USA > Michigan > St Clair County > History of St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources, its war record, biographical sketches, the whole preceded by a history of Michigan > Part 11
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The dedication of the soldiers and sailors' monument at Detroit, April 9, 1872, was a notable event in Gov. Baldwin's time. This grand structure was designed by Randolph Rogers, formerly of Michigan, and one of the most eminent of Amer- ican sculptors now living. The money to defray the expenses of this undertaking was raised by subscription, and persons in all parts of the State were most liberal
97
HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.
in their contributions. The business was managed by an incorporation established in 1868. The monument is forty-six feet high, and is surmounted by a colossal statue of Michigan in bronze, ten feet in height. She is represented as a semi- civilized Indian queen, with a sword in her right hand and a shield in her left. The dedicatory lines in front are : " Erected by the people of Michigan, in honor of the martyrs who fell and the heroes who fought in defense of liberty and union." On the monument are many beautiful designs. At the unveiling there was a large concourse of people from all parts of the State, and the address was delivered by ex-Gov. Blair.
John J. Bagley succeeded to the Governorship Jan. 1, 1873, and served two terms. During his administration the new capitol was principally built, which is a larger and better structure for the money than, perhaps, any other public building in the United States. Under Gov. Bagley's counsel and administration the State prospered in all its departments. The Legislature of 1873 made it the duty of the Governor to appoint a commission to revise the State Constitution, which duty he performed to the satisfaction of all parties.
Charles M. Crosswell was next the chief executive officer of this State, exer- cising the functions of the office for two successive terms, 1877-1881. During his administration the public debt was greatly reduced, a policy adopted requiring State institutions to keep within the limit of appropriations, laws enacted to pro- vide more effectually for the punishment of corruption and bribery in elections, the State House of Correction at Ionia and the Eastern Asylum for the Insane at Pon- tiac were opened, and the new capitol at Lansing was completed and occupied. The first act of his second term was to preside at the dedication of this building. The great riot of 1877 centered at Jackson. During those two or three fearful days Gov. Crosswell was in his office at Lansing, in correspondence with members of the military department in different parts of the State, and within forty-eight hours of the moment when the danger became imminent, the rioters found them- selves surrounded by a military force ready with ball and cartridge for their anni- hilation. Were it not for this promptness of the Governor, there would probably have been a great destruction of property, if not also of life.
The administration of Hon. David H. Jerome has been one marked alike by joys and sorrows. The great business revival marked the period of his election ; the disastrous forest fires clouded the light of peace and prosperity.
STATE OFFICERS.
GOVERNORS DURING FRENCH RULE.
APPOINTED.
APPOINTED.
Sieur de La Barre
1672
Sieur de Mesey
1663
Marquis de Denonville
1685
Sieur de Courcelles
1665
Sieur de Frontenac
1689
Sieur de Frontenac.
1672
-
Chevalier de Callieres
1699
7
6
4
C
98
HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.
STATE OFFICERS .- CONTINUED.
APPOINTED.
Marquis de Vaudreuil
1703
Marquis de Beauharnois 1726
Compt de la Galissoniere 1747
Sieur de la Jonquiere. 1749
Marquis du Quesne de Menneville
1752
Sieur de Vaudreuilde Cavagnal
1755
GOVERNORS DURING BRITISH RULE.
James Murray 1765
Paulus E. Irving 1766
Guy Carleton 1766
Hector I. Cramahe 1770
Guy Carleton. 1774
Frederick Haldemand 1778
Henry Hamilton 1784
Henry Hope 1785
Lord Dorchester 1786
Alured Clark
1791
Lord Dorchester 1798
GOVERNORS OF MICHIGAN TERRITORY.
William Hull 1805
Lewis Cass 1813
George B. Porter 1831
Stevens T. Mason, ex-officio 1834
John T. Horner, ex-officio 1835
STATE GOVERNORS.
ELECTED.
Stevens T. Mason 1835
William Woodbridge. 1840
J. Wright Gordon, acting 1841
John S. Barry 1842
Alpheus Felch 1846
Wm. S. Greenly, acting. 1847
Epaphroditus Ransom 1848
John S. Barry
1850
Robert McClelland. 1852
Andrew Parsons, acting 1853
Kingsley S. Bingham 1855 Moses Wisner 1859
Austin Blair 1861
Henry H. Crapo 1865
Henry D. Baldwin 869
John J. Bagley 1873 1841
Charles M. Croswell 1877
David H. Jerome 1881
LIEUTENANT-GOVERNORS OF MICHIGAN.
