abode and commence the practice of his profession, when he was accosted near a village by a mounted traveller, who mentioned that he was a planter in the vicinity, and invited the young advocate, with all the freedom and cordiality of western hospitality, to take dinner with him. The invita- tion was gladly accepted, and the eastern gentleman, arriving at the mansion of his unknown host, found quite a party assembled, the majority of whom were apparently acquainted with each other, while many were strangers, like himself, and no doubt invited in the same informal way. The dinner was got through sociably enough ; and by the time that the bottles had circulated freely around the board, all felt that easy confidence in the fellowship which characterizes the convivial gathering. The host, then rising, described briefly the state of the north- western frontier, and produced a commission from his pocket, author- izing him to raise a corps of riflemen and prepare to march at once to a stated rendezvous. Every man at the table enlisted; their entertainer was apparently provided with every necessary for such a voluntary
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movement, and forthwith supplied them on the spot with rations, guns and ammunition. They were given a day to bid adieu to relatives or friends, and the following day this little band of volunteers started on their march to the border. The name of the patriotic host is not remem- bered, but the young man from the east, of military bearing, was chosen lieutenant and soon after became a captain, afterwards better known as major, colonel, general, governor and lastly as Mr. Secretary Cass. I regret now, that I did not inquire into and note down the names and particulars of a relation so striking ; but you have the tale as it was told in my hearing minus the admirable manner of the relation.
"But I am forgetting the launching! The burst of stirring music from the band indicates that she is moving towards her future element, where she soon rides in graceful ease and dignity. The ride down to these docks is rather a pleasant one, but to be candid, I have seen hand- somer rivers than the 'Rivière aux Raisins,' as it is termed by the French.
"It would delight an eastern farmer to see the magnificent pear trees, which, rising to a height of the tallest forest trees and of the growth of a century, extend through orchards and along the north and south division lines of farms for two miles or more, along the river. Here, too, are apple trees, grand, luxuriant-(to the excellence of whose fruit I can testify,) that were brought to New France in 1731. The grape vines also, from which the river takes its name constitute a beauti- ful feature in the level landscape, as they hang in rich and luxuriant festoons along the banks of the stream, or climb wherever a tree offers the opportunity, to the tops of the loftiest elms.
"The subject of canals and railroads awakens at this time, the keenest interest in Michigan ; and Monroe has several projects of her own; after the route of the proposed grand communication between Lakes Erie and Michigan, through the peninsula shall be determined upon by the general government, I have no doubt that large and advantageous outlays of private capital upon similar works, will be made at other points. I recommend that you come west and 'view the landscape o'er' for yourself.
"Tomorrow I start for the interior.
"Yours faithfully,
'C. H. H."
The letters of this interesting and intelligent observer continue to describe his experience westward, on horseback, through the entire county of Monroe, and then into Lenawee, Jackson and Calhoun counties, and so on to the Mississippi river, which form an attractive narrative of the early days in Michigan and the northwest.
ARCADIAN PICTURE OF MONROE (LANMAN)
Charles Lanman, the younger, the poet-author, who was born and grew to manhood in Monroe, lived with his father's family in a large frame dwelling on the bank of the River Raisin, on the south side of Front street, corner of Scott street, which was still standing until a few years ago, was a popular and entertaining writer, as well as an agreeable gentleman, highly esteemed in the village; he was fond of introducing in his writings descriptions of Michigan and the scenes in and about Monroe.
Mr. Lanman was strongly attached to his native town, and while his enthusiastic nature led him, sometimes to imaginative sketches and highly colored pen pictures of the rural environments, they were sincere and were read with general interest and admiration, and with due allowance
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for his ardent nature. One of his works: "A Summer in the Wilderness" now lies open before me, and from it I quote: "Notwithstanding the comparative newness of Michigan, its general aspect is ancient. The ruin of many an old fort and stockade may be discovered on its borders, reminding the beholder of wrong and outrage, blood and strife. This was once the home of several nations of the red man; here lived and loved the Algonquin, the Pottawattamie, the Shawanese, the Ottowa, the names of whose warrior chiefs -- Pontiac, the proud and haughty, and Tecumseh, the fearless-will long be treasured in history. I have stood upon their graves, which are marked only by a blighted tree, and an unhewn stone, and have sighed deeply as I remembered their deeds. But they have gone, like the lightning of a summer day !
"It is a land of tradition all about here. We are told that the Indian hunters of old saw fairies and genii floating over its lakes and streams, and dancing through its lonely forests. In these did they believe, and to please them was their religion. The streams rolled their liquid silver to the lake, broken only by the fish that flashed in their current, or the swan that floated upon their surface. Vegetation flour- ished alone. Roses bloomed and died, to be trampled upon by the deer or savage; strawberries studded the ground like rubies, where the green and sunny hillsides reposed amid the silence like sleeping infants in the lap of the forest; the fog which sometimes hung in clouds over its marshes spread no pestilence nor foreboding. The panther, the fox, the deer, the wolf, the bear roamed fearless through the more remote parts of the domain, for there were none to dispute with them their right or their inheritance.
