USA > Michigan > Washtenaw County > History of Washtenaw County, Michigan : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships...and biographies of representative citizens : history of Michigan > Part 122
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1111
OFFICERS OF THE VILLAGE FROM 1832 TO 1857.
YEAR.
PRESIDENTS.
RECORDERS.
TREASURERS.
1832
John Gilbert.
E. M. Skinner.
Ario Pardee.
1833.
John Gilbert.
E. M. Skinner.
Ario Pardee.
1834
Abel Godard.
Marcus Lane.
Ario Pardee.
1835
Abel Godard.
Grove Spencer. W. A. Buckbee.
Ario Pardee. Ario Pardee.
1837
Henry Compton.
Jas. M. Edmunds.
1838.
Abram Voorhees.
1839
Levi J. Hull.
W. B. Hewitt.
1840.
Walter B. Hewitt.
1841
Abram Voorhees.
1842.
Abram Voorhees.
1843
Abraham Craddock. Thomas M. Town. C. H. Van Cleve.
Wm. R. Martin.
1846
C. H. Van Cleve.
Newton Edmunds.
1847
Arden H. Ballard.
Newton Edmunds. G. R. King.
1849
Arden H. Ballard. Geo. M. Osborn.
Otis H. Lee.
1851
Geo. M. Osborn.
Otis H. Lee.
1852
Delos Showerman.
M. A. Parks.
Stowel H. Demick.
1853
Delos Showerman.
M. A. Parks.
Stowel H. Demick.
1854
Delos Showerman.
M. A. Parks.
Stowel H. Demick.
1855
Delos Showerman.
M. A. Parks.
Stowel H. Demick.
1856
Arden H. Ballard.
M. A. Parks.
Stowel H. Demick.
1857
Arden H. Ballard.
M. A. Parks.
Stowel H. Demick.
AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES OF A CITY.
Ypsilanti contains within its limits many beautiful gardens. The improved lands of the city comprise 398 acres; the unimproved 120, aggregating 418 acres. However strange it may appear to the people of the future, it has to be recorded, that within the city proper no less than 18 acres were given to wheat culture in 1876, and 60 acres in 1880. The total product of the former year is set down at 490 bushels, or a fraction over 27 bushels per acre. The corn-fields of the city covered 38 acres in 1879, and the oat-fields 24. In the former case 2,470 bushels were reported, and in the latter 590 bushels. The kitchen gardens given up to potato cult- ure occupied seven acres, and produced 445 bushels. The grass lands of the city covered 34 acres and yielded 35 tons of hay. The competing city of Ann Arbor exhibits even more of this rus-in-urbe appearance; but the period is fast approaching when these fields will be hidden beneath the crowded buildings of industrial centers. Let the motto of this city be quod petis hic est. Its advance rests with its citizens now. Nature has acted her part.
CLOSING YEARS OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL.
The common council of the village of Ypsilanti convened at the office of D. B. Dodge, Oct. 12, 1834, when Delos Showerman took his seat as President of the common council, with M. A. Parks as
Ario Pardee.
1836.
Grove Spencer.
G. Thomp. Gridley. G. Thomp. Gridley. G. Thomp. Gridley. Abner A. Wells. C. Joslin.
L. C. Miles.
1844.
Delos Showerman.
1845
1848
Arden H. Ballard.
Otis H. Lee.
1850
Madison Cook. Madison Cook. John McCready. John McCready. Charles Moore. Daniel Larzelere. C. H. Van Cleve. George R. King. Geo. M. Osborn. Geo. M. Osborn. Wm. A. Heartt. Stowel H. Demick.
W. B. Hewitt.
-
1112
HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.
Recorder. On July 9, 1855, at a meeting held at Hewitt's Hall, there were elected D. Showerman as President, and M. A. Parks as Recorder. In 1856 Arden H. Ballard was elected President, with M. A. Parks Recorder. The election of 1857 resulted in the return of Messrs. Ballard and Parks to fill the positions held by them the previous year.
A charter, approved Feb 4, 1858, conferred upon the village all the privileges of a city. This was revised Feb. 15, 1859, wholly revised in 1869, and again, in 1877, subjected to a total revision.
FIRST MEETING OF ALDERMEN.
