History of Washtenaw County, Michigan : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships...and biographies of representative citizens : history of Michigan, Part 8

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 8

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).

MICHIGAN AS A STATE.

A State! This word contains avast amount of meaning. Before a community becomes a State, there is comparatively a dead level of homogeneity, the history of which consists simply of a record of independent or disconnected events, as Indian wars, migration, etc .; but when a people so far advance in civilization that they must organize, like the plant and animal kingdoms, they must assume " organs," having functions; and the more civilized and dense the population, the more numerous and complicated these organs must become,-to use the language of modern biology, the more the organism must " differentiate."

Correspondingly, the history of Michigan, up to its organization as a State, like that of all our Territories, is almost a disconnected series of events; but on assuming the character of a State, its organs and functions multiply, becoming all the while more and more dependent upon one another. To follow up the history of the State, therefore, with the same proportional fullness as we do its Territorial epoch, would swell the work to scores or hundreds of volumes; for the compiler would be obliged to devote at first a volume to one feature, say the educational, and then soon divide his subject into the various departments of the educational work of

STATE PUBLIC SCHOOL, AT COLDWATER.

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.

the State, devoting a volume to each, and then subdivide, taking each local institution by itself, and subdivide still farther, and so on ad infinitum, devoting a volume to each movement in the career of every institution.

As it is therefore impracticable to preserve the proportion of history to the end, the writer is obliged to generalize more and more as he approaches the termination of any selected epoch in the progress of a growing organism. Accordingly, from this point onward in the history of Michigan, we will treat the subject mat- ter mainly by topics, commencing with an outline of the several gubernatorial administrations.

THE ADMINISTRATIONS.

Stevens T. Mason was the first Governor of this State, having been elected (Governor of the State prospectively) in 1835, as before noted, and he held the office until January, 1840. This State, at the time of its admission into the Union, had a population of about 200,000; its area was about 40,000 square miles, which was di- vided into 36 counties.

Nearly the first act passed by the Legislature was one for the organization and support of common schools. Congress had already set apart one section of land in every township for this purpose, and the new State properly appreciated the boon. In March of the same year (1837) another act was passed establishing the University of Michigan, of which institution we speak more fully on subsequent pages. This Legislature also appropriated $20,000 for a geological survey, and appointed Dr. Douglass Houghton State geologist. For the encouragement of internal improvements, a board of seven commissioners was appointed, of which the Gov- ernor was made president. This board authorized several surveys for railroads. Three routes were surveyed through the State, which eventually became, respectively, the Michigan Central, the Mich- igan Southern, and the Detroit & Milwaukee. The latter road, however, was originally intended to have Port Huron for its east- ern terminus. The next year appropriations were made for the survey of the St. Joseph, Kalamazoo and Grand rivers, for the purpose of improving the navigation.

In 1839 the militia of the State was organized, and eight divisions, with two brigades of two regiments each, were provided for. This year, also, the State prison at Jackson was completed. Nearly 30,000 pupils attended the common schools this year, and for school purposes over $18, 000 was appropriated. Agriculturally, the State yielded that year 21,944 bushels of rye, 1,116,910 of oats, 6,422 of buckwheat, 43,826 pounds of flax, 524 of hemp, 89,610 head of cat- tle, 14,059 head of horses, 22,684 head of sheep and 109,096 of swine.

Gov. William Woodbridge was the chief executive from January, 1840, to February, 1841, when he resigned to accept a seat in the

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.

U. S. Senate. J. Wright Gordon was Lieut .- Governor, and became Acting Governor on the resignation of Gov. Woodbridge.

During the administration of these men, therailroad from Detroit to Ann Arbor, a distance of 40 miles, was completed; branches of the University were established at Detroit, Pontiac, Monroe, Niles, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Jackson, White Pigeon and Tecumseh. The material growth of the State continued to increase, propor- tionally more rapidly than even the population, which now amounted to about 212,000.