"But clouds thickened. In the darkness of night, and silence of the wilderness, the tomahawk and scalping knife were forged for the work of death. Speeches were made by the savages under the voiceless stars, which were heard by none save God and their allies; and the war-song echoed from the banks of the lakes where had never been heard the foot- steps of civilized man. Then followed the horrors of war; then and there were enacted the triumphs of revenge and superstition. But those sounds have died away; there remains only the story traced on the page of history. The clink of hammer of the mechanic upon the ringing anvil, the voice of rural labor, and the sound of Sabbath bells now echo through these forests. The red man in his original grandeur of state and stature has passed from the scene forever.
"The French, who first built their cabins in Michigan, and at as early a date as 1620, and for many years they and the Indians were the sole inhabitants. Here it was the Jesuit missionaries first pitched their tents in our great commonwealth. Monroe is the modern name of Frenchtown, a flourishing town, containing, possibly, four thousand inhabitants, a goodly portion of them being descendants of the early settlers, and, next to Detroit, is the best wheat market in the western country. 'Nummasepee,' is ringing in my ear, and my whole being and all my thoughts are on the river and in the village where I was born.
"Judging from the many accounts that I have read and heard, Monroe must have been before the last war (1812), one of the most delightful nooks in the world. Its original, white inhabitants were, as stated, French, who had emigrated hither from Quebec, Montreal, and other points in Canada. The families did not number more than fifty or sixty, and the names of the most conspicuous were Navarre, Duval, Beaubien, Bourdeaux, Couture, Nadeau, Bannac, Cicotte, Campau, Jobien, Godfroy, Lasalle, Cousenau, Labadee, La Croix, Robert, Durocher, Daussette, Loranger, Sancomb, Fournier, Bissonette, Bezeau and others. They inhabitated what may be termed an oasis in the
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wilderness. Their farms all lay directly upon either side of the river, and though principally devoted to agriculture, they were content with a few acres of cleared land, which they tilled for their own subsistence; beyond these on either hand, stood the mighty forests, in their primeval solitude and luxuriance, where
"Alway the winds made melody in air; The whispering leaves fell down in colors rare; And shadows, like gray nuns, kneel as in prayer."
"Along in front of their doors glided the waters of Rivière aux Raisins, undisturbed by the keel of any steamboat or white winged vessel. Comfort and comeliness characterized their dwellings, made of logs, scrupulously neat, and annually whitewashed, over which climbed the wild rose and honeysuckle; shaded by a great abundance of domestic trees yielding their delicious fruits of their ancestral homes in France. In their midst stood a little ivy covered chapel surmounted by a cross, in which were observed the religious ceremonies of the Jesuits, or the priests of other missionaries of the church. The soft toned bell that summoned the 'habitant' to worship sent its echoes far into the wilder- ness and its tones were wafted out over the sleeping lake. Here the tumult of the great human world was never heard, and money, money- getting and fame were not of the dreams of the simple folk for they were at ease in their quiet lives. Their only intercourse was with the Indians, the smoke of whose wigwams rose on every side, at all times; and the coureurs de bois, who were the only people with whom they came into familiar contact. From them they received valuable furs and peltries by barter, and which they sent to far-away Montreal, where, in exchange, they obtained the necessaries and many of the luxuries of life. They maintained in a greater degree than one would think possible, the habits and customs which accompanied them from the French provinces whence they emigrated, and to some extent the garb, especially among the gentlemen, while the peasants wore the long surtout, the sash, ceinture, the red cap and the deer-skin moccasins. Also sometimes in the winter, when the snows were deep the hunters wore the useful snow shoes. Their knowledge of agriculture was very limited, and the policy of the fur travelers was to keep down the spirit of improvement in that respect. Of corn and wheat they were anxious to raise only enough to last them during the year. A surplus of anything but furs they did not desire, and never possessed. Their grain was ground in windmills, whose pictur- esque forms added to the poetry of the scenery.
"Their amusements were such as they themselves instituted and invented ; the social dance, the music of the violin and their unaffected assemblies in their own homes. The forest afforded them an abundance of game which constantly led them to the hunt, and their beautiful stream abounded in fish which they captured with the hook, the spear and the net. A dreamy summer atmosphere seemed to rest upon this region when viewed in the light of the olden time; there was poetry in everything which met the eye; in the priest with cowl and satin vest- ments, kneeling before a wooden cross on his way to the place of prayer ; in the peasant, about his simple rural labors, in the rude Indians playing their uncouth games on the smooth green sward or displaying their dextrous feats in their bark canoes; in the blue sky, which appeared to wear a perpetual smile upon the virgin wilderness. There was even poetry in the sounds that fell upon the ear, the lowing of the cattle and the tinkling of their bells; in the rippling waters, and the sound of the summer winds as they sported with the forest trees and wandered away
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laden with the perfume of nameless flowers; in the singing of myriads of birds, and in the loud clear laugh of French and Indian children as they mingled together in simple sports. It all forms a charming picture, and a pretty background to the succeeding years of growth and develop- ment."
