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 51

Author:
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, A.T. Andreas & Co.
Number of Pages: 818

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 51

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But as to all other charges we beg leave to respectfully report as follows, to-wit:

First charge-Cruelty to inmates.

This charge is not proven, and through all the testimony there is nothing to support the charges against either the Superintendents, the keeper or matron.

Second charge-Using the county's cloth by the matron for her children's clothing.

No evidence to prove the charge but all tends to prove the contrary.

Third charge-Giving away meat or flour belonging to the county.

We find no proof in the evidence of such being the case in any single instance, but the testi- mony of two witnesses tends to show that flour has been paid for sewing done for the inmates of the poor house.

Fourth charge-The statement that Mrs. Cope was allowed and did jump from the third story window to the ground is a base fabrication.

But she did jump from the second story window, and the children of the keeper, in play, do the same, it being but a short distance to the ground.

Fifth-The charges of the old woman who died through neglect so terribly diseased.

All the evidence proves that she was as well cared for as could be under the circumstances. But Mrs. Cope took the earrings off after death without the knowledge or consent of the keeper.

Sixth-The charge that the child found on the doorstep of Mr. Yeates died from neglect.

It was clearly proven that Mrs. Van Slyke took it under her own especial care and treated it as well as if it had been her own.

Seventh .- The music teacher and visitors.

The charge that a music teacher was boarding at the poor house is not proven by any of the testimony taken. But he occasionally stopped there nights, and in one instance two nights in one week, but generally left after a short visit in the day time, and other visitors have not been frequent or many.

The County Infirmary in October, 1881, sheltered forty-two inmates. James and Mrs. Van Slyke were in charge.

In the historical sketch of Port Huron City, references are made to the building of the county court house, city hall and custom house.

LOCAL LEGISLATORS.

From the organization of the county to 1827, the public interests were under the direction of Commissioners. In 1827, the act of Territorial Legislature authorized the election of Supervisors. The Supervisors' Board was elected annually until 1838, when a return to the old government by the Commissioners took place.

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

From 1821 to 1823, Andrew Westbrook, George Cottrell and John K. Smith were members of the board. In the latter year, Harvey Stewart took the place of John K. Smith, and continued to serve until April, 1827.

SUPERVISORS' BOARD.

1827-Everett Beardsley, John S. Fish.

1828-Harvey Stewart, Amasa Hemmenger, Jeremiah Harrington, and Everett Beardsley.

1829-William Gallagher, John Kennelly, George Cottrell, Harvey Stewart.

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

1830-William Gallagher, John Kennelly, George Cottrell, Harvey Stewart.

1831-Andrew Westbrook, John Kennelly, Amasa Hemmenger, Harvey Stewart.

1832-Samuel Ward, Edmund Carleton, John Kennelly, Harvey Stewart.

1833-Same officers.

1834-Ralph Wadhams, John Doran, Edmund Carleton, David Cottrell, Charles Kimball.

1835-Peter Carleton, Jacob Kendall, David Cottrell, John Kennelly, and Edmund Carleton.

1836-H. N. Monson, Cummings Sanborn, Ralph Wadhams, David Cottrell, Peter Carleton, and Charles Kimball.

1837-Jonathan Burtch, H. N. Monson, Ira Porter, Charles Kimball, Ralph Wadhams, David Cottrell, Theodore Bathy, Thomas Dart, Jacob Kendall.

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

1838-Zael Ward, Justin Rice, and John S. Parker.

1839-40-Zael Ward, John S. Parker, and John Howard.

1841-42-John- Howard, John S. Parker, and Chester Kimball.

In 1842, the Supervisors' Board was re-established, and has continued since to administer the af- fairs of the county. In the histories of the townships, the names and dates of service of the Super- visors' Clerks and Justices of each township will be given.

TOWNSHIP AND CITY ORGANIZATION.

