History of Washtenaw County, Michigan : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships...and biographies of representative citizens : history of Michigan, Part 51

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 51

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After the report of the committee another piece of music, "To Thee, O Country," was given by the choir, when Rev. J. D. Pierce, of Ypsilanti, the first Superintendent of Public Instruction in Michigan, was called for. He said he had lived in the State for the past 45 years, and that he had consequently lived through the struggle of the schools to become free, and had taken an active part in the work. He related some interesting experiences of his early life.

Hon. Levi Bishop, of Detroit, President of the Wayne County Pioneer Society, was introduced, and spoke at some length. He traced the history of the University, and referred to the minor colleges throughout the State. He did not favor the attempt to remove Albion College to Detroit, thinking it ought not to pass Ann Arbor. He would have the colleges at Albion, Kalamazoo, Adrian, Olivet, etc .. brought to Ann Arbor and help build up a great Uni- versity. He would have the present University do only what it

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now calls post-graduate work. He said he hoped yet to take the stump on this question. He also recalled some of the incidents of his early life.

After the singing of the "Star Spangled Banner," an adjourn- ment was made to give opportunity to sign the constitution and the payment of dues, after which the assembly withdrew to the basement of the Opera House for a dinner, which had been furnished by the pioneers of Washtenaw county.

After dinner those who desired were given time to visit the Uni- versity and public schools of the city of Ann Arbor.

The society re-assembled at 3 o'clock, when a short time was con- sumed in five- minute speeches by different members, and in reading of letters from those unable to attend. A letter was read from Mrs. HI. A. Tenney, of Lansing, Secretary of the Society, whose duties at the State Library prevented her attendance. She closed with the sentiment :- " The University of Michigan, one of the first institu- tions of America to open its doors for the education of the daughters and grand-daughters of the pioneers of the land."

A letter was also read from H. G. Wells, of Kalamazoo. who was unable to be present on account of his official duties. He said :- " It is proper that the State Pioneer Society shall hold this meeting at Ann Arbor, for we, its members, take honor to ourselves by being present in a body in Washtenaw county, which has become famous all over the world by having within its limits the University and the Normal School. The fame of both these institutions is to be credited to the regents, the presidents, and the professors, and the girls and boys who have had their student life therein, all of whom seem to have resolved never to disgrace their alma mater."

Prof. Ten Brook, of the University, was introduced and made a few remarks.

A letter was read from Witter J. Baxter, of Jonesville, who called the attention of the society to the fact that " the State Agri- cultural Society are to have a centennial department at the State Fair at Jackson, to be held Sept. 19, 20, 21 and 22, at which we hope to receive an exhibition of relics and curiosities of all kinds, and if the pioneers of the State will take the matter earnestly in hand they will enable us to make a very interesting and instruct- ive display."

A committee of three was appointed, on motion of Levi Bishop, to take the matter into consideration, consisting of Messrs. J. Web- ster Childs, of Washtenaw, Michael Shoemaker, of Jackson and J. C. Holmes, of Wayne.

Interesting speeches followed by Messrs. McDougall, of Bridge- water, and Judge Miller, of Bay City. The latter related some of his early misfortunes in the Saginaw valley, and an instance of good fortune at the hands of an Indian when about to perish from ex- posure. He was engaged 40 years ago in running a saw mill on the Saginaw river, and was one of two men who operated the saw themselves, before steam was introduced and water utilized;

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and Mr. Holmes humorously suggested that it was proposed to preserve him at the State museum as a relic of that saw-mill.

Rev. Mr. Lamb, of Ypsilanti, followed, so old and feeble that he could hardly make himself heard.

Mr. John Geddes, of Washtenaw county, had been in the county for 54 years, and has lived on the same farm, a few miles east of Ann Arbor, during all this period. Mr. J. W. Brooks, a colored gentleman 78 years of age, of Ann Arbor, related some of the experiences of his life.

Judge Miller, of Bay City, being called upon for an explanation of his duty as a part of a saw-mill, stated that he was technically called the pitman, and his work was to stand beneath the log while a man was above, and the two together operated the saw. He said they cut in the year 1834, in the only mill on the Saginaw river, enough lumber to build a floor for a small shanty. Now they turn out sufficient lumber annually in the various mills on the Saginaw river to build a sidewalk around the globe three feet wide and an inch and a half thick, and have left 6,000,000 feet.

