History of Monroe County, Michigan, Part 23

Author: Wing, Talcott Enoch, 1819-1890, ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: New York, Munsell & company
Number of Pages: 882


USA > Michigan > Monroe County > History of Monroe County, Michigan > Part 23


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The change during the winter of 1826 in the mode of carrying the mails through this part of the country from the back of a French pony to the inside of a substantial covered wagon, and an additional trip in the week, proved a great public convenience, and was the first line of stages established in Michigan. There were, however, some old fogies who thought it a use- less expense to have a mail as often as twice a week.


March 1, 1826, a two-mile race on the lake at the mouth of the River Raisin, was run by the celebrated horse, White Stocking, owned by Isadore Navarre, and one owned by Stephen Duval. White Stocking, whose owner the year before challenged the world to run against him, and which was prior to that time deemed the swiftest horse in North America, came out several rods in the rear.


During this year (1826) the population in- creased more than one-third.


A settlement on Stony Creek, four miles north of Monroe, was commenced four miles from its mouth, and in 1826 consisted of fourteen fami- lies, which was making rapid improvements. The inhabitants thereof then supplied Monroe with many of the necessaries of life. An ex- tensive mill and other establishments were in operation at the mouth of Stony Creek previous to the War of 1812, but were destroyed by fire by Colonel Proctor and the forces under his command. It was during this year the United States road between Monroe and Otter Creek, five miles south, was completed.


The Chapman House, the site of which was the corner of Washington and Front street, where B. Dansard & Son's bank now is, forty- six feet front and three stories high, was com- pleted this year -- the highest building ocen- pied as a hotel at that time in the State of Michigan.


The assessors of Monroe county completed their assessments for the year 1826 in June of that year. The total amount of property assess- ed was $1,328.33, an increase from the pre- vious year of $363.35. The assessors made it a part of their duty to take a census of the in- habitants, and the following was the result :


Monroe County.


Number of white males 1,436


Number of white females 1,182


Total inhabitants 2,618


Lenawee County (attached to Monroe).


Number of white males 144


Number of white females 123


Total inhabitants 267


The result of the census in 1820 exhibited a population in the same district of country of 1,851.


The officers of the Second Regiment of Mich- igan Militia, under command of Colonel Oliver


10


138


HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.


Johnson, were engaged in military drill and maneuvering through the streets of Monroe the 16th, 17th and 18th of August, 1826. A twenty-dollar sword carried by Lieutenant- Colonel Briggs (father of Perry Briggs, of this city), a general supply of muskets, together with the music, formed their equipment. Mili- tary affairs received but little attention for the two previous years, but the sound of music, though consisting of fife and drum, was per- fectly exhilarating.


On the first of September, 1826, Colonel Francis Navarre, the first white settler of Mon- roe, departed this life. He located here by the invitation of the Indians, the then sole owners of the soil, who granted him a tract of 1,200 or 1,500 acres of land, comprising the portion of the city of Monroe east of Scott street, ex- tending from the River Raisin south to the farms laid out on Otter Creek. He retained at the time of his death about five hundred acres of great value, which he willed to his children. Was the first person who attempted the establishment of military discipline and introduced the forms of civil government in this county ; was first appointed captain, afterwards colonel, in the first regiment formed in the county. He held at different times and for long periods distinguished civil offices. He maintained during his whole life great influ- ence over the Indians; was conversant with and spoke fluently the language of many of the Indian tribes ; was distinguished for his energy in aiding to accomplish the celebrated Indian treaty concluded at Greenville, Ohio, under the direction of General Wayne, by which the United States became possessed of an immense body of land, and secured the right of con- structing roads through a valuable portion of the State of Michigan. He witnessed the first commencement of a fine settlement here ; saw the same destroyed, the houses of the inhabit- ants sacked and burned upon the battlefield, and lived to see the remaining inhabitants recover from the shock occasioned by the war, settled anew in comparative affluence, and build up a flourishing village within a few rods of his own door. He was remarkable for his habits of temperance, industry and frugality, hospitable to new-comers, and was noted for the strictest honesty and uprightness in all his in- tercourse with mankind.


February 11, 1827, at a meeting held at the


court-house a petition was adopted to be pre- sented to the legislative council, praying for an act of incorporation. Our citizens were some- what divided in opinion, and two parties sprang up. The majority were, however, de- cidedly in favor of being incorporated. The vote stood 43 for and 19 against.