The old village council convened for the last time in 1858, at the call of the last Village President, A. H. Ballard, who presented Hon. Chauncey Joslin, the first Mayor, and the Aldermen elect to the people. Mr. Joslin having taken the chair, the roll of alder- men was called : James M. Chidister and Isaac Crane, 1st ward; Parmenie Davis and Philip Eddington, 5th ward; Philo Ferrier and Benj. Follett, 4th ward; David Edwards and Robert Lambie, 2d ward; Charles Stuck and A. S. Welch, 3d ward, answered their names. The city elected two aldermen for each ward and the entire number was present, with John McCready, Clerk Martello Warner, City Marshal; Charles H. Tisdale, City Auditor Thomas Ninde, City Attorney; Dr. C. F. Ashley, Health Physi cian; Benj. Clark, Treasurer.
This city council ordered that a city hall be erected, and in 1859 the present building near Cross street bridge was dedicated as the council chamber of the city.
The first meeting of the city council was opened by prayer, and the inaugural ceremony carried on in strict accord with the forms laid down for such occasions. Since that period the city has been beautified in every particular. Advances have been made of which the people of 40 years ago could scarcely dream, and still progress is noticeable. The people possess a justifiable ambition to excel as citizens; they take a just pride in their city; they can look back over the past and claim for themselves all the credit which pertains to an industrious and intelligent community.
1118
YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP.
The following is a list of citizens who filled the offices of Mayor, City Clerk and Treasurer since 1858:
YEAR.
MAYORS.
CITY OLERKS.
TREASURERS.
1858
Chancey Joslin.
John McCready.
Benj. Clark. J. M. Chidister.
1859
Arden H. Ballard.
R. W. Van Fossen. John McCready.
Richard G. Martin.
1861.
Dr. Parmenio Davis.
John McCready.
Richard G. Martin.
1862.
Dr. Parmenio Davis.
John McCready. John McCready.
Richard G. Martin. David Edwards. R. G. Martin.
1864.
David Edwards.
John McCready. John McCready.
F. P. Bogardus.
1866.
Edgar Bogardus.
John McCready
C. N. Ganson.
1867
David Edwards.
C. N. Ganson.
1868.
Dr. Parmenio Davis.
C. N. Ganson.
1869.
Dr. Parmenio Davis.
S. H. Bogardus.
1870.
Dr. Parmenio Davis.
C. N. Ganson.
R. W. Hemphill.
1872.
F. P. Bogardus.
C. N. Ganson.
R. W. Hemphill.
1873.
Watson Snyder.
C. M. Woodruff.
R. W. Hemphill.
1874.
C. M. Woodruff.
C. N. Ganson.
1875.
Lambert A. Barnes.
Frank Joslin.
R. W. Hemphill.
1876.
Lambert A. Barnes.
Frank Joslin.
R. W. Hemphill.
1877
Lambert A. Barnes.
Frank Joslin.
F. P. Bogardus.
1878.
Thomas Ninde.
Frank Joslin.
F. P. Bogardus.
1879
Lambert A. Barnes.
Frank Joslin.
F. P. Bogardus.
1880
Ed. P. Allen.
Frank Joslin.
F. P. Bogardus.
YPSILANTI CITY SUPERVISORS.
John W. Van Cleve. 1858
Lee Yost 1880
Enoch Yost.
1859-60
Parmenio Davis. 1858
H. Compton.
1861
Parmenio Davis 1859
Enoch Yost. .1862
W. Millard .. 1860
Hiram Bachelder
1863-66
C. H. Tisdale. 1861
Charles Holmes, jr.,
.1867
John Gilbert.
1862-68
Lee Yost. 1868-72
John P. Drake
1869-70
Hiram Bachelder .. 1873
W. Millard .. 1871
Morris N. Littlefield. 1874
Luther P. Forbes. 1872-73
Hiram Bachelder.
1875-76
Andrew J. Leetch. 1874-75
Lee Yost
1877-78
Martinus L. Shutts.
1876-80
Hiram Bachelder.
1879
YPSILANTI CITY OFFICERS, 1880-'1.
Mayor, C. P. Allen; Treasurer, F. P. Bogardus; Attorney, Chas. R. Whitman; Clerk, Frank Joslyn; Marshal, Alonzo H. Smith; Health Officer, E. Batwell, M. D.
