History of Monroe County, Michigan, Part 58

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 58

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1882-Companion A. I. Sawyer was again elected T. I. G. M. ; W. P. Haight, Deputy, and C. Toll, Rec.

1883-No election.

1884-Companion Sawyer was re-elected T. I. G. M. ; D. R. Crampton, Deputy, and G. R. Hurd, Rec.

1885-Same companions were re-elected.

1886-Companion Sawyer re-elected T. I. G. M. ; C. W. Scott, Deputy, and C. Toll, Rec. 1887-No election.

1888-December 14th Companion L. Grant was elected T. I. G. M .; G. R. Hurd, Deputy, and F. B. Nelson, Rec.

Of the above named two have demitted, namely, D. B. Tracy and Wm. Corbin; seven have died : John Tynell, Jas. Darrah, B. Dan- sard, L. Jacoby, F. Raleigh, B. J. Thayer and S. Blanchard.

Companion C. Toll held the office of recorder for eighteen years, and Companion Sawyer held the office of T. I. G. M. ten years. H. S. Noble held the office of Grand Thrice Illustri- ous Grand Master of the Grand Conncil in 1872, and A. I. Sawyer, Grand P. C. W. in 1871.

Deceased members: W. P. Christiancy, A. F. Eiseman, G. A. Lovett, W. W. Prentice, D. G. Frazier, R. W. Figg, Wm. Rhinchart, S. L. Carpenter.

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS.

Monroe Lodge, No. 19, I. O. O. F., was in- stituted on the 16th day of January, 1847, in the third story of Kellogg's Exchange, a hotel then occupying the site of the present banking office of Dansard & Son, corner of Front and Washington streets. Those officiating were: Andrew J. Clark, Most Worthy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of the State of Michigan ; Wit- ter J. Baxter, Grand Secretary ; Colonel John Winder. A. S. Kellogg, Charles S. Adams and Pierre Teller, who arrived in carriages from Detroit in the afternoon of the 16th of January.

The charter members of the lodge were : Jefferson G. Thurber, Benjamin F. Fifield, Henry D. Walbridge, Joseph M. Sterling, Henry Grinnell, George S. Howe, William A. Noble, William H. Wells, James Darrah and Walter W. Prentice.

The first election of officers resulted as fol- Jows: Jefferson G. Thuber, Noble Grand; Benjamin F. Fifield, Vice Noble Grand ; Wil- liam N. Noble, Secretary ; Henry D. Wal- bridge, Treasurer. The officers appointed were: Geo. S. Howe, Warden; Joseph M. Sterling, Conductor, and Wm. H. Wells, Guardian.

The lodge room was first established in the basement of the River Raisin Bank, which occupied the present site of the Park Hotel on the public square.

During the first year of the organization the War Department having made a requisition upon the Governor of Michigan for fifteen companies of infantry to aid in the prosecu. tion of the Mexican War, Brother Captain Henry Smith, of Monroe, in response to the call, offered his services to the Government, and was ordered to report at Cincinnati for further orders. The night previous to leaving he was initiated, and the first five degrees were conferred upon him. Under ordinary circum- stances a brother was not eligible for degrees for one month after becoming a member, but this case was considered an instance of urgent necessity and the operation of Section 1 of Article V. suspended. Brother Smith was ordered from Cincinnati to Vera Cruz. His duties as quartermaster were exceedingly arduous. In the region of the tropics, subject to the severe diseases of an enervating and un- healthy climate, doing (as was reported) the duty of three men instead of one, with expo- sures incident to it, within six weeks after his arrival at Vera Cruz he fell a victim to the prevailing epidemic and died of yellow fever. As soon as the lodge received news of his death it determined to send for his remains, raised a sufficient sum of money, and detailed Brother James Darrah to obtain them and return them to Monroe for sepulture. It was no small un- dertaking at that carly day to go from Monroe to Mexico, and none but a noble fellow with a brotherly feeling would have been equal to it. Brother Darrah in due time returned with the remains,to the great gratification of our citizens and deep gratitude of the family of the deceased.

