USA > Michigan > St Joseph County > History of St. Joseph county, Michigan, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and important manufactories > Part 16
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44
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
ture. Thanksgiving day was appointed for November 27. In the papers in February and March, 1835, the local campaign for county offices was hotly discussed. J. W. Coffinberry was a candidate against T. W. Langley, for the register's office, and he put his advertisement into the paper in advocacy of his-Coffinberry's-claims.
"I make not the public good my plea, The end of all my wishes ; With half an eye a man can see I need the ' loaves and fishes.' "
The "morus multicaulis" fever, it appears, attacked the pioneer settle- ments of the west, as well as the older States on the seaboard. A party on Prairie Ronde offered mulberry trees for sale in the spring of 1835, which he guaranteed had been tested for silk-cocoons and not " found want- ing." The plant was also recommended for " hedge-fences."
At the spring election of 1835 Selden Martin was elected colonel of the 11th regiment of Michigan militia, Benjamin Sherman, lieutenant-colonel, and S. A. Chapin, major. Hart L. Stewart, at the time, was general of the 6th brigade.
In October, 1835, the Statesman's office of publication was removed to Bronson (now Kalamazoo), the editor setting forth, in the issue of October 2, his reasons for the removal, which he thought ought to convince all of his reasonable patrons of the wisdom of his action. The paper was conducted for twenty-five years and more, as a Democractic sheet, by Mr. Gilbert, who changed the name to the Gazette, in January, 1837, under which name it is still published in the interest of the same party, at Kalamazoo, but by another publisher, Mr. Gilbert having retired from the editorial tripod some years ago.
The next papers established in the county, were the Peninsular, at Centre- ville, the first number of which was issued July 2, 1836, and the Republican, at Constantine, July 6th. The former was published by E. Van Buren, who issued it until December following, when it was suspended until April, 1837, when its publication was resumed by a Mr. Knappen for a short time, and then abandoned. It was an advocate of the interests of Centreville particu- larly, and its political principles were Democratic under Van Buren's control. In number thirty-two, May 4, 1837, it is gravely stated that "Chicago already contains eight thousand inhabitants, has from forty to fifty lawyers, thirty to forty physician, twelve public-houses, three newspapers, one hundred and twenty-eight stores, and there were twenty-eight thousand tons of merchan- dise taken in the port the last season." The announcement was made of the presentation of a fine battery of six guns, with ammunition and equipments, by Major J. T. Chambers, of Kentucky, to the Republic of Texas for service against Mexico. The Republican was published by Daniel Munger and Mr. Cowdery, and was issued during the years 1836, 1837 and 1838. It was fiercely Democratic in its politics, and waxed furious in its denunciation of the Whigs of the county, who " stole a march " on the Democratic con- vention in August, 1836, and compassed the nomination of Neal McGaffey for the legislature. It hoisted the name of Dr. Sumner at the head of its columns, but McGaffey was elected in spite of its bitter warfare. E. Van Buren began the publication of the White Pigeon Gazette in August, 1837, and continued for a short time, when he was succeeded by Daniel Munger, who was subsequently joined by A. W. Adams, the paper being published until 1841-42. It was also Democratic in politics. January 13, 1843, J. Eastman Johnson and W. B. Josslyn issued the initial number of the Centreville Republican, a twenty-four column paper, devoted to the pros- perity of the county, and Centreville especially, being Democratic in politics. Josslyn was associated in the paper but a few months, and upon his retiring, Judge Johnson conducted the editorial and business management of the sheet alone. He published it until the year 1845. In 1841-42 James R. Adams published a paper in White Pigeon. In February, 1845, Albert E. Massey and Horace Metcalf began the publication of a paper in Centreville, called the St. Joseph county Advertiser, advocating the principles of the Whig party. The publication of the paper was continued until 1851, Metcalf re- tiring previous to 1848, and being succeeded by Williams, who died about 1850, and was succeeded by S. B. McCracken ; he, however, retained his interest but a short time, closing his course with the paper in June, 1850. In February, 1851, Massey disposed of the office to Levi T. Hull and John M. Farquhar, and in June following it was removed by the new publishers to Constantine, where it appeared under the new name of
CONSTANTINE MERCURY AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY ADVERTISER.
In August Mr. Farquhar withdrew from the paper, since which date it has been published continuously by Mr. Hull, the only intermission being that occasioned by the burning of the office, March 1, 1874, when the reg- ular issues were suspended for a few weeks.
