History of Monroe County, Michigan, Part 28

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 28

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C. S. Pratt, Jackson. Frank G. Bulkley, Colorado.

John W. Anderson, dead.

Edward D. Fisk, dead.

Erving P. Boyd, New York city.

W. H. Smith, Brooklyn. Edwin J. Mills, dead.

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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

*Frank Lawrence, Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

* Robert Powell, Aiken, South Carolina.

*George W. Bruckner, Monroe.

Leslie J. Anderson, unknown.

* E. A. Peltier, jr., Monroe.

*Richard Thompson, New York city. F. G. Salter, dead.

* William Steiner, Monroe.

C. Shumway, unknown. James Powell, Aiken, South Carolina. Henry B. Upham, unknown. Courtney Hall, unknown.

Hubert Tucker, dead. John Leffler, Monroe. *F. H. Hubbard, Monroe.

Jefferson Thurber, Detroit. Morgan C. Tyler, unknown. H. R. Austin, Monroe. Clark Snedicor, Detroit. E. Strickland, unknown.

Of the many persons connected with him in business, it can be said that he never had a serious dispute or trouble of any kind.

DEODATUS NOBLE,

Son of the Hon. David Noble, was born in New Fairfield, Connecticut, July 29, 1766; died in Monroe, Michigan, January 27, 1853, aged eighty-six. He was chosen May 18, 1814, a deacon of the Congregational church in Wil- liamstown. It was upon his farm near the haystack that Gordon Hall and his associates formed their plan for foreign missions. In 1833 he removed to Monroe, Michigan. He was ever a useful citizen, an upright magistrate, and a faithful officer of the church - a holy man, living not for this but a better world, and what he desired for his children was not wealth or position but character and usefulness.

He married February 27, 1794, Betsey Bulk- ley, daughter of Charles and Betsey Bulkley, of Williamstown, who died in Monroe, Michigan, October 9, 1847, aged seventy-five.

· The children of Deodatus Noble, all born in Williamstown, were : Charles Noble, born July 4, 1796; married Eliza Sims Wing. Elizabeth Abby Noble, born December 21, 1800; married Dr. George Landon. David Addison Noble, born November 9, 1802 ; married Sarah Shaw. Daniel Noble, born April 15, 1807; married Julia Beach; died aged sixty eight.

Mason Noble, born March 18, 1809; married Ann C. Pleasants. William Addison Noble, born February 16, 1819 ; married Martha Beach.

Deodænus, the twin sister of Deodatus, was born in New Fairfield, Connecticut; died in Williamstown, Massachusetts, February 7, 1861, aged ninety-five years. She married for her second husband November 8, 1803, Deacon Benjamin Skinner, father of Harriet Skinner, the wife of Hon. Austin E. Wing. Mr. Skinner died at the residence of his daughter Harriet, in Monroe, December 4, 1828. By the second marriage of Deacon Benjamin Skinner George N. Skinner was born, in Williamstown ; gradu- ated at Williams College in 1827; read law with his half brother, Samuel Skinner, in Le- Roy, New York ; was a lawyer in LeRoy, New York, and subsequently copartner of Hon. Chauncey Joslyn, of Ypsilanti, Michigan, and died in the latter place April 8, 1850, aged forty-one years.

DANIEL NOBLE

Was born at Williamstown, Massachusetts, in April, 1807, and consequently at the time of his death was sixty-eight years of age. In the year 1830, while yet our State was a Terri. tory, his father's family- consisting of father, mother, five sons and one daughter -removed from their old home in Williamstown to Michi - gan, and settled in Monroe.

Before coming to Michigan, while still a young man, Mr. Noble experienced religion and united with the church in his native place. In :833, with his father and mother, he united by letter with the Presbyterian church in Monroe. His Christian life and character was not a life of ostentation, display, or froward- ness. It seemed the life of a meek and gentle spirit, the character of a lowly and humble mind that disdains the ambitious things of life, and was content with that purity and gentle- ness of. character which is so Christlike. He was " a good man " - " a pure man."

Mr. Noble was for many years a merchant of Monroe - a number of years occupied the store on the corner of Washington and Front streets, afterwards the brick store corner of Monroe and First streets. Five years before his death he removed with his family to Olivet. At the time of his death he was on a visit to Monroe.

167

BIOGRAPHIES OF PIONEERS, 1818-1837.