March 17, 1827, Mr. Price and Mr. Allen, from Virginia, seized a colored man at Water- loo, one mile west of Monroe, as a slave of whom they claimed to be owners. Mr. Allen was committed by Peter P. Ferry, a justice of the peace, and held a number of months in the Monroe county jail, under the care of Captain Thorpe, of Swan Creek, a deputy sheriff. The examination resulted in their commitment under bonds of $250 each to appear at the next term of the county court. Mr. Price pro- duced on the examination a power of attorney, the genuineness of which was very question- able, from the owner of the slave in question, certified by the proper officers of the State of Virginia.


The first annual township election for the town of Monroe was held May 2, 1827. Samuel Choate was elected supervisor by a vote of 49; Edward D. Ellis, township clerk; assessors, Samuel Stone, jr., Joseph G. Navarre, Jere- miah Lawrence; commissioners of highways, Daniel Mulhollen, Hiram Brown and Samuel W. Gale; overseers of the poor, William W. Gale and George Alfred ; constables, James McManus and Ethel Burch ; collector, James McManus; poundmaster, Waterbury Gray ; fence viewers, William Page, Francis Robert, Aiken Duval, David Barker.


May 12, 1827, the first village election took place, resulting in the election of John Ander- son, president ; trustees, Hiram Brown, Ezekiel A. Peltier, Edward D. Ellis, Peter P. Ferry, Anthony L. Briggs ; treasurer, Thomas Wilson; marshal, Otia Stowell.


May 30, 1827, the annual meeting of the La- Plaisance Bay Harbor Company was held. Alcott C. Chapman, Charles Noble, Levi S. Humphrey, John Anderson and Harry Conant were chosen directors for the ensuing year. John Anderson, Levi S. Humphrey, Oliver Johnson, were chosen to superintend the next annual election. The directors chose Levi S. Humphrey president ; Edward D. Ellis, secre- tary ; and Oliver Johnson, treasurer.


On the 23d of June, 1827, Messrs. Miller and


139


A DISTRESSING CALAMITY.


Germain shipped from LaPlaisance Bay harbor for the city of New York, two hundred barrels of four, manufactured at the mills in the vil- lage of Monroe. It is believed to be the first flour exported from Michigan, and passed in New York market for superfine.


The election in 1827 for members of the legislative council in Monroe and Lenawee counties resulted in the following vote :


Monroe.


Lenawee. Total.


Wolcott Lawrence


168


41


209


Charles Noble.


123


74


197


Laurent Durocher


170


26


196


Charles James Lanman


109


75


184


Peter P. Ferry


102


12


114


Edward D. Ellis


42


42


Darius Comstock


51


39


90


The townships then organized in Monroe county in which votes were cast, were Mon- roe, Frenchtown, Raisinville, Port Lawrence (Toledo). In Lenawee county the townships were Tecumseh, Logan, Blissfield and St. Joseph.


went to the house for which they had all started ; it was deserted, surrounded by water, and the door fastened. She placed the two children on a ladder to which they clung, while she was endeavoring to gain entrance ; they clung for a few moments, but benumbed by cold, fell into the water and perished. Find- ing herself alone, she sought safety by climb- ing on the top of an outside oven, where she remained until morning, when she was taken from her perilous situation, where she could not, thinly clad, have long survived. Mr. Couture was absent on a visit to the only surviving child, wno was attending school at Bay Settle- ment, now Erie.


The greatest nuisance to farmers in early times was a small blackbird, of insignificant appearance, its probable weight two or three ounces, the male having a red spot on each wing. For capability for destruction there are none of the feathered race that can compare with them. They attack all kinds of grain as soon as formed, or as soon as in the milk. The flocks have shown themselves in some instances capable of blasting the toil of a year of the husbandman in a single day. Edward D. Ellis watched one blackbird upon an ear of corn, which commenced at the top and stripped the husk down as it became necessary to reach the kernel, and then devoured the whole ear in less than an hour, constituting a weight and bulk apparently much larger than the bird. They appear to be capable of eating from sun- rise to sunset. When the day's work of eating is over with them, all within ten miles were at an early day wont to resort to one spot to rest for the night. This takes place in the marsh among the coarsest grass. In November they retire to a more southern latitude, and return the last of February, greatly diminished in nun- bers, generally congregating in their old rest- ing-places. The first of May they disappear - each pair to building nests and rearing their young. About the middle of July they assem- ble in the fields of grain with their replenished numbers, and commence the great work of destruction. They songht the farms west of Monroe in immense numbers every morning, and returned to the marshes a little before sun- set. I have frequently seen files of men on Washington street stationed a few rods apart


