History of the St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources.., Part 103

Author: Western historical company, Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas & co.
Number of Pages: 814

USA > Michigan > St Clair County > History of the St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources.. > Part 103

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).

His idea of a duplex system constantly burned in his brain, and in 1$70 he went to Roch- ester, N. Y., to try his apparatus between the two cities. Mr. F. L. Pope, the present pat- ent adviser of the Western Union Telegraph Company, assisted in New York. The effort was a failure, although Edison has always claimed that it ought to have succeeded. He then went to New York. arriving there dead broke and discouraged. He hung around the office of the Gold Indicator Company for several days. Their apparatus was cumbersome and imperfect and frequently out of order. At such times the brokers would rush to the office and demand immediate repairs. One day when there was an unusual excitement in the gold market the ap- paratus failed. The confusion at the Indicator office was great. The Superintendent was out. Edison happened in and stood watching the confusion. He volunteered to fix the machinery. The President looked upon him with amazement, bat being in the mood to catch at straws, gave him permission to try. He speedily found the defeet and the next day was engaged to fill a

624

HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

responsible position with the company. He immediately began to improve the apparatus, and soon invented a gold printer. The company was purchased by the Gold and Stock Company, and Edison was thrown out. He then went into company with Pope & Ashley (the latter now being editor of the Journal of the Telegraph).

The Pope and Edison printer was brought out, and a private line system put in active opera- tion. This was soon sold to the Gold and Stock Company, and Edison has for many years been retained in the service of that company and the Western Union Telegraph Company at a large salary, they having the first option to purchase his inventions pertaining to telegraphy at prices agreed upon in each case. Edison's inventions pertaining to the gold and stock telegraphy soon replaced the old apparatus, and that system is interwoven with his inventions and im- provements. At the formation of his intimate connection with the Gold and Stock Company. he established an immense electrical manufacturing establishment at Newark, which was divid- ed into three large shops and two laboratories for experiment. He employed upward of 300 men, and was himself the busiest man in America. He gave himself scarcely any time for sleep. An idea of his determination and persistence can be gained from the following inci- dent: He had been given an order for $30,000 worth of improved printers. The sample instrument had worked an experimental circuit, but the first. instruments for practical

use proved a failure. In vain he sought to remedy the defect, tilì finally, taking four or five of his best men, he went to the top floor of his factory, remarking that they would never come down till the printer worked. They labored continuously for sixty hours, and he was so fort- unate as to discover the fault. and made the printers operate perfectly at an expense of $5,- 000. Such severe and protracted labors are common with him. He says after going without sleep more than the ordinary hours he becomes nervous, and the ideas flow in upon him with great rapidity. His sleep after these efforts is correspondingly long. sometimes lasting thirty- six hours. He knows no such division as day and night in his labors, and, when the inspira - tion is upon him, pursues the investigation and experiment to the end.

As a manufacturer he did not prove a success. The more resources at command, the greater his efforts at invention. At one time he had forty-five distinct inventions and improve- ments under way. All the large sums received for his patents and the profits arising from manufacturing to the amount of nearly $400,000 have been expended in inventive efforts. He finally became excessively annoyed at the tax upon his powers arising from regular business and concluded to remove to some small place inconvenient to reach, where he would be free from curiosity seekers, and have opportunity to put into practical shape his conceptions. In 1876, he sold his machinery and moved his family to Menlo Park. N. J., on the Pennsylvania Railroad, twenty-four miles from New York. Here, on the crest of a hill, remote from other buildings, he built a labaratory 28x100 feet. two stories in height. In one room on the ground floor he has a machinery department, in which is located a ten-horse-power engine, and a collection of expensive tools, so that any appliance, however intricate, can be made under his own inspection. In another room are ranged on shelves and in cases the models of a large number of his experiments and inventions. Here are also to be found many instruments of precision which he has purchased at great costs to assist in his investigations. His library is entirely scientific and costly, but not large. On his upper floor he has ranged upon shelves thousands of bottles of chemicals, and he makes it a rule to purchase some of every known chemical or mineral, to have at hand in case of need. Here he conducts his experiments un- der his personal supervision. He has always with him three or four assistants, whom he has se- lected on account of their skill as draughtsmen or workmen, willingness to comply with his wishos, and their physical endurance, which, with him, is an important consideration. Messrs. Charles Batchelor, Scotch, and James Adams, Irish, and Mr. Kusel, of German descent, are the principal assistants. Sometimes he has fifteen men employed exclusively in developing his inventions, if of importance and near completion. Edison was described by the United States Patent Commissioner as the young man who has kept the path to the Patent Office hot with his footsteps. He has been granted 112 patents in this country, and has some twenty applica- tions pending in the office. His most valuable inventions have been patented in many foreign countries. Of his American patents, thirty five pertain to automatic and chemical telegraphs,

