USA > Michigan > Clinton County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 34
USA > Michigan > Shiawassee County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 34
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The Owosso Press (a six-column folio) was commenced iu 1862 by Hanchett & Lyon, its first number being issued on the 20th of September of that year. It was purchased on the 9th of September, 1863, by Greeu & Lee, who in- creased its size to an eight-column folio, and published it until Jan. 1, 1867, when it was purchased by J. H. Cham- pion & Co., who are still its proprietors and publishers. The paper is Democratic in politics. Since January, 1871, its office of publication has been iu a brick block owned
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THE PROFESSIONS.
by Champiou & Co., and situated on Washington Street, Owosso.
The Owosso Crusader, an eight-column folio, was started by Abner B. Wood at Owosso in 1870. It was published by Mr. Wood till 1873, when it was sold to Charles L. Fuller, who in 1875 removed it to Gaylord, Otsego Co., Mieli., where it is still in existence as the Otsego County Ilerald.
The New Era was established at Owosso, May 5, 1873, by a company consisting of A. B. Wood, J. Stedman, and A. M. Bannister. The paper was for a time the organ of the State Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, and reached a circulation of nearly three thousand. In 1875, A. B. Wood became sole proprietor, and two years later removed it to the county-seat, where in June, 1877, its name was changed to that of Shiawassee County Atlas, as it is at present. It is a five-column quarto, " National" in politics, edited by Abner B. Wood, and published by the " Atlas Publishing Company."
The Shiawussce Republican was started at Owosso, Feb. 21, 1878, under the fanciful name of Odd Change, by Perkins & Gregory. Some changes of proprietorship sue- eeeded, and in April, 1879, the paper was purchased by George W. Owen, was enlarged, and its name changed to the one first mentioned. On the 26th of May, 1880, it was consolidated with the Shinwassce American, under the name of the latter.
At Corunna the first newpaper was the Shiawassee Democrat, which was started iu the fall of 1841 by Wil- liam B. Sherwood, and was continued by him until the spring of 1843, when the paper was discontinued, and the press and material were removed to Flint, Genesce Co., and there used by Mr. Sherwood in the publication of the Genesee County Democrat .*
The Corunna Democrat was a later paper published at the county-seat, but the date of its first issue cannot be given. It was purchased by John N. Ingersoll, and merged with the Shiawassee American, as before mentioned.
The Corunna Weekly Courier was established Oct. 1, 1859, by William B. Pulis, editor and proprietor. It was not long-lived.
The Corunna Journal was first issued by O. A. Gould & Co., iu February, 1860. It expired Aug. 29, 1861, under the proprietorship of Jones & Ford. The other papers which have existed at Corunna are those which are now published there, the American and the Atlas, and both these, having been commeneed at Owosso, have already been noticed with the papers of that eity.
In the towns along the western borders of the county the first newspaper published was the Laingsburg Recorder, started by E. L. W. Baker, in August, 1870. It continued for about one year, and then ceased to exist.
The Laingsburg Herald was commenced soon after the paper last mentioned. Its editor and proprietor was Mr.
Judevine, who sold to Charles Wileox. At the end of about two years from its commencement the paper was discontinued.
The Laingsburg News was first issued on the 2d of No- vember, 1877, by J. C. Stone, by whom it is still published.
The Laingsburg Leader, a seven-column folio, was es- tablished at Laingsburg village, in June, 1880, by W. C. Walters, who has continued as its proprietor to the present time.
The Vernon Herald, a seven-column folio, was first is- sued at Vernon village, May 7, 1878, by a stock company, with A. L. Chandler as editor and manager. It is uow owned and published by Lucius E. Gould.
The Bancroft Bulletin, a six-column paper, published at Baneroft village, and the Morrice Times, published in Perry township, are both edited by William Seeord. The former was first issued in August, 1879, and the latter in Sep- tember of the same year.
THE LEGAL PROFESSION.
EARLY LAWYERS OF THE COUNTY.