ELECTED.
Edward Mundy 1835
J. Wright Gordon 1840
Origin D. Richardson 1842
Wm. S. Greenly 1846
Wm. M. Fenton 1848
Wm. S. Greenly 1849
Calvin Britain. 1852
Andrew Parsons 1853
George A. Coe. 855
Edmund B. Fairfield 1859
James Birney 1861
Joseph R. Williams, acting.
1861
Henry T. Backus, acting. I862
Charles S. May 1863
E. O. Grosvenor 1865
Dwight May 1867
Morgan Bates 1869
Henry H. Holt
1873
Alonzo Sessions
1877
Moreau S. Crosby 1881
SECRETARIES OF STATE.
Kintzing Pritchette 1835
Randolph Manning 1838
Thomas Rowland 1840
Robert P. Eldridge. 1842
G. O. Whittemore 1846
George W. Peck. 1848
George Redfield. 1850
Charles H. Taylor 1850
William Graves 1853
John McKinney 1855
Nelson G. Isbell 1859
James B. Porter 1861
O. S. Spaulding. 1867
Daniel Striker 1871
E. G. D. Holden 1875
William Jenney 1879
STATE TREASURERS.
Henry Howard 1836
Peter Desnoyers 1839
Robert Stuart 1840
George W. Germain
John J. Adam 1842
George Redfield. 1845
-
99
STATE OFFICERS .- CONTINUED.
ELECTED.
SUPT. PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
ELECTED.
John D. Pierce 1838
Franklin Sawyer, jr. 1841
Oliver C. Comstock. 1843
Ira Mayhew 1845
Francis W. Sherman 1849
Ira Mayhew. 1855
John M. Gregory 1859
Oramel Hosford 1865
Daniel B. Briggs 1873
Horace S. Tarbell. 1877
Cornelius A. Gower 1878
JUDGES OF THE SUPREME COURT.
Augustus B. Woodward 1805-24
Frederick Bates. 1805-8
John Griffin 1806-24
James Witherell 1808-28
Solomon Sibley 1824-36
Henry Chipman
1827-32
Charles Upson
1861
Albert Williams. 1863
Wm. L. Stoughton.
1867
Dwight May 1869
Epaphroditus Ransom
1836-47
George Morell
1836-42
Charles W. Whipple
1843-52
Alpheus Felch
1842-5
David Goodwin
1843-6
Warner Wing
1845-56
George Miles
1846-50
Edward Mundy
1848-51
Sanford M. Green
1848-57
George Martin
1851-2
Joseph T. Copeland 1852-7
Samuel T. Douglas. 1852-7
David Johnson 1852-7
Abner Pratt 1851-7
Charles W. Whipple
1852-5
Nathaniel Bacon
1855-8
John Swegles, jr. 1851
Whitney Jones. 1855
Daniel L. Case. 1859
Langford G. Berry 1861
1863
1857
William Humphrey 1867
George Martin 1858-68
Randolph Manning. 1858-64
Isaac P. Christiancy 1858-77
W. Irving Latimer. 1879
1850
Silas M. Holmes 1855
John McKinney 1859
John Owen 1861
E. O. Grosvenor 1867
Victory P. Collier.
1871
Wm. B. McCreery 1875
Benj. F. Pritchard. 1879
ATTORNEYS-GENERAL.
Daniel LeRoy 1836
Peter Morey 1837
Zephaniah Platt 1841
Elon Farnsworth
1843
Henry N. Walker
1845
Edward Mundy 1847
Geo. V. N. Lothrop
1848
William Hale. 1857
Jacob M. Howard 1855
Wm. Woodbridge 1828-32
Ross Wilkins 1832-6
Wm. A. Fletcher 1836-42
Byron D. Ball. 1873
Isaac Marston
1874
Andrew J. Smith 1875
Otto Kirchner
1877
AUDITORS-GENERAL.
Robert Abbott. 1836
Henry Howard 1839
Eurotus P. Hastings 1840
Alpheus Felch 1842
HIenry S. Whipple 1842
Charles G. Hammond 1845
John J. Adam IS45
Digby V. Bell 1846
Jolın J. Adam 1848
Sanford M. Green 1856-8
E. H. C. Wilson 1856-8
Benj. F. H. Witherell, Benj. F. Graves, Josiah Turner, and Edwin Lawrence to fill vacancies in the latter part of_ ...
Emil Aneke.
Ralph Ely 1875
HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.
George B. Cooper 1846
Barnard C. Whittemore
.