In 1834 Mr. Noble was united in marriage to Miss Julia Beach, with whom he has since lived in the loving intimacy that belongs to a Christian home. These parents have been blessed of God by the birth of eight children, four of whom have gone before, and four (three sons and one daughter) still remain. To these sons the inheritance of their father's blessed memory and pure example is a better treasure than anything of earth that he could have left them.

Mrs. Noble now survives him. She was born in East Bloomfield, New York, November 5, 1815, the daughter of Elisha and Incretia (Norton) Beach, of East Bloomfield, and after- wards of Oberlin, Ohio. The children of this marriage were: Henry Mason Noble, born February 20, 1839 ; married Adelaide Morton, daughter of Hon. Edward G. Morton, of Mon- roe. Mary Lucretia, born May 3, 1843; mar- ried Rev. Owen D. Fisher. Edward Stanley, born November 20, 1849. Addison Bulkley, born September 15, 1856.

WILLIAM ADDISON NOBLE

Was born in Williamstown, Massachusetts, Feb- ruary 16, 1819; died at Monroe, September 21, 1887. He was the youngest son of Deodatns Noble, who was one of the trustees of Williams College, and the donor of the land on which the president's house stands; was a deacon in the Congregational church, and owned the land now known as "Mission Park," where Mills Hall and others held the celebrated mis- sionary prayer meeting at the haystack, the origin of the Foreign Missionary Board.

William A. arrived in Monroc, June 1, 1833, after a rough passage from Buffalo. At the first port after leaving Buffalo, he had had all the experience he desired, and determined to make the rest of the journey to Michigan on foot, but was overruled by his father. His academic education was at Gambier, Ohio. His companions at the academy from Monroe were Charles W. Ford, Charles G. Johnson, William Van Horn Miller, and Talcott E. Wing.

At the age of eighteen he embarked in busi- ness at Gibralter, Wayne county, then the headquarters of the Patriots in the Canadian rebellion. Monroe, Brest and Gibralter were rival cities. Mr. Noble identified himself with

Gibralter, which was attracting the attention of Eastern capitalists, and the Gibralter com- pany was comprised of them with a number of Detroit and Monroe capitalists. It was in- tended to connect Gibralter with Flat Rock, availing themselves of the Huron River, and a large amount of money was expended in the construction of a canal from Gibralter to Flat Rock, the banks of which can be seen from the Michigan Central railroad. The city of Gib- ralter had its bank with a large circulation, but it in common with the wild-cat banks col- lapsed, and the city with canal soon followed in its train.

Mr. Noble made the acquaintance of P. C. H. Brotherton, cashier of the Bank of Monroe, by whom he was employed, having charge of a country store at Manchester until 1844, at which time he purchased Brotherton's interest ; in the following spring sold out, returned to Monroe, and in the spring of 1845 formed a co- partnership with Hon. J. M. Sterling in the forwarding and commission business, with whom he continued ten years. In 1846 they built the " Black Warehouse," so called, which is still owned by Mr. Sterling. After the dis- solution of this copartnership Mr. Noble was engaged in the mercantile business, in the plaster trade, in the lumber business, and in connection with the late Judge Phinney and Charles Tull built the elevator at the Michigan Central railroad depot, where he conducted business for a number of years. He was for a number of years deputy United States Mar- shal, and under President Grant was appointed postmaster of Monroe, which office he held for eight years. He then engaged in a produce and feed store, but in 1885 declining health compelled him to retire from business. He was an ardent Republican, and chairman of the Republican county committee for many years. His religious associations were with the First Presbyterian church of Monroe, of which he was a consistent member for very many years. He was always enterprising and honorable as a business man, and ever highly esteemed as an upright citizen.

Mr. Noble was married October 28, 1844, to Martha, daughter of Elisha Beach. They had one son, Mason A. Noble, and two daughters, Henrietta G., and Lucretia Belle Noble. The devotion of his family during his protracted illness enlisted the sympathy of a large circle

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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

of friends ; and as a devoted husband, father and esteemed citizen, his memory will long be cherished. He was a member of Monroe Lodge No. 27, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he was once master, and was also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

EDWARD LORANGER

Was born at Three Rivers, Canada, February 16, 1796, and settled at the River Raisin in 1816. He was a mason by trade, and lived first on the farm adjoining the Evon farm, with Alexis Loranger, the clerk of the first Catholic church, about two miles west of Mon- roe on the north side of the river. He took contracts from time to time, in Detroit, Malden, Frenchtown and Monroe. In 1822 he pur- chased the farm on Stony Creek on which he resided up to the time of his death. At the time of his purchase Indians were encamped on all sides of bim.

