USA > Michigan > Saginaw County > History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, Volume I > Part 46
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SCHOOL CENSUS.
For the purpose of this reference to the schools, it will be nec- essary to give only the following figures, dealing with the school census of 1881, the apportionment of primary school moneys, and the number of children considered in making such apportionment:
No. of children in school census.
No. of children in appor- tionment.
Amount appor- tioned.
Albee. .
167
167
$ 177 02
Birch Run
509
509
539 54
Blumfield.
513
513
543 78
Brady
423
423
448 38
Brant.
334
334
354 04
Bridgeport.
605
605
641 30
Buena Vista
637
637
675 22
Carrollton.
482
482
510 92
Chapin.
272
272
288 32
Chesaning.
414
414
438 84
Chesaning Village.
301
301
319 06
East Saginaw City.
5,885
5,885
6,238 10
Frankenmuth.
654
654
693 24
Fremont.
144
144
152 64
James. .
103
103
109 18
Jonesfield.
112
112
118 72
Kochville
773
546
578 76
Lakefield.
61
47
49 82
Maple Grove
459
459
468 54
Marion.
15
Richland.
252
252
267 12
Saginaw.
449
449
475 94
Saginaw City
3,283
3,283
3,479 98
Spalding.
122
122
129 32
St Charles.
438
438
464 28
Swan Creek.
120
120
127 20
Taymouth
404
404
428 24
Thomastown
373
373
38
Tittabawassee
456
456
483 36
Zilwaukee.
503
503
533 18
Totals.
19,263
19,007
$20,147 42
Townships.
.
459
HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.
MARRIAGE RECORD.
The first marriage celebrated in the township of Saginaw within the pioneer period, was that of Ariel Campeau and Madeline Mashos, in 1832, and the second that of Thomas Barger and Sally Foster, the same year. The record of marriages, since the county was organized, does not extend further back than 1835. Since that time, however, matrimony has generally enjoyed a prosperous "run," though at times the market was very dull. During the years 1835-'7 there were only 14 actual marriages re- corded. This doubtless was due in a great measure to the embar- rassment caused by the great failure of 1836-'7. In 1838 our boys and girls appeared to have recovered from the fear which the hard times engendered, for during that year no less than 13 couples were united. Henceforth youth took courage, and within the period of 46 years which have elapsed since the organization of the county, 14,948 persons have made the great venture of life. Drink, extravagance and folly have led to the dissolution of the marriage contract in many cases.
The number of couples married each year in Saginaw county is as follows :
1835.
3 )1847.
24|1859
71
1871 373
1836.
6
1848.
12
1860
63
1872.
566
1837
5
1849.
35
1861
85
1873. 435
1838.
13
1850.
35
1862.
102
1874. 442
1839.
4
1851.
52
1863
129
1875. .358
1840.
12
1852ยท
83
1864.
167
1876.
400
1841.
8
1853.
74
1865
182
1877.
332
1842.
11
1854.
72
1866.
205
1878.
396
1843.
6
1855.
99
1867
281
1879.
471
1844.
6
1856.
107
1868
.39%
1880. 499
1845.
12
1857.
82
1869. 376
1846.
11 |1858.
69
1870.
324
Total
7,474
There are many peculiar reminiscences associated with the mat- rimonial affairs of this as well as other counties. In olden times men and women were not so precise in expression as the people of our day, nor did they seem to possess that sagacity which would lead them to avoid what would give subject for idle gossip to the village wags. This will be evident from perusal of the following sketch-one of the many connected with the matrimonial events of the past :
High hopes that burn like stars sublime are supposed to possess the heart of every lover, when the moment arrives for him to de- posite a dollar and a half with the county clerk, in payment for a permit to marry the girl of his choice. He feels that he is sure of possessing the loveliest of her sex, and that in a few more days earth will not be big enough to contain the happiness of himself and his fair partner. " Entre la main et la bouche souvent se perd la soupe, " as the Frenchman would say. He has learned some- times, when too late. A young man, who fondly imagined that his happiness was on the point of completion, took out a marriage
460
HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.
license on Christmas day, long, long ago. How and why his hopes were shattered, how grief played upon his heart, and how his life became a burden, are set forth in the following wail,-the untutored eloquence of sorrow :
GOT ANOTHER FELLER.
To the County Clerk, Sir, I will send you the licence that you gave me to get married with and stat that I was not married for this reason because the girl whos name is on the paper went back on me because she could get another feller his name -- send them so that you can give him a licence for her but bee sure and get your fee for so doin. No more at present but believe me yours most hart-broken. levi.
