USA > Michigan > Monroe County > History of Monroe County, Michigan > Part 59
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119
George Lanman, private, trans. to Newport Bar- racks July 26, 1848.
Abel Milligan, private, m. o. with company.
Moses Milligan, private, m. o. with company.
John Manhardt, private, m. o. with company. Benjamin Meigs, private, m. o. with company. Robert J. Moody, private, m. o. with company. James Murphy, private, m. o. with company. John Meyers, private, left sick at Perote July 1, 1847. Patrick Murray, private, left sick at Mexico Feb- ruary 1, 1848.
Antoine Miron, private, died August 27, 1847. John Morris, private, died July 15, 1848.
Johannes Marschal, private, dis. April 30, 1848, disability.
William McLaughlin, private, m. o. with company. Eaton McNair, private, m. o. with company.
Thomas McManus, private, m. o. with company. Virgil McCormick, private, m. o. with company. William McDonald, private, m. o. with company. John McDonald, private, died November 3, 1847. Barnhardt Obala, private, m. o. with company. James O'Brien, private, died September 30, 1847. William M. Osborne, private, died March 15, 1848. Dennis O'Sullivan, private, deserted June 26, 1847. Charles A. Opperman, private, trans. to Newport Barracks July 26, 1848.
Mascena W. Powers, private, m. o. with company. Henry Peltier, private, died September 22, 1847. Isaac Ragle, private, m. o. with company.
Jonathan Rice, private, m. o. with company. Timothy Rodd, private, m. o. with company.
Daniel M. Ross, private, m. o. with company. John Robinson, private, m. o. with company. William Richardson, private, m. o. with company. John Renz, private, died January 21, 1848.
William M. C. Seeley, private, m. o. with company. Aaron Shew, private, m. o. with company. Samuel Shepard, private, m. o. with company. Oliver Stone, private, m. o. with company.
Harvey Smith, private, m. o. with company.
William Sumner, private, m. o. with company. James W. Stout, jr., private, died December 20, 1847. Lafayette Segar, private, died July 23, 1848.
Joseph Stewart, private, dis. July 25, 1847, writ habeas corpus.
William Warner, private, m. o. with company, died August 4, 1848, after muster-out.
Joseph Walbert, private, m. o. with company.
Samuel Wooden, private, died June 8, 1848.
Edward Waddle, private, deserted July 15, 1847. Martin White, private, deserted April 30, 1847.
Michael Yinger, private, left sick at New Orleans July 12, 1848.
RECAPITULATION.
Mustered out with company : One first lieutenant, 2 second lieutenants, 1 sergeant, 3 corporals, 2 musicians, 58 privates; total, 67.
Left behind, sick, etc .: One corporal, 10 privates ; total, 11.
Promoted and transferred : One first lieuten- ant 1 second lieutenant, 1 first sergeant, 2 sergeants, 4 privates ; total, 9.
Resigned and discharged : One captain, 1 first lieutenant, 2 sergeants, 7 privates; total, 11.
Died : One second lieutenant, 1 corporal, 26 privates ; total, 28.
Discharged : Seven privates.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY.
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
En hy E Skernay & CENT.
ANSELI STYX 1
James Amitag
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY.I
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
CHAPTER XXVII.
SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE LATER RESIDENTS OF MONROE COUNTY.
HARRY ARMITAGE CONANT,
ON of Harry and Maria Conant, was born S
at Monroe, Michigan, May 5, 1844. He prepared for college at Monroe and entered the Michigan University, class of 1865. Mr. Conant was admitted to the bar in February, 1878. After leaving college he engaged in mercantile and manufacturing pursuits for some years. He has always been a stal wart Republican, and possesses the confidence of his party to that degree that they have at different times given him, withont solicitation on his part, the nomi- nations for mayor, alderman, supervisor, and State Senator, he being elected to the three latter offices in a strong Democratic section. In 1880 he received the appointment of consul at Naples, which he resigned after a residence abroad of seven months. Mr. Conant was elected Secretary of State in 1882, over William Shakespeare, Fusionist, and Martin V. Rork, Prohibitionist, and in 1884 was again elected to the same office by a vote of 192,929 to 188,- 546 for Shakespeare, Fusionist, and 19,107 for Zaccheus Chase, Prohibitionist. He is identified in most of the affairs of a public nature in his section. A man of strict integrity, highly esteemed as a citizen and popular throughout the State ; a man of wealth and knows how to enjoy it. He married Mary Thurber, daughter of Horace Thurber, of Pontiac, Michigan. Has one son, Horace, who entered Princeton College fall of 1889, and one daughter, Margaret, who is attending the Young Ladies' Seminary in Detroit.