John S. Barry succeeded Gov. Gordon in the executive chair, serving from 1841 to 1845. In 1842 the university was opened for the reception of students, and the number of pupils attending the common schools was officially reported to be nearly 58,000. In 1843 a land office was established at Marshall, for the whole State. In 1844 the taxable property of the State was found to be in value $28,554,282, the tax being at the rate of two mills on the dollar. The expenses of the State were only $70,000, while the income from the two railroads was nearly $300,000. In 1845 the number of inhabitants in the State had increased to more than 300,000.

Alpheus Felch served as Governor from 1845 to 1847. During his time the two railroads belonging to the State were sold to pri- vate corporations,-the Central for $2,000,000, and the Southern for $500,000. The exports of the State amounted in 1846 to $4, 647,- 608. The total capacity of vessels enrolled in the collection dis- trict at Detroit was 26,928 tons, the steam vessels having 8,400 and the sailing vessels 18,528 tons, the whole giving employment to 18,000 seamen. In 1847 there were 39 counties in the State, con- taining 435 townships; and 275 of these townships were supplied with good libraries, containing in the aggregate 37,000 volumes.

In the spring of 1846, on the account .of northern and eastern immigration into Texas, with tastes and habits different from the native Mexicans, a war was precipitated between the United States and Mexico; and for the prosecution of this war Michigan fur- nished a regiment of volunteers, commanded by Thomas W. Stock- ton, and one independent company, incurring a total expense of about $10,500. March 3, 1847, Gov. Felch resigned to accept a seat in the U. S. Senate, when the duties of his office devolved upon Wm. L. Greenly, under whose administration the Mexican war was closed.

There are few records extant of the action of Michigan troops in the Mexican war. That many went there and fought well are points conceded; but their names and country of nativity are hid- den away in U. S. archives where it is almost impossible to find them.

The soldiers of this State deserve much of the credit of the memorable achievements of Co. K, 3d Dragoons, and Cos. A, E, and G of the U. S. Inf. The two former of these companies, re-

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.

cruited in this State, were reduced to one-third their original num- ber.

In May, 1846, our Governor was notified by the War Department of the United States to enroll a regiment of volunteers, to be held in readiness for service whenever demanded. At his summons 13 independent volunteer companies, 11 of infantry and two of cav- alry, at once fell into line. Of the infantry four companies were from Detroit, bearing the honored names of Montgomery, Lafay- ette, Scott and Brady upon their banners. Of the remainder Monroe tendered two, Lenawee county three, St. Clair, Berrien and Hillsdale each one, and Wayne county an additional company. Of these alone the veteran Bradys were accepted and ordered into service. In addition to them 10 companies, making the First Regiment of Michigan Volunteers, springing from various parts of the State, but embodying to a great degree the material of which the first volunteers was formed, were not called for until October following. This regiment was soon in readiness and proceeded to the seat of war.

Epaphroditus Ransom was Governor from 1847 to November, 1849. During his administration the Asylum for the Insane was established at Kalamazoo, and also the Institute for the Blind, and the Deaf and Dumb, at Flint. Both these institutions were liber- ally endowed with lands, and each entrusted to a board of five trustees. March 31, 1848, the first telegraph line was completed from New York to Detroit.

John S. Barry, elected Governor of Michigan for the third time, succeeded Gov. Ransom, and his term expired in November, 1851. While he was serving this term a Normal school was established at Ypsilanti, which was endowed with lands, placed in charge of a Board of Education, consisting of six persons; a new State con- stitution was adopted, and the great "railroad conspiracy " case was tried. This originated in a number of lawless depredations upon the property of the Michigan Central Railroad Company, ter- minating with the burning of their depot at Detroit in 1850. The next year 37 men were brought to trial, and 12 of them were con- victed. The prosecution was conducted by Alex. D. Fraser, of Detroit, and the conspirators were defended by Win. H. Seward, of New York. Judge Warner Wing presided.

Robert McClelland followed Barry as Governor, serving until March, 1853, when he resigned to accept the position of Secretary of the Interior, in the cabinet of President Pierce. Lieut .- Gov. Andrew Parsons consequently became Acting Governor, his term expiring in November, 1854.

