History of Washtenaw County, Michigan : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships...and biographies of representative citizens : history of Michigan, Part 123

Author: Chas. C. Chapman & Co
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
Number of Pages: 1457

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 123

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THE VICTIM OF THE UXORICIDE.

Feb. 28, 1860, Mrs. Lucy Washburne filed a bill of divorce against her husband, charging him with personal violence, drunk- enness and adultery. While the suit was still pending, Washburne attempted to persuade the woman to quash the bill; but she, per- sisting in her determination, was murdered by him in the most brutal manner, on the afternoon of May 21, 1860. Washburne was a butcher, cruel and inhuman in his dealings with the lower animals; rude and cowardly in his intercourse with men; a low dastard with women. The government of the State, by its act abolishing capital punishment, saved the uxoricide from the hang- man, leaving him to carry the terrible burden of a murderer's con- science, and bear the undisguised scorn of men.

June 12, 1860, informations were filed against Geo. W. Wash- burne, charging him with the murder of his wife, in May. The murder was committed in a house on the southeast corner of North and River streets, latterly occupied by Hiram Day. The prisoner was brought before Justice Gardner, of Ann Arbor, to be examined; but this examination was waived, and he was held to appear before the judge of circuit. The session of this court opened the following week, before Judge Edwin Lawrence. Chauncey Joslin and the prosecuting attorney represented the People, and Olney Hawkins the prisoner. The trial lasted two days. His two children, boys of six and eight years of age, were the witnesses for the prosecution, and on their testimony, chiefly, the unfortunate uxoricide was convicted. The jury rendered a verdict of "guilty of manslaughter" June 21, 1860, and Judge Lawrence sentenced him to a 12 years' term in the State's prison. The bill of exceptions was taken to the Supreme Court July 30. Jan. 31, 1861, this bill was allowed by the circuit judge. In April, 1862, the case was heard in the Supreme Court, and the judgment of the lower court affirmed. The counsel above men- tioned appeared for and against the uxoricide in the higher court. This was a most diabolical murder; Washburne excelled the Moor of Venice in his brutality, as after smothering his wife with the pil- low he drew her forth to the head of the cellar stairway, and cast the lifeless body down, so that it would appear her death was due to accident. The guilty wretch served a term of years, enjoying the hospitality of the State immensely, and actually returned to the scene of his crime unabashed; made a short stay among a people who loathed him, and leaving, went into the world who knew him not. Though other murderers have been arrested here, he was the only one who committed such a heinous deed within this town- ship. He was the first to stain a record otherwise fair, with the

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story of a wife-killer, and, therefore, deserved the light punish- ment inflicted by justice, together with the terrible one which the unquiet conscience entails. It is a subject for inquiry how some women are so wofully ignorant as to link their fortunes with such barbarous characters. That they will continue to make such mis- takes is not contradicted. Monsters, such as Washburne was, will appear upon the stage of life from time to time, so that in the near future some provision must be made to remove the unoffending and defenseless women from the dangerous neighborhood of that terrible scourge-an uneducated or drunken husband.

LIGHT AND SHADE OF EARLY TIMES.

Man must not be ever in a serious mood. In his proper ele- ment he cannot be, for good health depends in a great measure on an occasional laugh and moments of gaiety snatched from time. The ancient people so believed, the early settlers of this city practiced the salutary merriments of life, and often their peals of hearty laughter rang through the surrounding forests, floated in echo down the river and died away in the distance. The thought- ful Indian, having heard, wondered at its boisterousness and reality. Such a laugh and such a time cannot be mimicked now; they have almost faded from memory. This is the age of money, when such pleasures are forgotten in the chase after gold. Few remain of the true old men who brought joy with them in their travels, and reveled in simple gaiety in their homes. Let us review a few of their leisure hours.

THE MOOT COURT,

better known in Southern counties as the "Surrogugeon Court," was a creation of the olden times. No citizen was without its ju- risdiction, the habeas corpus was entirely ignored, and the slight- est suspicion of crime, however trivial, suggested the arrest of the Ypsilantian. The docket of this court is a record of convictions and fines. It was a terrible tribunal, and though the punishment was not corporally severe, the seriousness and eloquence of pros- ecuting counsel, and the consciousness of having to pay a penalty often subjected citizens to much trouble. After a few terms of this court, the victimized citizens conspired to bring the principal or- ganizers to some little trouble. They watched one of the leading lawyers for days, and actually caught him in the act of making sundry grimaces, and indulging in many comical gestures, with a view of satisfying himself that he did not care a "Jack Robinson " for Justice Van Cleve, then out of the village at Clairmont, one mile away, on what is now known as Washington street, south. A charge was immediately preferred against this able lawyer. His conviction for ajidewidamowin on the first count of the indict- ment, and for contempt of court on the third count, followed soon

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after. That lawyer mended his evil ways, and soon became one of the most popular and able advocates in the State.