He built in 1818 the first brick building in Frenchtown, known as the Lacroix house, on the north bank of the river below the railroad, now owned and occupied by Louis Lafontain. He built also the store next west of our city mill for Humphrey & Bacon ; the Godfroy store on the south bank of the River Raisin on Macomb street; the printing office on the east side of Washington street, now owned by Mrs. Dr. Dorsch; helped build the brick store for Oliver Johnson on the site of the store on the corner of Washington and Front streets, now owned by Hon. Frederick Waldorf, and occu- pied as a clothing store by Louis Freidenburg. He also built the brick residence of Jacques Lasselle on the site of the Williams farm on the north side of the River Raisin. The first Catholic brick church was built by him in 1826, and was located on the rise of ground in the fourth ward, fronting on Noble avenue ; also the addition to St. Mary's church in 1837, on Elm avenue.

Edward Loranger was married in 1826 to Marianne Navarre, who survives him. They

have five children living: Zoe married Ferdi- nand Revane; Josephine is unmarried ; Joseph married Peter Lamb; Exavia married Medard Beanbien ; and Emma married Frederick Bez- zean - all living in Monroe county.

About the time of his marriage he began work upon the saw and grist mills that have stood upon Stony Creek for more than half a century. He was one of the best known men of his township, popular with and respected by all who knew him -a man of high integrity, fine social interests, good business ability, and a valuable member of the community in which he lived. He died in October, 1887, aged ninety-one years.

JOHN TULL

Was born at East Locking, Berkshire, England, February 12, 1807. With his family he emi- grated to America in 1831, and in 1832 settled in Monroe, where he resided the remainder of his life.

In 1837 he married Julia Ann, daughter of Colonel Peter P. Ferry. As the result of that marriage six children were born, of whom two sons and two daughters survive. The family of children are settled as far apart as the con- tinent will permit. Charles D. Tull, the eldest son, who is chief clerk of the transportation department of the Philadelphia and Reading railroad, resides at Elizabeth City, New Jersey. Victor Tull is extensively engaged in mining operations on the Pacific coast, and resides at Puget Sound. Mrs. Ann Lloyd Kellogg, the eldest daughter, resides in Washington Terri- tory, and Mrs. Julia M. Carlisle resides with her mother in Monroe.

Mr. John Tull was unostentatious yet intelli- gent, and esteemed for many years as an earnest advocate of temperance. He died April 9, 1886. His funeral services at Trinity church at Monroe were conducted by the Rev. Mr. Brooks, when the remains were taken charge of by the Masonic fraternity and buried with Masonic honors.

CHAPTER XV.

THIE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT IMPROVEMENTS OF LA PLAISANCE AND MONROE HARBORS.

T HE harbor of Monroe, Michigan, is situated at the extreme westerly bend of Lake Eric, about one and a half miles west of the mouth of the River Raisin and about three and a half miles from the town of Monroe.

The attention of the General Government was first called to this locality by the act of Con- gress approved May 20, 1826, wherein an ap- priation of $200 was made for " The survey of La Plaisance Bay in the Territory of Michigan, to ascertain the expediency of improving the navigation thereof and the expense of effecting the same."

La Plaisance Bay is situated about two miles to the southward of the present entrance to the harbor of Monroe. The survey ordered by the act of Congress was made by Captain T. W. Maurice, of the Corps of Engineers, who re- ported that the bay was broad and shallow, the greatest depth available being nine or ten feet, and that it was surrounded on all sides except the lake by a marsh about one mile broad. The River Raisin, upon which the town of Monroe is situated, was connected with the bay near its head, but the navigable waters of the river and bay were separated by extensive shoals. The town of Monroe is connected with the bay by a railroad about four miles long.

Captain Maurice recommended the construc- tion of a harbor of refuge at this locality by building a breakwater of cribs filled with stone, at a cost of $6,296.61. This plan was approved and the sum of $3,977.81 was appro- priated to carry on the work. Operations were commenced in the spring of 1828, and by the close of September 1,050 linear feet of the breakwater had been completed. It was the opinion of Captain Maurice, however, that the work should be extended for the proper pro- tection of the harbor, and he recommended the connection of the navigable waters of the bay with those of the River Raisin by means of parallel piers and dredging. In 1829 a survey

was made to ascertain the practicability and cost of uniting the bay and river as recom- mended. An additional appropriation of $2,- 318 was made by the act of March 3, 1829, and the breakwater was extended 210 linear feet.