In the spring of 1854, during the administration of Acting Gov. Parsons, the "Republican party," at least as a State organization, was first formed in the United States " under the oaks " at Jackson, by anti-slavery men of both the old parties. Great excitement prevailed at this time, occasioned by the settling of Kansas and the issue thereby brought up whether slavery should exist there.

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.

For the purpose of permitting slavery there, the "Missouri com- promise " (which limited slavery to the south of 36° 30') was re- pealed, under the lead of Stephen A. Douglas. This was repealed by a bill admitting Kansas and Nebraska into the Union as Terri- tories, and those who were opposed to this repeal measure were in short called "anti-Nebraska " men. The epithets " Nebraska" and "anti-Nebraska " were temporarily employed to designate the slavery and anti-slavery parties, pending the dissolution of the old Democratic and Whig parties and the organization of the new Democratic and Republican parties. At the next State election Kinsley S. Bingham was elected by the Republicans Governor of Michigan, and this State has ever since then been under Republi- can control, the State officers of that party being elected by major- ities ranging from 5,000 to 55,000. And the people of this State generally, and the Republicans in particular, claim that this com- monwealth has been as well taken care of since 1855 as any State in the union, if not better, while preceding 1855 the Democrats administered the government as well as any other State, if not better.

As a single though signal proof of the high standard of Michi- gan among her sister States, we may mention that while the taxes in the New England States, New York, New Jersey and Pennsyl- vania average $10.09 per capita, while in Massachusetts the average is $17.10 per inhabitant, and while in the West the average is $6.50, in Michigan it is only $4.57. At the same time it is gen- erally believed even by the citizens of sister States, that Michigan is the best governed commonwealth in the Union.

Kinsley S. Bingham was Governor from 1854 to 1858. The most notable event during his administration was the completion of the ship canal at the falls of St. Mary, May 26, 1855. An act of Congress was approved, granting to the State of Michigan 750,000 acres of land for the purpose of constructing this canal. The " sault," or rapids, of the St. Mary, have a fall of 17 feet in one mile. The canal is one mile long, 100 feet wide and about 12 feet deep. It has two locks of solid masonry. The work was commenced in 1853 and finished in May, 1855, at a cost of $999,802. This is one of the most important internal improvements ever made in the State.

Moses Wisner was the next Governor of Michigan, serving from 1858 to November, 1860, at which time Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States. National themes began to grow exciting, and Michigan affairs were almost lost in the warring elements of strife that convulsed the nation from center to circum- ference with a life-and-death struggle.

Austin Blair was the 13th Governor of Michigan, serving during the perilous times of rebellion from 1861 to 1865, and by his patri- otic and faithful execution of law and prompt aid of the general Government, earning the well deserved title of "the War Gov-

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.

ernor." The particulars of the history of this State in connection with that war we will reserve for the next section.

Henry H. Crapo succeeded Gov. Blair, serving one term. He was elected during the dark hours just before the close of the war, when he found the political sky overcast with the most ominous clouds of death and debt. The bonded debt of the State was $3,- 541,149.80, with a balance in the treasury of $440,047.29. In the single year just closed the State had expended $823,216.75, and by the close of the first year of his term this indebtedness had increased more than $400,000 more. But the wise administration of this Governor began materially to reduce the debt and at the same time fill the treasury. The great war closed during the April after his election, and he faithfully carried out the line of policy inaugurated by his predecessor. The other prominent events during his time of office are systematically interwoven with the history of the vari- ous institutions of the State, and they will be found under heads in their respective places.

Henry P. Baldwin was Governor two terms, namely, from January, 1868, to the close of 1872. The period of his administration was a prosperous one for the State. In 1869 the taxable valuation of real and personal property in the State amounted to $400,000,000, and in 1871 it exceeded $630,000,000.

During Gov. Baldwin's time a step was taken to alter the State constitution so as to enable counties, townships, cities and incorpo- rated villages, in their corporate capacity, to aid in the construction of railroads. Bonds had been issued all over the State by these mu- nicipalities in aid of railroads, under laws which had been enacted by the Legislature at five different sessions, but a case coming before the Supreme Court involving the constitutionality of these laws, the Bench decided that the laws were unconstitutional, and thus the railroads were left to the mercy of "soul-less" corporations. Gov. Baldwin, in this emergency, called an extra session of the Legisla- ture, which submitted the desired constitutional amendment to the people; but it was by them defeated in November, 1870.