Aldermen :- First ward, George W. Kishlar, Wm. Robbins; Second ward, Reuben D. Roys, Donald G. Fraser; Third ward, Martin Cremer, Bernard Kirk; Fourth ward, F. J. Swaine, Joseph Follmor; Fifth ward, John Terns, Wm. H. Deubel.
THE FIRST SOCIETY
organized in Ypsilanti was known as the "Temperance Society of Ypsilanti," the nucles of which was formed Dec. 18. 1829.
1860
Benj. Follet.
1863
Dr. Parmenio Davis.
1865
Edgar Bogardus.
Sylvester C. Noble. J. Willard Babbitt. J. W. Babbitt. N. K. Towner.
R. W. Hemphill.
1871.
F. P. Bogardus.
1114
HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.
The society proscribed only ardent spirits. At that time Messrs. E. M. Skinner, Dr. Hays, Darling, and 30 villagers enlisted them- selves in the cause of abstinence, established a society and did much to save the people from the drunkard's grave. Rev. I. M. Wead states that notwithstanding the efforts put forth by this little band of workers in the cause of humanity, "intemperance, Sabbath-breaking and profanity were awfully prevalent; the moral and religious influences of the place were few and feeble." How agreeably surprising is the change! During a stay of some months in the district, one is forced to conclude that the days of evil have passed away, that intemperance and its accompanying vices are unknown here.
A LEAF FROM MARK NORRIS' NOTE BOOK.
In the following copy from the pages of Mr. Norris' diary, the Ypsilanti of 1827 is briefly pictured :
July 9, 1827 .- Left Buffalo on steamer Marie Antoinette, Captain Whittaker, for Detroit, which was reached July 16, only a seven days' passage.
July 18 .- After waiting a day for the stage, I started on foot for the interior. Walked as far as Springwells, when I took a due west course of about six miles. Crossed the Rouge, a sluggish, dark, muddy stream, with plenty of rich land on either side, and rich in fever and ague too, I should judge. Traveled about 24 miles. Stopped all night at Andrew's Tavern on Togus Plains.
Ypsilanti, Friday 28 .- Have spent most of the day in viewing the village. Nature and art have combined to make it a place of business. It is situated on the Huron, nine miles below Ann Arbor, and four miles above the landing, where boats of twenty-tons burden arrive from the lake to unload. Land is already valued very high.
Saturday, 29 .- To-day bought two village lots (half an acre) for which I paid $100, and returned again to Ann Arbor.
Sunday, 30 .- Spent most of this forenoon in searching for a man lost in the woods, and supposed to be dead. Made no discovery. There is no church and no preaching here to-day. It seems to be a place for lounging and gossip. In the afternoon attended a wedding and saw Mr. Higby united in " hymen's gentle bonds " to Miss Ann Gorham.
Monday, July 31 .- Went with Dr. W. to Saline. Find good land, but somewhat broken, and I believe sickly. Returned by way of Ypsilanti, a fine country of land between the Saline and Huron.
Tuesday, Ypsilanti .- This day I have been viewing the lands in the vicinity of this village. Concluded to purchase within a short distance of the village. The lands on the Chicago road, now being built from Detroit west, are mostly taken up by speculators, and also on the river.
Aug. 5 .- Staid in this village last night. This morning took a deed for the farm purchased yesterday and returned to Ann Arbor.
Aug. 6 .- Left Washtenaw for Detroit. Traveled to the Rouge within six miles of Detroit. Retired to bed very much fatigued, but the mosquitoes would not let me sleep. They attacked on larboard and starboard, and raked me from " stem to stern." I fought them until my patience, if not my ammunition, was exhausted, when I arose H4 800 and prepared for flight. Started about 12 o'clock for Detroit. The first three miles I met with no incident worth mentioning, after which I was assailed by an army of dogs at every house. Arriving at Detroit I went to the inn, where, after receiving a long lecture from the landlord for being out at that time of night, I was permitted to go to bed again, and slept until a late hour the following morning. Men, who are not pioneers, are allowed in hotels now minus a landlord's lecture.
UNION SCHOOL YPSILANTI.
1117
YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP.
THE COMING OF THE BRYANS.