A score of such epistles might be furnished, all written in the most primitive form, all bearing testimony to broken hearts and false loves; but such a record of all that is ridiculous in marriage formalities is unnecessary. It may, however, be stated that the "hart-broken " lover met his rival shortly after marriage, and gave him an unmerciful beating.
BIRTH RECORD.
1867.
440 [1871
1,026 [1875
1,469 |1879. 1,320
1868.
750 1872
1,231
|1876
1,389
1869.
1,286
1873
.1,478 1877
1,402
Total. .16,321
1870.
969
1874.
2,164
1878. 1,407
DEATH RECORD.
1867
216 1871
349 |1875
.532 1879 .710
1868
303 1872
449
1876
,504
1869.
457 1873
666
|1877
.536
Total. 6,192
1870.
388 1874
.570 1878.
513
CHAPTER XVII. THE COUNTY PRESS
The newspaper press of Saginaw county may claim to be the true exponent of popular ideas, as well as the zealous guardian of local interests. Seldom does it extend recognition to terrorismn at home or tyranny abroad,-never knowingly, except in very rare cases where ignorance, pure and simple, leads the freeman of this land to become a convert to the school of flunkeyism, or where the . people are so short-sighted as to permit an immigrant newspaper writer to indulge in eulogies on the "magnificence" of trans-Atlantic peoples. Sometimes cuttings are made from monarchical papers, the heading conveying an idea to the busy editor that the article is newsy, and therefore worthy of space. It appears in the columns of the journal without even a qualifying paragraph, and contributes in a degree to build up a taste for royalty, pageantry, and all such foolishness, in the hearts of the unthinking portion of our people. Such trash should not be given to the people. Even though this fulsome praise of the slave-holding monarchies and all their glit- tering palaces could take serious hold only of imbecile citizens, it is not justice to furnish imbecility with fuel; it is not right to place before it new subject matter which enables it, however falsely, to extol the glories (?) and the pageants of principles and men who cast a gloom over the civilization of our day. There is little in trans-Atlantic government, in the slavery of seven-eighths of the trans-Atlantic peoples, to comniend itself; and the knowledge of this, so prevalent in the United States, is a full safeguard against the growth of that foolish, if not unnatural, and most pernicious vice commonly called flunkeyism. The people understand their duty to the Republic, and none among them more so than these indefatigable men who identify themselves with the press of this county.
Saginaw has reaped a rich harvest from the industry and honesty of her newspaper men. All evidences point out her journalists of the past to have been as truly honorable as are those of the present; flunkeyism was not the attribute of any one of them; they labored early and late in providing newsy and instructive reading for their constituents; and if at any time a ridiculous eulogy on all that is politically and socially false crept into their columns, they were the first to denounce the buffoon who penned the lines of undeserved praise. The press conferred inestimable good upon this district; it opposed premature innovations even as it urged necessary re- forms; it set its denunciations of tyrannical and arbitrary measures in black letter, stigmatized moral cowardice, and claimed that from
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462
HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.
the village council room to the chambers of the national govern- ment vice should be subjected to rebuke and punisliment, and virtue doubly cherished.
Here the press is synonymous with progress. Proscribe its liberty and the nation suffers. Few liberties liad been won in the long struggle for human freedom, involving more far-reaching and inomentous consequences than that which secured the constitu- tional guaranty of freedom of speech and of the press. The antag- onism between a despotic government and the printing press is natural and intense. The liuman heart loved applanse. It did not feed willingly on the bitter herbs of censure. Neither king nor president, neither cardinal nor general, desired a sharp and impar- tial review of his official acts, and submitted with grace to accom- panying reproof. The exercise of power bred confidence in the hearts of rulers, and begot an impatience of criticism, especially from unofficial sources. Hence there was a natural inclination to restrain what tliose high in authority might deem an unwarrant- able freedom in the discussion of public affairs; but, on the other land, the subjects of the government naturally desired to discuss its proceedings, complain of grievances, and suggest reforms. Free thought and free speech were of small avail without free publica- tion, and to suppress publication was to prevent practical results. Tlins there was an irrepressible conflict between oppressive govern- ment, whatever its form, and the public press. In a despotic state the government exercised a censorship over the press, while in a free country the case was reversed, and the press exercised a cen- sorslip over the government. Both kinds of censorship were liable to abuse, but judging the future by the past, the excesses of the press for a thousand years would be trifling in comparison with the iniquities of government censure for a single generation. If the people were to govern, or take any active or intelligent part in the government, they must know the facts on which public officials act and be able to express their opinions of public measures as events transpire. And those who were intrusted with the administration the government would favor, if they truly desired to promote tlie general welfare in accordance with the public will, the most free and efficient means of communication with those for whose sake the government exists. That means was the newspaper. No sub- stitute for it had yet been devised-none could be imagined. Thus the newspaper was one of the most important agencies of free government. Without its aid in informing and arons- ing the people, the government of the United States could neither have raised the armies nor commanded the pecuniary means required to win the great struggle for Nationality and Union. The modern newspaper was not merely a private enterprise; it was as truly a public institution as the rail- way and the telegraph; and enlightened jurisprudence would declare that the public newspaper, encouraged and protected by the highest guarantees of constitutional law as indispensable to
463
HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.