The Mercury is a staunch and determined advocate of the views of the Republican party, and has been since that party was organized. It is out- spoken and fearless in its opinions, and seeks to lead, rather than follow, public sentiment. A well-equipped job-office is connected with the paper, and, with power presses, very neat typography is executed with despatch.
Mr. Hull is the oldest publisher in the State who has been continuously in the same office. His labors have met with just recognition from the " pow- ers that be," by his appointment to the office of assistant assessor of internal revenue, which position he held from September, 1862, until May, 1873. with the exception of six months, from November 15, 1866, to April 1, 1867. The office was abolished in May, 1873, and on August 1, following, Mr. Hull received the appointment of collector of internal revenue, which position he held until September 20, 1876, at which date the district was consolidated.
January 1, 1877, Mr. Hull received the appointment of deputy col- lector for the fourth division of the third district, which division comprises Cass, Berrien, Van Buren and St. Joseph counties. From 1863-6 St. Joseph county returned the heaviest revenue in the district-forty thousand dollars per annum, ten thousand dollars of which were for the tax on peppermint- oil alone, and twenty thousand dollars for income tax.
In 1867 Mr. Hull was a member of the constitutional convention.
About 1843-4, C. E. Simonds began the publication of a paper in Sturgis called the Sturgis Republican, which he continued for a short time only, being succeeded by Hackstaff, who published the paper (or another one) as a Democratic organ. This last effort, however, was spasmodic only, and was succeeded by Joseph Willis, who continued the publication of the Republican. Willis was succeeded by Easton & Sawdy, who changed the name of the paper to the Sturgis Journal, and not long afterwards (1860) sold the office to J. G. Waite, who conducted the paper very ably for twelve years, when he retired from its publication, and was succeeded by his son, Arthur E. Waite, for two years, who then disposed of the paper and office to Dr. T. F. Thornton, in the year 1874. Messrs. Alleman & Sweet pub- lished, for a short time, the Sturgis Times, but in the year 1876 Dr. Thorn- ton purchased the latter paper and consolidated the two offices, and issued the new paper under the name of the Journal- Times, and its publication is still continued under the management of the Doctor and Mr. Mattingly, a practical printer, formerly of Rochester, New York.
The Journal- Times office is the best-equipped office in the county. Its stock of type and presses are surpassed by none in the State, in quality, and but by few, outside of Detroit, is it equaled in amount. The job-work is remarkably neat in execution, the catalogue of the high-school of Sturgis, for 1876, being a notable specimen of its mechanical ability.
The Journal- Times is ardently and vigorously Republican in sentiment and teaching. It has defended the Republican party from the open assaults of political opponents, as well as from the covert attacks of weak-kneed fol- lowers. It is high-toned and dignified in its editorials, enterprising and lib- eral in its advocacy of local matters, devoted to the interests of Sturgis, and backs "Old St. Joe" against the world, in point of general excellence.
THE WESTERN CHRONICLE
was published by Harvey Crossette, in Centreville, its first issue appearing some time in October, 1850. It was subsequently published by Newton S. Bouton, who removed the office, in 1854, to Three Rivers, where the publi- cation was continued until after 1861, when it was discontinued. It was violently Democratic in its partizanship, but was very fairly edited, and gained considerable influence throughout the county.
THE ST. JOSEPH COUNTY REPUBLICAN
was established by D. S. Weston, in 1845, at Centreville, and was published for about two years, when it suspended. The present paper of that name and location appeared in April, 1869, H. Egabroad being the publisher to the present time. It is a thirty-two column paper, Republican in politics, but pays more attention to matters of local interest than to national affairs. The local editor (a son of the proprietor) makes a newsy sheet of the issue.
Dr. Welper published a little sheet a short time in Three Rivers, but its name, even, has escaped the memory of the inhabitants.
Messrs. Reynolds & Curtis published a paper for a short time in Sturgis. Messrs. Hackstaff & Paine published a paper in White Pigeon some years after the one published in 1842 by Adams, and several proprietors succeeded one another, until 1866, when Sweet & Hackstaff published the Democratic Union, with a tremendous spread-eagle for a head. It was Democratic in politics, and was removed to Elkhart by Sweet, where it is still published as the Elkhart Union.