The Chicago road was first cut through to Ypsilanti, in advance of the first ox-team, by John Bryan, who arrived in the valley of the Huron, at Woodruff's, on the night of Oct. 23, 1823. Feb. 27, 1824, Mrs. Bryan gave birth to a son, the first white child born in Washtenaw. Allen and Rumsey, two well known names in connec- tion with the St. Joseph road, called the infant Alpha Washtenaw Bryan. Mrs. Bryan and her son were present at the semi-centen- nial meeting July 4, 1874. The old man who first entered " Wood- ruff's Grove" via the new highway died at Constantine in 1871.
CORN MILLS.
For a period extending over two years, corn bread was generally used, and the meal had to be prepared in a mill, which Mrs. Bryan graphically describes. She says, in a letter written in 1853, 30 years after her arrival on the bank of the Huron:
"It was amusing, the first fall and winter, to hear the corn mills in operation every morning before daylight. There were two in the settlement. They were made as follows : A hole was burned in the top of a sound oak stump; after scraping this clean from coal, a stick about six feet long and eight inches in diameter was rounded at one end, and suspended by a spring pole directly over the stump; a hole was bored through this pestle for handles, and the mill was done. A man would pound a peck of corn in half an hour, so that half of it would pass through a sieve."
THE RIVER KINGS.
Opposite Woodruff's Grove, on the west side of the Huron, was the settlement of the " River Kings." Within a brief period after Major Woodruff's settlement, the two Hall families arrived, and, locating on the opposite bank, were not slow to style themselves " Kings of the River." It is said that each member of those fam- ilies was peculiarly wild, if not savage. Their language was a nev- er-ending blasphemy; their presence had an effect similar to that of a band of Sioux warriors. Those white wild men did not reign over the district very long. As the settlers poured in, the Halls were compelled to check their savage manners, and being deprived of their former license to stalk over the lands, with insult on their lips for every one, they sought new and more congenial homes. There were others here almost as bad, among whom were the Moores and Trotters. Their great boast was that they could "whip any man in the country."
NAVIGATION OF THE HURON.
On Aug. 13, 1833, a meeting was held in the village, to con- sider the advisability of building a boat for its navigation. A res-
65
1118
HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.
olution was passed to this effect : "That we proceed to build a boat this fall, provided we can raise money sufficient." A com- mittee was formed, comprising Elijah Grant, Salmon Champion, and Mark Norris, who asked for subscriptions to further this proj- ect. Elijah Grant, Isaac Otis, Henry Adams, Henry Kimmel, Joseph Brown, W. B. Hewitt, Abel Millington, A. Champion, Wm. R. Post, James Forsyth, Abner A. Wells, Edmunds and Godard, A. Clark, Peter Miller, Abram Voorhees, Jason Cross, jr., Wm. Cross, John Gilbert, Matthew Woods, Madison Cook, Jacob Emer- ick, Richard E. Morse and Mark Norris, then citizens, subscribed $240. This boat was to be propelled by "setting poles," and built in the yards of Hiram and James Ashe, at a cost of $1,334.50. The proprietors called her Enterprise. She was a long, low-keeled vessel, ribbed throughout, and lathed with the best oak, with bow and stern decked, and a treadmill walk for the polers along each gun- wale. She made several trips between Ypsilanti and Detroit, with freight equivalent to 150 barrels in bulk. The Enterprise proved unprofitable to her owners. L. Pratt, an officer of this vessel, wrote from Detroit, to the effect that he had goods on board for S. Cham- pion, jr., and Mark Norris ; two or three tons for Truexes, at 18 cents per hundred; a ton for Smooth (Flat) Rock, at 25 cents per hundred ; that he was out of potatoes, and borrowed one dollar from Throop and Woolsey ; that he had hired two hands, one at $14 per month, and one at six shillings per day, and that he hoped to get back to Johnson's, at Flat Rock, about May 23, 1834. Un- der date July 8, 1834, T. E. Schoolar, of Mongoquanong, wrote to the company at Ypsilanti, that he would wish to charter the En- terprise, if delivered over to him at the mouth of the Huron, to- gether with a sail, mast and good boatman. This letter was addressed to the postmaster, with a request that the answer should be "franked " to him. Mr. Schoolar's letter received very little attention ; but a brick-maker at Dearborn chartered her for the brick-carrying trade, between the village of the Arsenal and De- troit. In December, 1834, the Enterprise was wrecked, and the shareholders forgot her in their chase after new business enter- prises.