free government, was subject, not to the narrow and rigid rules which applied to merely private callings, but to broad and equita- ble principals springing out of its relation to the public and its duty to serve the people in the collection and publication of in- formation relating to all their interests. The business of journal- ism was no longer a mere incident to the printer's trade. It had become a great and learned profession with honored fraternal organizations. The Government should also consider that the newspaper was, after all due allowance for our system of schools, the great educator of the masses of the people. And it was also the great agency of progress in all reforms. Acting harmoniously in their respective spheres, free government and the free press were joint conservators of law, order and peace; each the most powerful upholder of the other. The press and the bar, as well as the people and the Government of the United States, are all dependent upon one another, with the press as the leader. Therefore let us cherish the newspapers, stigmatizing what may be corrupt in them, and ap- plauding all that is just. This is due by the people to the people and the press.
THE SAGINAW JOURNAL
was the first newspaper published in the Valley. The press and type were brought here in 1836 by Norman Little, and imme- diately the Pioneer Journal was started, under John P. Hosmer, with Norman Little as proprietor and Mr. Hosmer, editor. Mr. Hosmer was manager until 1837, when he left for Pennsylvania, and Hiram L. Miller was appointed editor. In 1838 the office was sold, and a paper started immediately, with J. K. Avery as editor. Of all the men who were connected with this pioneer newspaper, Mr. Miller alone remains among the people in whose interest it was published.
THE NORTH STAR.
This journal was issued in 1844 by R. W. Jenny. It was a four-page quarto sheet, devoted principally to an exposition of the principles of a Democratic republic. The little journal existed for a few years, during which time it gave battle to Whiggism, the world, and all enemies of the Valley of the Saginaw.
Royal W. Jenny immigrated to Michigan in 1834, and settled at Detroit; entering a printing office there. In 1840 he projected the Lapeer Sentinel, with Henry W. Williams as editor. In 1844 he
entered upon the publication of the Saginaw North Star, being himself both editor and printer. He filled the offices of town clerk, superintendent of the poor and assistant postmaster to G. D. Williams, of Saginaw City. In February, 1847, he married Mrs. Sophia A. Hill. Two years later Mr. Jenny moved to Flint, where he published the Genesee Democrat.
464
HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.
THE SPIRIT OF THE TIMES.
This newspaper was projected by L. G. Jones after Mr. Jenny's departure for Flint, in March, 1850. It was published uninterruptedly from 1850 to 1860. The Weekly Courier, estab- lished by the veteran journalist, Geo. F. Lewis, June 16, 1859, as a Democratic newspaper, succeeded the Spirit of the Times in popu- lar esteem.
THE SAGINAW ENTERPRISE
was established in 1853 by F. A. Williamson and A. J. Mason. This was the first journal started at East Saginaw, and like all such enterprises was inaugurated under most favorable circum- stances. The citizens tendered it a hearty support; and so pros- perity waited upon the office for a time; but owing to some fault within the office, or defection without, the Enterprise dwindled down to an insignificant sheet, published occasionally. In 1855 Williamson and Mason's interests were purchased by Perry Joslin, who raised it to a very respectable position among the journals of
Michigan. In 1864 Francis Parth purchased an interest in the concern, and a year later a very important addition was made. Col. C. V. De Land, of Jackson, purchased an interest, and took charge of the editorial department of the paper in July, 1865. The same year the Daily Enterprise was inaugurated. In 1866 the Daily Enterprise Publishing Co. was formed, with a capital stock of $25,000. The staff of the new journal comprised Col. De Land, managing editor; Perry Joslin, local editor, and A. W. Abbey. business manager. Two years later I. H. Kimberly, C. B. Head- ley and E. P. Foote, formed the staff, Col. De Land retiring on account of his health. In 1870 the paper passed under the man- agement of Dr. Fish, of Flint, and C. K. Robinson, of East Sag- inaw, with Miss C. N. Buchannan, assistant. These gentlemen sold their interest in it to A. L. Warren, in 1873 Financial ruin waited on the new management and the office was sold by tlie sheriff in May, 1874.
