History of Monroe County, Michigan, Part 54

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

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The connection of the public surveys with the prior grants of land claims led to litigation. The surveyor of the private claims did not always mark the side lines of the claims isola- ted from the general body of claims, and the government surveyor on some occasions in - cluded in the public surveys large portions of such claims. The government lands were bought in good faith, but afterwards found to fall within the patent of a prior claim. Such was the case of a purchase of public land by Wolcott Lawrence in Raisinville, some eight miles above Monroe on the north side of the River Raisin, a large part of whose purchase turned out to be within the bounds of a prior patent or a claim which had been purchased by Christopher Bruckner; and this case, one of the most important and hotly contested land trials in the State, after a litigation of a number of years was settled by the decision of the Supreme Court of Michigan in Bruckner vs. Lawrence, 1 Douglass, 19. This case at- tracted a great deal of attention, and the best legal talent of Michigan was engaged therein. All other cases of a similar kind were settled or decided on the basis of this decision.

After remaining on this farm, bringing it into a high state of cultivation, for a number of years, Mr. Bruckner removed to Monroe to enjoy the facilities which Monroe afforded for the education of his children.

Mr. Bruckner was a gentleman of refinement, thoroughly educated in natural science. He was a good English, Latin, French and Italian scholar; the two latter languages he spoke with as great fluency as his native tongue.

Through his influence and correspondence the Reverend Mr. Halstead and a large colony of Bavarians were induced to emigrate to Monroe, and proved to be very substantial and desirable citizens.

Mr. Bruckner was not only a highly educat- ed gentleman, but his fondness for music drew around him cultivated talent and lovers of art. He was a man of remarkable enterprise and

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perseverance, noted for his honesty, integrity, and benevolence to the unfortunate and poor. He resided after leaving the farm in Raisin- ville, on Washington street in the city of Mon- roe. He was so generally known and esteemed that it was evinced by a very large attendance of American and foreign-born citizens at his funeral. He died October 6, 1871, at the age of sixty-six, leaving a large family, two of whom, George W. Bruckner and Christopher, with Mrs. Eliza, the wife of Dr. William West, re- side in Monroc.

PHILIP R. TOLL

Was born May 10, 1793, in Glenville, N. Y., of a very distinguished ancestry that settled at Hoffman's Ferry in 1685. The first ancestor, Charles Hansen, served in the New York colonial legislature from 1714 to 1726; was killed, with Nicholas DeGraff and thirty others, at the battle of Benkendad, July 18, 1748. The parents of the subject of this sketch, Charles H. Toll and Elizabeth Ryley, lived to the ages of eighty-six and eighty-eight respectively. The names of Daniel, Simon, Abram, Andrew, Isaac and Aaron DeGraff are honorably mentioned* as distinguished in the First and Second Infantry companies of 1715.

Philip R. Toll was educated as a physician, but never practiced as such only gratuitously. His first business venture was in transportation of freight on the Erie Canal, owning several boats, one of which he called the "General Jackson," another the "New Orleans," thus giving evidence of his political tendencies.

He served in the War of 1812, first as a sergeant, afterwards as a captain of dragoons or mounted artillery; was selected as guard at headquarters of General Wade Hampton, in Canada.

He married January 14, 1817, Nancy DeGraff; removed to Ovid, Seneca county, State of New York. In 1825 engaged in mercantile and produce operations, carrying on at the same time the manufacture of potash, hats, boots and shoes. At one time Seba Murphy (later of Monroe) was a clerk of his brother-in-law, John I. DeGraff, his partner in business. Mr. Toll was one of the trustees of the Ovid Academy, and president of the village.

In 1834 he removed with his family to Centreville, St. Joseph county, and engaged in a general supply store, merchandise, drugs, medicines, and the manufacture of tinware and leather, mostly supplying the castern half of St. Joseph county, west part of Calhoun and south part of Kalamazoo counties. He built saw and flouring mills at Fawn River, in the same county, and removed there with his family in 1838. He united with the Dutch Reformed church before his marriage at Schenectady, and at Centreville assisted in forming the first "Christian Association of Believers," so called, the sparse population not then permitting the founding of any denomi- national church, in this place as well as at Fawn River paying from his own resources the salary and expenses of the Rev. Mr. Day. His labors at Fawn River were great and exhaustive, in clearing wild land into farms, sending the products from his mills, supervising the interests of a growing community, moulding the Christian and educational interests as well. In December, 1836, was one of the delegates from St. Joseph county to the convention for accepting or rejecting the terms proposed by Congress for the admission of Michigan into the Union, and a delegate from same county to the Niles convention for the improvement of the navigation of the St. Joseph River.