JAMES ARMITAGE.
Mr. and Mrs. John Armitage, the parents of the subject of this sketch, lived upon a farm in Cambridge, Washington county, in the State of New York, where Mr. James Armit- age, on the 12th day of December, A. D. 1812, first made his appearance. They had a large
family of children, but two of whom now sur- vive - James and one younger brother, George W. Armitage, who has for many years resided in Monroe.
Mr. James Armitage, during his youthful days, had the advantages of a common school education, and subsequently attended the then celebrated academy of Roswell Brooks. IIc then taught school for three years, and having attained his manhood, was one day accosted by their old family physician, who after the usual salutations of the morning, said with emphasis: " My young friend, you must leave this climate, there is no hope for you in it." He knew that consumption was hereditary in the family, and advised him to "go west" Influenced and governed by his counsel Mr. Armitage de- termined to follow it, and decided upon seck- ing Michigan Territory. In crossing Lake Eric was accosted one day by Mr. William White, a merchant of Monroe, who was re- turning from New York, and who noticed his woc-begone looks, was attracted to him and said : " Hello! What makes you look so blue ? Guess you have just left your mammy. Cheer up, my young man. Where are you going?" Before the trip was ended Mr. White, who was an eccentric man, and known here as Variety White, the red-coat man, offered him a clerkship in his store, which was readily ac- cepted. They arrived in Monroe October 29, 1833. Mr. Armitage remained in his employ until 1834, when he entered into copartnership with Doctor Ingham S. Roberts, who was dealing in drugs and medicines under the name of I. S. Roberts & Co .; soon after firm name was changed to that of Roberts & Armitage.
During the year 1834 the cholera prevailed to an alarming extent, taking off sixty-four of our citizens, among the number Doctor Colton, Burt Stuart and Mr. T. E. Gidley, copartner of Harry V. Man in dry goods, well remembered by many of our older citizens.
[347]
348
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
During the following year the firm of Roberts & Armitage purchased of the United States Gov- ernment one thousand acres of land, located in Lenawee and Williams counties, and at the same time purchased one hundred and thirty acres of Benjamin Hornbeck, the premises on which the town of Morenci is situated, and took in as copartners in the purchase -- Williams and Alpheus Felch.
For the improvement of his health Mr. Armitage determined to avoid confinement and " rough it." He devoted much of his time to the improvement of their purchase, and built on Bean Creek a saw mill and coffer dam, now known as Beaver Dam, greatly improving his health thereby.
Roberts & Armitage sold out to Mr. Hawks, of Rochester, New York, and soon after Mr. Armitage entered into copartnership with Dr. Harry Conant in drugs and medicines, in which firm be continued until 1842, when he pur- chased the stock of Merrill & Whittier, dry goods merchants, in which business he is at present engaged. Mr. Armitage and Mr. William H. Boyd are the only surviving merchants that were engaged in business in Monroe in 1836.
Mr. Armitage was ever averse to accepting any public office, and in but one instance has he varied from the rule, when he became a candidate for mayor of the city, to which he was elected in the spring of 1849.
Mr. Armitage's business with farmers in the county has been very extensive, and one inci- dent in my own experience serves as an illus. tion of their estimate. While one of the firm of Wing & Johnson, in banking, applications were frequently made for loans and discounts by farmers, and when questioned who they would give for endorser, they almost uniformly re- plied, " James Armitage." But upon applica- tion Mr. Armitage would uniformly reply : " Your credit is good for anything in my estab- lishment, but my rule is never to endorse." He was annoyed to such an extent that upon his request we were requested, when applications were made in future, to say that "your credit is good for anything in his line, but he will not endorse."
He has lived in our midst as a business man for over a half century, and enjoyed an un- blemished reputation for fair dealing, has been prosperous, always in good credit, highly es- teemed by our citizens.
He was in 1868 ordained a ruling elder in the First Presbyterian church; has been a very liberal contributor thereto, as well as to many religious and charitable objects in the county.
Mr. Armitage was married August 15, 1842, to Miss Harriet Conant, the eldest daughter of Doctor Harry and Maria Conant, who died in 18-, and married for his second wife Miss Helen Conant, the sister of his former wife. They are now living in our midst in their hos- pitable and delightful home, on the corner of First and Macomb streets, highly esteemed in our community.