A glorious tribute was paid to the memory of Gen. Lewis Cass by Lorenzo Davis, of Washtenaw county, and Jonathan Shearer, of Wayne. The latter designated him as the father of the pioneers of the Northwest. Mr. Davis also related some of his personal expe- riences with the first Governor of Michigan, Stevens Thompson Mason.

After voting thanks to the Washtenaw county pioneers for the attention shown the State society, an adjournment took place to the next regular meeting.

CHAPTER XVIII.

FOURTH OF JULY.

FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SETTLEMENT OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

The semi-centennial celebration of the settlement of Washtenaw county was observed in Ypsilanti, on Saturday, July 4, 1824. The exercises of the Fourth of July, 1874, and July 4, 1824, half a century ago, in Ypsilanti, were in marked contrast. On that day the en- tire population of Washtenaw county, consisting of only 28 persons, met and celebrated the day. On Saturday, July, 4, 1874, the num- ber of people in Ypsilanti was estimated as high as 30,000. The train on the railroads were all loaded to their utmost capacity. The mail train on the Michigan Central road had to be increased by the addition of an extra car at Detroit, and after leaving the Junction hundreds of people were left at every station until reaching Ypsi- lanti, who were unable to get on board. A monster train of 19 cars came in from Detroit as an extra, bringing the Detroit Cadets, the National Guards and 2,000 or more people from along the line of the road. A special train came in on the Detroit, Hillsdale & Indiana road, bringing a train of 21 cars, all loaded to their fullest capacity. On the arrival of the extra train from Detroit at Ypsi- lanti, a telegram was received from Ann Arbor announcing that the regular train could not bring the people. The Detroit train's en- gine with eight coaches was then sent down to Ann Arbor, and returned with all the coaches loaded. Besides the people who ar- rived by railroad, thousands of farmers came in from the country in wagons and processions. The procession formed on Cross street, about half-past 10 o'clock, under the direction of the Chief Marshal, F. P. Borgardus, in the following order:

FIRST DIVISION.

Ypsilanti Light Guard. Marshal and aid, Capt. C. Newell, Lieut. U. F. Halleck, U. S. A .; Martial Band; Detroit Cadets, Pelouze Corps ; Major J. S. Rogers commanding. Company B, Michigan State Troops, Ann Arbor ; S. B. Revenaugh commanding. Governor and Staff, President, Chaplain, and Orators of the Day, and Members of the Press, in carriages.

SECOND DIVISION.

Fire Department, with apparatus; E. Batweli, foreman. Band, German Turner and Arbeiter Societies: Raphael Kopp, Marshal. Washtenaw County Pioneers ; N. Follett, H. C. Camp, Marshals. Visitors and citizens in carriages ; ('. L. Yost, Marshal.

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HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

The procession marched through the principal streets and to the fair ground, where the exercises of the day were held. The pro- cession was one of the finest features of the occasion. It was pre- ceded by a police force of the Ypsilanti Light Guard, who kept the streets along the line of march well cleared. Crossett's Constantine band led the procession. The Detroit National Guard presented a fine appearance. They were about 90 strong, with 50 of them in new dress uniforms, and the remainder in old State uniform. The Detroit cadets turned out about 175 strong, led by Major Rogers, and were the observed of all observers. Company B, of Michigan State troops, Ann Arbor, were ont with 60 rifles, and the Ypsilanti Light Guard in about the same numbers. The bulk of the proces- sion was composed of carriages and wagons, and especially of the latter, carrying farmers from the adjoining township with their wives and families. The pioneers occupied the place in the proces- sion assigned them. They numbered some 50 persons, consisting entirely of old men from 60 to 85 years of age. It would seem that they, of all others, should have been furnished with carriages, but they had been assigned a place on foot, and marched sturdily along in the dust, and uncovered under the hot rays of the sun, keeping step to the music over the entire line of march.

The streets and many of the dwelling houses along the line of march were handsomely decorated with flags, flowers, and ever- greens. Across Cross street, just west of the Michigan Central railroad track, a grand arch was stretched, composed of flowers and evergreens, the top surmounted by the American flag. Suspended from the top of the arch was a female figure representing the God- dess of Liberty, draped with the Stars and Stripes, and wearing the cap of liberty. Across the lower segment of the arch was stretched a banner with the inscription "1824- 1874. Welcome." Across Congress street was stretched a large banner, bearing the motto " Yipsylanty, Washtenak; 1824-1874. Hard to spell but can't be beat." Again at the corner of Congress and Summit streets was dis- played a large banner, bearing the motto "The day we celebrate. 1824-1874." These are a few of the many decorations which made Ypsilanti look very beautiful on that day.

