History of Washtenaw County, Michigan : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships...and biographies of representative citizens : history of Michigan, Part 43

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 43

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Chester Parsons

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and his son IIenry, old farmers, Mr. Botsford, Mr. Foster, Keedle, Glazier and others, many of whom have long since passed away. In that part of Ann Arbor known as Lower Town, or fifth ward, a gentleman, Jas. Jones, Esq., and his family still reside, who, having come here when the country was entirely new, remember many interesting incidents of its early settlement. He first located about three miles west of Ann Arbor, on the Dexter road. The only pathway through the woods from there to Ann Arbor was by " marked trees." His house, nearly a mile from his nearest neigh- bor, was built of logs, without roof save a few rough slabs, without doors or windows-nothing to bar against the intrusion of bears, wolves and Indians, except loose blankets. " When it rained," he said, " more rain fell inside the house than outside." One day, when Mrs. Jones lay sick with the ague, having been left alone with her baby, she was horrified to discover a loathsome reptile, of the lizard species, crawling across her floor. In her weak and nervous state of health she " felt as if the house was full of them," and suf- fered accordingly. Snakes and other reptiles were plentiful; wolves frequently howled about the place at midnight, curdling their blood with fears of impending destruction. This was during the year 1831. One day Mrs. Jones took her baby, afraid to leave it alone, and went half a mile from home for water. On her return with her pail in one hand and her child in the other, she came across a monstrous blue racer lying directly in her way. To use her own words, "Its head was up glaring at her with glittering eyes, and it was as large around the body as a stovepipe." Fear lent her wings and she reached her home nearly dead with fright, not daring to look behind for fear of pursuit. A few days after this was the 3d of July. A shower came up in the evening; the night was intensely dark, and Mr. Jones and his wife were quietly talking of going to Ann Arbor (then consisting of six or seven houses) to spend the 4th of July. Just then they were startled by the savage yell of Indians, and feeling that they were at the mercy of the red-skins, if they were bent upon their destruction, Mr. Jones advised his wife to take her babe and escape through the window, and flee to the house of her brother-in-law, Mr. Dillon, who lived a mile away, and he would stay and protect their home. Thereupon he took his knife in his hand and stood at the door, resolved to sell his life dearly. One of the belligerents became entangled in the brush of a fallen tree, when the other said in a familiar voice, "Get out of that tall grass." A good laugh followed' the discovery that it was only a little plan on the part of two of their neighbors to scare them for fun.

An old Indian used frequently to bring to Mrs. Dillon berries, venison, baskets, etc., which he wished to exchange for food or any- thing else he could get. Growing weary of his importunities, he was ordered to go away and not come again. While she was rest- ing on a lounge beneath an open window one day, a swarthy face peered in above her and a guttural " boo zhoo " sounded in her ears

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and startled her. She again ordered him away, but he insisted on having some food. Then she gave him a slice of bread and butter. But something had aroused his suspicions, and he asked her to taste of it herself, which she refused to do. He then went away muttering, threw the bread away, and was never seen afterward in that neighborhood.

The brick blocks on Broadway, in the fifth ward, were erected by Mr. Josiah Beckley and Anson Brown. These pioneers were fully determined that Ann Arbor should be on this side of the river. Mr. James came with Mr. Brown to select a lot to build a house upon. The hazel bushes and wild plum-trees were so thick that he could "only find his way back by the rags that had been torn off and left hanging on the bushes." The house that Mr. Jones built was the first frame house in the lower town, whither he removed his family. It was afterward sold to Solomon Doty, boot and shoe dealer. The house has recently passed into the hands of Fred Alber, who is making many improvements in and about the place. Anson Brown kept the postoffice and a dry- goods store, employing Mr. McCollum as bookkeeper in the year 1833. Mr. McCollum is still living, and remarkably active and industrious for his age, having passed his 83d year. He has raised a large family.