The first attorney who practiced his profession in Shia- wassee County was Sanford M. Green, who came from Jef- ferson Co., N. Y., and settled at Owosso in 1837, being connected with the water-power and improvement company, of which Daniel Ball was the head. He had previously been admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of New York, and was admitted in this county soon after his arrival. In 1841 he became associated in business at Owosso with Mr. Smith, a lawyer who had come here from Ann Arbor, and who returned to that place not long afterwards. Mr. Green was appointed prosecuting attorney of' Shiawassee County in 1837, and held the office till 1842, when he was elected to the State Senate. In 1843 he removed to Pontiac, and did not again return to this county as a place of residence. He was afterwards twiee re-elected to the Senate. In 1844 he was appointed commissioner to revise the statutes of Michigan, and reported to the Legislature of 1846. He served on the Supreme Beneh of Michigan from 1848 to 1857 ; as circuit judge from Jan. 1, 1858, to April, 1867 ; and again from June, 1872, to the present time. He is now judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Cireuit, residing at Bay City. He is the author of " Green's Practice," which is in general use by the profession in the State.
Andrew Parsons, a native of Reusselaer Co., N. Y., and afterwards a resident of Mexico, Oswego Co., in that State, emigrated from the latter place to Washtenaw Co., Mich., in 1835, and removed in the following year to Shiawassee. He was active iu his efforts to procure the establishment of the county-site at Corunna, and after it was so established, and the business of the county was removed to that place, he, with his brother Luke 11. Parsons (who had previously resided in Washtenaw County), located in Corunna and commenced business under the firm-name of " L. H. & A. Parsons, Attorneys-at-Law." From that time Andrew Parsons con- tinued to be a resident of Corunna until his death. Ile was the first clerk of' Shiawassee County, was subsequently register of deeds for eight years, and also held the office of prosecuting attorney. Ile was elected to the State Senate in 1846, was regent of the University in 1852-54, and was
* About five years later, the name was revived by M. II. Clark, and was by him added to the title of his paper, the Owosso Argus. After- wards Mr. Clark (as before mentioned) removed bis paper to Corunna, dropped the first part of its name, and published it as the Shiawassee American till 1856.
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IIISTORY OF SIHIAWASSEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
elected Lieutenant-Governor in 1852. On the resignation of Governor Robert MeClelland, to accept a place in the cabinet of President Pierce in 1852, Mr. Parsons became Governor, was inaugurated March 8, 1853, and served during the re- mainder of Governor McClelland's term. In November, 1854, he was elected a member of the House of Representa- tives, and having served during the winter session of 1855, returned to Corunna, and died there in June of the same year. Mr. Parsons showed himself to be a man of decided ability in the office of acting-Governor, as well as in the numerous other positions which he filled ; but he was not regarded as among the most conspicuous members of the bar of the county.
Luke II. Parsons, brother of Andrew Parsons, and also a native of the State of New York, emigrated to Ann Ar- bor, Mich., in or about 1835, and was there admitted to the bar. Ile removed to Corunna, Shiawassee Co., about 1839, and entered on the practice of the law in that village with his brother Andrew, as above mentioned. Ile was elected register of deeds in November, 1846, judge of probate in 1848, prosecuting attorney in 1852, and regent of the University in 1857. He continued in practice at Corunna, and was one of the leading lawyers of the county until his death at that place in 1862.
Amos Gould, a native of Aurelius, Cayuga Co., N. Y., and a law-studeut with the Ilon. William II. Seward and Theo- dore Spencer, at Auburn, N. Y., practiced law in that place until 1843, when he removed to Michigan, and located at Owosso in the following year. He purchased the mill prop- erty of Daniel Ball, and carried on the business until the property was destroyed by fire in 1848. Meanwhile (in 1845) he had commenced the practice of law in Owosso, and he continued it most successfully for twenty years; re- tiring from its active prosecution in 1865, to attend to his extensive property interests. He was elected judge of pro- bate in 1844, and held the office during the full term ; he was supervisor of Owosso continuously from 1815 to 1850; was prosecuting attorney of Shiawassee County for two years, and elected to the State Senate in 1852. Judge Gould occupies a high place among the early lawyers of the county, and has been distinguished and successful through all the years of his practice.