On reaching the fair-grounds, the procession, and thousands who were not in the regular procession, proceeded to where the speaker's stand had been erected, in a pleasant little grove in the northwest corner of the grounds, which was all too small to shelter the im- mense throng from the hot sun. A large stand had been erected on the southern edge of the grove, for the accommodation of the officers of the day, the speakers, and invited guests.

The platform was occupied by the president of the day, S. M. Cutcheon, and the following vice-presidents composed of the super- visors of the several townships in the county, and mayors, and presidents of the cities and villages:

Hiram J. Beakes, Mayor of Ann Arbor; Watson Snyder, Mayor of Ypsilanti; Myron H. Webb, President of Saline village; C.

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HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

W.allbridge, President of Manchester village; John Costello, Presi- dent of Dexter village; M. J. Noyes, President of Chelsea village; Selden W. Shurtleff, Ann Arbor; Aaron Childs, Augusta; James M. Kress, Bridgewater; Patrick Fleming, Dexter; Elias Haire, Freedom; B. C. Whitaker, Lima; E. T. Harper, Lodi; Thomas Young, Lyndon; S. W. Holmes, Scio; Emerson Annabil, Sharon; Pomeroy Van Riper, Webster; Horatio Burch, Manchester; George Renwick, Northfield; David Wiltsie, Pittsfield; John Crandal, Salem; F. P. Galpin, Superior; M. J. Noyes, Sylvan; Jesse Warner, York; W. Irving Yeckley, Ypsilanti.

There were also present as guests: Gov. Bagley and his Staff. Adj .- Gen. Robertson, Gen. L. S. Trowbridge, Gen. W. A. Throop. Gen. John Pulford, Maj. George H. Hopkins, and Col. William Phelps, all of Detroit; Alpha Washtenaw Bryant, the first white child born in Washtenaw county,

The exercises were opened with music by the Constantine cornet band. Prayer was then offered by Rev. John D. Pierce, well known all over the State as the " father of the University." Mr. Pierce was one of the oldest divines in the State, and also a Wash- tenaw pioneer. After prayer, a song entitled "Hand in Hand " was sung by a choir from Ypsilanti, under the leadership of Prof. F. H. Pease.

The historical address was then delivered by Hon. L. D. Norris, of Grand Rapids, formerly of Ypsilanti, and one of its earliest settlers.

Mr. Norris in reading mentioned the name of Alpha Washtenaw Bryan, the first white child born in the county; and loud calls being made for Mr. Bryan, he stepped to the front of the stage, and was greeted with three hearty cheers. He was about 50 years of age and looked much the same as other men born at about the same time in other parts of the county without the distinction of being the "first white child." His mother also being called for, stepped forward and was received by three rousing cheers. She was eighty years old but remarkably lively for a lady of her age.

Mr. Norris was obliged, on account of the wind, to omit the larger portion of his address, reading only those portions bearing directly on the pioneer history of the county. At the close of his address, the choir, assisted by the audience, sang with fine effect the " Star Spangled Banner."

Hon. Schuyler Colfax delivered the oration, after which the choir and audience joined in singing " America " and " Auld Lang Syne."

Then came the dinner. The speakers, officers and guests, were provided with a fine dinner at one of the halls on the ground. The Washtenaw Pioneer Society had a real old-fashioned picnic dinner for themselves under the shade of the trees. The remainder of the people repaired to the hotels in the city, and the many booths on the ground. After dinner there was an hour of rest, and visiting between the old residents of the county, very many of whom were

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HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

in attendance. During this time Crossett's band, from Constan- tine, played some good selections of music, in a very creditable manner, and were heartily cheered by the many thousands who had been listening.

Promptly at 4.00, P. M., the military companies, in the follow- ing order: National Guards, Pelouze Cadets, Company B, Michi- gan State troops, and Ypsilanti Light Guards, moved into the large ground enclosed by the race-course, where, after going through the various evolutions of the tactics in a commendable manner, they were reviewed by Governor Bagley, assisted by his staff and the marshals.