100
·HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.
STATE OFFICERS .- CONTINUED.
ELECTED.
ELECTED.
James V. Campbell
1858
David S. Walbridge. I855-9
D. C. Leach
1857-61
Benj. F. Graves
1868
Isaac Marston
1875
B. F. Granger 1861-3
U. S. SENATORS.
John Norvell. 1835-41
Lucius Lyon
1836-40
Augustus S. Porter
1840-5
Wm. Woodbridge
1841-7
R. E. Trowbridge
1865-9
Lewis Cass
1845-57
Thomas W. Ferry
1869-71
Thos. H. Fitzgerald. 1848-9
Austin Blair
1867-73
Alpheus Felch
1847-53
William L. Stoughton
1869-73
Charles E. Stuart
I853-9
Zachariah Chandler
1857-77
Kinsley S. Bingham
1859-61
Jacob M. Howard
1862-71
Wilder D. Foster 1871-3
Jabez G. Sutherland
1871-3
Henry Baldwin
1880
Zachariah Chandler
1878-9
Thomas W. Ferry
1881-3
Omar D. Conger
IS81-7
REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS.
Isaac E. Crary 1835-41
Jacob M. Howard 1841-43
Lucius Lyon 1843-5
Robert McClelland 1843-9
James B. Hunt
1843-7
John S. Chipman 1845-7
Charles E. Stuart. 1847-9
Kinsley S. Bingham
1849-51
Alexander W. Buel.
1849-51
William Sprague 1849-50
Charles E. Stuart
1851-3
James L. Conger
1851-3
Ebenezer J. Penneman 1851-3
Samuel Clark IS53-5
David A. Noble 1853-5
Julius C. Burrows :881
Hester L. Stevens 1853-5
David Stuart 1853-5
George W. Peck 1855-7
William A. Howard.
1855-61
Roswell G. Horr 1881
Henry Waldron
1855-61
Jay A. Hubbell 188I
1875-7
Alpheus S. Williams 1875-9
Mark S. Boemer 1877
Charles C. Ellsworth
1877-9
Edwin W. Keightley
1877-9
Jonas H. McGowan 1877
John W. Stone
1877
' Edwin Willets
1877
Roswell G. Horr
1879
John S. Newberry 1879
H. W. Lord 188 1
Edwin Willets 1881
E. S. Lacey 1881
George W. Webber 1881
Oliver L. Spaulding 1881
John T. Rich IS81
F. C. Beaman
1861-71
R. E. Trowbridge
1861-3
Charles Upson
1863-9
John W. Longyear
1863-7
John F. Driggs.
1863-9
Omar D. Conger
1869-81
Randolph Strickland
1869-71
Henry Waldon 1871-5
Thomas W. Ferry 1871
Moses W. Field 1873-5
George Millard. 1875-7
Julius C. Burrows 1873-5, 1879
Josiah W. Begale 1873-5
Nathan B. Bradley 1873-7
Jay A. Hubbell. 1873
W. B. Williams
In the political chapter of the county history, the names of State Senators and Representatives from Macomb are given, with a record of votes received.
Francis W. Kellogg 1859-65
Thomas M. Cooley
1864
2
HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.
101
POLITICAL STATISTICS.
The following tables show the political complexion of the several districts as now arranged, taking the vote for Congressmen in 1880 as the basis :
FIRST DISTRICT.
County.
Rep.
Dem.
Green- back.
Wayne
15,962
15,388
628
Republican plurality
574
Democratic and Greenback over Republican 54
SECOND DISTRICT.
Monroe
3,175
3,717
201
Lenawee
6,308
5,431
265
Hillsdale
4,857
2,435
914
Washtenaw
4,605
5,013
294
Total.
18,945
16,596
1,674
Republican plurality
2,349
Republican majority
675
THIRD DISTRICT.
Jackson
4,564
3,287
2,196
Calhoun
5,184
2,915
1,067
Branch
4,106
1,081
1,748
Barry
3,072
779
2,340
Eaton
4,34I
1,677
1,608
Total
21,267
9,739
8,959
Republican plurality
11,528
Republican majority.
.2,571
FOURTH DISTRICT.
Berrien
4,553
3.523
533
Cass
2,856
2,157
425
St. Joseph
3,134
1,840
1,500
Kalamazoo
4,459
2,976
572
Van Buren
4,094
1,928
1,163
Total
19,096
12,424
4,193
Republican plurality
.6,672
Republican majority.
-2,479
FIFTH DISTRICT.