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SECRET SOCIETIES.

His remains arrived in the night in a wagon, and were taken to the lodge, where the coffin was draped in black cloth by the brothers, and then escorted to the residence of the family on Elm avenue (now the site of the residence of I. E. Ilgianfritz) by the City Guards, under Captain Natban N. Kendall.

In the year 1848 Elbridge G. Brigham pur- chased the old Presbyterian church, on the corner of Cass and Second streets, remodeled it and rented it to the lodge, where it continued to hold its sessions for some years, when it was sold to the Lutheran church. The building was afterwards demolished, and gave place to the two-story German Lutheran school now stand- ing. On leaving the church building the lodge occupied the second story of the River Raisin Bank building, and remained there until the building was burned in 1868. As soon as Strong's hotel was built, on the site of the old building, the lodge occupied apartments there until the business of the hotel required all their room. It then removed to the three- story brick building of Stephen B. Wakefield, on the east side of Washington street, where rooms with all desirable appointments were secured, and which the lodge continue to occupy.

At the fire referred to above all the books were burned, with the exception of the old Bible (the edges of which were well scorched), which was presented to the lodge in February, 1848, by Henry D. Walbridge, now deceased. A few emblems were saved, among which were the photograph of Hon. J. F. Thurber, the first Noble Grand, Moses' rod, the chart, the death tablet, and David's bow and arrow.

The objects, aims and purposes of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, originating in 1818 at Baltimore and organized in all the States, is well known, and we are warranted in saying that in the city and county of Mon- roe, since its organization, hundreds of needy families of the Order have received relief there- from. I can also say that during a number of our severe winters its charities and benevo- lence have extended beyond members of the lodge to a great number of destitute and de- serving families. The last generous act was the liberal contribution for the relief of suf- ferers of the Johnstown disaster.

When the west addition was made to Wood- land cemetery the lodge purchased two lots

for resting-places for their dead, and several brothers belonging to this and other lodges have found temporary resting-places, of whom Broth- ers Diffenbaugh and Vincent only remain.

The present officers of the lodge, whose term of office expires December 31, 1889. are as fol- lows : William F. Knapp, Noble Grand ; Frank S. Sterling, Vice Noble Grand ; Fred. H. Humphrey, Recording Secretary ; M. C. Sack- ett, Permanent Secretary ; Daniel A. Hazens, Treasurer. Lodge meetings are held every Monday evening. Present membership, 97.

But three of the charter members are now living, viz., Joseph M. Sterling, of Monroe, Michigan ; William HI. Wells, of Eric, Monroc county ; Henry Grinnell, of Grand Rapids, Michigan. One of them, J. M. Sterling, joined Wayne Lodge, No. 2, in 1842, and has always paid his dues, still a constant attendant on the lodge, which indicates his esteem of Odd Fel . lowship.

One reminiscence occurs to me that hap- pened in the early days of the organization, when two candidates were in the ante-room for initiation, one of whom is now esteemed and living in Monroe. A bright, cheerful fire was burning in the fireplace, with an iron poker resting against the jamb. He was inclined to be a little suspicious, having heard so much about the mysteries of the Order and branding process, and, being left in the room awaiting the call for some time, hearing the movements and stir in the adjoining room his apprehen- sions and fear increased. He thought he would escape the branding, so seized the iron poker; ran out into the yard and concealed it. His companions thought the secret too good to keep, and some time after revealed it.

A tablet of deceased members in full mem- bership at the time of their death now hangs in the lodge room. The names are as follows :

H. Smith, died at Vera Cruz, July 24, 1847.

B. F. Luce, died at Monroe, May 1, 1849.

J. G. Keller, died at Bedford, October 2, 1851.

L. Hawkins, died at Summerfield, December 2,1851.

W. J. Kipp, died at Mary's River, June 30, 1852.

R. Stoddard, died at Monroc, August 16, 1852.

S. Knapp, died at Georgetown, Colorado, August 23, 1852.

J. A. Keebough, died at Hillsdale, February 13, 1853.

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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

Geo. Morton, killed on M. S. R. R. at Carlisle, June 25, 1853.