ALFRED ISAAC SAWYER, M. D.,
Was born in Lyme township, Huron county, Ohio, October 31, 1828. His parents, Stephen and Dorothy Sawyer, came to this country from England in 1819, settling first in New Haven, Connecticut, then at North Bend, on the Ohio River.
There Stephen Sawyer took charge of a farm for General William H. Harrison, afterwards president of the United States, between whom and himself' a strong friendship ever afterward existed.
The country was then new, and being illy prepared by habits and education for pioneer life, he became wearied with its hardships and set out to return to the mother country.
When he reached New York City, he met friends from England who persuaded him to go back to Connecticut. Among the party was Captain Henry Griswold, a son of the governor of the State, with his bride, formerly Miss Betsy Lansdale, a sister of Mrs. Stephen Sawyer.
In 1827 the family again turned their faces westward, and with many other Connecticut people settled on what was then called the " Connecticut fire land," more familiarly known since as the Western Reserve. In the autumn of 1828 the subject of this sketch was born, as already stated. About this time Mr. Sawyer purchased a large tract of wild land, put up a log house and moved into it, his son Alfred being just one month old. Although a more modern and commodious dwelling was subse- quently crected, the old log house is still stand- ing. Here the parents lived, prospered and
A.D. Sawyer, Mr. X )
THE NEW PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
349
SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE LATER RESIDENTS.
died. Of their children, nine sons and four daughters, six were born in England, one at North Bend. Ohio, three in Connecticut. and three at Lyme, Ohio. Alfred Isaac Sawyer is the eleventh child and eighth son. With the exception of Alfred the children followed the example of their parents, and led a prosperous agricultural life.
At the age of seventeen Alfred Sawyer dreamed of other enterprises and sought to pre- pare himself for other fields of labor. This was strenuously opposed by his father, who argued that his education was " good enough for a farmer, which was what he desired him to be, and what he should be." Up to this time the boy had enjoyed no opportunity for schooling but such as was afforded by the country schools of that day, which continued but three months out of twelve, and were very inefficient at that. Although the father was one of the strictest of old English disciplinarians, the ambitious boy would not be restrained or deterred from his purpose ..
During the next three years Alfred Sawyer improved every opportunity to acquire an ed- ucation that would fit him for some other call- ing than that to which he had thus far been reared. Every obstacle was thrown in his way; still by hard work, teaching school in winter, and attending the Norwalk Academy in the spring and fall, and by studying while others slept, he succeeded in acquiring an average academical education and had made arrange- ments with one of his brothers to take a clas- sical course.
During the cholera epidemic of 1849, how- ever, his brother fell a victim to the fearful scourge. For four years he worked his brother's farm and thereby accumulated sufficient means to enable him to pursue his studies for a time. But instead of completing his classical course he entered the office of Drs. John Tift and Beckwith, Norwalk. Ohio. This was in the autumn of 1852.
When the lectures commenced in the West- ern College of Homeopathy at Cleveland, Ohio, in November of that year he matriculated and after the close of the course followed Dr. D. H. Beckwith to Marietta, Ohio. In August, 1853, he was attacked by that frightful disease, bloody flux, which was at that time prevailing to an alarming extent in that region, and was confined to his bed several weeks, with life
trembling in the balance. However, when lectures began again in Cleveland in November he attended them, and in the spring of 1854 re- ceived the degree of doctor of medicine.
In May of that year he again returned to Marietta and entered into copartnership with his former preceptor, Dr. D. H. Beckwith, who shortly gave place to his brother, Dr. E. C. Beckwith, and settled at Zanesville, Ohio.
In 1855 Dr. Sawyer left Marietta and again formed a partnership with D. H. Beckwith at Zanesville, where he remained until the fall of 1856. He then went to New York City and attended the medical department of New York University, remaining until the 1st of March, 1857.
Having become somewhat disgusted with general practice he proposed to pursue some specialty. Accordingly he engaged rooms in Bleeker street, New York, where he intended to follow ophthalmic surgery. To this end he earnestly, persistently and successfully pur- sned a special course of study under Drs. Val- entine, Mott, Mark, Stephenson, Rogers and Gerish, and from them received a diploma declaring his fitness to enter upon that special field of the profession. But his sources of revenue again unexpectedly failed him, oblig- ing him to leave New York and seek an opening that promised more ready and certain returns.
After visiting various places between New York City and Monroe, Michigan, he finally settled, May 12, 1857, in the latter place, where he still resides.