45
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
The present paper of White Pigeon is
THE ARGUS,
published by J. J. O'Brien, which was established by E. H. Graves, in 1875, who conducted it for a short time-E. O'Brien succeeding to the office and conducting the paper to the end of the first volume, at which date the present proprietor succeeded to the paper. It is an interesting local paper, independent in politics, and its editor and proprietor is doing his best to make it useful to the town.
THE MENDONIAN
was published in 1871-73, by a Mr. Sweet, and was independent in politics ; and A. C. Miles published a paper during the war; both of these latter pub- lications being issued in Mendon. H. Egabroad issued an edition of his Republican for Colon, which is known as the Colon Enterprise.
THE MENDON WEEKLY TIMES
was established in the fall of 1874, by A. Rindge, the first number appear- ing October 2. It is a seven-column folio, brought out in good style, and presents a neat and clean appearance. It is devoted principally to local in- terests, and is independent in politics. Its office contains the first job press brought to the town of Mendon, and is well stocked with materials for job work, for which it is rapidly gaining an excellent reputation.
THE WEEKLY JOURNAL
is published by W. A. DeGroodt and George C. Everding, at Constantine, who issued the first number November 4, 1876. The proprietors are young practical printers, and are striving to build up their paper to an honorable position in the ranks of the press in the county. The Journal is indepen- dent in its political views.
Doctor Amariah Bennett issued the Vegetable Herald for a short time at White Pigeon, in the interest of a botanical pharmacy, and he also published in Centreville for a short time the Michigan Farmer.
THE ST. JOSEPH COUNTY DEMOCRAT
is published by the Democratic publishing company, in Sturgis, L. E. Jacobs editing the same. It is Democratic in sentiment, and was established in 1876.
THE THREE RIVERS HERALD
is published, as its name indicates, at Three Rivers, by Doctor O. Arnold and Son ; is a quarto sheet; Democratic in politics, and is now (1877) in its ninth volume. The original press and material of this establishment were purchased in Chattanooga, Tennessee, by a Mr. Reynolds, of Sturgis, and moved to that place, wherewith Mr. Reynolds published for a short time the Sturgis Star. Subsequently the office was bought and removed to Burr Oak by a Mr. Dewey, who commenced there the publication of the St. Joseph County Democrat, which he continued for about a year, and then sold his in- terest to Messrs. Smith & Newton, who continued the publication of the paper for about the same time, when Smith sold his interest to his partner, Newton, in July, 1872, Newton continuing the publication another year in Burr Oak, and in June, 1873, removed to Three Rivers, where, after issuing five or six numbers, the publication was discontinued. In September, 1873, the present proprietors purchased the presses and materials of Mr. Newton and revived the Democrat, and continued the publication of the paper under that name until August, 1875, when the form was changed from a folio to a quarto, and the name to the Herald, since which time it has flourished and attained a good circulation. It is ably edited and conducted, and possesses among its readers a leading influence.
The Three Rivers Reporter was established previous to 1860 by Wilbur H. Clute, the present editor and proprietor. It has been a fearless and un- compromising supporter of the Republican party up to 1874-75, when it as radically assumed the greenback theory, and has ably defended that cause, being largely instrumental in moulding the greenback sentiment in St. Joseph county, and making an agressive campaign in 1876. The mechanical ap- pearance of the paper is very neat, and the job work executed at the Repor- ter office is second to none in the county.
CHAPTER XVII.
AMUSEMENTS-PLEASURES OF THE CHASE-BEAR-STEAK-MILITIA COURT, MARTIALS-A TRANSFORMATION SCENE-NATIONAL HOLIDAYS-PIO- NEER BALL AND COSTUMES-GOVERNOR PORTER AND TAILOR O'BRIEN- DAMS WITHOUT WHISKY-A PIONEER DUEL AND ITS RESULT-CON- TEMPTIBLE CONDUCT-HOW TO ROB AN INDIAN SAFELY-CRIMINAL CALENDAR-COUNTERFEITING BROKEN UP-MURDER OF ESTERBROOKS -ROBBERY OF THE COUNTY RECORDS.