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

eight to duplex and quadruplex telegraphy, thirty-eight to printing telegraph instruments, four- teen to Morse telegraph apparatus proper, and the remainder relate to fire alarms, district and domestic telegraphy, electrie signals, the electric pen, the speaking phonograph, and a variety of electrical and non-electric apparatns.

The printing telegraph instruments, the automatic or chemical system. by which 1,000 words a minute can be transmitted on a single wire for medium distance: the quadruplex sys- tom, by which four messages at a time are sent on the same wire by the Morso method: the electric pen, the carbone telephone, which exceeds all others for its loudness and distinctness; the speaking phonograph, and the :rophone are among his most valuable productions.

He has made many extremely interesting and minor discoveries, such as the lubricating property of electricity upon which the electro-motorgraph is based, and upon which could be built an entirely new system of telegraphy. His mind is so prolitie that he can always afford to accept reasonable compensation for his inventions.

He is sharp at a bargain, and has been styled a Tallyrand in negotiating for the disposi- tion of his inventions. His peenliarities and the great value of his inventions have led to se- vere struggles for the possession of some of them. His great anxiety seems to be to give an equivalent invention for the price asked; but he professes to be utterly without conscience in case of any attempt to overreach him. In person he is five feet nine and one-half inches tall; he wears a seven and seven eighths inch tall hat: his hair is black and is worn short and is

slightly grav. His complexion is pale and fair; his eyes are gray and piercing; he has a sharp nose and countenance. When in application, his look is most intense, although there is often a merry twinkle in his eye. His chest expansion is five inches. His powers of applica- tiou, patience and endurance are something wonderful. He begins where most people leave off, and, like a Morphy at chess, carries on five or six lines of experiment in totally different divisions, never ceasing any of them till a result is reached or an impossibility proved. He keeps a careful record of each day's experiments, properly witnessed, and numerous volumes of such statistics. He is quite hard of hearing and his accomplishments with the telephone are most remarkable on account of this defect. For a long time he was unable to distinguish the sound produced, and depended upon his assistants. He many times despaired of a result. At last he got his carbon telephone sufficiently loud so that he could hear it over long distances without difficulty, and was satisfied. That such a man should go on and eliminate the speak- ing phonograph is surprising, and in view of his defect, he may almost be forgiven the pro- duction of the aerophone, intended to talk from three to ten miles. He was married to Miss Mars Stillwell, of Newark, in 1873. The medallion on the new silver dollar is an excellent profile likeness of her. Their honeymoon was eccentric, as Edison, although in the same city. could not leave bis work for more than a few hours two or three times a week, owing to busi- ness engagements."

Whatever may be the outcome of electricity, the theory and art of its control must be in a great measure credited to him. The successes attendant on his late inventions. the adop tion of the electric light system, and the illimitable possibilities of his profession, point out the brilliancy of his future life, while making the past secure.

CHARLES P. EDISON.

Charles P. Edison, the subject of this sketch, who died in Paris, France, October 19). 1879, was a nephew of Thomas A. Edison, the inventor, and at the time of his death was em- ployed by his uncle in introducing some of the wonderful inventions that have made the name of Edison known in every Jand. He was born at Port Huron, Mich., March 5. 1960. ITis mind in his early youth like that of his uncle, was given to the investigation of every novel and curious thing that came under his notice. The discoveries made by the great inventor seemed to inspire young Charlie with a desire to accomplish something in the world of inventions. At the early age of eleven years, he was constantly experimenting in his rude and novel way with electricity, and to satisfy his desire to unravel the mysterious force, and to give his mind a wider scope, his parents gave the young lad permission to visit the laboratory and work shop of his uncle, then located at Newark, N. J. So infatuated was young Edison with what he saw,