A distressing calamity, one of which the history of this county affords no parallel, oc- curred January 27, 1828. On the evening of that day, the wife and five children of John Bt. Couture, who resided on the beach of Lake Erie, on the south side of Otter Creek, in the township of Lasselle (now Eric), were awak- ened by the beating of the ice against the little dwelling, occasioned by the rising of the waters of the lake during a heavy storm of wind. They resolved on making their way to a neighboring house in the hope of finding shelter. Mrs. Couture took two of the chil- dren upon her back, the hired girl took two, and the oldest, a little boy eleven years old, endeavored to make his way on foot. They had not advanced far through water and ice, waist deep, before Mrs. Couture lost her two children. The idea of leaving them to perish was insupportable. She endeavored in vain to find them, when the little boy requested his mother to leave him behind, in the hope of rescuing himself and comrades. Mrs Couture advanced as far as a fence against which the ice appeared to beat without extending beyond. She was found Sunday morning with her foot caught in the fence ; her children were found some rods distant, but the affectionate little boy was not found until the next day. The with their shot-guns, who fired as the flocks hired girl, finding she could be of no assistance, pass over, killing in some instances fifty at one


140


HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.


shot. The contrast is great with the present time, as we see but comparatively few. The bounty offered for their destruction was insuf- ficient, and the results were exceedingly dam- aging to crops.


Major John Whipple, of Detroit, was this year (1830) appointed keeper of the light-house a short time before erected in the vicinity of La Plaisance Bay harbor on Lake Erie.


On the 22d of January, 1832, a very revolt- ing spectacle was witnessed by the citizens of Monroe- the whipping of Edward Dillon with fifteen lashes on the bare back, a custom which yet prevails in New Jersey. It was, however, an efficient mode, as those subjected to public whipping were so thoroughly dis- graced that they were seldom in those days seen twenty-four hours after punishment. It was often adopted as a mode of punishment for theft. The whipping always took place on the public square in Monroe.


Alcott C. Chapman removed to Monroe from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, soon after the close of the War of 1812, when the prospects of this section of country were at the lowest ebb. He continued to reside here from that time to the date of his death, April 22, 1831, aged thirty- eight years. Mr. Chapman was uniformly one of its most public-spirited citizens, and to his exertions more than to any other single indi- vidual was the village of Monroe indebted for its then flourishing prospects. He erected the largest hotel in the State, and even up to the time of his last sickness his enterprise was not in the least abated, as he was then engaged in erecting another splendid building on Monroe street.


The River Raisin toll bridge on the 6th of March, 1832, left its long established founda- tion and departed in solemn majesty down stream. This event, from a considerable rise of water and the heavy masses of ice that were floating with great force at the time, was looked for with a great degree of certainty by a concourse of the citizens, who had assem- bled to witness the exit of the rotten skeleton that had so long overshadowed our river. Several individuals who had posted themselves on the bridge narrowly escaped a similar fate. The loss to the owners, Messrs. Henry Disbrow and John Bt. Russeau, was severely felt by them, as they had purchased the charter but a short time previous. Some of our older citi-


zens well remember the old toll bridge. Since its day and before the day of iron bridges they have seen many a wooden structure sent cavort- ing down stream by the spring freshets, but the day for that kind of entertainment is now happily past.


Township election for Monroe resulted April 14, 1832, in the election of Luther Harvey, supervisor ; Peter P. Ferry, township clerk ; Levi S. Humphrey, Nathan Hubbell and Ezekiel A. Peltier, assessors : Samuel H. Gale, David M. Jacobs and Stephen Duval, commissioners ; Edward D. Ellis, director of the poor; John Mulhollen, collector; James H. Miller, John Mulhollen, Louis E. Bailey, constables ; Daniel S. Bacon, Phanuel W. Warriner and Harry Conant, school inspectors; Waterbury Gray, Harry Conant, poundmasters; W. W. Gale, David M. Jacobs, Robert F. Navarre, fence viewers.