Jas. Keegan, died at Monroe, August 6, 1854.

J. A. Barrager, died at Adrian, December 20,1855.

L. Vincent, died at Monroe, March 29, 1856.

J. G. Thurber, died at Monroe, May 6, 1857.

L. S. Harvey, died at Monroe, March 13, 1858.

J. W. Little, drowned at Monroe, April 17, 1859.

J. Darrah, died at Fortress Monroe, August 17, 1862.

F. W. Winans, died at Monroe, March 15, 1864. P. Beisel, died at Monroe, March 29, 1865.

C. Diffenbaugh, died at Monroe, August 28, 1865.

B. F. Fifield, died at White Sulphur Springs, August 26, 1866.

W. W. Prentice, died at Monroe, May 27, 1867.

F. A. Kirchgessner, died at Monroe, July 19, 1867.

J. G. Rother, died at Monroe, February 20, 1870.

E. O. Whipple, died at Monroe, January 16, 1871.

H. O. Scott, died at Maybee, October 8, 1881.

Cory Brainard, died at Leadville, May 21, 1887.

LINCOLN LODGE, No. 190, I. O. O. F.,

Of Monroe, Michigan, was organized July 19, 1872.

Charter members : Charles Frank, John P. Schluter, Anton Munch, Charles Kirchgessner, Jacob Kull, Edward Vogel, Nee Rupp, Jacob Zang.

Present officers : Fred Bruhner, Noble

Grand; Dan. Hassley, Vice Grand; George Rapp, Secretary ; Charles Kirchgessner, Treas .; Henry Enler, D. D. G. M.

THE GERMAN WORKINGMEN'S ASSOCIATION

Of Monroe, Michigan, was organized in Feb- ruary, 1865, at Jacob Zang's hall, with seven- teen members.

The charter members were: Charles Kirch- gessner, August Girshke, - - Girshke, John Beckerlein, Louis Waldorf, John L. Eckert, Nicholas Rupp, John Buttman, et al. When the membership had increased to one hundred the society rented a large ball of Mr. Rupp, afterwards the hall of Mrs. Frank A. Kirchgess- ner, which it continues to occupy.

The first officers elected were: John P. Schluter, President; Anton Munch, Vice Presi- dent; Frank A. Kirchgessner, Secretary ; Melchior Kiburts, Treasurer. The presidents that were subsequently elected were August Girshke, Charles Kirchgessner, George Neckel and Charles Gruner, the present presiding .. officer.

The present membership is 228. The State Workingmen's Asssociation now embraces forty-eight societies, with a membership of 6,500.

Every member when initiated pays a fee of five dollars, fifty cents at the death of every member's wife, three dollars a week during sickness of any member. On the death of any member thirty dollars is paid to the family for funeral expenses out of the local treasury of the Bund, and the State Association pays his family $500.

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE MEXICAN WAR.

TEXAS was a part of the domain of ancient Mexico. When Mexico became a republic in 1824, it was made one of its united States. It had been claimed by our Government as a part of the Louisiana purchase in 1803, but this claim was not pressed. Texas began to be settled by Americans as early as 1831. It rebelled against the Government of Santa Anna, and declared itself an independent State March 2, 1836. This independence was not admitted by Mexico.

On the 4th of July, 1845, Texas was with its own consent admitted as one of the States of our Union. This caused an immediate rupture between the United States and Mexico. Added to this our Government had a series of com- plaints against Mexico for aggressions upon our vessels in the Gulf of Mexico, confiscations in its own territory of the property of Ameri- can merchants, violations of treaty, and other acts of injustice, extending back for a period of nearly forty years, in addition to acts of violence demanding redress. Even a hearing was refused to our embassador, and he was turned away with insult, our territory invaded, and the blood of our citizens shed upon our own soil. Congress declared, with but two negative votes in the Senate and fourteen in the House, that war existed by the act of the Republic of Mexico, at the same making pro- visions for its energetic prosecution. General Taylor was sent at once with an army of occu- pation to Texas to hold and defend it. On the 24th of April, 1846, the first blood was shed in the war with Mexico.