Plainfield Township was organized under authority given in proclamation of Gov. Cass, March 17, 1823. The original boundaries were: Beginning on the St. Clair River at the north line of land belonging to the heirs of Alexander Harrow (deceased); thence northwesterly to the northeast corner of Section No. 28; thence along north line of Sections 28, 29, 30 and 35 to the border of Lake St. Clair; thence southerly, until it intersects the boundary line be- tween the United States and Canada; thence northeast along said boundary line to a point due east from the place of beginning and thence west to the place of beginning.

By an act approved April 12, 1827, surveyed Township No. 3, in Ranges 15, 16 and 17 east, was ordered to be organized under the name of Cottrellville, and the first town meeting ordered to be held at Cottrell's Tavern.

Surveyed townships and fractional parts, in Ranges 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 east, were formed into a township named Sinclair, April 12, 1827, and the first town meeting ordered to be held at the court house of the county.

Surveyed Townships 6, 7, 8 and 9, in Ranges 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 east, were established as the town of Desmond, and the first meeting ordered to be held at Fort Gratiot. The name Desmond was changed to Port Huron, under the act of March 11, 1837.

Cottrellville Township was organized under authority given in Gov. Cass' proclama- tion, dated March 17, 1823. The boundaries were: Beginning on the border of the River St. Clair at the south line of land belonging to James Fulton; thence west to the northeast corner of Section 12, in Township 4 and Range 16 east; thence west to the boundary line; thence south along boundary line to Lake St. Clair, until it intersects the north line of Plainfield, and continuing easterly along the north line of Plainfield to the border of St. Clair River; thence easterly along the border of the St. Clair to James Fulton's lands.

The town of Clay was established May 27, 1828, and the first meeting ordered to be held at the house of John K. Smith. The lands comprised in Clay, as then organized, included that part of St. Clair County south of section line between 23 and 33, in Township 3 north, of Range 16 east, extending east and west from St. Clair River to St. Clair Lake.

China Township was established by act of March 21, 1835. It comprised Township 4 north, Ranges 15, 16 and 17 east. The first town meeting was held within the house of John Clark.

Columbus Township, comprising Township 5 north, of Range 15 east, was established and the first meeting ordered to be held at the house of Benjamin Kettredge, under authority of act, approved March 11, 1837.

Clyde Township was established under authority of legislative act March 26, 1836. It

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

comprised Townships 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 north, of Ranges 13, 14, 15 and 16 east, and the first meeting was held at the house of Ralph Wadhams.

Ira Township was organized under authority of the act approved March 11, 1837. It comprised all the lands within the following boundaries: From the southwest corner of Sec- tion 28, thence north to south line of Township 4; thence west to east line of Macomb County; thence south to Lake St. Clair; thence along lake shore eastward to south line of Section 25, and thence to southwest corner of Section 28. The first town meeting was ordered to be held at the house of Chester Kimball.

. That portion of Michigan known in the United States Survey as Ranges 13, 14, 15 and 16 east, forming the eastern part of Sanilac County, was attached to Lexington Township, St. Clair County, under authority of the legislative act approved March 27, 1838.

Riley Township was organized in April, 1838, at the house of Nelson Phillips, under au- thority of an act of the Legislature approved March 6 of that year. It embraced Township 6 north, of Range 14 east.

The act approved March 31, 1838, authorized the addition of Township 5 north, of Range 16 east, and P. C. No. 255, to St. Clair Township.

Cottrellville Township was enlarged under authority of legislative act approved March 28, 1840, Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19 and 20, of Township 3 north, of Range 16 east, being added.

Wales Township was organized under authority of legislative act approved March 27, 1841. Town 6 north, of Range 15 east, was set off under the name of Wales, and the first meet- ing ordered to be held at the house of Joshua Tompkins.

Burtchville Township or Town 8 north, of Ranges 14, 15, 16 and fraction of 17 east (form- ing a portion of Lexington Township, in February, 1842), was organized at the house of Louis Facer, in April, 1842, under authority given in legislative act approved February 16, 1842.

Under authority of an act approved March 11, 1844, the counties of Huron and Sanilac were attached to St. Clair County for purposes of taxation.

The name Palmer was changed to St. Clair under authority of an act approved April 7, 1846.