William F. Mosely was a native of the State of Ohio, and in 1825 emigrated from that State to Oakland Co., Mich., where he practiced his profession, and filled the offices of prosecuting attorney and probate judge. From Pontiac he removed to Fentonville, and in 1840 became prosecuting attorney of Genesee County. About 1842 he came to Shiawassee County, and settled on a farm, doing something, however, as a lawyer. Subsequently he located in the village of Newburg, and gave his attention to the business of his profession. He was a master in chancery, and several times filled the office of prosecuting attorucy of Shiawassee County, both by appointment and election. He enjoyed quite an extensive practice in this county. Ile was a man of good ability, witty and quick at repartee, but not remarkably strong in argument, and somewhat lacking in confidenec. Ile died in 1860.
David Bush, Jr., settled at Shiawasseetown as a mer- chant prior to 1840. He afterwards studied law, and was
admitted to the bar, but never took high rank as a lawyer. He was elected county commissioner in 1840, and held some township offices, among which were those of justice of the peace and supervisor.
George O. Bachman practiced law in Corunna for a few years, but afterwards became an Episcopalian clergyman, and having filled the sacred office at Adrian and other places returned to Corunna, and was rector of the church of his denomination there at the time of his death.
John P. Richardson (a brother of Lieutenant-Governor O. D. Richardson, of Pontiac) came to Corunna as a law- yer about 1850. He was a good counselor, well read in the law, but lacked confidence in his own powers, though he enjoyed a fair amount of business, and performed it to the satisfaction of his clients. After a residence of a few years here he removed to Omaha, Neb.
Ebenezer Gould, a brother of Judge Amos Gould, settled in Owosso in 1837, and soon afterwards engaged in mer- chandising, milling, and other pursuits. IIe commenced reading law in 1846, and was admitted to the bar in 1851, when he became associated in business with his brother, IIon. Amos Gould. He continued in active practice in Owosso until 1875, with the exception of his term of ser- vice in the war of the Rebellion, in which he served hon- orably with the Fifth Michigan Cavalry Regiment, and became its colonel. In 1866 he was elected prosecuting attorney of the county. He died at Owosso, Sept. 7, 1877. " As a lawyer he was dignified, deliberate, and painstaking, acting with the greatest fidelity to his clients, and to every interest in his charge. In social life he was a kind, sym- pathizing neighbor, and a genial friend." Although he had but a common education, he had a strong legal mind, and became one of the leading members of the bar of the county.
S. Titus Parsons, a brother of Andrew and Luke H. Parsons, studied law in their office and was admitted to the Shiawassee County bar in May, 1854 (having previously been admitted in Mexico, Oswego Co., N. Y.). Ile located in Corunna, and remained in practice there for more than twenty years. IIe was elected prosecuting attorney in 1856, re-elected in 1858, and again elected in 1872. IIc was a representative in the Legislature for the terms of 1863-64 and 1867-68, and was elected a member of the Constitu- tional Convention of 1867. In 1877 he removed to De- troit, where he is still in practice.
Ilugh McCurdy, who had reached a prominent position among the members of the Oakland County bar prior to 1855, removed in that year to Corunna, where he at once entered upon the practice of his profession. He was appointed prosecuting attorney in the first year of his residence in Corunna; was elected judge of probate in 1860, State senator in 1864, and has since that time again filled the office of prosecuting attorney. He has continued in the practice of his profession in Corunna until the present time, and is now the leading member of the bar of Shiawassee County.