In October, 1852, he removed with his family to Monroe, purchasing the house now occupied by his widow on Elm avenue. He died August 17, 1862, of malarial fever, after a long illness. Nancy DeGraff, his widow, was born September 18, 1797, the daughter of John I. DeGraff, who served during the entire period of the War of the Revolution. Was judge of the court of common pleas of New York. As a member of Congress took the oath prescribed by Congress in 1778, which was administered by General de La Fayette. He was the first president of " the Mohawk & Hudson Railroad. His nephew, Colonel Isaac D. Toll, now of Petoskey, accompanied him on the first through train, with Thurlow Weed and others. In a letter from Commodore MeDonough, dated Sep- tember 14, 1814, addressed to Mr. DeGraff, he says : " It was owing to his assistance and means furnished by him, he was able to get the fleet ready to meet the enemy on Lake Champlain, whereby he obtained his great victory. The United States Government was

* Professor Pierson's History.

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powerless to aid him, Washington having been burned by the British about that time."

EMMANUEL HENRY CUSTER

Was born in the village of Cressip, a town six miles above Cumberland, Maryland, De- cember 10, 1806. When eighteen years of age he went to Ohio and settled at New Rumley, where he worked as a blacksmith. His first wife was Miss Matilda Viers. She lived but a few years and left three children. Mr. Custer married for his second wife Mrs. Maria ( Ward) Kirkpatrick, who had three children when she married Mr. Custer. Her oldest daughter, Mrs. David Reed, nee Kirkpatrick, has long been a resident of Monroe.

General George A. Custer was the first son to survive infancy, and his father made him his constant companion. They attended the meeting of the militia together, "company muster," and "officers' muster," the great mass meetings, and the revival meetings that were held during the winter months. Mr. Custer had always thought his oldest son might become a clergyman, and expected to send him to college at Meadville, where he owned a scholarship; but the son took his future into his own hands. Without aid other than by personal application to the member of Congress from his district, he secured the appointment at West Point.

Mr. E. H. Custer was a justice of the peace about twelve years. He broke up his home in New Rumley in 1842, and came to Monroe in May; but his horses were stolen while here, and he remained only six months, just long enough to make good his losses, and returned to his old home, where he remained until 1863.

In 1861, when the call for soldiers was made and every northern heart was fired with patriotism, Thomas Ward Custer, then six- teen years old, and his brother Nev. were determined to enlist, but their father would not allow but one to leave for the army. "Tom" said he " thought he could be more easily spared, as his brother understood the care of the horses best, and was needed at home." Tom enlisted in the Twenty-First Ohio. He did not meet his eldest brother, the General, for four years. During that time he had grown to manhood, and little resembled the pale

stripling the General had left in the Ohio home. They met on the cars, on their way to Monroe to attend the General's wedding in 1864. When they met their father at his home, Tom was introduced as Major Drew, and went unrecognized, but the General immediately informed his mother who her soldier son was, and she enjoyed the mystification of the family as well as the older brother.

Nevin Custer responded to the call for more troops, but was not judged robust enough to endure the fatigues of the camp, and was rejected at the recruiting office in Cleveland.

After the war was over General Custer invited his father to visit him in Texas, where he was stationed during 1865 and a part of the following year. Their life in the South was full of incident, and many were the practical jokes perpetrated between the father and sons. Mr. Custer's youngest son, Boston, joined his brother, the General, in his last Indian ex- pedition. He had long desired to enter the army, but was never encouraged by the General, but his enthusiasm and constant urging at last prevailed. In his last letter to his mother, he seemed full of hope and courage ; said "they expected to meet five hundred Indians," but evidently feared no disaster. " Boss" was always a favorite with his com- panions, and a welcome guest at the fireside. Few fathers with so many promising sons have been called to meet affliction so overwhelming. Three sons, with a son-in-law, Lieutenant Calhoun, an exceedingly handsome and dig- nified officer, and a grandson, George Arm- strong Reed, just entering a promising man- hood, fell at the battle of the Little Big Horn.