Brockway Township or Town No. 7 north, of Ranges 14 and 15 east, was detached from Clyde Township, and Township 8 north, of Ranges 14 and 15 east, from Burtchville, and organ- ized as the township of Brockway, the first town meeting to be held at the house of Allen Bills. The act of authorization was approved March 17, 1848.

The act to incorporate the village of Port Huron was approved April 2, 1849. The bound- aries of the village were : Beginning at a point on the bank of the St. Clair one-half mile south of the mouth of Black River, thence west one mile, thence north to the south line of the United States Military Reservation, thence east along the south line to the St. Clair River, and down the bank of the river to the place of beginning. The people were authorized to meet the first Monday in May, 1849, to elect a President, Recorder, Treasurer, Marshal, two Assessors and six Trustees.

March 17, 1849, that portion of Ira Township bordering on Lake St. Clair, on the east line of the old Chippewa Reservation, thence north on east line of reservation to the south line of China, thence east to the east line of Cottrellville, and thence south to the south line of Ira, was set off from Ira and attached to Clay. This act was subsequently repealed.

Lynn Township was organized under authority of legislative act approved March 28, 1850, setting off from Berlin Township Towns 7 and 8 north, of Range 13 east, and ordering the first meeting to be held at the house of John Whalen.

St. Clair Village was incorporated under authority of an act approved April 1, 1850, set- ting off that portion of St. Clair County embraced within the following limits : Commencing at the northeast corner of P. C. No. 305 on River St. Clair, westerly along north line of Claim 305 to northwest corner of five-acre Outlot No. 6; thence south along west line of five-acre lots to the south west corner of five-acre Lot No. 112; thence east along south line of lots to north- west corner of Outlot No. 10; thence south along west line of Lot 10 to Pine River; thence along Pine River, down stream, to south line of plat as engraved by J. G. Darby, in 1836;

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

thence east along south line of plat to River St. Clair; thence along the St. Clair to place of beginning. The first meeting was ordered to be held the first Monday in May, 1850.

Greenwood Township or Township 8 north, of Range 15 east, was set off from Brockway Township, and the first town meeting ordered to be held at the house of Joseph Graham. The act of organization was approved February 12, 1855.

Kimball Township was organized under authority of legislative act approved February 12, 1855, when Township 6 north, of Range 16 east, was set off, and the first meeting ordered to be held at the house of John S. Kimball.

Kenockee Township was organized under act of February 9, 1855, setting off Town 7 north, of Range 15 east, from Emmett Township, and ordering the first meeting to be held at the house of Luther Ward.

Mussey Township was organized under authority of legislative act approved February 10, 1855, setting off Town 7 north, of Range 13 east, into a township, and directing the first meet- ing to be held at the house of Daniel Alverson.

The city of St. Clair was incorporated under authority of legislative act approved Feb- ruary 4, 1858. The boundaries of the organized village were extended, and to the whole tract the name City of St. Clair was granted.

The towns of Berlin, Casco, East China, Emmett, Fort Gratiot and Grant have been estah- lished in recent years. In the sketches of these townships, reference will be made to their organization.

PROSPERITY OF THE COUNTY.