At 6.00, P. M., the Ypsilanti Fire Department was reviewed. The company, with new uniform, and the steamer, Clark Cornwell, appropriately trimmed, presented a very attractive appearance. The afternoon and evening trains brought large reinforcements from all directions, to witness the display of fireworks. A large balloon, which ascended, sent down variously colored lights, until it all disappeared, which was the sign for hostilities to commence. The fireworks were sent off by experts from Detroit, thereby insuring greater safety. In addition to the proverbial rockets and candles, several pieces were fired which had been manufactured expressly for the occasion. Prominent among them was " Washte- naw, 1824 --- 1874," and " Welcome to Ypsilanti." "George Wash- ington," on horseback, was also exhibited, and several Chinese flower pots. The exercises closed with a beautiful "Good Night," and the audience slowly dispersed for their respective homes. The celebration was in every sense a success. The arrangements of the varions committees and officers were perfect and were carried out with promptness exactly according to the programme. Not an accident occurred during the day to mar the festivities, and all went home in the best of humor.

HISTORICAL ADDRESS BY THE HON. L. D. NORRIS.

"Twenty-seven years ago to-day, then fresh from college, upon the occasion of the dedication of Independence island, within the limits of this quiet city and in the bosom of the Huron, I made a maiden bow to an audience of the good people of the eastern side of Old Washtenaw-nursing mother of good farmers. The necessities of trade and manufacture have since then dammed the rapid flow over its pebbly bed of your favorite river, and shorn this island gem of much of its natural beauty.

" Twenty-seven years at work in the din and dust of the world's great work-shop, in the struggle and strife of an exacting profes- sion (no portion of the last 15 years of which has been devoted to literary study or labor), forcibly reminded me, as, at the last mo- ment of the last hour, I sat down to redeem by thought and word, on paper, my pledge to help the pioneers of Washtenaw fight their battles over, of the magnitude of the task I had rashly undertaken;

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how rusty was the old literary armor so long hung up; how the necessities of my profession had diverted to other channels the flow of apt word and thought, wherewith to deftly paint the old fireside scenes, the 'moving accidents by flood and field ' that attended the early struggle with the wilderness of untamed nature, which 50 years since shadowed the broad acres, where now are fruitful farms, happy homes, thriving villages and wealthy and luxurious cities. And yet, I must to my task.

" The territory known as the Peninsula of Michigan has had a varied and romantic history. It was known to the French Jesuits, and occupied by their chapels and missionary stations as early as 1648. It was the home and hunting ground of the Huron. In 1667 French troops from Louis XIV. appeared upon the scene to protect the fur trade. That 'romance of the forest' and bane of emigration and progress was being jeopardized in that bloodiest of all Indian conflicts, between the Hurons and the warlike tribes of the Six Nations, who, as Charlevoix says, never appeared in Canada, ' but they set the country on fire,' and who in 1670 had defeated * and well-nigh exterminated their hereditary foes.

THE FIRST MAP OF MICHIGAN.

" The first general map of the surveyed part of this Territory of which I have any knowledge, was published in 1825 by Orange Risdon, then and now a pioneer of Washtenaw, and to-day in his 93d year, hale and hearty and present with you. Upon this map, in addition to the counties before named, six others are given, though their organizations as counties were all subsequent to the imprint of the map. They were Washtenaw and Lenawee, both organized Nov. 20, 1825; Saginaw, Jan. 28, 1835; Shiawassee, March 18, 1837; Sanilac as late as 1839, yet attached, and Lapeer, Jan. 20, 1835.

" While the pioneers of 50 years ago may have thought and said,

'No pent up Utica contracts our powers, For the whole boundless continent is ours,'

they were nevertheless satisfied to occupy and possess a very small corner of it; and the baker's dozen of Indian reservations dotted over its surface show that even in that small corner they were con- tent to divide with ' Lo,' the poor Indian.

"Upon this map the average village is indicated by four black dots or fly specks, and Washtenaw is noted for four such villages; for, though Dixborough has a name as large and as black as the rest, yet it appears not to have reached the dignity of one speck. The relative size of the then four settlements is given in the order following: Ann Arbor, 10 specks; Woodruff's Grove, 8; Ypsilanti, 3, and Dexter, 2; a fair average for Washtenaw, as Detroit couldn't boast of more than 20. Sutton (Benj.), the pioneer, covers sections 27 and 28 of Northfield.

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HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

IRON ORE AND SALT SPRINGS.

" Maps, like other works of fallen humanity, are not always truth- ful, for, upon this you will observe that sections 7 of Pittsfield and 12 of Lodi are all ' iron ore.' It may have been so then, but sure I am that the Hicks and Van Giessons, the Depuys, Henions, Sheldons, Wilseys and others who have since occupied and possessed that land have kept curiously still concerning this rare deposit.