Village election occurred June 4, 1832, and the following persons were elected : President, John Anderson ; trustees, Harry Conant, Tim- othy H. Lindsley, Samuel P. Munger, Harry V. Mann, Thomas G. Cole; treasurer, Edward D. Ellis; marshal, Lewis E. Bailey ; assessors, Levi S. Humphrey, Nathan Hubbell; school commissioners, Warner Wing, James Q. Adams, Wolcott Lawrence; supervisor of highways, Joseph Wood.


Jeremiah Lawrence came to Monroe August 5 1817 - was a native of Connecticut. Took an active part in the cause of his country dur- ing the Revolutionary War; was for many years a civil magistrate in Massachusetts, and during the most of his residence here acted in a similar capacity, besides filling a variety of public trusts in the village and township. He died at the residence of his son-in-law, Joseph C. Garwood, on the 5th of August, 1833.


Township election in Monroe April, 1834, resulted in the election of Edward D. Ellis, supervisor ; Peter P. Ferry, town clerk; Joseph Wood, James H. Miller, Lewis E. Bailey, con- stables ; Seneca Allen, Issachar Frost, Nathan Hubbell, assessors; David M. Jacobs, Norman D. Curtis, Stephen Duval, commissioners of highways; Thomas Wilson, Henry S. Platt, directors of the poor; Wolcott Lawrence, Harry Conant, Isaac P. Skinner, school commissioners; James Q. Adams, Daniel S. Bacon, Timothy H. Lindsley, Harry V. Mann and John H. Con- verse, school inspectors.


141


THE VILLAGE OF MONROE.


THE VILLAGE OF MONROE.


The settlement, so far as it could claim the name of a town prior to the disastrous scenes of the late war with Great Britain, was con- fined to the opposite (north) side of the River Raisin, principally at a point where the present turnpike road leaves the River Raisin in the direction of Detroit, at the place of the princi- pal massacre of the River Raisin at the time of General Winchester's well-known defeat. The town was then known by the name of French- town, and was composed of a few dwellings and stores of those who were principally en- gaged in the Indian fur trade, but which was mainly destroyed in January, 1813.


No efforts were made towards building up a town on the south side of the River Raisin prior to the year 1817, when by an executive proclamation of acting Governor William Woodbridge, founded on the report of Colonel John Anderson and Wolcott Lawrence, ap- pointed to examine and report in the premises, the town of Monroe was laid out as now exist- ing, on the south bank of the River Raisin, upon lands belonging to Joseph Loranger and others, who duly expressed their assent to the subdivisions thereof into proper lots, streets, commons, and public squares, and moreover agreed to make liberal donations for the benefit of said county and to execute conveyances to in- ure to the public use, and said town was at that time constituted the permanent seat of justice in and for the county of Monroe. The reason for locating the town upon the south side of the river was that the titles to the lands for


public grounds could not be obtained upon the opposite side. For the ten following years the town made but trifling progress.


In 1824 the office for the sale of the public lands in the Southwestern Land District of the Territory was opened in the village of Monroe. Charles J. Lanman and Dr. Robert Clark were appointed register and receiver, and the office was continued with advantage to the Govern- ment until by the passage of an act of Congress February 10, 1831, the office was abolished, the district changed, and a new office opened in St. Joseph county. The difficulties, however, to which the inhabitants were subjected by this change soon became apparent to the Govern- ment, and accordingly, early in the session of Congress, the Southern Land District was formed, and the office again located in the vil- lage of Monroe, and sales were commenced in May, 1833. Early in the administration of General Andrew Jackson, Messrs. Lanman and Clark were removed, and Messrs. Dan. B. Miller and Levi S. Humphrey were their successors.


By the census taken under authority of the United States in the summer and fall of 1830, the village numbered a population of but 478 souls. The best judges computed the popula- tion in 1834 between 1,200 and 1,500.


The county was then subdivided into nine townships, all possessing an active and enter- prising population, and thought to comprise 5,000 or 6,000 souls. The county is watered by Swan Creek, Otter Creek, Plum Creek, the River Raisin and its branches, and Stony Creek ; bounded on the north by Huron River.


CHAPTER XIV.


BIOGRAPHIES OF PIONEERS, 1818-1837.