The uninterrupted prosperity and success which have attended the various branches of enterprise and industry in the county of St. Clair from its earliest settlement to the present day, the change from an almost unbroken wilderness to a rich and populous county in the brief space of time, naturally leads the mind to contemplations of deep interest and inquiry, with regard to the condition which the progressive energies of its people will work out in its future. We have only to examine the resources of wealth which the county naturally presents for im- provement-the strength, skill and aptitude of the people to lay hold of natural advantages and convert them to the most profitable form. In order justly to appreciate the energies which have been put forth by the early settlers in this county, the results of which are so attractive to the travelar, it should be borne in mind that the county was not settled by capitalists bringing large amounts of money to expend in subduing and cultivating new lands, but almost exclu- sively by men who were unable to purchase farms in the old States-whose physical and mental energies constituted their funded wealth. This was the capital invested in the settlement and improvement of the county-a currency not subject to fluctuations. The pioneers were men of independent minds and efforts, whose activities were controlled by the dictates of their own judgments. The bosom of the earth, teeming with fertility, was spread out before them. It is to the labor of its people that we must look for nearly all of the wealth of the county. It is universally admitted that the surest index of the progressive energies of an agricultural com- munity is discovered in the condition of its roads and schoolhouses. The light of science to illuminate and invigorate the natural powers, and facilities of communication which tend to develop the social nature of man, and bring into visibility the various interests by which he is connected with society, as these are appreciated, cultivated and brought into constant use, the vital energies, the enduring strength and substantial wealth of a community are advanced. If we adopt this general rule in the county and take the condition of its public roads and school- houses as a criterion of its advancement in intelligence and wealth, we shall find that it has few rivals. Whatever road the traveler may select in the county, he will not progress far on his journey without having his attention attracted by a district schoolhouse, erected upon a pleasant spot. He will observe that it is neatly finished and painted, and that it is-such is the rule, though there are exceptions -- surrounded by shade trees, and has a nice play ground for the children. If he enters this little seminary, he will find the interior judiciously and tastefully arranged, and furnished with blackboards, maps, charts and the most approved ap- paratus for aiding the pupils in their various studies. The laws of Michigan make liberal provisions for the support of its common schools; and in this county, they are generally well applied.

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

POLITICAL HISTORY.

In this chapter, we give the returns of every election held in the county so far as we could obtain them. The records of many of the earlier elections are lost; indeed, all those not given are not among the archives of the County Clerk's office. As those elections were held prior to the days of newspapers in this county, the Clerk's office is the only place we could expect to find them. In the compilation of this chapter, for its accuracy and fullness, we are greatly in- debted to Horace Baker, County Clerk, and M. F. Carleton, Deputy County Treasurer, who as- sisted us very materially in collecting the matter. To give some idea of the labor expended in its compilation, we have only to state that often no abstract of the election could be found, and one had to be prepared from the original poll-books, which would consume hours of time. The returns of the election of one year were secured only after a vast amount of labor. We have searched diligently through the files of old election abstracts and poll-books in the Clerk's of- fice for the returns of that year, but in vain. Mr. Baker, with his ready knowledge of the places and conditions of the numberless papers in this office, assisted, and another search was made, more thorough than any of the former, still in vain. We then searched newspapers, but failed to unearth them. Those who were known to have a large collection of old papers, re- turns of numerous elections, etc., were spoken to about the matter. They at once kindly inter- ested themselves, and overhauled several hundred ancient manuscripts.

We relate these incidents merely that the reader may the better appreciate the vast and persistent labor often required to possess a single item, which, of itself, may at times seem un- important. Hours are often expended in securing a name or date, yet when found it occupies only a small space, and is passed over by the reader with no thought at all of the labor it cost; yet, should a name or date be wrongfully stated, how readily it is noticed, and often how un- charitable are those who do not appreciate the position of the writer ! Proper names, too, are so varied that without a personal acquaintance with each individual, it is often impossible to spell them correctly. Even members of the same family sometimes spell their surname differ- ently, as Philips, Phillips, Phillipps. And as for dates, also, when given verbally, they are sometimes as different as are the persons giving them.

The political complexion of the county is strongly Democratic. For many

years that political organization has controlled the public affairs of the county. Politics have fluctuated but little here, as the returns of the many elections given below will show. The politicians have generally been able to foreshadow correctly the result of an election many days prior to its being held. While the county has reared some illustrious sons in the various callings and professions of life, she has given to the county, State and nation, men who have become famous in the political profession. We will not attempt to follow the political issues year by year further than to give the returns of each election. By these the rise, decline and fall of parties may be traced. That elections have been as honora- bly and honestly conducted in this county as in any other county of the State, will not be questioned. At times, however, some candidate becomes over-anxious for his success, and stoops below the high standard usually strictly followed.

