History of the St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources.., Part 34

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 34

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).

Indge B. F. Cox, the mixture of the civic and the military, well reputed : - General and Probate Judge. Cummings Sanborn, commanding in stature and form, and amiable in all polite circles.

James W. Sanborn. a remarkable contrast to Cummings, but whose life, though short, was successful

Col. Andrew Mack, the true gentleman of the old school, of whom his friend and equal in all the amenities of life. Judge Zephanich Bunce, still survives to remind the young of what his youth innst have been, and of the beautiful graces of old age that succeed to a well spent and honorable life

Of all these. what can we say except then the most laudatory tombs erected over their earthly remming do not bespeak all their worth and virtues. And in speaking of them, we can only regret that time especi ally the time of such an occasions will not give us space to mention others equally worthy, and whose memories should not be overlooked.

Of the living carly pioneers of St Clair County. I shall want the aid of all present to even name them, much more to give them the worthy mention to which they are entitled I do not expect to name a tithe, and will only speak of the few that readily oreur to my mind

The venerable Judge Zephaniah Bunce, whom ! have mentioned as a compatriot with Col Mack, by his nearly ninety years, whom I hoped to s " in our midst, still stays with us, the type of an honorable life. and a worthy example to the young who look for long life.

Old Unele Jonathan Bartch, who has passed his fourscore, one of our earliest settlers, whose lons life proves the hardy stock from which he spring and the struggles and leirdships that such a nature ontlives.

Ralph Wadlauns, the good-natured and genial, as well as successful, whose delight is now in his famous stock and herds, after nearly eighty years, still shows us that a life of single blessedness is not incompatibile with old age, and makes us all regret that, while introducing such fine herds and stock in animals, he had

24-

HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

not thought and acted on the thought that his own superior qualities should have been perpetuated in children, who sixty years hence could with pride have recited the incidents in the life of such a sturdy ancestor.

John Howard. of Port Huron, whose long life has seen so many of the incidents of our early history. first visiting this county in 1822, and still a man of vigor and active enterprise, should he not come forward with his fund of knowledge and experience? Ira. B. Kendrick, whose eighty years are carried with the apparent vigor of youth. Eliha Granger, of Berlin, with more than threescore and ten, is vigorous in tillage, and interested in all the proper movements of the day. William M. St. Clair, who, though not an octogena- rian. has known the county from an early day, and in worthy ways helped to develop its resources. Gen. S. B. Brown, an early settler, but not too old to gain an honorable renown by active campaigns and daring deeds in the struggle for the Union. W. B. Barron, the active and successful merchant and business man. Capt. John Clark, of China, long since passed his threescore and ten, but whose life must have left to him many pleasant memories, and has been crowned with more than the usual honors allotted to citizens. May he long continne in health and vigor !

Daniel B. Harrington, your honored President, whose early memories must be full of incidents of inter- est, and whose pen or voice could not fail to relate a wondrous history.

Samuel Russell, of Algonac, whose experiences must have been varied and large.

John E. Kitton, the enterprising citizen of St. Clair, whose hopes and wishes have excited him to such extraordinary efforts for his adopted city, could tell us some of the marvels of his long residence.

"Judge" F. Saunders, who don't know how he acquired, but who has always worthily worn, the title. Amos James, whose ancestors in this county are proudly sustained by their sons.

WV. L. Bancroft, so early connected with the press of this county, and whose experiences he can relate better than any one else.

Daniel Follansbee, who asks no honors, but has been the worthy recipient of county offices.

Wesley Truesdail, associated from an early day with our earliest and most venerated pioneers, who has ever been active in promoting the welfare of his beloved St. Clair, and whose years, though not as ripe as some l have mentioned, have brought to him many wise experiences and happy memories, and with whom I must close, for if I should call to mind all your worthy members, time would not permit the recital of their names, much less an enumeration of their good deeds.