"Then, too, sections 2 and 11 of Saline are 'salt springs,' but well you remember that nearly all of us of this enlightened age had "some of that salt-boring stock!' We have it yet, ' though lost to sight to memory dear,' gone to rest in the lengthy hole that ran down (so science has told us) through the edge of the saucer-like salt basin of Michigan. We were also told by the same learned savant that more money and a longer hole would somewhere 'in the bowels of the harmless earth ' reach the great Onondaga salt saucer near the middle, where the brine was all the while; that here it only slopped over the edge of the Michigan saucer. I think the company, in the expressive slang of the day, wisely concluded to ' let it slop,' as it had done for many ages, a noted salt lick of the red deer and the red Indians. *

THE MEETING FIFTY YEARS AGO.

" I purpose, fellow pioneers, to keep myself and you wholly in the past; we came here for that-to exchange greetings and compare notes and recollections of the trials, pleasures and conquests of that early life; and while I can hope to touch only a few of the manifold matters of interest to you in that past, my ambition will be more than gratified if I can set you thinking and talking, each with the other, of what you personally knew and saw of the events of that early day.

" Fifty years ago to-day all the then inhabitants of Washtenaw, variously given at from 14 to 29, assembled, most of them, aronnd the venerable table, now near its 100th year, which stands on this platform, and is yet an heirloom in the family of the gallant Maj. Ben. Woodruff. It was at the point in this county (Wood- ruff's Grove) where, on the 4th day of June of the year previous, the first white woman (Mrs. Woodruff ) had come with her husband, to make a pioneer's home in the far West. Judge Robert Fleming presided. The field. piece was a bored out, iron-bound oak log, and a distinguished guest was the Indian chief, Blue Jacket.

" It was doubtless a day of jollity, with song, speech and dance. It was nearer to the great day of'76, and patriotic fever raged higher then than now. I know not that they had any higher sense of the merit of the great achievement than we of this day, but the press had not then scattered its sheets 'like the autumnal leaves which strew the vales of Vallambrosa,' and the people listened more pa- tiently to speeches and talk, and were more happy and frequent in

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coming together in a social and festive way for an interchange of opinions and the hearing of the news of the day, a commodity of such common use, in these later days, that we devour the new events of the world in the half-hour given to our morning coffee, and for- get them in less time, as we hurry out and on, after the almighty dollar.

WHISKY AND POLITICS.

" Doubtless, whisky had something to do with that day's doings. In those days people didn't stop to learn whether it was a food or a poison; whether it assimilated with the blood and became part of it, or whether it was only a stimulant and was excreted; nor whether it was to be prohibited or licensed. It was with them, they all thought, a necessity, or at least a familiar creature which cured rattlesnake bites, and alleviated 'fever and ague;' and in families where no cow was kept, a barrel a week was not much of an allow- ance, as all were hospitable and he was the 'churl' who, in those days, did not ' put the bottle to his neighbor's lips.'

" No doubt some politics were talked and pretty much, I take it, in the spirit and temper of these later and, as we fondly think, wiser days of ours. For I find a few years later upon the occasion of the appointment of a successor to Judge William Woodbridge, that the good Judge whom we of the present age. without distinction of party, believe to be learned, incorruptible and faithful in the dis- charge of his public duties, was, after all, no better than the rest of us; for he used the revenue cutter to bring cedar posts from the islands of Lake Erie to fence his country seat below Detroit. His law student was rated as an 'able-bodied seaman '-that's higher than most of them would rate in these days-in the revenue serv- ice and drew pay as such, and that most of them would do now-a- days, if given the chance. At least that is what ' Consistency' (who- ever he may have been) says in the Democratic Free Press and Michigan Intelligencer of March 15, 1832; and he takes five of its 24 dingy columns to say that and more of like consistency.

"I have imagined that whisky and the politics of the 'era of good feeling,' when all were Republicans and all were Federalists, the close of Monroe's quiet and uneventful administration, had something to do with this first Fourth of July's festivities.

" It would seem that politics waxed hotter and whisky grew stronger. Gen. Jackson's star was slowly rising to its ascendant over the single term of the coalition, ' Blifil and Black George, the Puritan and the Blackleg,' that being the playful way those days had of speaking of the younger Adams, for one-term President, and Henry Clay, his Secretary of State, one of his nine competitors, all of whom, by the way, were Republicans of that day.

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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 51

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