THE SAGINAW REPUBLICAN
was established Jan. 1, 1857, at Saginaw City, by Milo Blair and Charles H. Day; published continuously until 1865 when it passed into the proprietorship of Edwin Saunders and W. H. H. Bartram, who changed its name to the Saginaw Valley Herald. In 1866 Peter C. Andre purchased it, and again in 1868, after Col. De Land's retirement from the Enterprise, it was purchased by him and the name changed to the Saginaw Republican. In 1869, F. A. Palmer purchased an interest in the journal, and published it (by "F. A. "Palmer & Co.") until 1874, when the office was removed to East Saginaw and the Daily Republican started as an afternoon paper.
465
IIISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.
In August, 1876, the Republican was changed to a morning paper. Sept. 1, 1878, it was sold to the Herald Printing Co., and the name changed to
SAGINAW HERALD.
The new company was organized with Wm. F. Clark as presi- dent, Col. C. V. De Land, general manager and editor. The local editors of the Herald, since its establishment comprised G. R. Osman, W. H. H. Bertram, J. W. Fitzmaurice, Thomas McKee, T. W. Busby, R. F. Laing, F. B. Smith and W. C. Cunningham. Mrs. E. M. Nye, now Mrs. Lathrop, Mrs. A. M. Garrigues, and Miss Alice Smith, have assisted on the editorial staff. During the last campaign the Herald cast its influence with the Blaine party and opposed that of Grant.
Col. Charles Victor De Land, editor of the Herald, was born at North Brookfield, Worcester Co., Mass., July 25, 1826, and is a son of William R. and Mary G. ( Keith ) De Land, whose early ancestry were French Protestants, and were driven from France, settling in Massachusetts, in 1634. William R. departed with his family, from North Brookfield, March 18, 1830, and came to Michigan in a lumber wagon, with the exception of the ride across Lake Erie, in a lake vessel. Mr. De Land located at Jackson, Michigan, and was one of the pioneers of Jackson county. Victor was reared and educated at Jackson, and in the fall of 1836, entered the office of the pioneer paper of Jackson, officiating as "devil" in the mornings and evenings, and attending school during the day. In February, 1840, the office changed hands, the proprietor, Nicholas Sullivan, being succeeded by Moore & Hitchcock, with whom he remained as an apprentice until 1843. Mr. De Land then traveled as a "jour" for four years, working at Detroit,. Buffalo, Rochester, New York, and other cities, but returned to Michigan in 1847. In August, 1848, in connection with A. A. Dow- ance, he established the Jackson Citizen. Mr. Dowance retired from the firm in 1850, and Mr. D. continued to publish the paper until the fall of 1861, when the office and business was purchased by P. J. Avery. Mr. De Land then organized Co. C. of the 9th Reg. Mich. Vol. Inf., at Jackson, and was elected its Captain. They were mustered into the U. S. service at Fort Wayne, Mich., and assigned to the army of the Cumberland. Capt. De Land was captured July 12, 1862, by Gen. Forrest's cavalry, and kept prisoner at Atlanta, Madison, Ga., Columbia, S. C., and Libby prison in Richmond, until the following October, when he was released on parol, and exchanged the next month. On Jan. 6, 1863, he received a commission as Colonel, with orders to return to Michigan, and organize the 1st Mich. Sharpshooters. At that time no draft was pending, and Col. De Land raised the regiment largely by his own efforts and means, placing it in the field July 1, 1863, at a cost of over $3,000 to himself. The regiment was ordered to assist in stopping the celebrated " John Morgan raid,"
28
466
HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.