The works were completed in 1830, a break- water 1,290 feet long having been constructed at a total cost of $6,261.85. This afforded pro- tection to vessels drawing from eight to nine feet of water, but the engineer in charge again called attention to the impracticability of com- munication between the bay and the River Raisin for the ordinary class of vessels navigat- ing the lake, and presented a plan and estimates for opening communication between them. On the 4th of October, 1831, a violent gale destroyed nearly the entire portion of the breakwater that had been built by contract in 1828, but did not injure the part subsequently built by hired labor. The engineer in charge asked for $7,841 to make the necessary repairs.

An appropriation of $8,000 was made by the act of July 3, 1832, and in September Captain Henry Smith, of the United States Army, who had succeeded to the charge of the harbor, made a careful examination of the work; he found that the whole of the breakwater, with the exception of 200 feet, had been washed away during the fall and winter of 1831, and that the portion built by contract had been entirely destroyed, leaving but a few stones to mark its position. In 1833 eight hundred and forty feet of new breakwater was constructed, and in 1834 an additional appropriation of $4,895 was made by the act of June 28th ; but on account of the prevalence of the cholera but little was done during the year, and in 1835 the work was prosecuted to completion. The break- water was now 1,320 fect long, 12 feet wide, and averaged ten feet in height. The total cost was 819,014.87: The original pier cost $6,295.81, and the repairs and reconstruction $12,719.06. The work remained in good con-

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. HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

dition until 1838, when some slight damage was done, and since that time no repairs of any kind have been made. The improvement of the present harbor of Monroe having been commenced, rendering La Plaisance Harbor no longer necessary, the break water has gradually been destroyed.

MONROE HARBOR.

It was seen at an early day, after work had been commenced on La Plaisance breakwater, that the navigable waters of the River Raisin should be connected with those of the lake and made available for all vessels then navi- gating Lake Erie. Captain Maurice several times referred to this subject in his reports, and in 1828 by direction of the chief of engi- neers he presented a plan and estimate for making direct connection between the river and La Plaisance Bay. Captain Henry Smith, of the United States Army, who succeeded Captain Maurice, did not agree with him on this subject, and in November, 1834, submitted to the chief of engineers a plan for straightening the River Raisin and making direct connection with the lake.

Captain Smith in his report explained the disadvantage of La Plaisance Harbor, showed how entirely it failed to carry out the end in view and the great necessity for a direct con- nection between the lake and the river.

The River Raisin has its source in Hillsdale county, Michigan, and flows for about one hundred and twenty-five miles, measured by its channel, on a course generally easterly, through a very fertile and productive country. At the time the improvement of the river was inaugurated it was considered one of the most important streams in Michigan, not only on account of its geographical position, but also for its water power ; it had contributed largely towards the prosperity of many enterprising towns along its banks. Monroe, which lies about forty miles southwest of Detroit and three and a half miles from the mouth of the Raisin River, was at that time a place of some prominence, with 3,000 inhabitants.

The plan of improvement proposed by Cap- tain Smith was to make a direct connection with the lake by cutting a canal about 4,000 feet long and 100 feet wide through the penin- sula called "River Raisin Point," from the

river directly north of House Island to the lake ; he proposed to protect the entrance into the lake by parallel piers 726 feet long and 20 feet wide, running out to a depth of ten feet ; where the canal crossed Sandy Creek he pro- posed to close the south side and to turn the creek into the canal. The estimated cost of the whole work exclusive of the dredging ma- chine was $55,885.

The first appropriation of $30,000 was made by the act of February 24, 1835, and the work was commenced early in May of that year, under the direction of the chief of engineers, Captain H. Smith being in immediate charge. About June 1st a large force of laborers was employed, and operations were pushed with so much vigor that during the season nearly one- half of the entire length of the canal was ex- cavated.

The officer superintending the work asked for $60,660 to complete it, giving as a reason for the excess over the original estimate, the high price of labor and the cost of the dredg- ing machine.