JAMES JACQUES GODFROY


W TAS born in Detroit in 1824. Was edu- cated at Bardstown, Kentucky; there studied law, but abandoned the profession on account of ill-health. He formed a copartner- ship with his brother Peter, with the firm name of P. & J. J. Godfroy. They were conversant with the language of the different tribes of In- dians then in this vicinity, and spoke fluently the English, French and Indian languages. The subject of this article was with the Indians very popular, and was elected a chief by the Pottawatomie tribe. Their trade was mainly with the French and Indians, and was con- ducted on such thoroughly honest and up- right principles that he secured their confidence and friendship. It was rarely the case that any negotiations for farms or transactions of importance were made by the French inhabit- ants without first submitting them to Mr. God_ froy, then adopting his advice and counsel. His feelings and sympathies were all with the Democratic party, and he wielded a wonderful influence with the French vote of the county. The common expression at that carly day was: " As goes Jock Godfroy, so goes the county." He was a constant attendant at the polls on election days, and as many of the French did not read or write, they always felt sure of a straight Democratic vote if they received it from the hands of Jock, and all efforts to dis- suade or influence them were fruitless. His activity and energy in distributing ballots at such times will long be remembered by the early settlers.


As heretofore stated, nearly all important negotiations and transfers of real estate were made through his counsel and advice, and in a large proportion of the carly conveyances in the register's office of this county you find his name as the subscribing witness. He was in manner modest and retiring, and though much


interested in politics was averse to having his name used as a candidate for any office of public trust. In but one instance was his name submitted, then as a candidate for mayor of the city on the temperance ticket. He was a strong advocate of the temperance cause, was elected by a very large majority, and dis. charged the duties of the office acceptably to the citizens, with credit to himself, and with - out compensation. The firm of P. & J. J. God- froy built and occupied as a store the building on the corner of Front and Macomb streets, now owned and occupied by Mr. Eli Rivard.


Mr. Godfroy resided until 1836 on his farm on the north side of the River Raisin, now owned and occupied by one of our most enter- prising farmers, Mr. Dubois. During that year he built for those days a stately residence on the farm directly cast of the Philip R. Tull residence, which he occupied up to the time of his death and which is still owned by his de- scendants.


Wedworth W. Clark, favorably known to our citizens, became a copartner of the firm of P. & J. J. Godfroy under the name of P. & J. Godfroy & Co., removed from the old stand, and for many years occupied the store on the south side of Front street, in the Dansard block, now owned by his son Samuel.


Until the Indians were by our Government removed west of the Mississippi, it was custom- ary for the Indians on every New Year's day to call at the residence of their chief with their squaws and papooses. A papoose was strapped tightly to a board and carried on the squaw's back. An additional leather strap was nailed to the " barseau" in order that it might be slung over the mother's head, to enable her to carry the "barscau " with its contents (the papoose). It was so constructed as to hang on the bongh of a tree, thus serving the purpose of a modern cradle.


The approach of storms of thunder and light-


[142]


143


BIOGRAPHIES OF PIONEERS, 1818-1837.


ning was fraught with terror and apprehension to Mr. Godfroy, and it was his custom to leave his customers and business, hasten home, dis- robe, hurry into his large feather bed and cover his head with pillows, believing it a sure protection. When the storm had enb- sided he would return to his customers, finding them waiting for him and indulging in merri- ment at his expense.


Mr. Godfroy was employed by our Govern- ment to remove the Indians west of the Mis- sissippi, and at that time purchased nearly all the French ponies in the county.


Mr. Godfroy married Victoria, the daughter of Colonel Francis Navarre. He died in 1847, leaving a widow and a family of three sons and five danghters, all of whom are now living with the exception of one son, Frederick, who died at Plattsburg in 1885. He married the daughter of Richard Phillips, of Brest. Fred- erick was intended by his father for the priest- hood in the Catholic church, and partially completed a course of study in our State Uni- versity ; but preferring a business life, he was for many years elerk in the dry goods store of Charles G. Johnson, afterward clerk in the banking office of Wing & Johnson in Monroe, and in the banking office of Mitchell & Wal- dron of Hillsdale. Subsequently he was ap- pointed by our Government a commissioner and Indian agent iu New Mexico.


John L. C. Godfroy, the eldest son of J. J. Godfroy, commonly called Columbus, inherited many of the characteristics of his father, and is one of our most trustworthy citizens. He was for many years a dry goods merchant in Monroe. He has enjoyed the confidence of the public, has served the county as treasurer, is frequently sought for as executor and adminis- trator of estates, and is now identified in busi- ness with the Wilder Manufacturing Company in Monroc.




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