And, more than all, I am compelled to omit the names of the true women, mothers and wives, who have borne their full share of the burdens and cares of their husbands, sons and brothers, in their early pioneer life, But why should a retiring and modest man like myself be expected to name or call to your minds these loved and worthy companions? They are known by their goodness and true bearing, and while like soldiers in the battle of life they live and die without record, fighting the worst part of life's conflicts, all must recog- nize the fact that their linsbands without them could not any more than Generals without soldiers have won the victories or crowned their brows with the symbols of success.

I have purposely so far omitted to mention the mueh-esteemed old pioneer. Aura P. Stewart, because he has already commenced the good work so much desired from others. His early reminiscences will be read by all with interest. and prove a fund of valuable information.

Will not others follow his good example and furnish to this society their individual histories, experi- ences and adventures? This has been my object in calling to mind so many as I have, and with the hope that they and all others will so help to fill and adorn the archives of this association. They should not be mere mention of names as I have done, but such as will leave for the future useful memorials. If not ready writers, or if fearful of the rules of grammar or syntax, make such memorandums that some one more skilled will be anxious and glad to put them in a readable form.

Each meeting of this association, after it is fully organized, should be favored with such biographies and tales of early adventures, The early settlement and the growth of the county, its improvements and changes, are themes that should not be forgotten.

Some of the old pioneers have seen the county grow from the time when there were no highways or roads, and when canoes were the only vessels navigating the beautiful and glorious St. Clair. Why not. gentlemen, tell us the story ?

This society should be not only a re-union of the old, but a gathering and perpetnation of our early his- tory, that will soon pass from memory without some such means.

It is for you, gentlemen, to make this association one alfording great pleasure to you all, and that will afford to your children not only pleasure, but desirable information.

SUMMER MEETING OF 1882.

The society met again May 16, 1882. The object of the meeting was to re-organize, and fill offices made vacant by the decease of Daniel B. Harrington, President, and Samuel Russell, Soloman Kingsley, Jonathan Burtch. Samuel Carleton. John S. Kimball, Joshua Tompkins. and Oel Rix, Vice Presidents. The Presidents and several Vice Presidents had passed away since the last meeting. Some interesting facts in the history of several prominent individuals, re- cently deceased, were obtained by the Treasurer. Moses F. Carleton, and enrolled in the records of the society. An historical committee of six was appointed at the request of the Western Historical Company to revise the history of St. Clair County when the manuscript is completed. The committee consists of the President and Executive Committee, and Mr. Horace Baker. Rev.

245

HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

A. H. Ross addressed the society, and urged the necessity of gathering and preserving all that can be learned of the early affairs of the county, as they would be very valuable fifty years hence. The officers elected were: Hon. W. T. Mitchell, President: Mrs. B. C. Farrand, Seere- tary, and Moses F. Carleton, Treasurer: Executive Committee. B. C. Farrand, E. W. Harris, Moses F. Carleton and Henry Harrington. John M. Hart was elected a Vice President in place of Samuel Carleton, deceased. Eight new members were enrolled. The society will meet at the eall of the Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee of the Pioneer Society met at the County Court House November 28, 1882, for the purpose of revising the history of the county. The manuscript was submitted to this committee and approved.

RETROSPECT.

