History of Monroe County, Michigan, Part 72

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

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The River Raisin Valley Nursery was estab- lished in 1857 by J. C. W Greening. In 1882 his two sons, George A. and Charles E., with - drew, and started on their own account on thirty acres next east of the original nursery, and in 1886 they took the entire charge of the nursery located about a mile and a half south of the city of Monroe, and consisting of 240

acres. In 1854 Mr. Greening planted the first Concord grape introduced into Monroe county.

Naturally following the propagating of trees comes the production of small fruits. In 1876, after dissolving partnership with his brother, Mr. Daniel Ilgenfritz started as the pioneer of berry culture in Southern Michigan, and now has on his fruit farm 1,000 apple and 500 pear trees, and 10 acres of grapes, 20 of blackber- ries and 30 of raspberries, the shipments from which are from 75 to 100 bushels daily, mostly to Bay City and Saginaw markets.

SAMUEL BAKER LEWIS,

The proprietor of the Floral City Nurseries, was ushered into this world October 5, 1823, taking his first view of life on a farm about two miles west of Monroe, being the third of a family of ten boys, his parents being Silas and Lydia (Chilson) Lewis, the former of whom was killed by the falling of a tree December 1, 1853; the latter was born in Cart- wright, Delaware county, New York, a few miles from Albany, May 2, 1799, and is now living at the advanced age of ninety years in Council Bluffs, Iowa. In 1806 she went with her parents to Little York (now Toronto), On - tario, and was but a short distance away when the magazine was blown up, resulting in the death of General Pike. Her father, John Chil- son, was impressed into the British army dur- ing the War of 1812, and not wishing to fight against his own countrymen, was at that time in hiding under a neighboring bank, which fact probably saved him from the fate of hundreds of his comrades.

His grandfather, Reuben Lewis, came to Monroe in 1806 with eight families, and was probably one of the first American settlers in Monroc. He, with Silas, was attached to the cavalry, under General Hull, during the War of 1812, and at Hull's surrender August 11, 1811, took to the woods and carried the news to General Winchester. His aunt Lucretia (mother of the late Mrs. E. H. Reynolds) had just made a new cloak which the Indians tried several times to take from her ; as she pluckily recovered it each time, they finally took both her and the cloak to their camp about eight miles distant, and from which she managed to make her escape the first night. His grand-

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father and grandmother in company with a number of other settlers made their escape from the French and Indians, and in an open bateau followed the coast of Lake Erie to Cleveland ; in consequence of exposure during the trip Mrs. Lewis died, and Mr. Lewis after- ward went to Kentucky and re-married.

Shortly after peace was declared, Silas married, and returning to Monroe settled on the old farm, and also worked a tannery and boot and shoe shop, and on the opening of the Michigan Sonthern Railroad from Monroe to Adrian took the contract for the construction of sections eight and eleven.

His brothers are: Manson, born May, 1820, died November, 1824; Shubael, born February 28, 1822, for two years treasurer of the town- ship of Milan ; Silas, born July, 1825, who went to California in 1851 over the overland route, and bringing up in Texas just before the War of the Rebellion, was pressed into the Confederate service, and served in the rebel army through the war, at the close of which, in company with two other families, fitted out teams, intending to emigrate through the Indian Territory to Iowa, but the first night ont, when camped on the banks of Blue River, they were overtaken by white men disguised as Indians and the men brutally murdered, while the wo- men and children, after burying their husbands and fathers in hurriedly dug graves, returned to Bonham, Fannin county, Texas; Moses, born in 1827 and died an infant ; John Chilson, born in 1829, went to California with Colonel Wadsworth in 1851, now living in Iowa ; James, born in 1831, now living in Colorado; William, born in 1834; Nelson, born in 1837; the two latter, with John Chilson, went to Iowa and settled in the southern part of Kane township, Pottawattamie county, which a few years ago was set off and named Lewis town- ship; and George H., born in 1841, and now living in Monroc.

A remarkable fact in connection with Mr. Lewis's family is that all the brothers (with the except of the two who died in infancy and the one who was shot) are living, hale, hearty, old men, who have hardly known the meaning of sickness in their lives.