Previously, and as early as 1823, flat-boats of 20-tons burden came up the river as far as Rawsonville, then called the " Landing." The "mariners " 'were men of rough but comparatively honest parts, and when their leisure hours gave them an opportunity of visiting Ypsilanti, they made their presence known by bois- terous laughing and swearing, or a call for more whisky for the boys.
An act to create slack-water navigation on the Huron was passed in 1839. J. M. Edmunds and Gen. Van Fossen employed Samuel Pettibone to make a survey of the river, but after an expenditure of over $1,000 the enterprise was abandoned.
.
1119
YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP.
THE FAST MAIL.
The days of the stage have passed away, but its memory lives on. Who is he, among the old settlers of this Western village, who has not experienced the delight which burned within him when for the first time he learned that the Western mail would reach Ypsilanti within 15 hours after its dispatch from Detroit? Few of them forget the early enterprise of the villagers, when one dollar bonus was offered to the drivers every time the journey would be made within 15 hours. Yes, that offer was made, and faithfully carried out in the many instances where the drivers carned it. Not always could the three drivers, each with a fresh relay of horses, accomplish that trip within the specified time. The first Detroit and Chicago road was no easy one to travel.
INDIAN VISITORS.
The Indians may be said to have entered on their western move- ment in 1818-'20, immediately after the United States survey of this district. However, bands of red men visited Ypsilanti at intervals to scan the works of the white men, or see their old hunt- ing grounds transformed into cultivated fields. In July, 1826, while the population were celebrating the glorious anniversary of Independence, a Sioux band numbering 500 arrived in Ypsilanti. They were en route from Chicago to Malden in Canada, to receive the blood money earned from the English Government during the war of 1812. The savages remained in the village for six days, during which time the settlers supplied food to the lazy rascals. The great war-dance of the Sioux nation was actually held near the present location of the Hawkins House. It was attended with all the pomp that savage magnificence could bestow.
THE VIGILANCE COMMITTEE.
During the year 1838 many malcontents paid visits to the set- tlement, committed many robberies and depredations, and created a panic of no usual character. To remedy such an evil, the citizens assembled at the house of Abiel Hawkins, considered well a propo- sition to organize a committee of defense, and at a second meeting held at Mr. Hawkin's house, Dec. 15, 1838, decided to form a soci- ety known as "The Ypsilanti Vigilance Committee." The official roll of this organization shows that James L. Gillis was President; James M. Edmunds, Secretary, and M. V. Hall, Treasurer. The executive or directory comprised such citizens as Chauncey Joslin, Mark Norris, Abraham Sage, Marcus Lane, D. C. Mckinstry, Arden H. Ballard and Walter B. Hewitt. This Central Commit- tee had the direction of the various orders of the society, the meet- ings were of a most secret character, and the method employed for bringing the guilty to justice at once practical and thorough. This
1120
HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.
fact will be more apparent when it is considered that before the expiration of the year 1839, 112 evil-doers were convicted, $10,000 worth of stolen property recovered, and a number of terrible char- acters banished the district.
INDEPENDENCE DAY, 1824.
The celebration of Independence Day has been the grand occasion of the citizens from the earliest American pioneer period to the present time. It is said that the first celebration of the day in Ypsilanti was that held July 4, 1824, in a grove which then occu- pied the site of Mr. Joslin's present residence. The good citizens assembled on that occasion did not exceed 25 in number. Elias M. Skinner took the role of orator, and, with that dignity, a posi- tion on the limb of the grove's monarch oak. In 1851 that tree, from the arm of which Mr. Skinner delivered the oration, reached the last stages of decay. The fact was noticed by many of the pioneers, spoken of with peculiar sorrow, and the cause of its decay ascribed to Skinner's oration, which " took all the sap out of it."
JULY 4, 1845.