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

that he remained several months, during which time he was constantly at work, sometimes in- vestigating and experimenting ou his own account, but always watching closely, storing up in his young mind everything that came under his observation. On his return home, he at once fitted up a small work shop and laboratory, and filled it with various kinds of chemicals, machin- ery and tools which were bought with money he earned in numerous ways. and spent all his leisure time in experimenting. His tastes and habits now, as in later years, were so similar to those of his uncle that it was quite remarkable. He was always looked upon as an eccentric youth, seldom mingling with his companions in their every day sports, for his whole mind seemed to run to science. At this time he subscribed for many scientific journals. Among the number was the Scientific American, and he was its youngest subscriber. He organized a sort of telegraphic exchange, made telegraph instruments, constructed batteries, put up a line and held evening communications with his associates. So intent was he upon pursuing his ex- perimental work that often his parents would retire leaving the young enthusiast in his minia- ture laboratory at work, and frequently it would be far ou to the morning before he would re

tire to rest. In the winter of 1878, the Common Council of the city decided to put up a fire alarm telegraph aud advertised for proposals. Young Edison submitted a bid which was accept- ed, being so thoroughly familiar with the cost of material aud expense of instruments that his propositions proved to be far below his competitors. Inside of three weeks it was in working order, and it has never failed in any particular to perform all that was promised. In April, 1878, he again left his home to reside in Menlo Park. N. J. He soon became the principal co- operator of his uncle in the invention of the new receiver for the loud speaking telephone-a telephone which made the voice loud enough to be heard through a large hall. After six months of unceasing labor, he finally completed it and was immediately sent to New York City to superintend the manufacture of these instruments to supply an order received from Eng- land. The 26th of last February he was sent by his uncle to exhibit these instruments before the Royal Society of London and the Prince of Wales; and from the first made it a perfect suc- cess. While abroad. he met many men of note, among them Prof. Tyndall, at whose house he was a guest, and who spoke in the most flattering terms of his genius. Also the King of Bel gium. to whom he gave much information concerning the telephone and electric light. and also upon the subject of establishing telephonic communication between Belgium and England. At the time of his death, he was actually occupied in installing the quadruplex system of teleg- raphy of his uncle between Paris and Brussels, and was the only person in Europe who could operate it. He gave promise of a genius hardly second to that of his uncle, and already had made some inventions which were likely to give him a national or world-wide fame. A French paper, La France, in publishing a brief biography of him, says: "Although young, still he had shown great capacity and aptitude in invention. Science and society suffered a great loss in his death."

CHURCHES.

The churches of Fort Gratiot are the Methodist, Episcopal and United Presbyterian Churches in the village. The pastor of the Methodist Church is Rev. Francis Berry; Rev. T. W. Monteith of the Presbyterian. and Rev. George M. Skinner of the Protestant Episcopal.

ST. PAUL'S MISSION, FORT GRATIOT,

was established in 1873. The present pastor is Rev. G. M. Skinner, who came in 1881. David Curtiss Maitland, James Kirkland, Wardens; James Kirkland, Lay Reader.

The following is the report tendered to the congregation of 1882:

Baptized-Infants 31

Adults.

Total. 33

Confirmed 13

('ommunicants admitted in the parish.

By confirmation. . 13

Received from other parishes. 12

Total added. 25

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

Died.

Removed from the parish.

Total lost. .

Present number.

Marriages.

Burials .

Public services -Sundays.

109

Holy days

Holy communion-Sunday

Holy days

Private

Total

Congregation-Families .

Individuals not included in families

Total of soul:

Sunday School-Teachers and officers.

Scholars .

110

Average attendance ..

Scholars .

Average attendance ..

Sunday School library (volumes) ..

150

Parochial organization- Church Aid Society. Relief and Visiting Committee.

:24

Communion alins not otherwise reported.

8 22 46

Rector's salary .

105 00

Other current expenses.

$6 26

Total for Parochial purposes. $513 52

Christmas fund.

2 14

Domestic missions.

1 32

By the Sunday School-For its own purposes.

23 10

Total of contributions and offerings $515 9%

Sources of above-Offertory.

133 76

Subscriptions, gifts, pledges, etc ...

415 00

Value of Church Property-Church

1.00 00

Church lot.

600 00

Total value of property. 2.400 00

Salary pledged to the Rector .. 500 00)

Number of sitting in the church (free).

300

Indebtedness-Church.

266 35

Church Jot. .

133 ;5

Due the Rector.