Dr. Cowles was the first physician locating in Ann Arbor. He officiated in nearly every family, and was regarded with great favor by all who knew him. His widow is still living. The first child that he introduced upon this stage of action was Mrs. Crowel, third daughter of Mr. Jones, in 1844. The Washtenaw hotel was built in 1832, and was said to be the best hotel between Detroit and Jackson. W. R. Thompson was proprietor. Having some idea of going into the mercantile business, he (Jones) thought of buying out a store in the upper town. An invoice taken revealed " half a barrel of whisky, with a nail on the side holding a tin cup, three open-top thimbles, five darning needles, and a hank of black linen thread." Mr. J. concluded the stock was too heavy and he turned his attention to coopering.

In the year 1840 the first train of cars came to Ann Arbor. It was an occasion of great rejoicing. Mr. Thomas Holmes, who kept a select school in the old Baptist church, dismissed his school for a half holiday. We marched with our teacher in good order to the residence of Dr. Ormsby, on the hill just north of the grist-mill, and now occupied by Eli Moore, to await its coming. When at length it appeared, laden with excursionists, our joy knew no bounds. A grand jubilee followed, long to be remembered by all who participated. And the question has often presented itself to our minds since, " Why did he not take us to the station, if he wanted to give us a treat, instead of to a hill a quarter of a mile away ?" Mr. Holmes was a good teacher, and many of his scholars, now parents and grandparents, remember his school with pleasure.

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In the spring of 1845 an accident occcurred, which is worthy of note in this little sketch-the breaking of the bridge on the Huron. It happened on Sunday. There were to be several people baptized by immersion in the river, and the bridge was just about thronged with the spectators of the scene. While in the middle of the solemn ceremony the bridge suddenly gave way, precipitating several hun- dred people, men, women and children, into the rushing stream. Such screaming, shouts and confusion followed as was truly appall- ing ! Hats, bonnets, parasols, etc., went floating away with the water. What seemed a matter of great wonderment was the fact that of all the people thrown in such a mass, with the debris and the broken bridge, not one was killed and none seriously injured, beyond a thorough ducking and the damage done to clothing. Of course this unlooked for episode ended the exercises of the day on short order. D. T. McCollum, Jas. Jones and many others who were on terra firma, and thus escaped, did much in rescuing and caring for half-drowned humanity.

There have been several newspaper publications in the lower town. The " Signal of Liberty," an anti-slavery organ, was pub- lished by the Rev. Guy Beckley and a Mr. Foster, on the east side of Broadway. At an office or offices on the other side we had "The Gem of Science," published by Sanford & Sanford, also a weekly ; "The Primitive Expounder," a semi-monthly, by Thornton & Billings, two Universalist ministers; " The Alphadelphie Tocsin," published in the interest of the Alphadelphian Association, located in Kalamazoo. Besides these there was the "Native American," a political paper; the " Young Yankee," devoted to light reading and amusement; "The Corrector," instituted to make crooked peo- ple walk straight, an organ much needed even at the present day. The last named, however, were short-lived, and expired after an ephemeral existence of a few months.

There was a large paper mill erected by a Mr. Jones and Mr. Foley, and successfully run by them for a few years. It then became the property of Norman Chapin, who conducted it on a small scale for some years; finally it was consumed by fire in 1866, and the Agricultural Works, by Moore & Son, erected on its site where they now stand, owned and controlled by Messrs. Moore, Finnegan & Howard. They also erected the fine large square house now occupied by Dr. Kellogg, a clairvoyant physician of consider- able note, as a boarding house for the employes; but these failed after a time, and for years the old mill stood still.

In the course of time, the city proper having been located in upper town, improvements have gone on rapidly, while the lower town, admitted some time after the rest of Ann Arbor became a city, progressed very slowly.

During the war of the rebellion a large percentage of the male population joined in the ranks and went to fight for the Union. Seventy-five old and young men went from this ward alone; fight- ing valiantly in the cause of freedom, they left a glorious record behind them, not one having proved recreant to his trust. Some

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of these brave men came through this terrible ordeal unscathed. A few of those who fell were brought home and interred here; the greatest number, stricken upon the battle-field, or languished and died in hospitals, were buried we know not where. The patri- otic people of this ward have erected a monument to their memory, and a society of ladies has been organized for the purpose of keep- ing their memories green in the hearts of a grateful people. This society is known as the Fifth Ward Ladies' Decoration Society.