THE LOST BOY.

In the summer of 1833, the son of one of the early settlers, Ly- man D. Norris, wandered from his home in search of berries, and lost himself in the recesses of the land. Not returning at that time when hunger generally prompts a boy to seek his home, the par- ents were much troubled, yet waited a few minutes before consult- ing the neighbors. These were minutes of terrible anxiety. At length the villagers learned of the little fellow's loss; they specula- ted as to his whereabouts: indeed, one old lady wondered whether it was a massasauga or bear which eloped with him. Many good citizens credited the milldam with his reception; others stated def- initely that that temperance lecturer from Detroit was a kidnapper. The wildest theories prevailed. Every one was bewildered -- not every one-Mr. Champion, one of the early store-keepers of the village kept actually below zero on the subject. His coolness and reticence were so perplexing that many men who returned from a fruitless search, asked him if he knew where the boy was. "What boy ? A boy lost, and you come to ask Champion! Did you search for him ?" "We did! we did!" replied a chorus of voices. "Where?" " Down by the mills, in the milldam and along the river, round the town, down as far as the corner, and every place; but we can- not find him." " Well," said Champion, "I guess you're the - set of fools ever came in here. Remember this; and if you want to find the boy, go where no boy ever went before, where no boy ever thought of going, and there you'll find the little cuss."

That crowd of searchers went forth to find the cause of all this trouble, acted precisely on Champion's directions, and found the youth sleeping beneath the kettles in the old ashery, a few hundred feet north of Cross street !

THE COMMERCIAL POLICY OF THE PAST.

The pioneers who read over these sketches may probably remember the advent of Mr. Ballard to Ypsilanti. His object was to establish a store here, which would hold as good a stock as that in the possession of Mr. Champion. It was not a very difficult matter to establish a trading depot in those days, and so Mr. Ballard suc- ceeded in inaugurating his enterprise. A few days later the con- ventionalities of the times pointed out to Mr. Champion that a friendly visit to the store of his brother trader was necessary. He carried out the dictates of etiquette; but during his brief visit did not fail to notice that Ballard came here determined to charge a good price for each and every article pertaining to his stock. The visit was mutually agreeable, particularly to Champion, who saw a means

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of increasing his income. Returning to his store, he looked over his goods, saw they were marked much lower than the wares offered for sale by his new friend, and while regretting lost opportunities, he made resolve that the coming man would neither excel him in the quality or price of goods. That night he marked his stock. The sequel to all this was, that Ballard returned his call next day, saw how the pioneer merchant transacted business and noted the prices which he charged. That night Ballard increased the prices of his goods, so that when Champion made a second friendly call he found his competitor still ahead. During that afternoon, Cham - pion was unusually morose; he called his assistants, and instruct- ing them to be "round after supper," went across the river. Return- ing, he and his clerks unshelved the stock, marked every article very high indeed, and concluded the labors of that day with the declara- tion, "I say that no upstart from Detroit will sell goods higher than me!"

What a change does the retrospect present ! All our local mer- chants would scarcely desire better sport than to see "an upstart from Detroit" open an establishment and follow up Ballard's busi- ness principles.

BABYLON WAS FALLING.

Almost 20 years before the war which gave liberty to the negroes of the Southern States, "old Black Sam" found a refuge at Ypsilanti. Notwithstanding the fact that he was one of the ugliest "niggers," he possessed a few good qualities, which soon won for him a certain amount of toleration from the villagers. He, swore that if he could do it, not another one of his race would find a home here, and this oath he observed as strictly as possible. In 1838 a negro barber arrived in the city, who, shortly after, opened a little shop in a lit- tle frame house which then stood near the southeast corner of Con- gress and Washington sts. Against him "old Biack Sam" conceived a terrible aversion. One night a few citizens were sitting outside the Hawkins House, when they heard a crash. Rushing across the street, they saw the negro barber in the act of casting a stone at a man who ran east on Congress street, saw the man fall, and pres- ently had a look at the little shop. The front was forced inward, as if struck by a locomotive. Evidently the fallen man was the modern Samson, who performed the feat. The onlookers then pro- ceeded to take a survey of the barber's victim, and to their surprise beheld the terrible " Old Sam" ensanguined in his own blood. While Sam was thus situate, the barber lodged a complaint against him, and had him arraigned before Justice Voorhees. In reply to all charges, the fierce old negro denied that he was present, saying: "May't pleese de court, I wasn't dar ! I wasn't dar at all, at all !" The negro was literally covered with blood, and his denial so sur- prised the barber, that he exclaimed, " You wasn't dar! You wasn't dar,-eh! Sam ? Den how de d-1 did dat stone hit you?" The