November 28, 1849, Mr. Lewis was married in Brownstown, Wayne county, Michigan, to Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph and Julia Ann (DeForest) Viles, the former of whom

died April 29, 1877, and the latter April 26, 1888. Mrs. Lewis was a native of Steuben, New York, where she was born April 2, 1832. Her children are: Emma Lucretia, born Septem- ber 18, 1852, married to William V. Strong, an engineer in Charlevoix, and son of Captain Strong, one of the old residents of Monroe; Claire Elizabeth, born October 1, 1852 ; Susan Augusta, born February 14, 1854; George Washington, born September 30, 1855, married March 28, 1883, to Belle Hendrick, of Rochester, New York, and now living in St. Charles, Michigan ; Franklin May, born November 12, 1857, died January 23, 1869; Alva, born Sep- tember 14, 1859, died September 30, 1859; Hattie Minnie, born March 18, 1861, now living in Monroe, the wife of Willis Baldwin, county surveyor, to whom she was married April 11, 1883; Samnel Chilson, born July 4, 1863 ; and Mary Alzada, born November 11, 1868.

Of Mr. Lewis's brothers none were in the Union army, although he paid for a substitute and was not drafted, and Shubael was drafted and cleared the call by reason of deafness. Silas was pressed into the rebel army, in which he served through the war, and was shot by bushwhackers on the banks of Blue River, Indian Territory, in July, 1865.

The grandfather of Mrs. Lewis (George DeForest) was an officer at West Point, where he died during the War of 1812.

Mr. Lewis had but few educational advan- tages in his early youth, attending school in the old log school house on the Harvey farm, and graduating from the select school kept by Ingersoll & Peters under the old Methodist Episcopal church. A farmer from his boy- hood, he ran a threshing machine for about ten years ; from 1855 to 1857 he had charge of the county poorhouse and farm, and after traveling for Ilgenfritz in 1866, in company with E. H. Reynolds started the Monroe City Nursery on the farm where the River Raisin massacre occurred. The great hailstorm of 1883 resulted in the dissolution of this partner- ship, and on the hundred acres coming to him as his share, he started the Floral City Nursery as S. B. Lewis & Co. His brother George was the company, but he soon afterward withdrew.

Mr. Lewis has by close attention built up a large business, extending over the entire country. His selection of varieties, many of them imported, embraces all the latest and most

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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

promising introductions, as well as the most popular and thoroughly proved older sorts, both of fruits or ornamentals, for the garden, orchard, park or lawn. His aim is to keep fully abreast of an enlightened and cultivated taste in the introduction of new and valuable varieties of fruit, and novelties and valuable acquisitions in ornamentals, giving the most careful scrutiny to their propagation, accepting with pleasure anything that has real merit. By . a careful consideration of the wants of his trade, and faithful attention to business, he is warranted in offering his stock as pure and absolutely true to name, and is enabled to offer the product of his nurseries with entire confi- dence to planters in all sections of the country. In politics Mr. Lewis has always been a rad- ical Democrat. For many years he has been a consistent member of the Presbyterian church.

WAGONMAKERS.

While in the manufacture of wagons and carriages Monroe has never risen to the dignity of a specialty, yet the work of her wagomakers is largely sought after by farmers in the con- tiguous territory. As no record of the business has been kept it would be an impossibility to give a perfect account of the industry, but as early as 1835 we find John Hill (who after- wards sold to John Spencer), with Samuel Sellers as his smith, and a shop located on Monroe street where the Methodist church now stands.

At that time (1835) Cramer & Garwood were the only blacksmiths. Up to about 1840 we find Goodenough (1838), Blue, Dunbar, Raider, Samuel Robinson (1836), McCormick, John O'Reilly (1837), and Spencer. Mr. Spencer came from York State with twenty farm wagons, and failed, as the main work of the carriage- maker in those days (the population being mostly French and living almost entirely in log houses) was French carts and coffins, and his wagons were too expensive to meet with sale.

Lebrouch, with a smithy where St. Mary's seminary is, J. H. Dennison, John Jones and Fischer, came during the thirties, and from 1840 to 1850 we have Fischer, Westerman, Kull Brothers. The next decade brings R. Gilmore, Felix Hughes, Kiddie, George Custer (an uncle of General Custer). As good tools were an

essential factor in the wagonmaker's vocation, about 1840 White & Miller started an edge tool factory, and in 1845 were succeeded by one Prindle. John Lewis, as far back as 1835, furnished castings needed in the business. Up to the time of the war this branch was in a crude state, and mostly confined to custom jobs and ordered work; but with the advent of new machinery and manufactured white stock, a change was made, and the business as now carried on practically dates from about 1860.