The ninth census having been officially published, it became the duty of the States in 1872 to make a re-apportionment of districts for the purpose of representation in Congress. Since 1863 Michi- gan had had six representatives, but the census of 1870 entitled it to nine.

During the last two years of Gov. Baldwin's administration the preliminary measures for building a new State capitol engrossed much of his attention. His wise counsels concerning this much- needed new building were generally adopted by the Legislature, which was convened in extra session in March, 1872.

Ample provision having been made for the payment of the funded debt of the State by setting apart some of the trust-fund receipts, and such portion of the specific taxes as were not required for the payment of interest on the public debt, the one-eighth mill tax for the sinking fund was abolished in 1870.

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.

The fall of 1871 is noted for the many destructive conflagrations in the Northwest, including the great Chicago fire. Several villages in this State were either wholly or partially consumed, and much property was burned up nearly all over the country. This was due to the excessive dryness of the season. In this State alone nearly 3,000 families, or about 18,000 persons, were rendered houseless and deprived of the necessaries of life. Relief committees were organized at Detroit, Grand Rapids and elsewhere, and in a short time $462,106 in money and about $250,000 worth of clothing were forwarded to the sufferers. Indeed, so generous were the people that they would have given more than was necessary had they not been informed by the Governor in a proclamation that a sufficiency had been raised.

The dedication of the soldiers' and sailors' monument at Detroit, April 9, 1872, was a notable event in Gov. Baldwin's time. This grand structure was designed by Randolph Rogers, formerly of Michi- gan, and one of the most eminent of American sculptors now living. The money to defray the expenses of this undertaking was raised by subscription, and persons in all parts of the State were most liberal in their contributions. The business was managed by an associa- tion incorporated in 1868. The monument is 46 feet high, and is surmounted by a colossal statue of Michigan in bronze, 10 feet in height. She is represented as a semi-civilized Indian queen, with a sword in her right hand and a shield in her left. The dedicatory lines in front are: "Erected by the people of Michigan, in honor of the martyrs who fell and the heroes who fought in defense of liberty and union." On the monument are many beautiful designs. At the unveiling there was a large concourse of people from all parts of the State, and the address was delivered by ex-Governor Blair.

John J. Bagley succeeded to the governorship Jan. 1, 1873, and served two terms. During his administration the new capitol was principally built, which is a larger and better structure for the money than perhaps any other public building in the United States. Under Gov. Bagley's counsel and administration the State pros- pered in all its departments. The Legislature of 1873 made it the duty of the Governor to appoint a commission to revise the State constitution, which duty he performed to the satisfaction of all parties, and the commission made thorough work in revising the fundamental laws of this commonwealth.

Charles M. Croswell was next the chief executive of this State, exercising the functions of the office for two successive terms, 1877-'81. During his administration the public debt was greatly reduced, a policy adopted requiring State institutions to keep within the limit of appropriations, laws enacted to provide more effectually for the punishment of corruption and bribery in elec- tions, the State House of Correction at Ionia and the Eastern Asylum for the Insane at Pontiac were opened, and the new capi- tol at Lansing was completed and occupied. The first act of his

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.

second term was to preside at the dedication of this building. The great riot of 1877 centered at Jackson. During those two or three fearful days Gov. Croswell was in his office at Lansing, in correspondence with members of the military department in differ- ent parts of the State, and within 48 hours from the moment when the danger became imminent the rioters found themselves sur- rounded by a military force ready with ball and cartridge for their annihilation. Were it not for this promptness of the Governor there would probably have been a great destruction of property, if not also of life.

At this date (February, 1881), Hon. David H. Jerome has just assumed the duties of the executive chair, while all the machinery of the Government is in good running order and the people gener. ally are prosperous.

WAR OF THE REBELLION.