He was made a Mason in February, 1858, a Royal Arch Mason in 1859, a Royal and Select Mason in 1863 at Monroe, and a Knight Tem- plar at Adrian in 1868. He was elected Senior Warden of Monroe Lodge, No. 27, in 1863, and Worshipful Master in 1864-65-66-67-68-69 and 1870.79-80-81 and 1887.
During this time he was presented by the lodge with a beautiful Past Master's Jewel. He was High Priest of River Raisin Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, from 1867 to 1871 inclu- sive.
Was elected Grand Principal Sojourner of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of the State of Michigan in 1869, Grand Captain of the Host in 1870, Grand Scribe in 1871, Grand King in 1872, Deputy Grand High Priest in 1873, and Grand High Priest in 1874.
350
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Was made chairman of a committee to re- vise the Grand constitution of the Grand Chap- ter of Royal Arch Masons of Michigan in 1875, which required four years for completion, and is to-day the fundamental law of the Order in Michigan.
Represented the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Michigan in the General Grand Chapter of the United States at Denver, Colo- rado, in 1883.
. Was elected Grand President of the Grand Council of High Priesthood in 1872, immedi- ately after submitting a masterly report of the history and chronology of the Order. This office he held for several years.
Was elected Grand Principal Conductor of the work in the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masons of Michigan in 1873.
Was first Eminent Commander of River Raisin Commandery, No. 19, K. T., in 1868, and again in 1886.
Was elected mayor of the city of Monroe in 1869-70 and 1878, and was a member of its school board for nine years.
But as his untiring zeal and faithful devo- tion has made him a leader in political, educa- tional, Masonic and social circles, even so he has shone if anything with far more brilliancy in his chosen profession, and among his learned colleagues. There is no man in this country who has done more for the advancement of medical science than has Dr. A. I. Sawyer, of Monroe.
The homeopathic department of the Uni- versity of Michigan owes its life and susten- ance to him. In 1847 a bill making it a State prison offense to practice medicine according to the homeopathic law was introduced in the legislature of Michigan. It passed one of the houses before it was discovered by the friends of homeopathy. It was defeated in the other house by the judicious efforts of the friends of that system of medicine. The first efforts to secure recognition of homeopathy in the uni- versity were begun in 1853, but without suc- cess. In 1855 there was enacted a law requir- ing the board of regents to "always maintain at least one chair of homeopathy in the medi- cal department of the University of Michigan." The regents failed to comply with the require- ments of this law. The question was then taken " by mandamus " to the Supreme Court of the State, requiring the board of regents to
show cause why they did not comply with the law. Here the friends of homeopathy were defeated by simply non-action on the part of the Supreme Court, two of its members being members of the law faculty in the university, and hence instruments of the board of regents.
This farce cost Sawyer $155 for attorney fees alone, not to mention what he paid for a per- son to remain in Lansing and lobby for the passage of a bill during nearly the entire ses- sion, or his own personal expenses there and elsewhere in the interest of the canse.
After this defeat the friends of homeopathy again went before the legislature in 1867, and attacked the very fountain head of the univer- sity by amending the law which gives to it one- twentieth of a mill on the dollar of all taxable property of the State, so that it read: " Pro- vided the board of regents would comply with the law of 1855, and appoint at least one pro- fessor in the medical department of the uni- versity," thus locking up a goodly portion of the income of the university. In 1869 the re- gents agreed to comply with the law of 1855, providing the friends of homeopathy would secure a repeal of the obnoxious law of 1867. Although this was done, the regents acted in bad faith, and undertook to both comply with and evade the law by appointing Dr. Chas. Hempel professor of theory and practice of medicine, and proposed to locate him in Detroit instead of Ann Arbor. The duplicity of the board was rewarded by the auditor general of the State refusing to honor the warrants of the univer- sity, because the law of 1855 had not been com- plied with, the Supreme Court declining to take action in the matter. The university was there- fore deprived of this source of revenue.
The regents finally offered to compromise on the basis of creating a branch school outside of Ann Arbor, and through certain homoeopathic physicians " who had become discouraged through the unsuccessful attempts to establish a homeopathic school on the campus of the University of Michigan," conveyed to the Homeopathic Society their proposition of rec- onciliation. This question was finally referred to a committee of the State Medical Society early in the seventies. Dr. Sawyer was chair- man and submitted the following report, viz. :
"Resolved, That when the same rights, bene- fits and privileges that are now enjoyed by the old school doctors shall have been accorded to
351
SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE LATER RESIDENTS.
homcopaths on the university campus, we will be satisfied, and not before."