Could we evoke the genius of memory, and draw from those who are passing away so rap- idly now the reminiscence's of that time, how many stories we should glean of hair breadth creapes in the wilds or in the waters-how the hunters returned from the hunt laden with spoils, or of the adventures of the land hunters who had found some new paradise in their wanderings over the pathless prairies. We can imagine how, after the long days had passed in toil, and the semi-occasional mail had come in, that those few okl settlers would gather around their respect- ivo hearthstones and, with their pipes in their months, and after carefully perusing the papers, not more than a month old, review the events of the times, and compare notes as to progress in breaking and clearing the lands; and especially when the shorter days of winter came, and alone in the wilderness a month at a time, removed from communication with friends or relatives at their Eastern homes, how the ties of Western friendship would seem to draw closer, and the gather- ings come oftener, and when the shades of evening came the ox-sled would be hauled up, the box filled with a generous supply of hay, and the whole family tako seats in the bottom and hasten to visit their neighbors, half a dozen miles away. And then the sorrow, when some loved one was nearing the grave, and the doctor, hastily summoned from a score of miles, gave no hope; how the sympathy of all the country round was shown in kindly offers-watchers coming a long distance to give their aid; and tho funeral gatherings, comprising the neighbors for miles around. There were many bitter trials and hardships not conceivable in these days; but they had their compensation, too, in the enlargement of the love of humanity, in the earnest and true hearted sympathy, and in the unbounded hospitality. Every house was a hotel, but it was a hotel without money and without price. Every traveler was welcome to come and go at free will, and the thought of compensation never entered the minds of those free- hearted dwellers in the wilds. And what was true of the eastern portion of the county from 1754 to 1835, was equally true of the western portion, until within a few years. All the change that would be made in the picture is of dates. It seems as if there was something in the partial iso- tation of mankind that develops the kindhier feelings of the human sonl. enlarges its better im- pulses, and re-creates mankind into more nearly the image of the true man. And this is true evon of these mon, many of whom led will lives, and this was but the excrescent growth of the eir- euinstances in which they were placed, and in no way affected the manliness of character which developed itself. It seems, indeed, as if it were a wise provision of nature that the opening of new countries should be attended with a renewal of the simpler life of man, and thus introduce new blood into the world of civilization.

246

HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

MORAVIANS, MORMONS AND GERMANS.

IN this little chapter we deal with four peoples who have been prominent in the history of Michigan and known to the citizens of this county. It is true that only representatives of these peoples made St. Clair County a home. The Moravians and Mormons were only tempo- rary residents; but the Germans and Hollanders who found their way to the peninsula in 1845-48, contributed their quota to the settlement of this county. For these reasons their his- tory is taken from the summary of State history, an ? given a place in that of St. Clair.

What would the Republic be without immigration? It would be less than a cranberry marsh. Our population is of such a confessedly heterogeneous character, that, naturally enough, it suggests the question, Has this intermingling of different nationalities sensibly af- fected our health conditions? Certainly not, as far as intermarriages between the nations of the Caucasian race are concerned. This opinion is given first upon the fact that our classes of diseases have neither changed nor increased in their intensity by reason of such admixture, so far as can be learned by the statistics or the history of disease in the Northwest. Imported cases of disease are, of course, excepted. Second, because all that we can gather from statis- ties and history, concerning such intermingling of blood. goes to prove that it is beneficial in every respect-physically, mentally and morally. Ireland and England, of all the countries, are said to form the best illustration of the good attending an intermingling of the blood of different nations; for the reason that their character is supposed to be, comparatively speaking, good, and that of all countries they have been, perhaps, more frequently invaded, and to a greater or less part more settled by foreign peoples than any other. From an acquain anee of nearly a quarter of a century with the people of the world, and from an adequate knowledge of the people, whose nationalities are so varions and whose intermarriages are so common, it is at least presumable that we should have heard of or noted any peculiar or injurious results, had any such occurre l. None such, however, have been observed. Some fears have been expressed concerning the influence of Celtic blood upon the American temperament, by figures or fact. Reasoning from analogy, it would seem safe to affirm that the general intermingling by inter- marriage now going on in our population, confined to the Caucasian nationalities, will tend to improve the existing character, rather than to create any new character for our people. If this view needed support or confirmation, it is to be found in some interesting truths in rela- tion to it. Edwin Seguin, in his work on idiocy, lays special stress on the influenees of races, in regard to idiocy and other infirmities, like deafness. He says that the crossing of races, which contributes to the elimination of some vices of the blood (as may be the ease in the United States, where there are proportionally less deaf and dumb than in Europe), pro- duces a favorable effect on the health of the population, and cites as an example Belgium, whiel has fewer deaf and dumb than any country in Europe, owing to the influence of the crossing of races in past ages from the crowds of northern tribes passing, mingling and partly

settling there on the way to England. We are aware that it has been predicted that our future will give us a new type, distinct from all other peoples, and that with this type must come, not only now diseases, but modifications or aggravations of the present diseases, in partic- ular, consumption and insanity. But so long as we are in a formative state as a nation, and this state seems likely to continue so long as the country has lands to be occupied and there are people in Europe to occupy them, sneh speculations ean be but of little value.