Mrs. Custer did not long survive the massacre of her sons. She was a devoted mother, and her home life endeared her to every member of the household. Her native endowments were unusual ; she maintained an intelligent interest in all the important questions of the day, and lived in an unselfish and consistent Christian life. After Mrs. Custer's death, her husband made his home with his son Nevin, who resides on a farm about three miles from Monroe, on the north bank of the river. His daughter Margaret, the widow of the gallant Calhoun, has been a resident of Detroit since the death of her mother. She is an elocutionist of note, and deservedly popular in many States of the Union.

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Mr. E. H. Custer cast his first vote for General Jackson, and as he remarked "has fought it out on that line ever since."

Mr. Custer is an ardent, consistent advocate of the temperance canse. He is one of the cheerful. happy, good old style Methodists. A good singer, he contributes to the pleasure of his friends occasionally by giving samples of the old style Methodist hymns.

GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTER

Was born in New Rumley, Harrison county, Ohio, December 5, 1839. He came to Monroe when he was thirteen years old, and resided with his sister, Mrs. David Reed. IIe attended the academy conducted by Prof. Alfred Steb- bins. As a boy he was fond of all athletic sports, but industrious and persevering in his work as well as amusements. Years after he was heard to remark: " The days spent under his sister's influence were of infinite value to him. Her earnest prayers repeated them- selves in many dark and threatening hours of his life, and inspired him with courage and hope."

After leaving the academy he taught school for several months in Ohio, but the uneventful routine soon proved too irksome for his restless and ambitious nature, and he sought an ap- pointment to the military academy at West Point, which he received, and became a student therein July 1, 1857. His vacations were spent in Monroe, where his " brass buttons" and gay uniform were admired by the rising genera- tion, and many life-long friendships, as well as the romance of his life, were begun.

He graduated June 24, 1861, and was ap- pointed second lieutenant in the Second United States Cavalry, formerly under Robert E. Lec. He reported to Lieutenant General Scott the day before the battle of Bull Run, July 20th. Lieutenant Custer with his company were among the last to leave that disastrous field, from which he led his company in good order, rescuing General Heintzelman, who had been wounded. Lieutenant Custer remained in Washington some time, engaged in drilling volunteer recruits, but when Phil. Kearney was appointed brigadier-general, he made Cus- ter one of his staff. He served in that position until the War Department prohibited generals

of volunteers from appointing regular army officers to staff duty. When Lieutenant Custer left his staff, Kearney predicted " Custer would prove one of the most successful officers in the army."

Custer returned to his company, connected with that part of the Army of the Potomac which moved upon Manassas after its evacua- tion by the enemy. Our cavalry, under General Stoneman, then for the first time encountered the Confederate horsemen near Catlett's Sta- tion. Custer and his men were among the first to report to the call of the commanding officer for volunteers to charge the enemy. The Confederates did not wait to receive their charge, but fled across Cedar Run and burned the bridge. One of our men was wounded by a stray shot, and this was the first blood shed in the MacClellan campaign. Custer remained with this part of the army until it was settled down before Yorktown, when he was detailed as an assistant engineer, under General Sum- ner, of the left wing of the Army of the Po- tomac. He planned and erected the earthworks nearest the Confederate lines, and soon after accompanied the advance under General Han- cock in pursuit of the enemy retiring from Yorktown. He captured the first battle-flag for the Army of the Potomac, and when the army reached the Chickahominy he led his company through the river, amid a shower of bullets, thus proving his dauntless courage to his commander, General MacClellan, who then promoted him to a captaincy and appointed him one of his staff. He served throughout MacClellan's campaign, and marked out the position to be occupied by the Union forces before the battle of Gaines' Mills. He took an active part in the battles of South Mountain and Antietam.

When General MacClellan was relieved, Cus- ter was mustered out as a captain and aid-de- camp. He was soon called to and participated in the battle of Chancellorsville, and after that memorable event was made a personal aid by General Pleasanton, who was then commander of adivision of cavalry. Custer bore himself with such fearlessness and gallantry through many a hotly contested engagement, that General Pleasanton, being made major-general, recom- mended Custer as worthy the honor of the ap- pointment of brigadier general, which Custer received, and was assigned to the command of

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the First, Fifth. Sixth and Seventh Michigan Cavalry, already famous.