Amid the most severe trials and privations, which often brought sadness to the heart, the pioneers of St. Joseph toiled for many years before they were justified in seeking needed relaxation, to "knit up the raveled sleeve of care," and enjoy the works their own hands had made. Yet their lives were not nec- essarily gloomy ones-devoid of all sunshine and pleasures-but, acting on the sentiment, " catch the sunshine when you can," they had their holiday gatherings and neighborhood frolics, that lightened their burdens, shortened the shadows imposed by continuous labor, and discounted the future ease- hypothecating the renewed strength of the then present, as security for the loan. And it was a wise investment, as scores of old, white-headed pioneers, who are now living in comfort and happiness on the homesteads of "auld lang syne," fully attest.
The early pioneers made pleasure contribute largely to the physical needs of the family, thus blending the useful with the agreeable most happily and judiciously. The keenest sense of pleasure realized by the old men who came, was that which came to them across the sights of their trusty rifles, as a full-antlered stag bounded out of some little dell or sequestered spot, and the next moment sprang into the air and fell a victim to the unerring bullet ; or, as a gray wolf, sauntering along the edge of the prairie, suddenly sniffed the air, and the next instant lay on the grass, rolling in the agonies of death. The feathered game, such as turkey, duck, geese and grouse, were "small fry," but at times were an acceptable addition to the setter's bill-of-fare, and the finny tribes which roamed through and enlivened the rivers and lakes, furnished rare sport to the pioneer, and gave variety to the daily diet, pal- atable and desirable. The wild bees stored their treasures in the hollow trees, and the bee-hunter in his quest for the same, on a spicy October morn- ing, when the woods were putting on the royal livery of crimson and gold, and the squirrel chirped and flirted his whisk with a saucy, impertinent air, found a zest hardly to be appreciated by those whose "bee knowledge" is confined to the apiary on their own premises, or the brilliant essays found in the various publications on the Italian queens and their production.
Isaac F. Ulrich, it is averred, was a good hunter, and one hundred and fifteen deer fell before the deadly aim of his rifle during the first three years of his residence in the county; but Columbia Lancaster has a record that puts the 'squire into the shade. Legal fees were scarce in the first years of Lancaster's practice, and the most of his time was spent in the chase. It is said that his memorandum showed, on the morning of a certain 31st day of December, that he had killed three hundred and sixty-four deer during the year, and thinking to add another to the list, and thus making his aver- age one per day, he sallied forth, and before noon brought down two, and now the query is, was that year a leap-year? It was a poor hunter who could not get his venison steak fresh for breakfast, from the prairie or woods, for they were there by hundreds, with black and gray, and some prairie wolves.
A jolly time was had on Sturgis prairie in August, 1828, on the occasion of Governor Cass' passage through the settlement, on his way to Niles, to purchase the reserves of the Chicago treaty. He was accompanied by Joseph Parks, a white man once captured by the Wyandots, as interpreter, and eight others from Detroit. A large bear had been killed the day. previ- ous, while crossing the prairie, by one of the earliest settlers, and a propo- sition was immediately made to the governor to tarry and partake of a feast of bear's flesh, to which his excellency readily assented. The arrangements were soon made, and Bruin was on the spit, from which he was transferred -.- when cooked to a turn-to the table, and his juicy carcass was highly rel- ished by all. Fun reigned supreme, the Governor forgetting his judicial dignity for the time, joining in the sport as zealously as any of his staff. He had in his train eight ponies, four loaded with two hundred pounds each, of good calicos, ginghams, and notions, for presents after the bargain was made, and four loaded with silver to pay for the lands.
Another opportunity for amusement for a time, until it became uninter- esting, was the trainings and muster of the militia, who were organized as early as 1831. The first general training was held in June, 1831, Colone!
46
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
H. L. Stewart, commanding, and General Brown and Major Hoag, of Tecumseh, as inspectors. There were present on dress parade three compa- nies, commanded by Captain Hunter, of Sturgis; Captain Stewart, of White Pigeon, and Captain Powers, of Nottawa; the rank and file, staff and line, numbering not to exceed one hundred men. The males in each township capable of bearing arms, were required to turn out two or three times each year for drill, inspection and review, and after the Black Hawk scare had subsided and no alarm was felt of war, it became irksome to the settlers to . be dragged out for the "pomp and circumstance of glorious war," which was in no likelihood ever to be needed, and so were frequently in default when the roll was called; and as dereliction in duty, which was suffered to pass without notice, was fatal to military discipline, courts martial were assem- bled, and the delinquents summarily tried and fined in sums sufficient, at least, to liquidate the expenses of the court. Up to this point it is difficult to see where the pleasure came in, but it began immediately on the attempt to enforce the collection of the fines. All sorts of devices were resorted to to avoid payments, sometimes with most ludicrous results. One instance will give the tribulations the collectors were frequently exposed to, in their tours of tithing among the militia. One of the delinquents was fined for default, and the collector sent from Centreville, where the court martial was held, to enforce the sentence of the tribunal, which sentence, it is needless to say, was, soon after its promulgation, announced to the delinquent, with a warning to look sharp for the collector. One day, about eleven o'clock in the morning, the latter individual entered the front door of E. S. Swan's store in White Pigeon, in which the young man was engaged, and who, having been notified by some one on the watch, slipped out of the back door as the collector entered the front, and, mounting a horse, rode off as the col- lector emerged from the back door in search of him.