They number about 20 members, and have a president, vice- president, treasurer and secretary. They hold semi-monthly meet- ings, and elect officers yearly; give socials, parties, lectures, and various entertainments to keep up the interest and supply the treasury with means to meet the expenses of Memorial Day, which is observed with much ceremony, and is an occasion of deep feeling and gratitude toward the noble dead. Usually a large number of people join in the solemn exercises, such as speaking, singing, music, and the scattering of flowers. Children bear an important part, to impress upon the young heart a true spirit of patriotism.

Many of the old pioneers of this section of Washtenaw county have passed away. A few yet remain. Among those who have closed their records of earthly events, I will mention a few well- known in this section: John Monroe and his wife Electa Monroe, my parents; Col. White and wife, Mrs. Foster, Mr. Glazier, Mr. and Mrs. Hicks, Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Kellogg, Day Belding, Laban Felch, who gave two of his sons a sacrifice upon the altar of liberty; Mr. Greenman, who was blown up in his match factory and died six months afterward on account of the accident; Dr. Cowles, Solomon Doty, Chet Ingals, Nell Benham, Nate Burnam, T. A. Haviland, for many years a blacksmith and machinist; Chas. Vail, J. H. Lund, formerly a merchant; Bill Sinclair, for many years owner of the large flouring mills; Dr. Irish, Rial B. Chase, Mr. Matthews, Mr. Powell, Mr. and Mrs. Wait, Dr. Kellogg; the Misses Vail, who taught school in the basement of their residence on Broadway when we who are grandmothers were little children. So time moves on bearing all in its restless course.

In 1874 there was an explosion in this quiet section, which for a time filled the inhabitants with consternation. It occurred in the store of A. Herz, and was occasioned by a fire which exploded a keg of gunpowder. The heavy walls of masonry were torn and rent from cellar to garret, and although 20 persons were injured, none were killed, and only one dangerously injured. While the great heart of the world throbs on in the rush and flow of events scarcely a ripple of commotion reaches our quiet corner. But the advent of a new railroad is now looked forward to with much interest in the hope of its proving an impetus to the spirit of improvement. The people are generally united, intelligent, indus- trious, and while we have none very wealthy or very poor, all are law-abiding and happy.

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HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

BY MRS. TIMOTHY W. HUNT.

In the year 1802 Hon. John Hunt, of the town of Union, Conn., moved to Onondaga county, New York-then a wilderness-with a numerous family of children. His youngest son, Timothy W., will be the subject of this sketch.

He was born in 1799. At the age of four years he was deprived by death of a tender mother's care. Between the age of 16 and 21, he served as an apprentice at tanning and currying with Col. Hickory, at Skaneatele. At the age of 22 he commenced his business on the homestead, his brother conducting the farm, dividing their in- terests. About that time we formed an acquaintance. As years passed our attachment increased, and we were married February, 1825, by Rev. J. Moore. We lived on the homestead several years. In the meantime the Erie canal was completed, and his business be- came unprofitable. Therefore he concluded to go West in search of a farm. In the spring of 1828 he left home, traveling through Western New York. Not being satisfied with such farms as his limited means would allow him to purchase, and learning that there was a schooner to leave Dunkirk for Detroit, he embarked for that place. On arriving at Detroit, and hearing of beautiful land further west, he took the trail leading to Ann Arbor; still farther to Lodi plains. There he selected a few lots on sections 26 and 35. The land-office being then at Detroit, it became necessary to make the 40-mile trip on foot in order to secure them. On his return he bought an ax, chopped and hauled logs and rolled up the body of a house. Capt. Lowery manufactured the shingles and roofed it, while my husband returned East for his family, he being absent nearly three months. Immediately on his arrival preparations were completed for our departure. Taking our two little ones in our arms we bade our friends an affectionate good-bye. The chil- dren had entwined themselves very closely to aged grandpa's heart. His youngest son also to leave his home, methinks the scene was not unlike the patriarch Jacob parting with his youngest son Ben- jamin. It was the last farewell, as he lived three months, then bade adieu to earthly scenes. On June 17th we were seated in a canal boat at Syracuse and were five days reaching Buffalo. As we had time we improved it by a carriage ride of 22 miles to view Niagara Falls. We took passage on the steamboat Superior, and were five days crossing Lake Erie. Detroit was then the capi- tal of the Territory. The inhabitants were principally French. Their houses were singular in appearance, being very low, with sharp pointed roofs, wood colored and dingy.