WHIPPING POST USED IN MONROE
The whipping post was one of the institutions under the territorial law in Michigan, and Monroe made use of it to some extent in dealing with "undesirable citizens." It proved quite effectual in banishing rogues, even if it did not reclaim them. An instance of thoroughly applying the remedy to evil doers, was the case of one Thiebault, who was whipped at the "town pump," which stood at the northeast corner of the public square nearly in front of the present location of the Presbyterian church, which was then the location of the court house. He had committed a larceny of merchandise at Henry Disbrow's store, (afterwards James McBride's saddlery and harness shop). In Detroit this form of punishment was not very uncommon, in 1823 and 1824. The whipping post there was near the market house which was on lower Woodward avenue, near the site of the stone building, the second story of which was for many years occupied by the Mariner's church, the ground floor being utilized as a post office, but now occupied by a produce commission house. It was not creditable to the territory that public whipping was allowed to be inflicted on Indians, negroes and others convicted of various small offenses by the order of a single justice. The not less barbarous custom of selling paupers to the highest bidder, along with the disgusting spectacle of the ball-and-chain-gang were not abandoned until 1835, when this relic of barbarism was for- ever done away with in Michigan.
HORSE THIEVES AND THEIR "CURE"
The predatory animals of the country during its development, were not all to be found in the classification of text books on natural history ; horse thieves were among the most troublesome, and exasperating; many a farmer's stable has been in a night cleared of its horses and presented a most depressing picture where visited by the owner who not only suffered this pecuniary loss, but the serious interruption of his farm work, perhaps at a critical time when hours and days were golden. This evil became so great and menacing, and the increase in the robbery of stables so alarming, that "Horse Thief Societies" were formed, and a convention, designated as a "Horse Thief Convention" was called, for the purpose of organizing a general movement and concert of active mutual protection, and to aid the officers of the law in capturing both thieves and property. The following is the call issued for the convention :
"It is very generally understood that a thoroughly organized band of horse thieves are now operating among us. So well planned and well timed are the numerous thefts of this band that but very few who lose by it ever again see thief or property, notwithstanding large rewards are offered and much money and time fruitlessly spent. We believe that a 'State Horse Thief Society' should at once be organized with branches in every county, that proper men should be selected by the society in each county to be ready at all hours with horses for pursuit, and a change of horses on hand at proper distances, thus obviating the necessity of tracking step by step the course of the thief. Vol. 1-35
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"With the reward ordinarily offered by the loser, and a light tax or admission fee from the members, such a society in our opinion can be supported at a trifling expense to the members, and will accomplish much towards the suppression of the crime of horse stealing and kindred offences.
"Considering the many bold and successful horse thefts in this vicinity within the past year, and the evident necessity of immediate action, we assume to call a convention of delegates, to be holden at the Court House in the City of Flint, on Tuesday, the 8th day of December next, at 1 o'clock P. M. The delegates to be selected at the different county conventions holden previous-three from each county, and to be prepared with certificates of election regularly signed.
"The Press throughout the State it is hoped will copy this call for the benefit of the public.
James Seymour,
C. Roosevelt,
J. B. Hamilton, W. H. Putnam,
John Galloway, A. J. Boss,
L. D. Morse,
E. W. Fenner,
B. Carpenter,
Asahel Fuller,
D. B. Lyons,
B. F. Warner,
Theoph Miles,
L. G. Buckingham,
J. Teschout, John Crawford,
Isaac Lyons and many others."
This matter, evidently, was one of great concern, and the interest manifested in the proposition to inaugurate a campaign "offensive and defensive" was general, and resulted in the organization of county societies, whose activities resulted in the capture of many of the offenders, and the recovery of much stolen property.
Old "Sile" Doty, was a character who was generally accredited with more or less direct connection with "events" of this delicate nature in the western part of the county, and numerous are the traditional transactions in horse flesh without the formality of personal negotia- tion, that could never be made to adhere to this enterprising person, but which, nevertheless, were "laid up" against him, either because he became too reckless in his operations, or because the officers of the
H. T. Society were sufficiently alert, he, once overstepped the bounds of prudence in an adjoining county and as a consequence became a guest of the state at Jackson for a short period. He seemed to lose his appetite for this line of adventure, after this, and after reforming, died, many years ago.