Allegan
4,657
1,806
1,789
Kent
7,879
5,395
3,227
Ottawa
3,289
2,072
837
Ionia
4,262
666
3,048
Wexford
I,II2
476
47
Missaukee
268
I2I
21
Charlevoix
793
276
95
Republican majority
SIXTH DISTRICT.
County.
Rep.
Dem.
Green- back.
Clinton
3,305
2,771
766
Ingham
3.983
3.387
1.03I
Livingstone
2,820
2,914
¥92
Genesee
4,747
2,126
2,173
Oakland
5,37I
5,000
363
Total
20,226
16,288
4,525
Republican plurality
3,938
Democrat and Greenback over Republican 587
SEVENTH DISTRICT.
Macomb
3,000
3,283
184
St. Clair
4,182
3,512
713
Lapeer
3,390
2,676
138
Sanilac
2,183
1,329
179
Huron
1,773
1,194
34
Total
14,618
11,994
1,248
Republican plurality
3,944
Republican majority
2,696
EIGHTH DISTRICT.
Shiawassee
3,325
1,947
1,165
Saginaw
4,829
5,801
436
Gratiot
2,526
1,780
686
Montcalm
4,140
3,067
492
Isabella
1,375
1,089
81
Midland
758
514
241
Total
16,953
14,198
3,10I
Republican plurality.
2,755
Democrat and Greenback over Republican NINTH DISTRICT.
Muskegon.
2,737
1,496
605
Oceana
1,479
959
Newaygo
1,549
1,796
12
Mecosta
1,592
1,020
91
Osceola
1,234
577
20
Lake
583
264
I
Mason
1,259
832
Manistee
1,176
1,098
Total
20,087
9,939
8,901
Republican plurality
10,108
1,207
Antrim
598
198
171
346
102
HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.
County.
Rep.
Dem.
Green- back.
County.
Rep
Dem. Green-
Kalkaska
495
181
Total
14,875
9,294
I,C63
Republican plurality.
-5,581
Republican majority
.4,518
TENTH DISTRICT.
Tuscola
2,872
1,812
ISO
Bay
2,483
2,398
1,568
Caldwin
147
260
5
Clare
451
412
41
Roscommon
564
413
72
Ogemaw
280
I73
57
Iosco
766
540
8
Crawford
18I
141
24
Oscoda
Alcona
388
250
8
Alpena
948
835
48
Montmorency
Otsego
329
217
83
Presque Isle
209
151
Cheboygan
581
571
83
Emmet
809
603
4
Total
10,978
8,776
2,180
Republican majority
.4,168
There were also prohibition and scattering votes returned for Congress in 1880 as follows: Second district, 191; third, 234; fourth, 24; fifth, 18; sixth, 78; seventh, 18; eighth, 16; ninth, 21; tenth, 7; and eleventh, 95. In Isle Royal County, in 1880, no election was held, and Oscoda and Montmorency Counties were not organized.
The population of the several districts in 1870 and 1880 and the total increase for the ten years are shown by the following table :
District.
Pop. 1870.
Pop. 1880.
Increase.
First
119,038.
166,444
47,406
Second
146 196
156.538
10,342
Third
140,212
164.966
18,754
Fourth
143.356
150,569
7,213
Fifth
136,840
178,066
41,226
Sixth
142 276
164.784
22,508
Seventh
109.233
154,392
45,152
Eighth.
92 792
160,269
67,498
Ninth
51,943.
125,210.
73,267
Tenth
40,439
111,15I
70,712
Eleventh
55,794
104,527
49,733
498
8
Leelenau
643
564
72
Benzie
430
192
141
Manitou
36
I37
Chippewa
358
325
Mackinac
143
298
Schoolcraft
172
17
Marquette
2,449
1,255
Baraga
180
219
Houghton.
2,107
1,283
Keewenaw
610
237
Ontonagon
306
147
14
Isle Royal
Menominee
1,304
900
Delta
724
414
Total
10,789
6,486
235
Republican plurality
4,303
Republican plurality
2,202
Republican majority
22
ELEVENTH DISTRICT.
Grand Traverse.
1,327
back.
If a similar rate of increase is kept up in the northern counties, the eighth, ninth and tenth districts will before the end of the decade largely exceed in popu- lation certain of the older districts.
103
HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.
CHAPTER VII.
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE FUR - TRADERS AND SLAVE OWNERS.
The British at Detroit changed their policy somewhat, and endeavored to coMediate the Indians, paying them for land and encouraging French settlements in the vicinity. This encouragement was exhibited, in part, in showing some par- tiality to French customs.