Spencer B. Raynale, a son of the veteran physician, Dr. Ebenezer Raynale, of Birmingham, Oakland Co., entered the law-office of Hugh MeCurdy as a student, and, on his admission to the bar, became associated with Mr. McCurdy
133
THE PROFESSIONS.
in business. He was elected proseenting attorney in No- vember, 1860. In 1865 he became cashier of the First National Bank of Corunna, and continued in that position until Jan. 1, 1871, when he resigned, to take the office of prosecuting attorney, to which he had been elected in the previous November. From that time he continued to prac- tice at the Shiawassee County bar until prostrated by the sickness which ended iu his death, Sept. 26, 1874.
J. T. Miller was admitted to the bar of Shiawassee County in October, 1856, but never practiced extensively. Ile afterwards removed to Detroit.
O. T. B. Williams was admitted in 1852. He filled some publie offices, but is not to be mentioned or regarded as among the prominent members of the bar of Shiawassee.
The foregoing mention of early lawyers is intended to include those who commenced practice in this county dur- ing the first twenty years of its organization. Most of those of later date will be found uamed in the following list, which is taken from the attorneys' roll of the county. The roll, however (and consequently this list), is known to be incomplete.
Amos Gould, admitted Nov. 9, 1843.
R. D. Johnston, admitted May 20, 1857.
Jay L. Quackenbush, admitted May 20, 1857.
George K. Newcombe, admitted April 13, 1858. Gilbert R. Lyon, admitted April 13, 1858. Ebenezer Gould, admitted Sept. 12, 1851. S. Titus Parsons, admitted May, 1854. O. T. B. Williams, admitted Deeember, 1852.
J. T. Miller, admitted Oct. 2, 1856.
II. M. Newcombe, admitted Aug. 25, 1858. James Heath, admitted Feb. 8, 1859. Albert S. Wheadon, admitted Feb. 7, 1860. Amos M. Kellogg, admitted Feb. 11, 1860. Edward R. Davis, admitted May 1, 1860. John Carland, admitted Feb. 5, 1861. Curtis J. Gale, admitted Feb. 5, 1861. Frank Allen, admitted Feb. 8, 1861. David A. Elliot, admitted Feb. 4, 1862. Benjamin F. Bush, admitted Aug. 7, 1862. James M. Goodell, admitted Sept. 8, 1863. Alphonso J. Southard, admitted April 5, 1865. Hiram L. Chipman, admitted Oct. 4, 1865. G. H. Weeden, admitted April 19, 1867. A. Judson Loomis, admitted Aug. 5, 1868. HI. H. Pulver, admitted Feb. 5, 1869. Lucius E. Gould, admitted May 4, 1871. J. E. Graham, admitted Sept. 12, 1871. Theron B. Pray, admitted Feb. 6, 1872. H. C. Hoyt, admitted May 8, 1872. Wm. E. Cummin, admitted Sept. 10, 1872. Alex. McKercher, admitted Sept. 10, 1872. Almon C. Brown, admitted Sept. 10, 1873. Peter N. Cook, admitted May 6, 1874. Friend Davis, admitted Feb. 9, 1875. Samuel W. Baker, admitted Feb. 1, 1876. Joseph B. Wilkins, admitted Feb. 3, 1876. William M. Kilpatrick, admitted May, 1867. John D. Bennett, admitted Dec. 14, 1869. James M. Pulver, admitted May 5, 1870.
Selden S. Miner, admitted Jan. 17, 1878.
T. P. Hackleman, admitted May 7, 1878.
Stearns F. Smith, admitted May 10, 1878.
Charles C. Houpt, admitted April 16, 1877.
Glen D. Young, admitted Jan. 3, 1880.
Frank A. Rogers, admitted May 11, 1880.
Following is a list of the members of the Shiawassee County bar at the present time-1880 :
CORUNNA. OWOSSO.
Hugh MeCurdy. Amos Gould.
James M. Goodell. Gilbert R. Lyon.
Curtis J. Gale. Win. M. Kilpatrick.