Before Gettysburg he faced Hampton's cav- alry division, completely routed them, and saved the trains of the Union army from fall- ing into the enemy's hands. He had two horses shot under him at this famous battle. He was sent almost at the beginning of the encounter to attack the Confederates' train, which was endeavoring to force its way to the Potomac. He demolished more than four hundred wagons, and in every position assigned him did noble service.

. The following winter Custer was constantly engaged in skirmishing and picketing on the Rapidan between the two armies. In 1864 he was fighting with his usual impetuosity in the battle of the Wilderness, and for his services in the Shenandoah Valley was complimented by an order of the War Department. Custer accompanied General Sheridan, in May, 1864, on his famous raid toward Richmond. His brigade led the march, and captured Beaver Dam, where a train loaded with supplies for the enemy was destroyed, and four hundred Union prisoners were released. At Ashland more prisoners were set free and supplies burned.

Custer met General J. E. B. Stuart with his famous cavalry on the " Brooks Pike." Stuart endeavored to check the advance of the Union army, but was defeated and killed by one of Custer's men and his command completely routed.

He participated in the battle of Cold Harbor with Grant's army, and followed General Sheri- dan in his second raid. He rendered impor- tant service in the battle of Fisher's Hill, and retained command of his division until after Lee's surrender.

At the battle of Cedar Creek, his division on the right maintained its ground, and Sheri- dan found one command ready for action. He issued his order, " Go in, Custer!" and he led his men to victory. The Confederates were driven a number of miles beyond the battle- field. A thousand prisoners were captured, among them a major general ; forty-five pieces of artillery and several battle-flags were taken. Sheridan, to testify his approbation of Custer's service in this engagement, detailed him to carry the news of the conquest to Washington, for which service he was made a brevet major-

general of volunteers. General Sheridan gave Custer command of the advance on the Confed- erates as they fell back to Appomattox, where he captured four heavily-laden trains of freight cars.

It is said " General Custer was in every en- gagement fought by the Army of the Potomac, from the first battle of Bull Run to the sur- render of General Lee." General Sheridan appreciated him as a brave and trusted officer, as well as a personal friend. Mrs. Custer re- ceived from him a letter, accompanying the table on which were signed the terms of sur- render of the Virginia army under General Lee, in which he wrote: "No person was more instrumental in bringing about this most desirable result than your most gallant hus- band.'

Custer will always stand a unique figure in the history of our civil war. About his ex- ploits and daring achievements cluster the ro- mance of a brilliant career. He knew no fear, and was always foremost in the heat of battle, nor did he ever ask his men to incur a danger he would not share.

General Custer was mustered out of the volunteer service February 1, 1866, and ap- pointed lieutenant-colonel of the Seventh United States Cavalry the following July. He was with General Hancock in his expedition against the Indians in 1867, and remained on frontier duty most of the time until 1876, when he met his death June 25th. While in the western forts, when the Indians were not on the " war-path," he wrote a number of inter- esting articles for the eastern magazines, de- scriptive of the country, and the story of his Indian expeditions. Although Custer succeeded as a writer, and showed his aptitude for a lit- erary occupation by the increasing charm of his productions, it was as a raconteur he excelled. He possessed a wonderful dramatic talent, and brought persons and scenes to view.

When he returned to his father's home in Monroe on furlough, it was the writer's frequent privilege to hear him relate the stirring inci- dents of his adventurous life on the frontier. General Custer passed many evenings at our fireside, with my boys clustered about him in breathless interest. Well do I remember the night he recounted the capture of Black Ket- tle, we crept with him over the snow in the dark and silent hours of night; we saw the

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morning star shoot into sight like a rocket in the clear western atmosphere; we heard the baby's cry in the distant wigwam, and trembled at the bark of the Indian dog for fear it would betray his little band of soldiers. Even when the clock on the mantel struck the hour of two in the morning, the children would beg him to continue. He had a never-failing fund of anecdote and adventure. His enthusiasm and good-fellowship made him a most interesting companion. His devotion to his parents, his brothers and sisters, was unfailing and tender. He never forgot in the busiest years of his life to provide for their comfort and attend to their interests.

General Custer with his brothers, Captain Tom Custer, Boston Custer, Lieutenant Cal- houn, and his nephew, George Armstrong Reed, met a tragic death in the battle of the Little Big Horn. With a small party of two hundred brave soldiers, he fell before six thousand Indi- ans under Sitting Bull. Many conflicting ac- counts of the terrible massacre have been in the papers from time to time, and it remains for the future historian to render a clear ac- count.