In May, 1846, the Governor of Michigan was notified by the War Department of the United States to enroll a regiment of volunteers, to be held in readiness for service whenever de- manded. At his summons thirteen indepen- dent companies, eleven of infantry and two of cavalry, at once volunteered. Of the infantry four companies were from Detroit, bearing the

honored names of Montgomery, Lafayette, Scott and Brady upon their banners. Of the remainder Monroe tendered two, Lenawee county three, St. Clair, Berrien and Hillsdale counties each one, and Wayne county an addi- tional company. In addition to them ten com- panies, making the first regiment of Mich- igan volunteers springing from various parts of the State, but embodying to a great degree the material of which the first volunteers are formed, were not called for until October fol- lowing. This regiment was soon in readiness. and proceeded to the seat of war.

In the region of the tropics, impatient for the farther advance which was denied them, sub- ject to the severe diseases of an enervating and unhealthy elimate, doing vigilant duty in guarding the avenues of approach, in keeping open the communications, in overawing a hos- tile population, the gallant regiment evinced in all the trials of that harassing warfare the fidelity and devotion which has ever charac- terized the patriot soldier of the Peninsular State. Considering the obstacles overcome, the successes accomplished and mighty results that have followed their heroic efforts form one of the greatest triumphs on record ; one for which history has perhaps no superior. A less de- gree of wrongs and outrages upon the persons and property of our people, if unredressed, committed by powers other than Mexico would have been considered sufficient ground for hos- tilities.

Our State claims the credit which attached to the memorable achievements of Company K, Third Dragoons, and Companies A, E, and G of the Fifteenth Regiment of the United States Infantry. The latter company, in command of Captain Frazey M. Winans, of Monroe, was selected as guard at headquarters for their fine military bearing and efficiency. The deadly field of Churubusco attested that the honor was well deserved.

[343]

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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

Of the infantry companies recruited in this State two, A and E, forming the right and con- ter of the Fifteenth Regiment, also Company G, were particularly distinguished at the Na- tional Bridge. The two former, as indeed the whole army, were reduced to one-third of their original number by the remarkable changes of temperature and the privations to which they were exposed.

At Contreras, on the 19th of August, 1847, over the pedegral. confronting Valencia with his vastly preponderating numbers, under a heavy artillery fire ; at night on picket guard in a cold rain of a temperature over 7,000 feet above the sea ; on the morning of the 20th, ere dawn, in line. to the assault, thence in pursuit, with but a few moment's rest at San Angelos, haversacks emptied the day before, twelve miles to the sanguinary field of Churubusco, General Scott himself looking the very genins of war, giving words of cheer as the exhausted men filed rapidly by him at Coyoncan, whence he directed the battle; then to the attack against five times their number well posted, Company E, its captain wounded, its first-lieu- tenant killed while encouraging the men, its first sergeant mortally wounded, its color- bearer shot down, one-half of its rank and file disabled. Company A, the other Michigan company, headed by the gallant Beach, also suffering severe loss, devotedly maintained the reputation of the State which it worthily repre- sented. The loved Morgan, the generous and intrepid colonel of the regiment, whose voice was that of the hero Shields, was heard above the roll of conflict, was struck down, and Mills, of Iowa, the major, joining the dragoons in pursuit, gave up his life at San Antonio's gate; there, too, the adjutant, the chivalrous Broad- head, killed at Chantilly in the war for the Union, was conspicuous for cool courage. There, the veteran Howard in command, the 15th was ordered to keep watch and guard in recogni- tition of their gallant services and those of that regiment. As well and as bravely Com- pany G, the remaining one of the three from Michigan, under Captain Winans, of Monroe, at Paso Ovegas, on the 10th of August, met and repulsed a heavy guerrilla force, while on the 12th at the National Bridge -famed for its mas- sive architecture and its strength as well as the commanding beauty of its surroundings - its captain transferred to the command of the

left wing-it was led by the accomplished Wil- kins, seconded by Doyle, and drove superior forces, protected as they were by bastion, tower and wall; following the foe beyond the fastnesses which crowned the scene of their ex- ploits, and three days afterwards renewing their brilliant successes on the hills beyond which commanded the communications.