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Justice was a patron of "old Black Sam," and let him off with $10 fine and costs. The old man continued to wage war against his brother negroes for about 10 years.

YOU GENEROUS JEW!

Previous to the days of the Vigilance Committee, a settler com- plained of having lost a horse. Mr. Joslin employed Private Detective Bromfield to search. He found the animal at Flat Rock, reported the matter, and a warrant was issued for the arrest of Springstead and his father, Gordonier, celebrated horse-thieves. The prisoners were brought before Justice C. W. Lane; lawyer Jos- lin prosecuted. While engaged in laying down the charge, Gor- donier, who was in the sheriff's custody, dashed forward to chastise the lawyer, when the latter presented a revolver, saying, "Gor- donier, if you advance a step, I'll shoot you!" During the scene, the crowd in the court drew back toward the wall, bent their heads and crouched as low as the densely packed mass would allow. Gordonier drew back, and the lawyer continued his address. The criminals were held to the Circuit Court. After the trial before Justice Lane, Emerick came forward to thank his advocate, and also to pay him the fee so well earned. He said: "Now, sir, how much do I pay you? You have got my horse and convicted the thieves." "Now," said the lawyer, "you know what I have done: give me what you think fair." He was under the impression that Emerick would pay a respectable fee; but, to his surprise, the old man drew forth an " Ypsilanti shin-plaster," valued at 25 cents, and offered it in payment. The lawyer looked astonished, yet accepted the " shinplaster." Young Woodruff, who witnessed the transaction, treated his legal friend to a lecture, if not to some abuse, and cautioned him never again to tell a - Dutchman to make the lawyer's fee.

THE REPORT.

In 1849 Arden H. Ballard, James Martin and Wells Chamber- lain were Commissioners of Highways. A sum of $350 was voted, to be expended by those commissioners during that year. At the annual meeting ensuing, the commissioners reported through A. H. Ballard, who concluded his statement with the unique phrase, "Last year the township voted $350, which sum we have expended to our entire satisfaction." At that time, such reports were read out before the people from the piazza, so that Mr. Ballard's inno- cent presumption was hailed with the cheers of the people. Such a report as this was actually signed by that trio of highway com- missioners and presented to the people.

VICISSITUDES OF EARLY INDUSTRIAL CONCERNS.

Looking back over a period of 55 years, one is forcibly reminded of the energy which characterized the early mill-builders. As

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early as 1824, a grist-mill was built on a water-power south of the city, which power had a natural fall of 11 feet, and claimed to be the third best power on the Huron. This project was started by Major Woodruff; the mill was opened in 1825 and continued in operation until 1830. The first miller was Mr. Stephens, and among the first to furnish the grist was William Wilson, who at that time made the settlement his home. The power of the water at this mill did not necessitate the construction of a dam.

The first mill-dam was built by Hardy & Reading on the river, between French claim 691, and the southeast quarter of section 4. The obstruction forming this new water-power being of brush, clay and logs, it would appear to be the work of the beaver tribe, in- stead of enterprising men; however, the rude barricade, which con- fined the Huron at this point, was swept away by the flood of 1832. That dam was located where the woolen-mill dam now is.

The First Saw-Mill .-- It has been stated on very good authority, that John Stewart built the first saw-mill, in what is now Ypsilanti city, as early as 1826; but many, probably the majority, claim that Hardy & Reading's, built in 1827, was the first. This was erected where the woolen factory stands. Subsequently Hardy sold his interest in the mill and water-power to Mark Norris, and Reading disposed of his interests to Timothy McIntyre; the latter sold out to Anthony Case and Chester Perry, who purchased one-fourth of the water-power with the saw-mill. These men sold in turn to Arden H. Ballard, and he erected on the site a flouring mill, known as "The Eagle Flouring Mills," built in 1839-40, and destroyed by fire in 1856. Some years afterward Ballard disposed of his in - terest to Dr. Clarke, of Detroit. This sale was effected in 1 843. Five years later Clarke sold to Thomas O. Hill, who, in 1850, trans- ferred his interests to Mark Norris and B. Follett. In December, 1853, Norris disposed of his half interest in the Eagle Mill and his interest in the Ypsilanti Mill to his son, Lyman D. Norris; while Follett sold out his share in both concerns to Chauncey Joslin. In January, 1856, Mr. Joslin purchased the interests of Norris, and became sole owner of both industrial establishments. In October, 1856, the dramatic history of the Eagle Mill began and ended.