In 1845, the Fourth was commemorated on the little island between Congress street bridge and the lower paper-mills. J. M. B. Sill delivered the oration, and Rev. H. P. Powers named the islet Independence Isle. Lyman D. Norris, now of Grand Rapids, said of this first celebration, by the people of Washtenaw, of Inde- pendence Day, that in 1824 all the then inhabitants of Washtenaw, variously given from 14 to 29, assembled near Woodruff's Grove, where on the 4th day of June, the year previous, the first white woman-Mrs. Woodruff-had come with her husband, the redoubt- able Major, to make a pioneer's home in the West. At the first celebration Judge Robert Fleming presided. The field piece was a bored-out, iron-bound, oak log, and the distinguished guest the Indian Chief Blue Jacket. It was doubtless a day of jollity, with song, speech and dance. It was nearer the great day of 1876, and patriotism was higher than it is even now, although the people may not have had a higher sense of the honorable achievements of those men than we now have. But the press had not scattered its sheets like the autumnal leaves in the vales of Vallambrosa, and the peo- ple listened more patiently to speeches, and were happier in their frequent gatherings. Doubtless whisky was present that day. Then people waited not to inquire whether it was food or poison, whether it was assimilated with the blood or was only a stimulant; it was with them a necessity, or at least a "good spirit" for curing rattlesnake bites, alleviating fever and ague, and in families not possessing a cow, a barrel per week was considered a small allow- ance, as all were hospitable, and he was the churl in those days who did not put the bottle to his neighbor's lips.
.
1121
YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP.
THE WILD-CAT MANUFACTORY.
Prior to the advent of the American pioneers to Ypsilanti, a band of counterfeiters made "Godfroy's, on the Pottawatomie trail," a rendezvous. It appears that in 1835 Isaac Kimball and Harry Gilbert were engaged in carting clay from the face of the eastern plateau, for the purpose of grading the lot on which Major Gilbert's house was then erected. Those men had not progressed far with their labors when their spades struck timber. They were not a little surprised, and growing curious, determined to explore this new formation. In the course of their research they dis- covered a net-work of new timbers; removing one plank they be- held a cave; descending they found a room ten feet square and eight feet in height; and finally a furnace, half a metal shell filled with a peculiar greasy substance, in which was a wick partly con- sumed. Presently Kimball and Gilbert discovered the exit, a bur- row, 100 feet in length, running south into the ravine, and having its outlet in a dense shrubbery near Dr. Davis' present residence. This den of infamy had its subterranean location 20 rods south of Congress street, on the slope of the eastern plateau, and was doubt- less the hiding place of a gang of counterfeiters, if not of more ter- rible enemies of human happiness. The date of its construction cannot be even guessed at. Its builders have passed away, leaving that home of their secret works to relate the story of their infamy and their fall. There is a strange fact in this connection, and that is that great numbers of the pioneers fail to remember anything regarding such a subterranean establishment; however, they acknowledge the existence of a counterfeiters' workshop, south by east of Shad's Hotel.
THE FIRE OF 1851.
On the last Thursday of March, 1851, the fire destroyed the entire line of buildings on the north side of Congress, from Washington to the river, including Joseph Stockdale's dwelling-house, wagon shop, blacksmith shop and stable on Huron street; the engine house; R. D. Brower's store, corner Washington and Congress; C. Millington's dwelling-house; the house, shop, warehouse and lumber yard of G. Davis; Bresler's fur store; Worden's tin-shop; the " nunnery," owned by Wm. R. Post; shop and hearse shed, owned by G. Davis; the Hewitt store; C. Millington's store; A. Craddock's grocery; M. A. Park's jewelry store; J. W. Van Cleve's brick store; A. Voorhees' brick store; C. Millington's new store; W. B. Hewitt's two stores; E. Yost's grocery. The loss on buildings, etc., is credited as follows: E. Yost, $600; E. Bresler, $3,500; P. W. Sage, $450; G. Davis, $3,000; J. Stockdale, $1,400; A. Guest, $600; Lespronce & Smith, $300; S. H. Dimmick, $1,800; Mrs. Overracker, $200; E. Samson, $3,500; Loveridge & Camp. $2,000; J. M. Brown, $2,100; G. M. Osborne, $2,800; J. Cross,
1122
HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.
$200; C. C. Chase, $1,200; A. Worden Bros., $800; M. A. Parks, $400. There were many others whose losses were of a trivial character.
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