It would be an impossibility to give the career of cach workman, or even a list of those who have been engaged in the business in Monroe at different times. In 1874 we have as wagonmakers: John Black, John H. Denni- son, John Fischer, August Peters, Balders Porth, and Westerman & Co. Combined with a blacksmith shop were: Acker, Leonard & Co., F. Bezeau, Ohr & Beck, and Wagner Bros. Having a forge only were: John Alexander, John Baier, George Custer, Egle & Knap, John C. Heck, Kull Bros., and Peters & Cassedy.

Fifteen years later we look at the condition of the business with as near as possible the year from which they date, as follows: 1861, Beck & Baier, F. G. Ohr; 1835, Anton Wester- man ; 1837, John H. Dennison; 1850, Kull Bros. ; 1862, F. Bezeau; 1870, B. Porth ; 1875, G. & F. Wagner; 1882, Ludwig Krzyszke ; 1885, J. B. Piquett. And of the sons of Vulcan : 1840, John C. Heck; 1845, William Acker, John Baier ; 1860, Frank Benderritter ; 1873, Anton Egle; 1886, Adolphus Dubery.

Of these we make mention of John H. Denni- son, the oldest son of Ezekiel R. and Abigail (Adams) Dennison. He was born in Durham, Connecticut, October 21, 1813, and came to Monroe in 1837 from Livonia, New York. Here he entered the employ of one Fischer till the next spring, since which he has carried on a shop for himself. October 20, 1840, he was married to Amelia, daughter of George and Sarah (Ely) Pegler, by whom he has had two children : Zenas H., born February 14, 1844, and now living in Marshall, Michigan ; and Sarah, born March, and dying in September, 1846. In politics Mr. D. is a Republican. For many years has been an active member of the Presbyterian church.

Frank Benderritter came to Monroe in 1853 with his parents, Joseph and Maria (Rosenblatt) Benderritter. He was born at Sandusky, Ohio,

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John Martin

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June 13, 1843. In May, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Fourth Michigan Volunteer In- fantry, serving until mustered out as corporal June 30, 1864. At the battle of Cold Harbor he was wounded in the hand, for which he receives a small pension. November 22, 1870, he married the daughter of William and Bar- bara (Schneider) Kull, who is the mother of George, born September, 1872, and Joseph, born January, 1876. Mr. Benderritter is a member of Joseph R. Smith Post, No. 76, G. A. R., of which he is now junior vice commander. In polities an independent Democrat. He has for two years served as city marshal.

Ferdinand Bezean was born at Coteau de Sac, Canada, December 12, 1832, and at an early day went with his parents, Joseph Louis and Charlotte ( Mitteand) Bezeau to Rochester, New York, where he lived till the death of his mother in 1842. His uncle then brought him to Mon - roe and he learned the trade of wagonmaker, which he followed successfully till the fall of 1888, when he became landlord of the Floral City House. During the time he was in the business he made the only omnibus ever built in Monroe. He has served as alderman and street commissioner two terms cach. He has found marriage a success, having tried it three times, June 6, 1865, with Catherine, daughter of Philip and Margaret Ann (Devon) Gregory, who died February 2, 1876, her children being Mary, born May 7, 1867; Louis Philip, Decem- ber 8, 1869; Elida, August 3, 1871 ; and Eliza- beth, March 27, 1874. His second wife, to whom he was married September 9, 1878, was Mary, daughter of Edward and Mary Ann (Navarre) Loranger ; she died without issue August 8, 1882. His youngest child is Emma Hortense, born July 27, 1885, her mother being Emma E. (sister of his second spouse), to whom he was married March 18, 1883.

JOHN MARTIN,

Who for the past six years has been the pro- prietor of a brickyard in the western part of Monroe, was ushered into this world the seven- teenth day of October, 1836, and is a native to the manner born, bis birthplace being Monroe, and his parents Thomas and Mary (Cooney) Martin, who came to Monroe county in 1836. The life of Mr. Martin has been that of a man

who not having early educational advantages made up for it by a large amount of sound common sense. After a boyhood spent as most boys do, he, in the spring of 1859. went to work in the Eaton brickyard, continuing in that employment until 1879. when his savings en- abled him to procure a horse and dray, and for about seven years he might have been found ready to do any work that presented itself.

January 20, 1877, he married Mary (Nuhfer), daughter of Frederick and Pauline (Liden- berger) Rodeman, whose two sons. William and Peter Nuhfer, are now engineers, the one on the Pennsylvania lines, the other at Detroit on the Michigan Central Railroad. While Mr. Martin was born and brought up a Catholic, his contact with people has made him very liberal in his views.