At this time the fur trade was considerably revived, the principal point of shipment being the Grand Portage of Lake Superior. The charter boundaries of the two companies, the Hudson's Bay and the Northwest, not having been very well-defined, the employees of the respective companies often came into conflict. Lord Selkirk, the head of the former company, ended the difficulty by uniting the stock of both companies. An attempt was also made to mine and ship copper, but the project was found too expensive.
SLAVERY IN MICHIGAN.
The following references to the slave in Michigan have been extracted from the able paper prepared on that subject by J. A. Girardin. In olden times the city of Detroit and vicinity had slaves among its inhabitants. The old citizens generally purchased them from marauding bands of Indians, who had captured the negro slaves in their war depredations on plantations. Many were thus brought from Virginia, New York, and Indiana, and sold to the inhabitants of Detroit, sometimes for nominal prices. Among our old citizens who were slaveholders in the olden times were the late Major Joseph Campau, George McDougall, James Duperon Baby, Abbott & Finchly, and several others. The negro slaves were well treated by their owners. Many of those poor captives when sold and released were at once well taken care of by our ancient inhabitants. Some- times the price of a negro slave was regulated according to his intrinsic value, but the price was quite high for those days. For instance: A negro boy named Frank, aged 12 years, the property of the late Phillip Jonciere, of Belle Fontaine, now. Springwells, was sold on the 22d day of October, 1793, by William Roe, acting auctioneer, to the late Hon. James Duperon Baby, for the sum of £213, New York currency, equal to $532.50 of our money. Mr. Baby being the highest bidder, he, Frank, was adjudged to him for the benefit of Mr. Joncier's estate.
.
104
HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.
--
In the records of baptism of St. Anne's Church, several persons of color we find recorded as having received the sacrament of baptism, and, in the absence of family names we find that the names of " Margaret," for instance, a negress, " unknown " would be entered in the absence of her regular family name ; several instances of this kind are entered in the old records. During the administration of the Governor and Judges of the Territory of Michigan, several negroes received donation lots. Among them was a well known negro named "Pompey," the property of the late James Abbott. As a class the negroes were esteemed by our ancient population ; many of them could speak the French language fluently, espe- cially those living with their French masters. But little cruelty was practiced by their owners. There was no Wendell Phillips nor any Lloyd Garrison, nor any " higher law doctrine," expounded in those days to disturb the mind of the slave or the slaveholder. Every one lived in Arcadian simplicity and contentment. The negro was satisfied with his position, and rendered valuable services to his master, and was ever ready to help him against the treacherous Indians. During the war of 1812 several of them accompanied their masters to the battle-field, and mate- rially helped their masters and the troops.
By an ordinance enacted by Congress, dated July 13, 1787, entitled " An act for the government of the territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio River," there was a clause in Article VI saying that " there shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said territory, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes." This was a safeguard by Congress to prevent the extension of slavery northwest of the Ohio River. Notwithstanding this wise provision our an- cestors paid but little attention to it, for whenever a spruce negro was brought by the Indians he was sure to find a purchaser at a reasonable price. Most every prominent man in those days had a slave or two, especially merchants trading with the Indians.
Detroit and vicinity was a heaven to the slave compared to the Southern States, although slavery was carried on on a moderate scale here, there being no cotton or rice fields to employ them in, their labor being on the plantations near Detroit, or at their masters' houses. The master, once attached to his " Sambo," a great price would have to be paid to buy him.
The late Judge May had a slave-woman who had come to his hands for a debt owed him by one Granchin. This faithful slave served the Judge some twenty- five years. Mr. Joseph Campau, an extensive trader in those days, had as many as ten slaves at different times. Among them was a young negro named " Crow," who was quite a favorite of Mr. C., who had him dressed in scarlet, a contrast with his color. This negro, to the amusement of the inhabitants of the old town, used to ascend old St. Anne's Church steeple and there perform some of his gymnastic
-
105
HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.
tricks. He was supple and elastic as a circus-rider. He had been purchased at Montreal by Mr. Campau. He was afterward drowned from one of Mr. C.'s bat- teaux. "Hannah," another intelligent colored woman, was purchased at Montreal by Mr. C. This faithful slave, after serving him several years, married " Patterson," also a slave. " Mulet," one of the most honest and faithful of all slaves, also be- longed to Mr. Campau, who very often employed him as confidential clerk. This slave died but a few years ago at a very advanced age, respected and esteemed for his great integrity and fidelity. The slave "Tetro " was among the favorites of Maj. Campau. He, too, was as faithful and as honest as the day was long.