Immediately following this report the Dr. introduced another bill to the legislature, with a long and forcible remonstrance against fur- ther delay in granting them their rights, signed by himself and two others (Dr. I. N. Eldridge, of Flint, and Robert King, of Kalamazoo); had it introduced and forced to a successful issue, in spite of the enemies within and foes without. Investigation showed the legislature's failure to make provision for supporting this new de- partment, and the bill was a dead letter. In 1875 a bill was introduced by parties working in the confidence, if not in the interest of the old school professors and physicians, and ask- ing for a homeopathic college to be located at such place as would furnish the greatest induce- ments by way of funds, grounds, buildings, and the like, to be under the supervision of the board of regents.
After the bill had very quietly passed the Senate with only four dissenting votes Dr. Sawyer discovered the real purpose of the bill, and when it came up for action in the House had an amendment introduced virtually cut- ting off all after the enacting clause, and sub- stituting the bill which passed the legislature the session previous, simply adding $6,000 for expenses.
The House failing to pass the amendment, the whole matter was laid upon the table until five o'clock the next day. The authors of the bill then fell in with the doctor for the proposed substitute, and it passed the House.
At the next meeting of the regents (June, 1875) they complied with the law and organ- ized a homeopathic department in the univer- sity. A hospital, too, has been added to the original plant.
Doctor Sawyer has been in attendance more or less during every session of the legislature since 1867, and for ten years nearly every ses. sion of the board of regents, in the interest of homeopathy. He has refused at various times to consider proposed appointments to profes- sorships, that nothing might embarrass his efforts to secure an acceptable school in the University of Michigan.
At the commencement exercises of the uni- versity in June, 1877, he had the proud satis- faction of occupying the same platform with the old school faculty, with the president of the
University of Michigan, and witnessing the graduation of the first class from the homco- pathic department. The nucleus of the college which he was so instrumental in founding has already secured an everlasting foothold, and will ever live as a monument to him and to those who so.gallantly stood by his side. The alumni of the college thus brought forth under so many difficulties are known far and wide, and wherever known respected, an honor to their Alma Mater, an honor to the State of Michigan, an honor to the promoters of the col. lege, and a blessing to mankind.
In the early history of this college, before professors were appointed to the chairs of ob- stetrics and surgery, Dr. A. I. Sawyer was ap- pointed as examiner or censor for that depart- ment. He was a delegate to represent the American Institute of Homeopathy, also Ho- moopathic State Medical Society of Michigan, at the International Homeopathic Congress, which met in London, England, in July, 1881, and while in Europe at that time visited Ire- land, Wales, Scotland, England, Holland, Prussia, Switzerland and France. In 1885 be was elected vice-president of the American Institute of Homeopathy at St. Louis, Missouri, and at the same session was made chairman of the committee on medical legislation of that body, which position he held till 1889.
In 1889, at Minnetonka Beach, Minnesota, the members of the National Institute of Homeopathy recognized the faithful labors of this untiring physician, and unanimously elected him to the presidency of the oldest med- ical institution in America.
In presenting his name for the honored posi- tion it was declared that to him were they in- debted for the State recognition of homeopathy; that he had fought and he had conquered; that the outcome of that war was the estab- lishing by him of an institution that would for ever stand.
Dr. Sawyer is one of the most eminent physicians and surgeons in Southern Michigan, and has an extensive and lucrative practice. He married the daughter of Phillip R. and Nancy D. Toll, of Monroe, Michigan, and re- sides with his family, consisting of one son and one daughter, in his beautiful residence on Front street, the site of the headquarters of General Winchester during the War of 1812-13.
352
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
JACOB LYMAN GREENE.
Colonel Jacob L. Greene, president of the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company, is a native of Maine, was educated at the Mich- igan State University, practiced law in the latter State until the outbreak of the war, en- listed in the army as a private, rapidly at- tained promotion and reputation for gallantry and strategic skill, endured much more than the average soldier's share of the hardships of warfare, was one of the last men to be mus- tered out of the service, a brevet lieutenant- colonel at twenty-eight, returned to New Eng- land and five years after was made assistant secretary of the great company of which he is now chief executive. At the dedication of the Soldiers' and Sailors Memorial Arch which now stands in the Capitol Park at Hartford, Colonel Greene was chief marshal of the pro- cession, and the following points concerning his military career were then published by the local press :
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.