TARGET SHOOTING AND SHOOTERS
One of the favorite amusements of the early days of the settlements, when business was not pressing, was the sport of target shooting "Shooting matches" were very common, but especially just about Thanksgiving day, or a few days before Christmas, when the thoughts of the "provider" of the family larder were naturally turning towards supplies for the festive season, and something a little superior to the ordinary menu was expected and enjoyed. These occasions sometimes developed an ingenious device for the sport and the prizes were various.
One of the old-time rifle shots relates numerous methods of conduct- ing these gala events; he states that "in the latter part of the summer our cattle got very fat ranging the meadows of luscious grass and clover, and some owner, desirous of raising a little "easy money" on one of his herd, would prepare a few notices, which he would stick up on the
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doors of taverns, blacksmith shops, wagon shops and other public places, where they would be likely to be seen and read, stating that at a given time and place, a first rate, fat steer would be shot for. The day having arrived, every marksman in the township would be on hand with his trusty rifle. After the company had assembled, a subscription paper would be handed 'round, headed substantially as follows: "Abram Burchard offers a beef worth $20.00, to be shot for at twenty-five cents a shot." Then the subscribers' names would follow: Daniel McCloskey puts in four shots, $1.00; Edward Pontney puts in eight shots, $2.00; George Morris puts in two shots, $0.50, and so on, and so on, until the amount of twenty dollars is reached. Two persons were then selected, not entered for shots, to act as judges of the match. Every shooter would get a board and make a cross in the center of his target. The shot that drives the center, or comes nearest to it, gets the hide and tallow, which is considered first choice. The next nearest gets the choice of the hind quarters; the next gets the other hind quarter, the next nearest gets the choice of the fore-quarter; the fifth gets the other forequarter; and the sixth got the lead bullets in the tree against which the shooting was done. The judges stood near the tree, and when a man fired his rifle, cried out : "Who shot?" The shooter gives his name, the record is made, and so the shooting goes on until all have shot. The judges then take all the boards, and go off by themselves and decide what quarter each man has won. It sometimes happened that a keen old scout would capture three out of the four. There was no 'kicking,' however. Every man took his medicine. No one was excluded from these matches unless for improper conduct, or known trickery of some kind, barring him from the society of gentlemen sportsmen.
Another form of target practice was to shoot at live turkeys. A suitable box would be procured, a hole cut through the boards of the top side, the turkey victim's head was made to protrude through it for a few inches, and the stipulated distance measured off; then shooting would begin by the riflemen at 25 or 50 cents a shot, as agreed upon beforehand. This was a very simple method, especially to the "crack shots" and they were generally pretty well known; but it sometimes happened that an "unknown" dark horse would appear, and everybody was guessing-which always aroused more or less extra interest in the contests. These shooting matches varied considerably as to the prizes shot for. Once a man had the form of a deer chalked on a barn door, with the vital parts of his anatomy indicated by spots. The fatal spot "just back of the fore shoulder," was the "bull's eye" of this kind of target; the shots were ten cents and a bottle of whisky or a bunch of cigars (two-fors usually ) or any old thing that could be utilized by any excuse at all, was "put up" for the prize. These "shoots" in the country, at some popular tavern, or four-corner grocery, were produc- tive of no end of fun, and not unseldom, more or less drunkenness.
SHIPWRECK AND LEGEND OF THE "FAVORITE"
The shipwreck of the old schooner "Favorite," in the month of No- vember, 1853, was one of the near-tragedies on the waters of Lake Erie, in the neighborhood of Monroe. It was a matter of much interest at the period of its occurrence, and during the subsequent sixty years, the event has been the subject of more or less speculation. In fact, the efforts that have been made at various times to locate the ill-fated vessel and recover her valuable cargo have kept alive the interest and specu- lations concerning her fate, far surpassing the attention which the event aroused at the time.
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Tradition-and the story has become traditional-has it that the fore and aft rigged schooner "Favorite," at the time of her clearance from the port of Buffalo on her fatal voyage, was about ten years of age, and considered a staunch enough vessel for the ordinary requirements of the lake trade. She was owned by Captain Wilkie, of Buffalo, and commanded by Captain Wheeler, a good sailor well known in Monroe by those interested in the lake transportation. She left port about the 12th of November, with an assorted cargo of merchandise, consisting of about 300 barrels of whisky consigned to Toledo, 100 barrels of apples, a quantity of hardware including nearly one hundred stoves, and about five tons of miscellaneous goods. Her destination was Perrysburg, Ohio, on the Maumee river. Her late departure from Buffalo was owing, partly, to delays of the consignors, and partly to the loss of some of the crew who were opposed to undertaking a voyage on stormy Lake Erie at that late date. Grave apprehensions were felt by others, also, for the safety of the venture, but a crew was secured, and the danger element ignored by the captain, and in spite of falling barometer and threatening skies, growing more threatening every hour, the start was made.
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