As soon as the President called for troops to suppress the Rebel- lion in April, 1861, the loyal people of the Peninsular State promptly responded and furnished the quota assigned. Austin Blair, a man peculiarly fitted for the place during the emergency, was Governor, and John Robertson, Adjutant General. The people of Michigan have ever since been proud of the record of these two men during the war, but this does not exclude the honor due all the humble soldiery who obediently exposed their lives in defense of the common country. Michigan has her full share of the buried dead in obscure and forgotten places all over the South as well as in decent cemeteries throughout the North. It was Michigan men that captured Jeff. Davis, namely: the 4th Cavalry, under Col. B. F. Pritchard; and it was Michigan men that materially aided in the successful capture of Wilkes Booth, the assassin of the martyred Lincoln.

The census of this State for 1860 showed a population of 751,- 110. The number of able-bodied men capable of military service was estimated in official documents of that date at 110,000. At the same time the financial embarrassment of the State was somewhat serious, and the annual tax of $226,250 was deemed a grievous bur- den. But such was the patriotism of the people that by Dec. 23, 1862, an aggregate of 45,569 had gone to battle, besides 1,400 who had gone into other States and recruited. By the end of the war Michigan had sent to the front 90,747, or more than four-fifths the estimated number of able-bodied men at the beginning!

PUBLIC-SCHOOL SYSTEM.

Michigan has as good a public-school system as can be found anywhere in the Union. Ever since 1785 the acts of Congress, as well as the acts of this State since its organization, have encouraged popular education by land grants and liberal appropriations of

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.

money. The 16th section of each township was early placed in the custody of the State for common-school purposes, and all the pro- ceeds of the sale of school lands go into the perpetual fund. In 1842 the superintendent of public instruction reported a dis- crepancy of over $22,000 in the funds, owing to imperfect records, probably, rather than dishonesty of officials. Sept. 30, 1878, the primary-school fund amounted to $2,890,090.73, and the swamp- land school fund to $361,237.20.

The qualification of teachers and the supervision of schools were for many years in the hands of a board of three inspectors, then the county superintendency system was adopted for many years, and since 1875 the township system has been in vogue. The township Board of School Inspectors now consists of the township clerk, one elected inspector and a township superintendent of schools. The latter officer licenses the teachers and visits the schools.

In 1877 the school children (5 to 20 years of age) numbered 469,504; the average number of months of school, 7.4; number of graded schools, 295; number of school-houses, 6,078, valued at $9,190,175; amount of two-mill tax, $492,646.94; district taxes, $2,217,961; total resources for the year, $3,792,129.59; total expenditures, $3,179,976.06.

STATE UNIVERSITY.

By an act of Congress in 1804, a township of land was to be reserved in the territory now constituting the lower peninsula " for the use of seminaries of learning;" but the most of this reservation in 1841 went to a Catholic institution at Detroit. In 1824, through the exertions of Austin E. Wing, delegate to Congress, Gov. Wood- bridge and others, a second township was granted, with permission to select the sections in detached localities, and about this time Judge Woodward devised that novel and extensive scheme for the " catholepistemiad," elsewhere referred to in this volume. In 1837 the Legislature established the University at Ann Arbor, and appropriated the 72 sections to its benefit; 916 acres of this land were located in what is now the richest part of Toledo, O., from which the University finally realized less than $18,000!

But the State in subsequent years made many liberal appropria- tions to this favorite institution, until it has become the greatest seat of learning west of New England, if not in all America. It is a part of the public-school system of the State, as tuition is free, and pupils graduating at the high schools are permitted to enter the freshman class of the collegiate department. It now has an average attendance of 1,200 to 1,400 students, 450 of whom are in the college proper. In 1879 there were 406 in the law department, 329 in the medical, 71 in pharmacy, 62 in dental surgery and 63 in the homeo- pathic department. There are over 50 professors and teachers. The University is under the control of eight regents, elected by the

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.

people, two every second year. Rev. Henry B. Tappan, D. D., was president from 1852 to 1863, then Erastus O. Haven, D. D., LL. D., to 1869, then Prof. H. S. Frieze (acting) until 1871, since which time the reins have been held by Hon. James B. Angell, LL. D.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Washtenaw County, Michigan : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships...and biographies of representative citizens : history of Michigan, Part 8

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