History of Washtenaw County, Michigan : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships...and biographies of representative citizens : history of Michigan, Part 33

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 33

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

like the ' cause,' a failure. After the escape of Theller and Dodge, Sutherland was set at liberty without trial and without punishment, proving further that he was a traitor to the patriots. He wandered to the far West, to the verge of civilization, and after a few years died."

WILD-CAT BANKS.

In the year 1835, Samuel W. Foster and John Holden, of Scio, in Washtenaw county, applied to the Bank of Michigan in Detroit, for a loan of money to bny wheat to stock their mill. The bank could not accommodate them but referred them to a broker doing business in the basement of the bank building, where they found money if they would submit to a "shave." On their return home they conceived the plan on which the " wild-cat " banks were got up. Foster showed the plan, and a petition to the Legislature for the law under which the banks were created, to the writer. The bill passed with but few dissenting votes. Our fellow citizen, Hon. Alpheus Felch, then Representative, Robert Purdy, of Wash- tenaw, John Almy, of Kent, and Isaac Monfore, of St. Clair, were the four who voted against the bill. The basis of the banks was a small per cent. of the capital in specie and the redemption of the bills to be secured by mortgage on real estate. Very soon after the passage of the law, banks sprang up all over the State, and their bills were as plenty as blackberries. In this county there was one in Ann Arbor, called Miller's Bank of Washtenaw, situat- ed on the north corner of Brown street and Broadway, in the fifth ward, of which Charles Thayer was president, and it is believed that it was the only one of the whole batch in Michigan that was conducted honestly and paid all its indebtedness.

Another was started at Lowell. The reader may ask, Where is Lowell? Why, on section 32, in Superior, on the IIuron river, a mile or thereabouts below Geddes' saw-mill. Another at Ypsi- lanti, one at Saline, one at Manchester and one at the Village of Sharon. In some cases where the stockholders had not enough land of their own, they mortgaged a piece of Uncle Sam's just to piece out with. Fortunes were made in a few months. New cities and villages sprang up as fast as surveyors could plat them, and large, splendid topographic maps of them with contemplated rail- roads, hotels and mills, large parks were dedicated for public use, great names were given to the streets and avenues; and after all a stranger would need a guide to find them. In Washtenaw we had our Boston, Newport, Saratoga of Michigan, Windham and Sha- ron. Where are they? The plats of them are on record in the Register's office. Men built fine houses, furnished them hand- somely, and. set up their carriages and lived sumptuously. Hon. Alpheus Felch was appointed Bank Commissioner. He was known to be honest, and a man that could not be swerved from an honest discharge of his duty, and the bank officers attempted sharp prac- tice. Specie boxes were procured and filled nearly full with old

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HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

scrap iron from a blacksmith shop, which was covered with specie, and Mr. Commissioner was asked to take the mint count as marked on the box, but he was not caught so easily. The boxes were turned over and emptied on the floor and the fraud exposed. An- other trick was tried. The banks clubbed together and procured specie sufficient for any one bank, and while the Commissioner was making his examination he was inquired of what bank he intended to examine next. When that was ascertained, the specie which had been hastily repacked, was loaded into a wagon and hurried off to the bank indicated. But the Commissioner was too sharp for them. While the specie was going in one direction, Mr. Commis- sioner had changed his mind and took another. When he was expected at the "Farmers' Bank of Sandstone" he was at the "Farmers' Bank of Sharon." When he was expected in Calhoun county he was in Lenawee county. The country was running wild with speculations. Farmers left their fields untilled, the mechanic his shop, the merchants their counting-rooms, the lawyers their offices, and even women left their homes and plunged deeply into fortune making. Prices of everything were inflated; every one was rich (in imagination). The "Specie Circular" was issued and the bauble was stabbed, it collapsed, and lo, it was but a bubble. Prices fell with accelerated motion, fortunes vanished as if by magic. Those who had set up their fine carriages were compelled to dispose of them as best they could, or the sheriff did it for them. Ninety-nine in a hundred of the speculators were left without a dollar and many debts hanging over them.