It appears that in September of that year Mr. Joslin invested $16,000 in wheat, which was not delivered at these mills for thirty days, owing to the carelessness or want of freight cars on the part of the Central railroad. In October $16,000 worth was delivered within three days, of which $7,000 worth was elevated into the grain room of the Eagle, and $9,000 worth into that of the Ypsilanti Mill. The first night after the day of delivery, the enterprising owner was roused from his sleep to witness the fire-fiend in full possession of the Eagle Mill, and the valuable store of grain. He lost by this fire over $10,000.

The second flouring mill was projected by Hardy & Reading, in 1828, just below the location of the present woolen mills. This

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establishment was razed in 1851. Lyman Graves erected a saw- mill on Paint creek in 1832.

Harwood's Flouring Mill .- In 1829 the third flouring mill was built by W. W. Harwood, and the dam by Mark Norris and W. W. Harwood, just south of Congress Street, on the left bank of the Huron. The former sold the water-power to the latter in 1832. Harwood sold to John Gilbert in 1835. In 1839 Gilbert gave a half interest to his son-in-law, Abel Godard. These men purchased the water- power on the west side of the river, in April, 1839, from Major Abram Larzelere; the year following they sold their entire interest in mill and power to Alfred A. Hunter, whose management resulted in its passing into the hands of assignees, the property be- ing assigned to Mr. Beckwith. The concern was operated by les- sees or renters from the assignees, until 1854, when it was sold to Nathan Follett and Alexander Ross. In 1858 or '9; Ross disposed of his interest to Follett, who was sole proprietor until 1861, when he sold to Isaac N. Conklin. In 1862 the mill was purchased by B. Follett, and subsequently conveyed to Nathan Follett in 1865, and in 1873 to Messrs. Deubel Bros., the present owners and oper- ators.

The Iron Foundry .-- In 1832 Mark Norris leased to A. M. Hurd a water-power two feet square, with a fall of five feet, for the pur- pose of a motive power in connection with the proposed iron foun- dry. Here Hurd and Sage erected a building, 50x80 feet, put up the machinery, and employed Benjamin Thompson to set the ma- chinery in motion. He turned the first wheel in 1832. For a short while the business of the foundry was continued on a small scale; but the company never found sufficient ore to justify it in erecting a blast furnace. In 1833 it was converted into a plow factory, again into a woolen mill, and subsequently devoted to an iron-casting shop. In 1843-4 it passed into the ownership of Thomp- son and Levins S. Church. They sold to Timothy Showerman, who converted it into a flouring mill, known as the Ætna Mills. The history of this institution under its new dress and name is not without its sensational features. The new proprietors evidently utilized the water-power belonging to Norris, who was not slow in institnting law proceedings. All this resulted in the stoppage of the mills. Norris & Follett purchased the lease and building, which they subsequently conveyed to Norris & Joslin, who transformed it into a sash, door and blind factory. To this, three departments were added, including a planing mill, an ax-handle factory and a gypsum mill. The entire property was afterward purchased by Chauncey Joslin, who, in April, 1858, disposed of one-third of his interest to Messrs. Follet & Conklin, and one-third to Mark Norris. In June following a flood swept over the east end of the dam, car- ried away the mill and all the stock, valued at $12,000, scattered the manufactured goods along the banks of the Huron, leaving nothing but the water wheels and planing machine.

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The new planing mill, operated by Fulmer & Scoville, now stands on the site of the above mentioned works. It was built by Follett, Conklin, C. Joslin and Mark Norris. The last named parties sold to Mr. Follett, who afterward sold to Quirk, Dow & Boyce.