Isaac Regal came to Monroe in 1834. His grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and his father a soldier in the War of 1812. Isaac enlisted in the Toledo War in 1836; served in the Mexican War. Enlisted April 4, 1847, in the Fifteenth Regiment of the United States Infantry, and was in nearly all the hard-fought battles of that war. At the battle before the City of Mexico Isaac was one of only three sur- vivors of his company. He enlisted with two of his sons and fought through the War of the Re- bellion to its close, and was honorably dis- charged. He was regarded a brave and gal- lant soldier, and is now spending his declining years in the Soldiers' Home at Dayton, Ohio.

The treaty of peace was signed February 2, 1848, which gave to the United States Upper California, New Mexico and adjacent territory, and conceded Texas. An act of Congress was passed providing that fifty regiments of volun- teers should be raised in the United States for this war. Under this act the Fifteenth Regi- ment of United States Infantry voluntereed from the State of Michigan. Company G, of the Fifteenth Regiment of United States In- fantry, was composed mainly of volunteers from Monroe city and county, and richly de- serve honorable mention for their gallant con- duct in August, 1847, at the battles at Paso del Ovejas,at the National Bridge and Cerro Gordo, in which Sergeants Ebenezer Legro, William Inglis, Corporal H. I. Loranger, Privates J. Perce, L. Knecht, G. P. Amidow, F. Jackson, N. Kendall, H. Hatter, O. Stone and Joseph C. Crider were wounded, and Privates A. N. Crandle and A. Meyron mortally wounded.

Captain Frazey M. Winans, of Monroe, com- manded Company G, with Lieutenants William D. Wilkins, of Detroit, and Michael P. Doyle and Bachus T. Winchell, of Monroe.

The honor of our State of Michigan was gloriously sustained at the assault at Pueblo, Mexico, where Lieutenant Meyerfeld led the forlorn hope, where Company A, commanded by Samuel E. Beach, contended with the terri-

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THE MEXICAN WAR.

ble fire and overwhelming odds at Churubusco, and where Company E was commanded by Cap- tain Isaac D. Toll (now residing at Petoskey). Captain Beach, in a letter written at Pontiac, in June, 1886, in referring to the battle of Churu- busco, writes " that Captain Toll, after he had twice gone back amid the fire to get permis- sion to charge, which was refused, ordered it and re-formed the regiments, which then, at that critical time, charged the masses of the enemy successfully, and none too soon, for the New York and South Carolina volunteers on the left had just ' gone in' in their part of the field. The battle of Churubusco was the deciding battle of the war with Mexico; the infantry did the work there, while all had their share, but on this arm all relied. Of the nearly two hun- dred men of these companies which we helped to form but about twenty survived in 1886."

ROSTER OF COMPANY G, 15TH U. S. I.

Mexican War, taken from the muster-out roll of the company, dated Covington, Kentucky, August 4, 1848 :

Frazey M. Winans, capt., dis. July 20, 1848.

Hira G. Eastman, Ist lient., res. May 31, 1847.

Thornton F. Brodhead, Ist lient., pro. capt. De- cember 22, 1847.

Samuel E. Beach, Ist lient., m. o. with company. William D. Wilkins, 2d lient., trans. to Co. F.

Michael P. Doyle, 2d lieut., died October 23, 1847. George F. Hooper, 2d lient., m. o. with company. Thomas S. Trask, 2d lieut., m. o. with company.

Ebenezer Legro, Ist serg., trans. to Newport Bar- racks July 26, 1848.

William Inglis, serg., dis. November 24, 1847, disab. Augustus D. Burdino, serg., dis. March 24, 1848, disability.

Julius Waltz, serg., trans. to Newport Barracks July 26, 1848.