Congress came to the aid of the fallen with the general bank- rupt law, and a large number paid their debts by availing them- selves of it. Those who remember those days know that the mania was not confined to Michigan, nor chargeable wholly to the wild- cat banks beyond the boundaries of our own State.

TEMPERANCE.

In every stage of the world's progress, intoxication has existed to a greater or less extent, and the reformer has exercised his influ- ence to prevent its spread or to eradicate the evil entirely. In the first half of the present century but few large distilleries existed, while every neighborhood must have its "still." A new settle- ment was no sooner formed than an enterprising individual would erect his still and commence the manufacture of whisky, pure and unadulterated. The surplus corn of the country could be used in no other way, at least such was thought to be the case. The first issue of the Western Emigrant, published at Ann Arbor in 1829, contained the advertisement of a distillery, while every merchant advertised whisky as one of the specialities of his store. The whisky-jug was thought an indispensable help in the harvest field, or at house-raisings, log-rollings and corn-huskings; nor was the decanter, with its exhilarating contents, generally wanting at social

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gatherings. Liquor bought by the gallon, and even by the barrel, was kept in the household for daily use. Before partaking of breakfast, the glass was passed around to give an appetite. When bittered with some herb or drug, it was used as a sovereign remedy for most of the ailments flesh is heir to, and often as a preventive. Liquor being one of the specialties in the early country stores, some merchants were wont to treat their customers, especially when making large bills, and often previous to purchasing in order to sharpen their appetite for trading. Happily, these habits have become obsolete among the better classes of society, and it is hoped will never be revived.

While intemperance largely exists, it is evident that it has greatly decreased within the present generation. According to population there are not as many drunkards, nor is there as much liquor con- sumed as a third of a century ago. This leads to the further dec- laration that can well be substantiated, that the efforts put forth by temperance people in times past have not proven a failure. That organizations have flourished for a time and then ceased to exist prove nothing. These organizations were but human instrumen- talities brought forth by the necessities of the hour, their design being to accomplish a certain purpose then apparent. It is not to be expected that they will be as enduring as the hills, or so strong that " the gates of hell shall not prevail against them." If they accomplish a good work for the time being, well and good. If it is found there is a radical defect in their organizations necessitat- ing a change, let it be made, and let it not be imagined because they are defective and have not accomplished all the good their most sanguine supporters anticipated, that nothing has been done. All over the country can be found sober, honest and good men, who, but for the efforts put forth by the members of some temper- ance organization that has ceased to exist, would now fill a drunk- ard's grave.

Whisky was generally sold for cash-all other goods on credit. Of course it was not expensive, as a good quality. could be purchased for two or three shillings a gallon. Occasionally some impecuni- ous persons, desiring to go on a spree, having no money, were required to resort to their wits to procure the liquid fluid. A good story is told of a crowd who were so situated. One of their num- ber got a jug and, filling it about half full of water, went to a grocery and called for a quart of whisky, remarking that some of the boys wished to have a little fun, but didn't have quite whisky enough. The whisky was drawn, and the man picked up the jug and started for the door, without saying a word about paying for it. The proprietor told him to come back, as whisky was cash. The man said he had no money. "Well, you can't have the whisky then," was the reply. Appearing mad, the man stepped back, and with an oath, told the proprietor to take his old whisky. The quart was drawn out of the jug, when it was again taken to the public well and more water put in. A second grocery was

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visited, another quart of whisky was drawn and emptied back. Again he went to the well for more water, and a third place was visited, and a half gallon was called for, poured in the jug and drawn off. The man appeared mad, but it was just what he desired to be done, so he left the third place with a half gallon of as good whisky as the merchant had poured back in his barrel from the jug. This was a first-class article, and the boys were thus afforded a rare chance for a good drunk, after the most approved style.

Although the whisky of that early day was said to be pure, yet it would "make the drunk come;" men would become shiftless from its continued use; houses would be neglected; heart-broken and sorrowing wives, ragged and hungry children, existed, and all from the use of rum.

The first steps taken to arrest this evil in Washtenaw county was in the winter of 1829-'30. The following notice appeared in two successive issues of the Emigrant, under date of Dec. 22 and 29:

Public Meeting .- There will be a meeting of the citizens of Dexter [ the township of Dexter, which embraced all the territory west of Ann Arbor ], at the house of Samuel W. Dexter, at 2 o'clock P. M., on the first day of the New Year, to take into consideration the best method of arresting the destructive use of ardent spirits.