Another subject of importance must always be, the effect which occupation, food, educa- tion and manners have upon public health. The two chief factors of the social and sanitary well- being of a people are, a proper education of the man and a proper cultivation of the soil. The two principal occupations are education and agriculture, the learners in the schools being in ex- cess of the laborers on the soil. A happier combination could scareely be desired, to form an

217

HISTORY OF ST CLAIR COUNTY

intelligent and a healthy people. How this will affect our habits in the future, it is easy to conceive; but for the present it may be said (of so many different nationalities are we com- posed ) that we have no habits which serve to distinguish us from other northwestern peoples. A well-fed and a well-taught people, no matter how mixed its origin, must sooner or later bo- come homogeneous and a maker of customs. In the meantime, we can only speak of our habits as those of a people in general having an abundance of food; though it is to be wished that. the workers ate more beef and intion and loss salt pork, and that whisky was less plentiful in the land. The clothing is sufficient, fuel is cheap, and the dwellings comfortable. Upon the whole, the habits of the people are conducive to health. It is thought unnecessary to refer to the influence upon health in general of other occupations; for the reason that manufact- urers, traders and transporters are, for the most part, localized, and, perhaps, not sufficiently numerous to exercise any marked inthence on the state of health in general.

THE MORAVIANS.

By what power tyranny is allowed to exist is one of the mysteries. Europe, before the Reformation, was a continent of tyrannies. Since the Reformation, it has changed the petty tyrant for the powerful one; and is, to day, ground down beneath a more terrible, a more ex- acting, a more pernicious oppression than over existed to mark the pages of its older history. Instead of a few hundred Moravians, a few hundred Puritans, a few hundred Catholics flying from evil laws, as in olden times, we have tens of thousands -aye, hundreds of thousands- looking westward, across the Atlantic, to these States with longing eyes, and sending messages of hope to reach friends here before they die. Great numbers have come, are coming, and, doubtless, may continue to come; but the power that draws them from their old homes is a mysterious one. Tyranny forced the Moravians to seek the encouragement of tyrants in 1749. It was willingly extended: and, thirty-two years later. the same false friend murdered one hun - dred of those who sought and obtained his dangerous patronage.

The English at Detroit suspecting that a certain settlement of pions Moravians, on the Muskingum River, were sympathizers with the Americans, called a conference of the tribes at Niagara, and urged the fierce Iroquois to destroy the Moravian Indians -- the name given to the few red men who had, up to that period, been converted by the Moravian missionaries. But the Iroquois chiefs failed to see where such a massacre would benefit themselves, and were content to send a message to the Ottawas and Otchipwes, requesting them to make a bonilli of the Mo. ravian Indians on the Muskingum. The Moravian missionaries arrived at Detroit in 1781. when the Indians held a war council, in presence of those missionaries and Do Payster. tho commandant. The Indian chief, known as Capt. Pike, tokl De Peyster that the English might fight the Americans if they wished; they had raised the quarrel among themselves, and it was they who should fight it out. The English had set him on the Americans, just as the hunter sets his dog on the game; but the Indian would play the dog's part no longer.

Kishkawko and another warrior stood by the side of the British Commandant. The former carried a hickory cane, about four feet long, ornamented-or rather, strung- with the scalps of Americans, together with a tomahawk presented to him by De Peyster some time previously. Ho concluded his address to the commandant thus: "Now. father, here is what has been done with the hatchet you gave me. I have made the use of it you ordered me to do, and have found it sharp." A few days after this council, the Moravians left Detroit for their new homes on the Riviere aux Hurons.

Jacques Loson, in his evidence before the Land Commissioners at Detroit, November 9. 1810, said, in his reference to William Aneram's claim for land in Macomb County: "To the best of my knowledge. the Moravian ministers, with ludians of the Delaware Nation, were liv- ing on these lands twenty-seven or twenty-eight years ago. I lived in the village, and culti- vated lands near. for many years previous to July, 1796, and recollect Wittaness telling me that Askin owned a large quantity of land from the Moravian village upward. Fifteen years ago, the late surveyor, MeNiff. came up the Huron with Sanscrainte, the interpreter, who informed me that they had come to survey the land by order of Askin At that time, twenty or thirty arpents were under cultivation, and twenty or twenty-tive cabins and houses wore erected."