66 00

Total of indebtedness 8 466 00

An account of the organization of the other churches is given in the general history.

In June. 1552. an old resident of the village contributed the following little chapter of reminiscences to the Ft. Gratiot Sun:

"Of the transmutations that time effects. at least in the external world. the writer has been most forcibly impressed by a visit to Ft. Gratiot. after an absence of almost half a century.

"As I approach the old military grounds, I look in vain for the 'star spangled banner' that always floated over the fort: and as I come nearer. instead of the tall. whitewashed pickets that surrounded the barracks. and the threatening field pieces that guarded the gates. and the blue-coated sentinel pacing his silent beat. I find a busy. bustling eity. with all the activities of trade and business. The fort-where is it? Only a few fast disappearing ruins mark its site. I go down what was once a steep bank toward the river, where the bake-house and the sutler's shop stood. I find the spot occupied by railroad tracks, locomotives and cars.

Other day

Total . 16

Bible Classes-Teachers

Catechising " openly in the church

628

HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

" Where onee only the tattoo or the reveille broke the stillness of the evening or morning air. now the shrieking of the iron horse, night and day, wakes the echoes.

"I look at the river -- the same swift volume of water glides down; but now it is disturbed by the ponderous ferry-boat with its enormous load, and symmetrical propellers cleaving their rapid way, and the little smoke-enveloped tugs steadily breasting the current, and forcibly per- suading their white winged retinne to follow in their wake. But when I last looked upon its crystal waters, no cloud of steam or smoke shaded its surface, save at long intervals some un- wieldy side wheeler, the Pennsylvania, Superior. or some other of the half-dozen steamboats that then eleft the waters of our inland seas, came toiling up, hugging to its sides some two or more sailing vessels which, mayhap, had lain for weeks at the foot of the rapids. vainly wooing a southern breeze. I look across to the Canadian side, where then no sign of human proximity could be seen along its unbroken beach. and floeks of wild plover fluttered unmolested over the white sand. Now, great edifices. depots, and all the accompaniments of trade, travel and trans- portation meet my eyes.

"All is changed, so strange here, I will stroll up toward the lake and pass by the old plum trees that strewed the grass with their crimson fruit, and see the wild grape vines once loaded with purple elusters, and where I had seen a hundred wigwams, that for a few days sheltered the tawny natives, who had come from Saginaw Bay to receive their annuities from Uncle Samuel. I remember they were in full dress; indeed. it was a 'full dress party,' that would have more than satisfied the most rigorous demands of fashion, for not only were their necks, arms and shoulders bare, but their chests and lower limbs also. But surely, this is not the place, for here is nothing but streets, stores and dwellings. Still it must be, for there stands the old light-house where the courteous old Scotchman, Mr. Dougall, trimmed the lamp to guide the few mariners of the lake on their nightly way.

"Well, as I find nothing familiar here, I will go back west of where the fort stood and rest under the thick foliage of the pines, which form a lovely canopy over the beautiful meandering paths that have been cut through them. I go, but, instead of the fragrant pines, I find nothing but streets, streets, and rows of cozy cottages. 'Halloa, there! my little fellow; I'll take one of your newspapers. What have you?' 'The Ft. Gratiot Sun.' 'Why, 'tis almost like a metropolitan sheet.' Well, well, this settles it. It is too convineing an evi- dence of the progress of enterprise and civilization, to look further for any relies of the dead Past here. But that makes me think of it. If the Past is dead, I will wander down to the cemetery and find its grave or some of

" ' The names I loved to hear Though carved for many a year On the tomb.'

" I look for the cemetery-where is it? That, too, is gone! moved. And is all, everything changed? No; for of all the landmarks of the Past, I remain the same. But as I stand, and with my hook and line lift one of the finny tribe on to the dock, I catch the reflection in the water of a figure that is not the face nor form at all of the one. that forty-seven years ago stood there, engaged in the same amusement."

BIOGRAPHY.

This most important branch of township history must commend itself to every one. That it necessarily contains much valuable information and the relation of a series of events more or less historical must be conceded. Therefore, it is considered proper that anything which should claim a place in the pages devoted to it should be passed lightly over in the foregoing chapters, in order to avoid repetition, and to intermingle with these interesting sketches the more com- plete facts gleaned from the party who knows them best.