About the same time meetings were held at Ann Arbor and va- rious other places throughout the county, and a temperance pledge was circulated, receiving numerous signatures. The warfare against intemperance was now here begun, and to the honor of the first movers in this glorious work, they began at the bottom. They did not believe in temporizing with the evil. It was right or it was wrong to partake of intoxicating liquors. There was no middle ground to occupy.

Meetings were held with more or less frequency until the time of the Washingtonian movement, in 1841, when a revival of inter- est was had and the old wheel-horses returned to the charge. Many at this time were 'induced to sign the pledge. The good work resulting from this movement can never be estimated. In turn, have the Sons of Temperance, the Temple of Honor, and the Good Templars pursued their work in this county, each in its way, doing great good.

RAILROADS.

If the inventor of steam as a propelling power and of the loco- motive as a means of transportation could be permitted to return from the " better world " and view the net work of railroads now extending all over the land, penetrating even the remote countries of the east where we are wont to associate all travel with the camel and ass, their minds would be filled with astonishment. The Yankee mind was quick to seize upon the idea of the inventor, and railroads were at once projected in various parts of the Union. The

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Territory of Michigan, though possessed of a population of but a few thousand souls, soon took steps to secure the building of a road through from Detroit to Lake Michigan. In 1831 the Detroit & St. Joseph railroad, or Central railroad, was chartered, with a capital of $1,500,000. The road was to run directly through this county, and through the villages of Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and Dex- ter. It had been commenced and was in progress, when in 1837 the State purchased the road and chartered rights of the company and completed it to Ypsilanti in January, 1838. The Gazetteer of Michigan, published in the fall of 1838, says of this road: "There were at last date four locomotive engines in operation, five passage and 10 freight cars. The business was increasing upon the means of transportation. The average weekly receipts for the six or eight weeks previous to the first of July, was about $2,500. Up to the 24th of May, 4,500 persons had been transported from Detroit to Ypsilanti, mostly emigrants, 1,600 to intermediate places, making 6,100. The road is constructing from Ypsilanti to Ann Arbor, and will be completed by the first of October, 1838."

Notwithstanding expectations, the road was not completed to Ann Arbor until 1839, and to Dexter on the 4th of July, 1841.

The first public railroad meeting in Washtenaw county was held at Ann Arbor, Sept. 3, 1834. Over $400 was raised to pay the expenses of a survey across the Territory from Detroit to St. Joseph. Another meeting was held Dec. 6, 1834, and a resolution passed favorable to the presentation of a petition to Congress to aid in the construction of the road.

On the 5th of December, 1835, a meeting was held and a com- mittee appointed to solicit subscriptions to the capital stock of the road. David Page, Edward L. Fuller, William R. Thompson, Charles Thayer, and James Kingsley were appointed said commit- tee. The subscription received was authorized to be paid on the following conditions: 1. That a reasonable portion of the officers of said company shall be located in the village of Ann Arbor, or vicinity. 2. That the road shall be commenced at the village of Ann Arbor the same time as at Detroit, and the amount of sub- scriptions here obtained to be expended in the construction of the road from Ann Arbor east. These conditions were never complied with by the company.

Oct. 17, 1839, the road was completed to Ann Arbor. For weeks previous arrangements were in progress for a grand celebration of the event. A committee of 20 had the arrangements in charge, and everything possible was done to make the occasion one long to be remembered. Says the Western Emigrant of Oct. 23, 1839:

" Last Thursday was a proud and happy day for Ann Arbor. Although the people of Michigan have great cause to complain of the outrageous inefficiency of those heretofore entrusted with the building of this road, and of the procrastination of the event which thousands finally had an opportunity of celebrating in an appropri- ate manner, yet all party feeling was now checked by common con-