J. D. Bennett.
Jerome W. Turner.
Win. E. Cummin.
Incius E. Gould.
Almon C. Brown.
E. R. Ilutchins.
Peter N. Cook.
Stearns F. Smith.
Albert R. McBride.
Levi J. Hamilton.
LAINGSBURG.
Wm. A. Fraser.
J. M. Pulver.
Glen D. Young.
J. B. Wilkins.
II. II. Pulver.
VERNON.
Alex. McKercher.
MIDDLEBURY.
Mathew Bush. Samuel W. Baker.
BYRON.
BANCROFT.
James Sleeth. M. V. B. Wixom.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION IN SHIAWASSEE COUNTY. EARLY PHYSICIANS.
The earliest settlers of Shiawassee County who needed medical attendance before any physician had settled in the county were dependent upon Dr. Cyrus Baldwin, of Graud Blane, and Dr. Samuel W. Pattison, of Dibbleville (now Fentonville). The former came from Onondaga Co., N. Y., in the spring of 1833, and located at Grand Blanc, and soon obtained an extensive practice over a wide range of country, and four years later removed to Atlas, in the same county, where he praetieed for a number of years. One of his earliest visits (if not the first) to Shiawassee County was in the spring of 1836, when he was called to Owosso to attend the sickness of David Wormer.
Dr. S. W. Pattison came to this State on an exploring expedition in the summer of 1835, and traveled through parts of Shiawassee, Clinton, Ionia, and Barry Counties, and finally settled at Fentonville, Genesee Co., that place being a central point where several Indian trails came together. From this point his ride extended in all diree- tions, often following Indiau trails or guided through tim- bered openings by blazed trees. Ile relates two instances of visits that extended into Shiawassee County, which are here quoted : " Quite late in the afternoon a message came for me to go to Esq. Crawford's, in Byron, Shiawassee Co., sixteen miles off, and that I would have to leave my horse two and a half miles short of Mr. Crawford's, as there was uo bridge across the Shiawassee. I used all dili- genee, leaving my horse in good hands at the river, and crossed ou trees fallen in and across the stream. It was in November, 1836, and my path was an Indian trail lead-
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HISTORY OF SHIAWASSEE COUNTY, MICIIIGAN.
ing through oak-openings and through what is now Byron village, but at this time not a house, only one, a Mr. Jen- nings', between the crossing and Mr. Crawford's. It soon began to snow, and darkness almost like Egypt hid every object, my only gnide being the Indian trail, and the snow soon covering that, so that I had to find it by kicking away the snow, and to add to my perplexity there were two trails from the river, meeting in perhaps half or three- quarters of a mile, and when I came to the junction I was bewildered and took the upper trail back to the river. I now had to retrace my weary steps, and finally reached Mr. .Jennings', expecting he would guide me, but he was on the bed sick, and his wife with the sick family half a mile farther ; I undertook it, and soon found myself back, and Mr. Jennings, sick as he was, guided me till I could see the light of Mr. Crawford's house, where I was joyfully received, as I was needed. Had I lost the trail so well worn by Indian feet I had no guide many miles north,-not a house,-and I should probably have wandered in vain for a shelter.
" In the month of October* I received a message from Judge A. L. Williams, of Owosso, to make him a profes- sional visit,-distance thirty miles, and twenty-five miles from Flint, where the board [supervisors of Genesee County] were to meet next day, at nine o'clock A.M. The twenty-five miles was through an unbroken wilderness, much of the distance heavy timber, and the traveler was guided only by blazed trees. I found Mr. Williams very sick with malarial fever, and assuming a somewhat typhoid type, and I felt it my duty to remain with him until two o'clock the next day, when I left, with that noble man John Swain for a gnide, well supplied with fireworks and blank- ets in case we had to lie out overnight, as the nights had become cold and frosty."