In 1830 there was a race dug by direction of Judge Jacob L. Larzelere, of Seneca county, N, Y., who caused a saw-mill to be erected just below the west end of the dam of Cornwell's paper- mill. This was used until 1842 as a saw-mill, when it was con- verted into a woolen factory by John Y. Larzelere, the son of Abraham Larzelere, who inherited the property. This was an im- portant industry of the times-employing from 15 to 20 hands, and shipping its manufactures throughout the State. In July, 1847, John Y. Larzelere died, and the estate allowed the mill to fall into decay, so that the flood had little difficulty in washing it away later. Alfred A. Hunter and John Y. Larzelere built a dam above the location of this saw and woolen mill in 1847. In 1855 or '56, Cornwell bought the land where the lower paper-mill stands, and with it half the water-power. Mrs. Larzelere put in the west side water-power as so much stock in the paper-mill, Mr. Van Cleve put in $1,000 stock, and thus the first 'paper factory was established. In 1863 the mill was very prosperous, when Van Cleve and the Larzelere estate sold out to Cornwell, who with his partners continue to operate it at present.

Regarding the dam, said to be constructed by Alfred A. Hunter, Surveyor Woodard states, that the credit of this enterprise should be given to J. Y. Larzelere, who built it immediately before his death.

The "pail factory" was situate on the west bank of the river, on the west end of the Huron mill-dam. This factory was fully 35 feet above the power, to which a shaft descended. This little in- dustry was among the things of the past even in 1836. It was operated by Chester Perry.

In 1829, after the completion of the dam for the Harwood Mill, Mark Norris erected a woolen or carding mill below Harwood's flouring mill. The mill passed into the hands of Chauncey Knapp, who operated it until 1839.

The concern known as the "Ypsilanti Flouring Mill," referred to in a sketch of its sister industry, "The Eagle," was built in 1839-'40 by Norris.

In 1825 Mr .. Rawson operated a saw-mill at "The Landing," now known as " Rawsonville."

The "Brick Hotel's" relation to the seminary .--- The early enterprise of the Detroit Land Company in erecting a building at Ypsilanti for hotel purposes, is well deserving of some little notice. Among the stockholders of this real-estate association were such enterprising men as Arden H. Ballard, Marcus Lane, Shubal Co- nant, De Garmo Jones, and Le Grand Morse. Anxious to build up a village on the new highway to Chicago, and also to eclipse the Central railroad in the character of their buildings, they decided

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to erect a brick hotel building overlooking the proposed junction of the railroads. This they accomplished so far as the building was concerned, but the hotel was never established there. Shubal Conant, the trustee of the stockholders, disposed of their entire interest to Chas. W. Lane, a lawyer of Ypsilanti. This sale was made in January, 1844. Lane sold the " Brick Hotel"' to Abiel Hawkins immediately after, and he in turn to Rev. L. H. Moore, who disposed of his interest therein to the School Board. The original building is said to have cost about $9,000. Rev. Mr. Moore is supposed to have purchased ;it for $2,000, and to have sold his interest therein to School District No. 4, in 1848, for $2,400, reserving the west quarter of the block, together with the house now occupied by Dr. Kinne.

Previous to these last named transactions, Mr. C. Woodruff, now of the Sentinel, rented the building for school purposes, formed both English and foreign classes, and really inaugurated an educational village. Succeeding its purchase by the School Board, the State Legislature passed a special act organizing this as the first district school. In 1852-'3 the district built an addition to the original house at a cost of $3,000. This new building together with the old were destroyed by fire March 29, 1857, and thus the " Brick Hotel," or Seminary, passed into the past. So with the other two follies-the great frame structure, built on the east side on the southwest corner of Congress and River streets, for hotel purposes, never reached the point designed by its projectors. The " nunnery" also fell into disuse, and was destroyed by the fire of 1851. Wm. R. Post built this house about 1827, for manufactur- ing purposes.

LIVING INDUSTRIES.

We now pass to a brief contemplation of the manufacturing in- dustries of modern times.

The Huron Flouring Mill .- In the papers devoted to the early milling interests of Ypsilanti, the history of this pioneer estab- lishment is carried down to the period of its sale to the Deubel Brothers, At present it has six run of stone, turbine water-wheels and all modern improvements. The mill is capable of producing 15,000 barrels of flour per annum, for Detroit and Eastern markets, together with grinding 24,000 bushels of grain for its local patrons. The building, machinery and water-power are valued at $20,000.

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History of Washtenaw County, Michigan : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships...and biographies of representative citizens : history of Michigan, Part 123

Author: Chas. C. Chapman & Co Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago : Chas. C. Chapman & Co. Number of Pages: 1457

Author: Chas. C. Chapman & Co
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
Number of Pages: 1457