In 1870 he purchased the house and lot on Front street, where he now lives, and in 1883 added about six or seven acres adjoining and began the manufacture of brick and tile. His trade, although mainly a local one, steadily increased until he has now from ten to fifteen men working for him, manufactures during the season ten thousand brick daily and forty-four thousand feet of tile each week, running con- stantly two first-class machines. In 1885 he joined Lincoln Lodge, No. 190, I. O. O. F .. of which body he is an active member. Mr. Martin has never taken any active part in politics, but has always been an independent Democrat.

BRICKYARDS.

Looking at the present condition of the brickyards in Monroe, it may be of interest to recall some reminiscences of that branch of business in Monroe. The first brickyard of which we can gain any information was started in the early part of the forties by James Nel- son on his farm, on the north side of the River Raisin, near the west end of the city, and for several years was under the charge of Silas W. Eaton. From this yard came the bricks used in the construction of the Presbyterian church and many of the brick houses erected prior to 1850. In 1848 Mr. Eaton started a yard on the Downing farm in the same locality, which he worked for about two years, it then being operated by Mr. Downing till about 1860. From about 1851 to 1857 Mr. Eaton, then

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county sheriff, worked a yard on the commons in front of the county jail. In 1866 a man by the name of Fleishman again started the yard on the Downing farm, continuing it for about three years. In 1881 and for two years after, Frank Luce contributed his share of the same product, his yard being near the Michigan Central depot. About 1883 John Martin started in near the west end of Front street, and his yards now cover an acre and a half, with a capacity each day of about ten thousand brick and seven thousand tile, giving employment to eleven men.

In 1854 we find Job C. Eaton starting a small yard in the extreme western limit of the city on Front street, which has increased until its daily capacity is over twenty thousand brick and twenty-five thousand tile. Mr. Eaton, who may be considered the pioneer brick manufac- turer of Monroe, and who has invented several brick machines, was born in Burlington, Ver- mont, February 22, 1832, and when eighteen months old came to Monroe with his parents, Silas W. and Harriet (Conger) Eaton, the former of whom is still living at the age of eighty-seven. He was married November 17, 1853. to Rachel, daughter of William and Eliz- abeth (Incson) Fox, who is the mother of Nelson, born November 28, 1854, died March 3, 1860; William Fox, April 20, 1857, died March 24, 1870; Mary E., October 1, 1859, married to James N. Bentley December 27, 1882, and died. July 9, 1883 ; William Harrison, June 19, 1862; Charles G., March 27, 1865; Edwin J., April 15, 1868; and Sidney N., June 8, 1871. In the month of February, 1865, Mr. Eaton went into the service as second lieuten- ant Company K, Eleventh Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and served till the close of the war, and is now Surgeon of Jos. R. Smith Post, No. 76, Grand Army of the Republic. A Republi- can in politics, he has served for six years as alderman in the city and for four years as county sheriff.

In 1885 the La Plaisance Manufacturing Company, of which J. M. Bulkley was president and R. Fleming secretary, started the manu- facture of "Monroe" Bath Brick, which on May 2. 1886, was purchased by the present proprietor, Mr. P. H. Mathews. Their main market is St. Louis, Missouri, shipments, how- ever, being made to Lincoln, Nebraska, Minne- apolis, Minnesota, and other western points.

About 1854 C. Mohr & Son established the first marble yard in Monroe. Some years after Taylor & Eichbauer started in the same line, and were succeeded in 1874 by L. Eichbauer & Sons, the principal product of both yards being monumental work.

FLOUR MILLS.

As early as 1820 the Waterloo Mills were started, and Monroe, from its natural advan- tages, became the grain market of southeastern Michigan. About 1840 the Monroe City Mills were built, and the Eric Mills, of Black Rock, near Buffalo, New York, sent Mr. F. Waldorf to take charge of the former, which they had rented of Mr. Beach in 1842, and three years later they leased the latter, Mr. Waldorf superintending the working of both, while Samuel J. Holley had charge of the outside work. At this time money did not enter into the dealing in grain, and trade was all in dicker. These being the only mills in this section of the country, parties came from as far as Maumee City and waited for their grist to be ground. About the time the Monroe City Mills were built by Birch & Frost, a water-power and dam had been constructed by Bacon & Law- rence, and prior to the occupancy of the mill by Mr. Waldorf, a quarter interest was owned by each. In 1844 the Erie Mills, as a forward. ing institution, did not find it to their interest to be known in connection with the mills at Monroe as proprietors, and so persuaded Messrs. Waldorf & Holley to lease them, which was done in 1845. Six years later the Water- loo Mills were thoroughly overhauled and refitted, and in 1852 were purchased by Mr. Waldorf, who sold them in 1858 to Messrs. Norman & Perkins, the latter continuing in possession until 1870, when they were sold to Stiles & Harvey. In 1875 Harvey sold his in- terest to Mr. C. G. Johnson, who continued in partnership until 1881, when Mr. Stiles became the owner by purchasing the interest held by Mr. Johnson, again changing in 1887, with Cyrus Stiles in charge. This left Mr. Waldorf in full charge of the Monroe City Mills.