Alexander Porter, serg., trans. to Newport Barracks July 26, 1848.

Bachus T. Winchell, serg., in. o. with company.

Rush Winchell, corp., died September 29, 1847.

John Graham, corp., left sick in Mexico February 1, 1848.

Alexander Lawrence, corp., m. o. with company. Ephraim Marble, corp., m. o. with company.

Cyrus Teal, jr., corp., m. o. with company.

George Hewitt, musician, m. o. with company. William H. Teal, musician, m. o. with company. Ephraim Allen, private, m. o. with company. George P. Amidon, private, m. o. with company. Samuel Anderson, private, m. o. with company. Joseph Adams, private, died September 2, 1847. John W. Allen, private, deserted April 30, 1847.

Peter Boland, private, left sick at New Orleans July 12, 1848.

Jonathan W. Bardwell, private, m.o. with company. Hiram W. Bartholemew, private, m. o. with Co. Alexander Bissinett, private, died JJuly 20, 1848. Frederick Baum, private, m. o. with company.

Richard Bray, private, left sick at New Orleans July 12, 1848.

John Belford, private, left sick in Mexico February 5, 1848.

William Bailey, private, left at Vera Cruz (on extra duty since July 6, 1847).

Artimus D. Baird, private, died January 16, 1848.

Harvey Bastard, private, died March 12, 1848.

Battraw Bissinett, private, died July 2, 1848.

Franklin Brainard, private, died July 8. 1848.

Jason Bennett, private, deserted July 15, 1847. Harmon Cone, private, m. o. with company.

Alexander B. Coleman, private, m. o. with Co. William Crum, private, m. o. with company.

Alanson Crandall, private, died August 25, 1847.

Charles Cabicha, private, dis. April 20, 1848, disab.

Thomas Coniffe, private, dis. July 24, 1847, expira- tion of enlistment.

William C. Deming, private, left sick at Perote October 6, 1847.

Felix Dingman, private, m. o. with company.

James M. Darling, private, m. o. with company.

Israel Drew, private, m. o. with company.

Clark Dickinson, private, died August 27, 1847.

Thomas Dailey, private, dis. August 22, 1847, expi- ration of enlistment.

Peter Englehardt, private, m. o. with company.

John Eifler, private, trans. to Newport Barracks July 26, 1848.

John Ford, private, left sick in Mexico February 1, 1848. ·

James Fitch, private, m. o. with company.

John F. Foster, private, left sick at Perote October 6, 1847.

Charles K. Fullerton, private, dis.July 6, 1848, disab. Simon Gimple, private, m. o. with company.

Joseph Glevanz, private, m. o. with company. Daniel Grant, private, m. o. with company.

Jacob Gilbert, private, died July 14, 1848.

Elijah M. Gates, private, died September 4, 1847. Henry S. Hath, private, m. o. with company. Jonathan C. W. Holliday, private, m. o. with Co. Edward Hunt, private, m. o. with company. John W. Hughes, private, m. o. with company. John Hubbin, private, died May 3, 1848.

Jacob Hemstret, private, died August 28, 1847.

John Houvert, private, trans. to Newport Barracks July 26, 1848.

Francis Jackson, private, m. o. with company. Otis Johnson, private, m. o. with company.

Robert Johnson, private, m. o. with company. Lafayette Ingersoll, private, deserted June 3, 1848. Nelson Kendall, private, m. o. with company.

Ignatius Klevantz, private, m. o. with company. Bartel Klotz, private, m. o. with company. John Kick, private, m. o. with company.

George Knecht, private, m. o. with company. Samuel Klingman, private, died March 19, 1848.

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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

Joshua Kline, private, died September 27, 1847.

Frederick Kirchner, private, died August 26, 1847. Casper Knecht, private, died June 26, 1847.

Lewis Knecht, private, dis. November 25, 1847, disability.

John Knill, private, died July 12, 1848.

Henry J. Lorenz, private, m. o. with company. John F. Lusk, private, m. o. with company.

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History of Monroe County, Michigan, Part 58

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