629

HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

LUCIUS BEACH. farmer. Section 32, P. O. Port Huron, is a native of the town of Norfolk, Litchfield County, Conn, and was born November 13, 1808. Upon reaching manhood, he decided to go West, and went to Buffalo on the canal, and from there went on the steamer Enterprise to Cleveland. Remained in Ohio a short time, and came on a sail vessel to Detroit ; waited there one week for a vessel to come to Port Huron, and then came up on a steamboat ralled the Argo, and was three days on the way, and reached here Novem- ber 18, 1830, and was one of the earliest settlers here. There are only a very few here now that were here when he came, fifty-two years ago. Ile engaged in teaching, and taught one of the first schools on the river. He also engaged in mying and shipping limber to Ohio, then bought land and took off the timber, and after- ward engaged in farming. He entered the land where he now lives from the Government. Owns a good farm of about 200 acres. In 1833, he married Miss Julia Ann Barrett, from Ohio. She died April 3, 1882, leaving seven children-Julia, now Mrs. Porter, St. Louis ; Matilda. now Mrs. Porter, and lives near home : Lucius lives at St. Louis ; William, Montcalm County ; George, at home ; Fred H., Montcalm County : Laura, now Mrs. Charlier, Binghamton, N. Y.

C. G. BROWN, dental surgeon, is a native of Macomb County, Mich., and was born April 16, 1859 ; he attended school there and at Baltimore, and studied dentistry at Richmond, and afterward was engaged in practice there and at Cairo. He came to Fort Gratiot in October, 1882, and since then has practiced his pro- fession here. He married Miss Lillie Brown July 27, 1882 ; she is a native of the town of Columbus, St. Clair County.

D. HOBERT BRYCE, owner Ox Bow Dairy Farm, Section 27, P. O. Port Huron, is a native of St. Clair County, and was born in Port Huron, November 20, 1847. His parents, David and Mary Ann Bryce, were among the early settlers of this county. Hobert grew up and attended school in Port Huron, and since reaching manhood has been engaged in farming and dairying. He owns an excellent farm, over 200 acres, and there is a large demand for milk and cream from the Ox Bow Dairy Farm. In 1874. Mr. Bryce married Miss Alwilda Cowles, a native of this county ; they have three children-Inez M., Gertie d., and an infant daughter.

R. G. BURWELL, dealer in drugs, medicines and stationery, is a native of Canada, and was born April 17, 1858 ; he grew up, attended school, and learned his business there ; attended the College of Pharmacy at Toronto, and is a graduate of that institution. Ile has been connected with the drug business since 1873. In 1879, he came here and established his present business, and has the only drug store here, and has a nice trade.

WALTER T. BUSBY, dealer in hardware, stoves and house furnishing goods, is a native of Michigan. and was born in the city of Detroit May 23. 1851. His parents removed to Ypsilanti in 1853, and he attended school and learned his trade there. In 1870, he came to Port Huron and the following year went to Saginaw, and afterward went to Grand Rapids, and other places in Michigan ; in 1873, he came here and established his present business, and since then has successfully carried on the business here. He was burned out in July, 1881. lle held the office of Town Clerk six years consecutively, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity. and the Royal Arcanum. He married Miss Lillie E. Bennett, of Port Huron. September 4. 1874 ; they have one son-E. Benuet.

JAMES S. BUTTON, contractor and buildler : he is a native of Onondaga County. N. Y., and was born March 1. 1845 ; he grew up and partly learned his trade there. Came to Detroit in October. 1864 : entered the employ of the street railway company ; continued work until the winter of 1865-66. Went to work for the government at Fort Wayne until the month of May following, was sent to Fort Brady, and work was completed in October, and in Derember, 1866, was ordered to Fort Gratiot fo repair soldiers' quarters there ; the work was finished early in the spring of 1863. Was married in Detroit to Miss Mary Howay, a native of Canada, June 3, 1567, and came to Fort Gratiot on June the 10th, 1867, and began building. and since then has been successfully engaged in contracting and building. He is also interested in the humber business. Holds the office of Township Treasurer, and has served on School Board for five years : was School Treasurer for three years. They have one son, Lewis F., and have lost two children-Ella and Charlie. In the spring of 1883, he was elected to the office of Village Clerk.

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History of the St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources.., Part 103

Author: Western historical company, Chicago. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas & co. Number of Pages: 814

Author: Western historical company, Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas & co.
Number of Pages: 814