Prior to the opening of the canal, all shipments of flour and other materials had to be made from La Plaisance Bay, to which point a track was laid, and cars drawn by horses as a motive- power. There being no warehouses at Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, or in fact anywhere except at

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Monroe, it was the best wheat market in this section of the country; and it was no musnal thing at early morning to see the streets in the vicinity of the mill blocked with teams waiting to unload, the farmers having come in from taverns near by, where they had remained over night so as to be on hand in time. The mills were run to their fullest capacity day and night, and shipments made to the Buffalo mar- ket, vessels leaving the bay with two and three thousand barrels of flour, which were fre- quently sold long before the boat reached its destined point. Buffalo at that time was the great distributing point for that section, and the reputation of Monroe flour was of the high- est. On the completion of the canal ware- houses were ready, and wheat that could not be at once used in the mills found a ready sale there, the first ones in the field being started by Sterling & Noble.

When the railroads were released from the State and passed under private control, com- petition at other points began and Monroe lost its prestige, although it has ever had its fair share of business in the grain market. About 1875 the machinery of the Bay City Mill at Sandusky (where it had been for forty years) was shipped to Monroe and a mill started by Mr. Boyd, and after passing through several hands, the "Standard " Mill came into the possession of Messrs. Johnson & Stiles in 1879, who operated it till 1883, when it was shut down. The little mill of Caux & Stiles was built as a store about 1875, and within a year the ma- chinery of the mill from Adrian was put in operation in the old store room. The daily capacity of the several mills now in operation is about three hundred barrels, market being found mostly in Detroit and Cleveland.

While as a historian we would not give fulsome flattery to any meritorious subject, yet we can not pass this point without a brief sketch of one of Monroe's most popular citizens, who, after nearly half a century of active busi- ness life, is known as one of the solid men of the city, and while not at all ostentatious in the display of, yet is always open to the call of charity, never letting his left hand know what his right does. When he passes away at the call of his Creator to join the heavenly hosts, hundreds of worthy poor will without doubt mourn the loss of one whose watchful eye, ever on the lookout to relieve worthy destitu-

tion, is forever closed to the scenes of earth and can no more guide his hands in answer to the calls of suffering humanity. Born in a mill in Darmstadt January 27, 1825, he came to this country with his parents, Adam and Mary (Maples) Waldorf in August, 1834, when they settled in Lyons, New York, his father enter- the employ of the Erie Mills, at that time the largest in the Union, having a daily capacity of five hundred barrels of flour. In 1839 he removed to Black Rock, near Buffalo, New York, still in the employ of the same firm, and with whom he learned the secrets of the miller's trade. As a " dusty miller " he came to Mon- roe in 1842, and is justly looked upon by his brother millers as the patriarch of the business in this section.

In June, 1844, he was married to Celestine Ann, daughter of James J. and Victoria (Navarre) Godfroy.

When but a boy four years old he was left without a mother, but had the counsel of a father until 1864. Coming to the land of the free he early imbibed the true principles of freedom, and himself and Hon. I. P. Chris- tiancy were the fathers of the Republican party in Monroe, he being the first Republican

mayor elected in the city, and presidential elector on that ticket from this district for several presidential elections. For years he has been a consistent member of the Lutheran church. From the early days of the First National Bank a director, he was elected presi- dent on its reorganization in 1877, which office he has since held.

GRAPES AND SMALL FRUITS.

Prior to 1865 the Sister Islands were sought by a number of the families in Monroe as a summer resort. The variety of luxurious grapes that were cultivated to so great an extent was one of the chief attractions. They were shipped in boxes and baskets to eastern and western cities in great quantities, com- manding readily 122 cents per pound. Up to this time ventures in field planting, with but one exception, that of Joseph M. Sterling on the south side of the River Raisin, had not been undertaken.

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History of Monroe County, Michigan, Part 72

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