Soon after this Dr. Pattison removed from Fentonville to Owosso. Of the reasons which induced him to make this change he says, " The original plan of the Northern Rail- road from Port Huron through Flint, Owosso, etc., to the mouth of Grand River left Fentonville without a thorough- fare. This, with the unsettled state of society, and its being the outside of the county, led me to make the change, which, however, I did with great relnetance, having formned a wide acquaintance north, south, east, and west, through good roads for a new country. Again, in Owosso were several prominent business men, -A. L. and B. O. Williams, that prince of pioneers, Dan Ball, who afterwards went to Grand Rapids, Judge Elias Comstock, Sanford M. Green, A. B. Chipman, John Swain, Mr. Martin, the Goulds, Par- kills, etc., men of whom any community might justly be proud. Also near by and in full sympathy at that time with Owosso were the brothers Andrew and Luke Parsons, promising young lawyers, the first of whom afterwards was elected Lieutenant-Governor. All seemed anxious that I should become a citizen among them, and made me quite a peeuniary consideration, not only in an eligible building site, but assisting in building a fair dwelling for that day. And so the change was made, leaving the place where I had buried my beloved mother and my invalid daughter, so that
to this day I have an abiding sympathy not only for the place, but for the people who so kindly treated us in our affliction. Both of these places have become flourishing and prosperous villages, and have railroads leading through them ; both have suffered depressions. Owosso failed to get the county-seat, and the Port Huron road was abandoned for years. To make the matter worse, that financier, Dan- iel Ball, became discouraged, and removed with his capital to Grand Rapids ; Judge Sanford M. Green went to Pon- tiae, and several others followed his example; and Owosso, with its beautiful location, splendid water-power, and enter- prising citizens, was shut in on every side but one by heavy- timbered lands and bad roads, making it absolutely neces- sary for a physician to ride on horseback, which I had done for several years, making long and painful rides, until it brought on a difficulty which unfitted me for doing business that way. I must either abandon my life's work or go where I could ride in a carriage. I did the latter, and came to Ypsilanti in the spring of 1845."
The quotations given above are from an article furnished to the Washtenaw Pioneer Society in 1878 by Dr. S. W. Pattison, who still resides in Ypsilanti in liis eighty- fiftlı year. Ile lived, when in Owosso, on the southeast corner of Washington and Mason Streets, and his office was in a part of the house. He was a careful, thoughtful practitioner, and met with a fair share of success.
The first physician to reside in the county was Dr. Jo- seph P. Roberts, who came from New York (where he had practiced several years) to the township now known as Perry, in the fall of 1837, and settled near the present depot of the Chicago aud Lake Huron Railroad. IIe located land, built a log house, and was called to attend a patient the first night of its occupaney by Deacon Austin, who is still living. Dr. Roberts died in the winter of 1844-45. His time was not wholly given to his profession, but he only practiced in cases of emergency near home, devoting his time principally to farming.
In 1837, Dr. Washington Z. Blanchard was at Shiawas- seetown and kept the hotel at that place. Concerning him as a physician but little has been aseertained. IIe did not remain long, and is said to have removed to Lyons, Ionia Co., Mich.
Dr. Peter Laing was a physician prior to his emigration to this State. IIe located the land on which Laingsburg stands, and built there a hotel late in 1836. Ile did not practice after coming to this county except in cases of emergency.
Dr. Abner Sears came to Byron about 1838, and remained a few years.
Dr. C. P. Parkill, a native of Niagara Co., N. Y., emi- grated to Michigan when nineteen years old, and in the fall of 1841 came to Owosso. He was a printer by trade, and worked for one year on the Owosso Argus, then pub- lished by E. L. Ament, on the northeast corner of Wash- ington and Exchange Streets. Ile was employed as a teacher in Shiawassee and surrounding towns for a short time, and in the spring of 1843 commenced the study of medicine with Dr. S. W. Pattison, in Owosso. He re- mained with Dr. Pattison until the removal of the latter from the town, when he entered the office of Dr. Barnes,
* The visit here mentioned was made in the year 1838.
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