and participated in all the exciting scenes of that event. They then returned to Detroit, to quell the negro riots, and to protect the frontier from rebel invasions from Canada. In September Col. De Land was ordered with his regiment to Camp Douglas, Chicago, and remained there in charge of the post, which contained some 12,000 rebel prisoners, until March 18, 1864. During the remainder of 1864-'5, the regiment was engaged in Virginia, and participated at the final capture of Petersburg, April 3, 4, 1864. Col. De Land's regiment was the first to enter the city, and the Mayor surrendered to them the keys to the City Hall. The regi- ment suffered severely at the " mine explosion" and at Ft. Pegoam, where Col. De Land was left on the field, supposed to liave been mortally wounded, and was captured by the rebels. He was exchanged in about 10 days, and lay five months in a hospital at Annapolis, Md., and during this time was brevetted Brig. Gen., on account of meritorious conduct, but was unable to take an active command in the field. At the close of the war, Col. De Land came to East Saginaw (1865), where he subsequently established the Daily Enterprise. From 1848 to the present time, Col. De Land has been identified with the political interests of this State. He entered politics as a Whig, casting his maiden vote for Gen. Zachary Taylor. In 1854 he became an earnest advocate of the formation of the Republican party, and participated in its birth, at the city of Jackson, in July, 1854. On the accession of that party to power, in the State, Col. De Land's services were recognized by making him Clerk of the Legislature in 1865, and Chief Clerk in the House of Representatives of 1867 and '69. In 1860, he was elected from Jackson county to the State Senate, and was the only member of that body to volunteer and enlist in
the cause of the Union at the commencement of the war.
He
represented the Saginaw district in the State Senate during the sessions of 1873-'4, and in 1875, was appointed collector of Inter- nal Revenues of the 6th District of Michigan, faithfully discharg- ing the duties of that office till June 30, 1881, when he resigned.
He was married at Jackson, Mich., May 4, 1859, to Mary E., daughter of L. G. Perry, of Jackson. They have five children living and two deceased. Mrs. De Land is a member of the Con- gregational Church and largely engaged in mission work. She is also connected with the W. C. T. U., and other temperance or- ganizations, and is a graduate of Albion College, Mich.
THE WEEKLY COURIER.
Geo. F. Lewis established the Weekly Courier in 1859, and issued the first number June 16, of that year. This veteran journal- ist of the Saginaw was joined in 1863 by Major E. W. Lyon.
THE DAILY COURIER
was inaugurated in March, 1868, by Geo. F. Lewis. B. M. Thomp- son. E. W. Lvon and Joseph Seaman. In 1872 W. H. Edwards
467
HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.
purchased a controlling interest in this important journal, and gradually raised it to the position of a truly metropolitan news- paper. Edward De Forest Cowles, the editor of the Courier, is acknowledged to be one of the most industrious and able newspaper inen in the State.
William H. Edwards, general manager and principal stockholder of the Saginaw Daily Courier, was born in Fairfield county, Conn., Sept. 25, 1816. In this county he resided with his parents until he attained his majority, when he removed, in 1837, to Niagara county, N. Y., where he carried on the business of farming until 1844. Having learned the business of woolen manufacturing previous to moving to New York in 1844, he embarked in this indus- try, which received his attention until 1848; then to the mannfactur- ing business he added lumbering, and the latter business he has carried on to the present time, having a lumber yard at Tonawanda, N. Y. In 1862 Mr. Edwards removed to East Saginaw, and em- barked extensively in lumbering and the manufacture of shingles. In 1872 he assumed a controlling interest in the Daily Courier, which at that time was just getting on its feet and was in an impecu- nious condition. He continued the publication of the paper under adverse circumstances, and has lived to see it firmly established, placed upon a paying basis, and at the same time develop into the largest and most widely read newspaper in the State, with the ex- ception of three newspapers published in Detroit.
Edward De Forest Cowles was born in Wayne county, N. Y., Dec. 6, 1844, received a common-school education, and when 16 years of age, commenced learning the trade of printer in the office of the Oswego Advertiser and Times. On the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion he enlisted, and served in the Western army throughout the entire struggle, being mustered out of the service Aug. 1, 1865. He then resumed the printing business and worked in the offices of the Pontiac (Mich.) Jacksonian, the Lapeer. Clarion and Flint Citizen. In 1870 he removed to Bay City and worked on the Weekly Journal at that place as a compositor, and subsequently as local editor; published the Wenona Herald and Bay City Herald a short time, and in 1873 came to East Saginaw and assumed position of city editor of the Daily Enterprise. In March, 1874, he assumed editorial management of the Saginaw Daily Courier, which he has continued to the present time. He has also for a number of years represented several metropolitan journals as correspondent.
Mr. Cowles was presented with an elegant portrait of himself by some of his East Saginaw friends June 6, 1881. It was executed by Prof. Herman Meiser, and was a pleasant surprise to the gentle- man who fills the editorial chair. The presentation was made by T. E. Tarsney, one of the leading lawyers of the State.
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