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sent, and all were disposed to forget the delay in the general rejoicing and conviviality of the occasion. A more lovely day never dawned. Our Indian summer, as was anticipated, reigned in all its softness and deliciousness. All was gaiety and delight. People came from all quarters, to witness the arrival of the cars for the first time at our new and beautiful depot, and to aid our citizens in the reception and entertainment of their civil and military guests. At noon the cars arrived, bringing upward of a thousand visitors from Detroit. They were met at the depot by the committee of arrangements, who welcomed them through the Hon. James Kings- ley, in a brief but appropriate speech. George C. Bates, Esq., on behalf of the common council of Detroit, made a felicitous reply, after which the procession formed and marched through the princi- pal streets to the court-house square, where a splendid banquet had been prepared by Messrs. Clark and Petty, of the Exchange. Here the Brady guard pitched their tents, and a general interchange of good feeling between them and the Washtenaw guards followed. A detachment of the Pittsfield volunteer corps came in, and we should infer from their soldier-like appearance that the whole company would have been, as they were, an acquisition to the pageantry of the day.

" The dinner went off well, notwithstanding a burning noon-day sun kept many from partaking. After the cloth was removed, a great many enthusiastic toasts were drank, among which were the following:

" The first train from the city of Detroit-It brings with it a long train of pleasing reflections.

" The State of Michigan-Internal improvements necessary to the development of her abundant natural resources.

" Railroads and Canals-The business of months is now done in a day; if they do not lengthen our years, they enable us to live more in the same time.

" The Central Railroad-The Michigan link in the great chain from the sea-board to the Mississippi.

" Railroads and Steam power -- A Yankee's notion of the Utile cum dulce.

"The City of Detroit and the Village of Ann Arbor-Next door neighbors.

" The University of Michigan-Genius aided by science, the true source of all practical good.

" The West-The Great West-an empire in itself.

" The Valley of the Huron-Beautiful by nature, a fit path for a beautiful track.

" Woman-Cupid's locomotive.

" City of Detroit-The commercial emporium of Michigan; its prosperity is identified with the general interests of the State.

" By George C. Bates, Esq., in behalf of the city of Detroit-The Village of Ann Arbor -- Appropriately selected as the literary emporium of this beantiful peninsula. May the streams of learn-

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ing and science gush from the surrounding hills, as from the seven hills of the Imperial City, refreshing and purifying the whole land.

"The company broke up about three o'clock, and the citizens of Detroit generally returned in the cars that afternoon, gratified, we doubt not, with their visit."

At Dexter. a celebration was also held in honor of the event. The road was pushed on to Jackson, where it ceased building operations for a time, and in 1846 it was completed to Kalamazoo. It was now sold by the State to the Michigan Central Railroad Company for $2,000,000.

In 1836 the Palmyra & Jacksonburg railroad was chartered. Its route lay through Tecumseh, Clinton, and Manchester to Jack- son. This line afterward passed into the hands of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern railroad, and is now operated as the Jack- son Branch of that road. It enters the county on sec. 32, tp. 4 S. of range 4 east, and running north and northwest enters township 4 south, of range 3 east, running west passes out of the county from" section 6, same township and range. The road has but one station in this county-Manchester, a flourishing village in the town of Manchester.

During the same year in which the Palmyra & Jacksonburg railroad was chartered, the "Monroe & Ann Arbor" and the " Ypsilanti & Tecumseh " roads were also chartered, but neither of which was ever built.

The Detroit, Hillsdale & Indiana railroad was projected shortly after the war, and completed through this county in 1870. It starts from Ypsilanti, running through the towns of Ypsilanti, Pittsfield, Saline, Bridgewater and Manchester, with stations at Saline, Bridgewater and Manchester. The road runs west to Hillsdale, where it connects and runs in conjunction with other roads west and seuth.

Tho Toledo, Ann Arbor & Northern railroad was discussed many years before any successful effort was made in finishing the work. It was completed from Toledo to Ann Arbor in 1878.

The Detroit, Howell & Lansing, now the Detroit, Lansing & Northern railroad was projected in 1868, and was completed through the northeast part of the town of Salem in 1870. This is the only part of the county touched by the road. In the construc- tion of the road, aid was solicited from the towns along its route. At an election held in Salem, the inspectors declared the proposi- tion carried donating to the company $20,000. The legality of this act was doubted by some, resulting in a lawsuit, which reached the Supreme Court, that body deciding adversely to the railroad.

PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

The first public building erected in Washtenaw county was for the confinement of violators of the law, and was built on a lot of

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ground donated by E. W. Rumsey for that purpose, and ever since known as the " Jail Square." A local writer thus speaks of this old jail and its first occupants:

"About the year 1829, the citizens of Ann Arbor and vicinity contributed, each according to his ability, some timber, lumber, work or other materials necessary for the construction of a building that would answer for a county prison. Such an edifice was built on the ' old jail square, ' with rooms for the jailor and one cell. The cell was made of timber 'bents.' The shoulders of the posts of each bent projected over the ends of the timbers of which the floor was made. Heavy oak planks were spiked on the walls and floor. The door was made of timber. At the next term of the county court after the jail was built, Judge Dexter, the presiding judge, ordered the grand jury to visit the jail and inspect it, and report if in their opinion it was suitable for the purposes for which it was constructed.

. "Quite a number of the jurymen had served as grand jurymen before, and being of genial dispositions, and loving a little fun when there was nothing else to do, framed a set of by-laws which imposed fines for various offenses, such as being absent at roll-call, etc., payable in beer. Every member who had not served as a grand juryman, or held office in a grand jury, was made to pay his initiation fee. When the order for visiting and inspecting the jail was received by the foreman, Col. Orrin White, and made known to the jury, it was voted that they should form in a body and march in double file, led by the foreman and secretary (Gen. Edward Clark, of Ann Arbor) under the supervision of the officer in charge. His vote was obeyed. On arriving at the jail the cell door was thrown open and the foreman and secretary stepped in, when the door was closed upon them and locked. The merry faces of the ' old ones ' were at the diamond hole and the question asked, ' Do you see a gallon of beer each?' Little notice was taken of this at first, but finally the required beer was promised, the door was unlocked and the balance of the jury came in, but not until after a plan had been agreed upon by the two prisoners. While the others were inspecting, the foreman and secretary quietly moved around the cell toward the door, and before their object was suspected they were outside and the door closed and locked. Once more the question was asked, ' Do you see a gallon of beer each ?' When the fine was promised, the door was opened. The report of that jury to the court was, that the jail was worthy of the accept- ance of Washtenaw county. No prisoner ever escaped from it only ' by due process of law. ' Israel Branch was the first jailor of the county."

The Old Court-House .- Several years had passed after the or- ganization of the county before steps were taken for the erection of a court-house. In the winter of 1833, the Legislative Council passed an act enabling the Board of Supervisors to issue the bonds of the county and levy tax for their payment at maturity. In 1834

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the building was erected, and for fourty-four years served as the temple of justice, when it became too small and unsuited to a wealthy and growing county, and so gave place to the elegant structure that now ornaments the public square. A lithographic view of the old court-house appears elsewhere in this work.

The New Court-House .- The question of building a new court- house was long considerd by the people of the county, and espe- cially those living in the city of Ann Arbor, before any definite ac- tion was taken by the Board of Supervisors. The old court- house had for years been considered a disgrace by the people, but the fear of taxation had prevented any steps being taken for the erec- tion of a new one.

.In 1876, the Common Council of the city of Ann Arbor passed a resolution, offering to donate the sum of $20,000, in addition to her regular tax, upon condition that the county would vote $40,- 000, the whole to be used in the erection of a court-house. At the December meeting of the Board of Supervisors, in 1876, the Board passed a series of resolutions, setting forth that the court- house then in use had by reason of age and use become dilapidated, inconvenient, uncomfortable, unhealthy and unsafe for use; that the records and documents of the several county offices were exposed and liable to be destroyed by fire; that the Compiled Laws of the State (page 225, section 446) explicitly declare that each organized county should provide a suitable court-house; that the city of Ann Arbor, having generously offered to donate a large amount of the necessary sum, it was the opinion of the Board that the public in- terest and safety, and permanent preservation of the important rec- ords and documents of the several county offices demand the early erection of a new court-house, with fire-proof vaults attached to the offices of county clerk, register of deeds, judge of probate and county treasurer.

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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 33

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