The collector hailed the fugitive, but to no use, he was apparently as deaf as a post and kept on his way, but stopped at a store a moment, when the collector sprang forward and was eluded again by the defendant in the war- rant. Thus the pursuit went on for two or more hours, when the collector gave up the pursuit in disgust and returned to the stable of a friend where he had left his horse, when a transformation met his eyes which he could scarcely credit. His horse, which was of a bay color when he left it, was now a bright green, alternating with stripes of another color. His neck and tail, which had been adorned with long, flowing, glossy, black hair, were guiltless of anything but the stiff stubbs of the same. In short, his steed of the morning, which pawed the air and smelled the battle afar off, was a sorry nondescript, unfit for anything but a crack-brained Don Quixote to bestride. Nevertheless, the collector made a virtue of necessity, mounted his beast and rode back a madder if not a richer man than when he came. Such were the 'expedients taken to evade the burden men felt to be as need- lessly imposed as it was onerous to bear, and the militia system fell into dis- use and was finally abandoned, independent companies in after years taking its place.
The great holidays were the natal days of American Independence, the observance of which were begun by the pioneers as soon as there were enough of them in the county to be sociable, and make a gathering pleasur- able. The first observance of the
NATIONAL BIRTH-DAY
in the county was at White Pigeon, in 1829, which, however, was an infor- mal affair, and no attempt was made to celebrate, but the day was used by some forty of the settlers to get together and have a social time. Savery provided dinner for them at the " Old Diggins."
THE FIRST CELEBRATION
on the 4th of July, of the anniversary of the declaration of Independence, held in the county, was had at Mottville, in 1820. Messrs A. C. and H. L. Stewart, then in that village, had erected a large warehouse just above the bridge, the upper floor of which building furnished an ample auditorium. There was a general gathering of the settlers from all parts of the county and vicinity. John Morse, of Coldwater, a skillful performer on the clario- net, came to regale the people with his rare music. Neal McGaffey, Esq., was the orator of the occasion, and among the distinguished guests who graced the assemblage with their presence, were Major General Brown and Inspector General Hoag, who were on a tour of inspection. After the ora- tion was delivered, Edwin Kellogg and a companion, a fanning-mill maker in White Pigeon, sang, to the delight of the audience, the " Ode to Science," and were congratulated in flattering terms at their success by Hoag.
The next celebration of the natal day of the Union, was held at White Pigeon in 1832, at which Colonel Selden Martin was the president of the
day. There were people present from Niles, Coldwater, Jonesville and else- where, and the music was also from Coldwater. About one hundred persons were present.
In 1834 a celebration was held on the 4th of July, in White Pigeon, at which John W. Anderson was marshal, Reverend P. W. Warriner, chap- lain, Charles Kellogg, chorister, David Clark, Jr., reader, and J. D. Defrees, orator. The procession was formed at Savery's, and filed through the streets to the music of an improvised band, and toasts were offered and re- sponded to, and patriotism ruled the hour.
In 1835 the glorious " Fourth" was celebrated in grander style than ever before in the county, at White Pigeon, Sturgis and Constantine, the orators being W. Loomis, Esq., Dr. Elias Boulton Smith and Dr. Sumner, respec- tively. The Statesman reported the proceedings at length, and reproduced the orations in full in its subsequent issues. We give below a few only of the toasts drank on the occasion at the different places.
The seventh sentiment, offered by Vice-President Gilbert, at White Pigeon, was as follows : " Michigan-the queen of the West ; nature's choicest pro- visions for the husbandman ; may the spirit of enterprise connect her navi- gable waters by canals, and transform her Indian trails into railroads."
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