This territory, with all the northwest, was claimed by France from 1671 to 1763, when it was surrendered to the British. By the "Quebec Act" of 1774, the whole was placed under the local administration of Canada. It was, however, practically put under a despotic military rule, and so continued until possession passed to the United States. Before the last-mentioned event, and during and after the Revolution, the conflicting claims of Virginia, New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut to portions of the country were relinquished to the General Government. All the claims were based upon chartered rights, and Virginia added to hers the right of conquest of the "Illinois country" during the Revolution. As early as October,

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

1778, she declared, by an act of her General Assembly, that all the citizens of that common- wealth who were then settled, or should thereafter settle, on the western side of the Ohio, should be included in a distinct county, which should be called Illinois. No Virginians were then set- tled so far north as what is now Michigan, and, as none thereafter located so far north before she relinquished all her rights to the United States, it follows that no part of our State was in- cluded in Illinois County, and that she never exercised any jurisdiction over any portion of the State; nor did she make claim to any portion of it by right of conquest. Notwithstanding the passage of the ordinance of 1787, establishing a government over the territory northwest of the Ohio River, which territory was acquired by the treaty of 1783 from Great Britain, pos- session only was obtained by the United States of the southern portion, the northern part being held by the British Government until 1796. Arthur St. Clair, in February, 1790, exercising the functions of Governor, and having previously organized a government for the country under the ordinance above mentioned, established, in what is now the State of Illinois, a county which was named St. Clair. But as this county only extended north " to the mouth of the Lit- tle Mackinaw Creek on the Illinois," it did not include, of course, any part of the present county of St. Clair, although being the nearest approach thereto of any organized county up to that date. The next county was Wayne, organized in 1796, which included Michigan and that portion of Wisconsin watered by streams flowing into Lake Michigan. In 1818, this coun- ty was included within the boundaries of Macomb, and continued so until organized in 1821.

During the first years of the county's history, party bigotry was not acknowledged; but convention and caucus were held, the same as now, to select a man not to serve his own or his party's interest, but that of the people. The first settlers were attached to the Jacksonian po- litical school, because they saw in the old General one who held the Constitution of the United States above all else. When in 1832, South Carolina assumed the right to ignore the laws of the United States, and to oppose the collection of the revenue, Gen. Jackson, then President, acted with his usual decision, and told the South Carolinians that the Union must be preserved. He sent United States troops into that State, instructed the revenue collector at Charleston to perform his duty, and notified John C. Calhoun that he would be arrested on the committal of the first overt act against the law. This decisive action, together with the terms of his proc- lamation, cemented, as it were, all political parties under one leader. "The power to annul a law of the United States " he says, " is incompatible with the existence of the Union, contra- dicted expressly by the letter of the Constitution, unauthorized by its spirit, inconsistent with every principle on which it is founded, and destructive of the great object for which it was formed. To say that any State may at pleasure secede from the Union, is to say that the United States are not a nation; because it would be a solecism to contend that any part of the nation might dissolve its connection with the other part, to their injury or ruin, without com- mitting any offense. * The States severally have not retained their entire sovereignty. It has been shown that, in becoming parts of a nation, they surrender many of their essential parts

of sovereignty. The right to make treaties, declare war, levy taxes, exercise exclusive judicial and legislative powers, were all of them functions of sovereign power. * The States, then, for all of these important purposes, were no longer sovereign. *

* The duty imposed on me by the Constitution, to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, shall be performed to the extent of the powers vested in me by law." In this manner, President Jackson instructed the South Carolinians in the principles of Federal Government, and in this manner also did he notify them of the intentions of the United States in the event of their persisting in the viola- lation of any of its laws.

In those olden times, a man was chosen on his merits, and intrusted with the true represen- tation of the people in the Legislature as well as in the Supervisors' Court. A reference to the election returns will prove this statement precise in every particular. Years rolled on, and still party lines remained unobserved. In 1836, there was an apparent tendency to draw those lines closer; but the effort was comparatively a weak one. Two years later, in 1838, the doctrine of abolition was received with evident marks of disapprobation in this county.

M. de Bacourt landed in this country in the midst of the most exciting Presidential con- test ever known, in 1840, and served as Minister of France at Washington until 1842. He

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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 51

Author: Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, A.T. Andreas & Co. Number of Pages: 818

Author:
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, A.T. Andreas & Co.
Number of Pages: 818