General Custer was married in 1864 to Miss Elizabeth Bacon, the beautiful and accomplished daughter of Judge Bacon, of Monroc. Mrs. Custer accompanied her husband on most of his campaigns and shared his dangers and the ʻ

discomforts of frontier life. Mrs. Custer has given to the world in " Boots and Saddles" her experience in some of the trying as well as prosperous years of her life, and has proved her devotion and affection, as well as pride, in the memory of her distinguished husband.

CHARLES JAMES LANMAN. [Abridged from a New London paper.]

Charles James Lanman was the son of James Lanman, formerly a judge and Senator in Con- gress, and born in Norwich, Connecticut, June 5, 1795. He graduated with honors at Yale College in 1814; studied law with his kins- man, Roger Griswold, as well as with his father; and was admitted to the bar early in 1817, in New London. Soon afterwards he was invited by Henry Clay to settle in Kentucky, but de- cided to seek his fortune in the Territory of

Michigan on the invitation of his friends, Wm. Woodbridge and Lewis Cass. He made the journey from Buffalo to Detroit chiefly on horseback. Joining Mr. Woodbridge in his law office, he began the practice of his profes- sion, and while riding the circuit he visited Frenchtown, on the River Raisin (now called Monroe), where he permanently settled. In that place he held many local positions, such as attorney for the Territory, judge of probate, colonel of militia, and he was also inspector of customs and postmaster of Frenchtown. In 1823, President Monroe appointed him receiver of public moneys for the district of Michigan, and he was re-appointed by President Adams, holding the office eight years. In those early days specie was the only curreney in vogue, and the receipts of silver alone in one year amounted to a hundred thousand dollars, which had to be transmitted to Detroit, through the wilderness, on pack horses; and it is worth mentioning, that when he visited Washington twenty-five years afterwards, he was officially in- formed that there was a handsome balance of money due him by the United States Treasury on account of his services as receiver. He was one of the founders of Tecumseh, Michi- gan ; was a commissioner to locate the county seats of many of the leading counties in the State, including Ionia, Kent, and Clinton; was surveyor, and once the sole owner of the land where now stands the city of Grand Rapids; while the same is true of several other flourish- ing towns in the State. Although not a prac- tical farmer, at one period of his life he in- dulged in agricultural tastes, carrying on one or two farms, and he was among the very first to introduce into Michigan, from Kentucky and Virginia, the best breeds of blooded horses. In 1835, from family considerations, he returned to Norwich. During the financial revulsion of 1837 he lost the bulk of his property, all of which was located in Michigan. In 1838 he was elected mayor of Norwich ; was subse- quently president of the Norwich Water-Power Company ; and at the conclusion of that ser- vice he lived chiefly in retirement. In 1862, lured by carly recollections, and because of his intense love of the scenery and air of the ocean, he came to New London to reside ; died in that city July 25, 1870, and was buried among his kindred in Norwich.

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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

CHARLES LANMAN.

Born in Monroe, Michigan, June 14. 1819, and son of Charles James Lanman and Mary Gui. When about ten years of age he was sent to Norwich, Connecticut, where, under the care of his grandfather, James Lanman, he attended for three years the academies of Nor- wich and Plainfield. In 1835, when his parents removed to Connecticut, he became a Pearl Street clerk in New York, where he remained ten years. In 1845 he returned to his native place, and for a few months edited the Monroe Gazette, after which he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and became the assistant editor of the Chronicle of that city ; and after making a tour to the Upper Mississippi and Lake Superior he returned to New York, and was connected with the Express newspaper. In the interest of that journal he visited the city of Washington in 1848, where he became permanently identified with the old National Intelligencer, since which time he has resided in the metropolis, where he was married to Adeline Dodge in 1849. As a lover of scenery and an angler he made annual tours in every part of the United States and Canada, and came to be designated by his friend. Washington Irving, as " the picturesqne explorer of the United States ;" and among the journals, besides the Intelligencer, to which he contributed his observations, were the Lon- don Illustrated News and Athenæum, as well as the Observer, Evening Post and Journal of Com- merce, of New York.

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History of Monroe County, Michigan, Part 54

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