We put up at the only hotel in the city. The Legislature, which was then in session, dined at the same house. They gave us a cordial reception to the new Territory of Michigan. My husband bought an ox team at Pontiac, 30 miles distant, and hitched them to a wagon we had brought with us. My parents, three sisters and ourselves, left Detroit the third day, and stopped for the night at

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Spring Mills. The mosquitoes were legion in numbers. Our war- fare was incessant, and we all thought retreat the better part of valor. The team came around, and we left the log tavern in haste. The moon shone its brightest; dewdrops glistened on shrubs and flowers; the shrill notes of the whippoorwill and the sound of the wagon wheels bounding over pole bridges, broke the stillness, and the varied echo made our night's journey delightful. At sunrise we halted for breakfast and rest. Again proceeding on our journey the heat became intense, and our progress necessarily slow. The wayside was strewn with flowers, and many were gathered to amuse ourselves and children. The next day we cut our way through brush to the homes of three of my brothers. There we tarried a few days to rest; then hauling our household goods from Detroit, again resumed our wearisome march toward our place of destina- tion. A few miles through dense woods, then across a small plain near where Capt. Dire had erected a grist-mill, from there over numerous hills until we reached the Huron river, which we forded, there being no bridge across it. Here was Ann Arbor. It com- prised a few small houses nestled amongst the scattering burr- oaks. The surrounding scenery was delightful. We tarried all night at the only tavern. As morning came we were eager for our last day's journey. Through the woods we went, passing two houses in the midst before reaching Lodi plains, which nature had adorned profusely with flowers of every hue, interspersed amongst the tall grass, with here and there a shady oak, which together with a few neat log houses completed the landscape.

On that beautiful plain we found our frontier home the 9th of July. Not a white man's abode west of us, within our knowledge, between there and the Rocky Mountains. Shall I describe our house ? As long as the logs would admit it, being without a door, window, hearth or chimney, a floor in the center, corners without, we built the fire against the green logs. When the smoke disturbed us we carried the fire out doors and cooked there. Ofttimes we could peer through between the logs and see the deer feeding in numbers near the house; turkeys too, in flocks; aye! more, the red men by hundreds, as they passed by on a well-beaten track, going to Detroit and Malden to receive presents from the different gov- ernments. They often filled the house, there being no door to shut them out. Then the wolves organized regularly at sunset, and made the air ring with their highest notes. One night a stray one sneaked in under the blanket and scratched on the meat barrel, but a halloo from the bed made him beat a hasty retreat, and as civilization advanced they with the red men retreated westward.

In August my husband and one of our little ones were prostrated with a fever. It often became necessary for me to leave the sick ones alone, and go with a sad heart and hasty step to my nearest neighbor, half a mile distant, for water to cool their parched lips and aching heads. About the middle of October, our eldest son was born. Our house being in the same unfinished condition, all

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our sash, glass, with many other necessary articles were to be hauled from Detroit by ox teams over almost impassable roads, but by the last of November our home was made comfortable. Surely we were thankful! March, 1829, my husband started for Syracuse, N. Y. After leaving Mr. Miller at Saline, he followed the Indian trail, without a track excepting those made by the prowling wolf, nearly to Monroe, at which place he arrived late in the evening. He pursued his way through the Maumee swamp, Ohio -- which contained at that time only one house within 40 miles-making the entire journey on foot. In his absence an Indian crept noise- lessly to the door, opened it wide enough to show his keen eye and feather in his hair, and seeing a nice fire walked in, three urchins following. I bade them begone. IIe pointed to a corner, where they spent the night. Oh! what should I do? Every limb trembled with fear. Escape was impossible with my children-the oldest not four years, the youngest five months old-and my nearest neighbor being half a mile distant. He called for potatoes and made signs for milk. He was supplied. He appeared friendly, and my fears gradually subsided. I slept quietly, hugging my three nest- lings, and when the day dawned the red man went as he came.