248

HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

John Askin, Sr., related, that on April 28, 1786, he purchased, for himself and William Ancram, then commandant at Detroit, sundry improvements of the Moravian ministers and others, made by thein on the River Huron, which empties into Lake St. Clair at a place called the Moravian Village, for which he paid $200. He likewise purchased the improvements made at the same place by the Moravian or Christian Indians, sixteen in number, for $200; also $50 to one John Bull, for improvements at the same place, together with furnishing the Moravians two vessels to enable them to return to Muskingum, their former mission. For all this he re- ceived the thanks of John Heckenwelder, their chief missionary. At this time, there were more than twenty houses, with many outbuildings; all of which were purchased, save one, occupied and claimed by the late Richard Connor, together with an Indian corn-field, with a yard and garden in rear, which were purchased subsequently by him and Maj. Ancram, from eleven chiefs of the Chippewa Indians. These early land-buyers cut a road from Detroit through the woods to these lands-a distance of about twenty miles-with a little assistance from the Mo- ravian Indians. After the Moravians gave up possession, John Cornwall was appointed agent, and Robert Dowlar, Ames Weston and others went on as tenants. Those men left after some time, when Ancram placed the Indian chief, Wittaness, and his band in charge. These Indians had much trouble with Richard Connor, of whom they often complained. This Moravian village and adjacent territory became an elephant on the hands of Askin; and so he was glad to accept 1,600 pounds, New York currency, for the property, from Isaac Todd and James McGill, then merchants of Montreal. in Lower Canada. The deed of conveyance bears date June 28, 1796.

MORAVIANISM.

The history of the Moravians begins in 1457-long years before Luther's Reformation. Toward the close of the fifteenth century, there were over 200 Moravian Churches in Moravia and Bohemia, where a Moravian Bible was published and studied. Passing over three centuries of the history of this religious society, during which time it died out in its cradle, we learn of its revival in 1749, under the auspices of the British Parliament. That body acknowledged Moravianism a part of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and further enacted that every encour- agement should be given to its followers to settle in the British Colonies of North America. The Moravians came, and established their missions along the frontier, the most important of which was that in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, at Muskingum. Here 100 missionaries and dis- ciples were killed in 1781, under the auspices of the British Government, ostensibly on acount of the outrages and murders charged against them, but in reality on account of the sympathy which they exhibited toward the New Republic, and under orders of British officers. The sur- vivors of the massacre came to Detroit in 1781; thence moved to the village on the Huron, which they named Now Gnadenhutten.

While waiting for one of those most uncertain conveyances known as a Grand Trunk train one morning, John E. Day pointed out the site of the ancient village of New Gnadenhutten to the writer and Judge Avery. The latter related the story of Moravian marriages, and, in fact, had time to review the history of the United States before that Grand Trunk train arrived. The Moravians never selected a wife- never had a chance to do so -- for the reason, that one of the articles of their faith pointed out distinctly that God was the great designer, and to Him the Moravians should trust the choice of a wife. The manner in which their God made the selection was crude indeed. One of the principal missionaries brought forth a cylindrical tin case, something similar to that which is used in lottery affairs at the present time. In this he placed bark or paper slips, with the names of all the male candidates for matrimonial honors. Another missionary brought forth a similar tin case, in which he placed tickets, each bearing the name of one marriageable girl of the settlement. Missionary No. 1 gave his lottery tick- ets a thorough shaking, then opened the little door, and took out the ticket which he first touched, the name on which he read aloud, and then presented the ticket to the members of his audience, who were thenceforth witnesses. This first act played, Missionary No. 2 gave the lottery case containing the female names a shaking, precisely as thorough as that given in the former instance, and, withdrawing a ticket, called out the name, presented it to the persons near him, and called them to witness the gennineness of the transaction. This closed the second act of the drama.

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 the St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources.., Part 34

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