An appropriation of $1,500 was made by the act of July 2, 1836. During this year the operations advanced satisfactorily, and were directed as follows: To constructing perma- nent dams on both sides of the canal to pre- vent sliding and to secure them from the action of the currents, wash of steamboats, etc. - this work was finished along 1,880 feet of the canal and partially completed upon the remainder ; the excavation, which, with the exception of a few minor details, was completed upon 1,880 feet of the canal. The construction of the piers on each side of the mouth of the canal was completed to the distance of 450 feet into the lake. These were built by hired labor and purchase in the open market. The officer in charge stated that it would require $61,351.50 to complete the work, in addition to former appropriations. An appropriation of $30,000 was made by the act of March 3, 1837. The revetment of the sides of the canal was nearly finished and the excavation was continued, so that by the close of the season 3,387 feet of the canal was completed ; the piers were car- ried out to a depth of 10 feet, the south pier being 597 feet and the north pier 515 feet in length. It was, however, deemed necessary to continue them out to a depth of 12 feet.

An appropriation of $1,500 was made by the

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HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS.

act of July 7, 1838. Operations were con- tinned upon the canal and piers; 27,278 cubic yards of earth were excavated from the canal prism and from between the piers in the lake, and about 19,000 yards yet remained to be re- moved. The north pier was prolonged 60 feet and the south pier 30 feet. It was also found necessary to protect the lake shore on the north side of the canal, where it was rapidly wearing away, by six cribs filled with stone, and to raise the walls of the canal to prevent sand from being washed into the channel.

The officer in charge asked for $54,920 to complete the whole work. Up to the close of this year the entire appropriations made up to date, amounting to $90,000, had been expended.

It will be observed from the foregoing his- tory that the improvement of this harbor was commenced in 1827 at La Plaisance Bay, aban- doned there in 1835, and begun in that year on the present harbor.

The policy of the General Government in regard to internal improvements was changed four years after the work was commenced, and with the exception of the appropriations in 1844 and 1852, which were devoted to repairs and dredging, no further funds were available until the year 1866.

An appropriation of $20,000 was made by the act of June 11, 1844, and the work placed in charge of Captain A. Canfield, of the Corps of Topographical Engineers. An examination of the harbor showed the piers to be in bad condition, and that the lake was making in- roads at the angles where the piers joined the shores. Materials were collected for making the necessary repairs, and in the following summer the old piers were thoroughly re- paired; 162 linear feet of the old sheet pile pier was replaced by new cribwork; the north pier was extended 300 linear feet into the lake, and the south pier 90 feet, but the superstruc- ture upon this portion was not completed ; the lake shore at the angles where the piers joined it was protected by a strong cribwork to pre- vent breaching; repairs were made to the re- vetment of the United States canal where Sand Creek emptied into it; the artificial channel was dredged wherever trouble occurred; 11,684 cubic yards of mnd, sand, etc., were removed, and a depth of nine feet obtained up to a point just below the docks at Monroe. An estimate of $13,303.95 was submitted for completing the

unfinished work, prolonging the north pier, and putting in a pier head.

No appropriations were made nor any work done between the years 1844 and 1852.

By the act of August 30, 1852, $14,000 was appropriated, and the money disbursed in 1853 by a local agent in the repairs of the piers. Captain Howard Stansbury, of the topograph- ical engineers, who assumed charge in 1854, reported that the appropriation had been ex- pended by the agent before he took charge, in completing 400 feet of the south pier and par- tially rebuilding 700 feet of the north pier. The latter was left in an unfinished condition, the style of workmanship being rough and de- fective. He asked for an appropriation of $19,537.77 to put the harbor in order.

In 1857 Lieutenant-Colonel Graham re- ported that the works were rapidly deteri- orating, and asked for $23,857 to put them in order. No action was taken upon this recom- mendation, and nothing more was done until 1866.

In February, 1866, Colonel and Brevet Major- General T. J. Crain, of the Corps of Engineers, made a survey of the harbor, and submitted a report with an estimate of the cost of the im- provement. General Crain made a careful ex- amination of the piers and reported them to be in a dilapidated condition. He recommended that the north pier should be repaired for a length of 665 feet, and the south pier for a length of 180 feet. The heavy ice in the canal and lake prevented any examination as to depth.

Although the revetment of the banks of the canal was decayed 'and broken, General Crain did not think it necessary to rebuild it, as the banks had now become quite solid. He esti- mated that the cost of the work would be $10,423.66. An appropriation of $31,015.27 was made by the act of June 23, 1866.

Operations were carried on during the winter of 1866 and 1867, and the piers were put in complete order. A survey of the channel in the spring of 1868 showed a sufficient depth of water for the requirements of the commerce of Monroc. The total expenditure in repairs up to June 30, 1868, was $20,425.

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History of Monroe County, Michigan, Part 28

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

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