The late Gen. John R. Williams also possessed a slave, named " Hector." He, too, was faithful and trustworthy. In the year 1831 Daniel Leroy, Olmstead Chamberlain, and Gideon O. Whittemore sold to Col. Mack, Gen. Williams, and Maj. Campau the newspaper called the Oakland Chronicle, the office being trans- ferred here, and the well known slave " Hector " was placed in charge of it. When the late Col. Sheldon Mcknight entered to take possession, he was fiercely resisted by " Hector who showed fight, and the Colonel had to retreat. This paper was afterward merged into the Free Press of this city.
Ann Wyley, a former slave, suffered the extreme penalty of the law for having stolen six guineas from the firm of Abbott & Finchley. She was sentenced to death by a justice of the peace, and buried on the spot where St. Anne's Church now stands, which ground was used as a place of burial in early days; and when, in 1817, the foundations of the church were being excavated for, the body of this unfortunate woman was found, face downward. It was supposed that she was in a trance at the time of her burial. This incident was related to me by an old lady, some years ago, who knew all about the facts, and who has since died.
The late Joseph Dronillard, of Petite Cote, Canada, had two daughters. Upon the marriage of one of them to the grandfather of your humble servant she received a farm ; the other received two slaves as her marriage portion. This goes to show that the negro in those days was considered a chattel. Several of our French farmers on both sides of the river had one or more of them.
Many anecdotes can be related of Africa's sons among our ancestors, and they as a class were well cared for and educated by their kind masters. I could digress and go into more details, but the present sketch will suffice to show our modern philanthropists that the slaves here in Detroit were as well treated as the families in which their lot had been cast. The question may be asked : " How did slavery die out here ?" The owners of slaves, after having received their services for a number of years generally would liberate them, or sometimes sell them to parties outside of the Territory. When the celebrated ordinance of 1787 was extended over the Northwest, Michigan assumed for the first time the first grade of govern-
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HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.
ment, and the laws of Congress were put in force, no more slaves were afterward allowed to be brought into the Territory, and slavery was known no more here !
SALE OF NEGRO MAN POMPEY.
The following is a copy of a deed furnished by W. W. Backus of Detroit :
" Know all men by these presents : That I, James May of Detroit, for and in consideration of the sum of forty-five pounds, New York currency, to me in hand paid by John Askin, Esqr., of Detroit, the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge to be fully satisfied and paid, have sold and delivered, and by these presents, in plain and open market, do bargain, sell, and deliver unto the said John Askin, Esqr., a certain negro man, Pompey by name, to have and to hold the said negro unto the said John Askin, Esqr., his heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns forever ; and I, the said James May, for my heirs, executors, and assigns, against all manner of person or persons, shall and will warrant and forever defend by these presents.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this nineteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-four.
Signed,
JAMES MAY.
In presence of ROBERT STEVENS.
I do hereby make over my whole right, title and interest in the above men- tioned negro man Pompey to Mr. James Donnolson of this place for the sum of fifty pounds, New York currency, the receipt of which I do hereby acknowledge, as witness my hand and seal at Detroit, this third day of January, 1795.
Signed, JOHN ASKIN.
Witness, WILLIAM MCCLINTOCK.
Throughout the counties of Wayne, Monroe, Macomb, and Oakland, the slave existed. True, he bore the same relation almost to his master, as the white laborer of the South did to his master previous to 1861. Yet he was a slave, liable to be bought and sold.
PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
Michigan has as good a public-school system as can be found anywhere in the Union. Ever since 1785, the acts of Congress, as well as the acts of this State since its organization, have encouraged popular education by land grants and lib- eral appropriations of money. The 16th section of each township was early placed in the custody of the State for common-school purposes, and all the proceeds of the sale of school lands go into the perpetual fund. In 1842 the Superintendent of Public Instruction reported a discrepancy of over $22,000 in the funds, owing to im-
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HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.
perfect records, probably, rather than of dishonesty of officials. September 30, 1858, the primary school fund amounted to $2,890,090.73, and the swamp-land school fund to $361,237.20. The qualification of teachers and the supervision of schools were for many years in the hands of a board of three inspectors, then the county superin- tendency system was adopted for many years, and since 1875 the township system has been in vogue. The township Board of School inspectors now consists of the Township Clerk, one elected Inspector, and a Township Superintendent of Schools.
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