In the years 1831 and 1832 my husband, with his partner, Capt. Lowery, made three trips to Ohio and Indiana, and bought oxen and cows. While driving back, their mode of spending the night, was to select a thick-topped tree to protect them from dew or rain, then wrap themselves in their blankets and lie down to rest on the ground. When morning came they would collect the drove and continue on. It required some weeks to accomplish the trip. Well, in progress of time broad fields were cultivated. Our children were educated and provided with new homes. Churches and seminaries with many other public works to be performed in a new country, were accomplished, all of which my husband joined in most heart- ily. His motto was, " Liberty to the fugitive, captive, and oppressed, and sympathy for the poor." His doors were always open to the weary traveler.

It is now 50 years since Rev. J. Moore bade us good night. Many happy days we have spent together; some of sorrow. Our two daughters died many years ago, leaving husbands, children, parents and brothers to mourn their loss. After enjoying our beau- tiful home for many years in a friendly, intelligent society, and also making many excursions by land and water, God, in his providence, afflicted me with a stroke of paralysis. Soon after, my husband's health failed. His devotedness to me was without a parallel. Ofttimes during the past year he has remarked he had but one tie to bind him to earth, and that was helpless me. The same tender regard was manifested until the last. He took my hand, and said that few had lived so long and happily together as we had; then put his face so affectionately to my cheek! May memory cherish it while life lasts. He died in full assurance of a blessed immortality and eter- nal life beyond.

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BY SAMUEL PETTIBONE. *

After listening to the graphic and particular history of the Toledo war, I was sorry that while the pen was in good hands he had not gone further.

Mr. Goodrich left the valiant army at Toledo. He might have gone on and given the reason of the retreat.

When the heat of war is over, so that we can look calmly, we can see that the Governor of Ohio took the wisest course. Instead of meeting and charging on our troops, when there would have been blood shed-for we cannot suppose that our troops would run, in the face of any foe-he sent post haste to Old Hickory, who swore by the Great Eternal that the Governor of Michigan should suffer for his audacity.

The messenger was directed to return with all possible dispatch, call on the Governor of Michigan, who was Stevens T. Mason, wherever he could be found, whether in camp or office, and hand him this dispatch. Mason was the acting Governor by virtue of being Secretary of State under Governor Porter, who had died.

Governor Mason, as general commander of all the forces of Mich- igan, was on the ground at Toledo, called out the troops-some said for a dress parade-was on his horse, in front, when the messenger arrived and handed him a paper. The Governor sheathed his sword, called his orderly to hold his horse by the bits, whilst he could open and read.

When he had read the dispatch he drew his sword, put his mili- tary hat on the point of it, and instead of saying " Forward, march !" he proclaimed to the astonished host that he was no longer Gover- nor of Michigan, swinging his hat three times around his head, and threw it to the ground.

Our army was without a leader, and on foreign soil.

The writer was not there, but his horse was, and came back spoiled, as many others did. It was said by some that they were spoiled on the retreat, in seeing which would get off of the disputed territory first.

So much, I say, Mr. Goodrich might have said, if he had thought of it.

Some may say, What has the above to do with Washtenaw county ? But was it not the pioneers of this county who bore the most of the expense, and did the most of the fighting? And is not the trans- action a link in the chain of events that Washtenaw county has been the most conspicuous in ?

Let us look at a few of the most remarkable events in which the pioneers of Washtenaw county have borne a conspicuous part. General Jackson, then President of the United States, soon sent on a Mr. Ilorner for our Governor. IIe soon started from Detroit to

*Read at a meeting of the Pioneer Society

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make a tour of the State, to meet his friends of the interior, see the wants of the people, etc. At the end of the first day's journey he reached Ypsilanti, and put up at Dr. Andrews' tavern, on the west side of the river. He expected to meet such Jackson men as Major John Gilbert, the first sheriff of the county, Major Benjamin Wood- ruff, Colonel Owen Welch, etc. But when he stepped on to the verandah in the mild and balmy evening, to speak to the people, what must have been his astonishment to be met in the way he was! He found an audience waiting the appointed time, and they came prepared. Cow bells, in those days, were plenty, and every cow had been robbed. Old tin pans, log chains, in fact everything that could make a noise, was brought into use. Such a noise was never heard before, nor will it ever be again.

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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 43

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