History of the St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources.., Part 35

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 35

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).

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The third act was the religious ceremony of matrimony, and the proclamation of the nuptials; the fourth was the wedding banquet, enlivened by hymns, gun-shots and congratulatory speeches, and the fifth and last act of the play was a quiet, evidently happy life, until death separated the strangers who were made man and wife in the third aet

The habits of these people, and oven of their Indian converts, were as peenliar as their man- ners were quiet and unassuming. Their customs were even stranger than their habits. Eron- omny was practiced to such an extent that even they were sparing in the use of language. In the midst of plenty, they were accustomed to deny themselves food, and proclaimed many fast. days throughout the year. Their tastes for agriculture were not so marked as their love for horticulture: but both gave way to the prevailing passion for mechanical work. They clothed themselves in the plainest fashion; yet seemed always at home under all circumstances. Cool and calculating, and even usurions when chance offered, they were slow to betray their feel- ings. They formed a community of such a peculiar character, that. once seen, they never could be forgotten.

THE MORAVIAN VILLAGE.

This village was located where, in later years, was the farm of Elisha Harrington, around the site of the residence of that pioneer. As described by Mr. Harrington, the conter of Moravianism on this continent comprised thirty one story log houses, fifteen on each side of a roadway, forming the nuetens of what the day- dreams of Heckenwelder pointed out would bo the main street of a large and prosperous town. In the center of one of these rows was the Moravian temple, differing very little, in external appearance, from the dwellings of the wor- shipers, built as much for defense against the bellicose Otehipwes, as for shelter from climatic extremes.

Here this tribe remained some years; but the Otchipwes, whose more warlike natures made them the terror of all the neighboring tribes, became jealous of the Moravians; hating them because they had abandoned the war path and the nomadic life of their forefathers, They hated them because their religion was full of mystery, or appeared so, to the savages of the Chippewa Nation. The Moravians knew fult well how deep was the hatred which their scalp- taking neighbors entertained toward civilization and her children; of their feelings toward any Indians who professed friendship for the American: and this knowledge tended to render their stay here as disagreeable as it was dangerous. It is no wonder to learn of their emigra- tion. They scattered. some returning to Muskingum, others effecting a settlement near the scene of Proctor's defeat, on the Thames River, in Canada; but before the persecuted people left their village on the banks of the Huron, fourteen members of their colony died, and were buried at Frederick, where their graves were made between what are-now known as the Har- rington and Stephens farms.

The old Moravian village at Frederick has passed into the past. It is as if it had never been. One retie alone remains. Years ago, Elisha Harrington, realizing the fact that the time would come when such a relic would possess no inconsiderable interest to the antiquarian, dug up and preserved a piece of the timber which formed a part of one of those buildings.

VORMONISM AND ROYALTY.

Among the eccentricities of the American settlement of Michigan, there is only one which excels, in its quasi philosophical bearing, unblushing impudence, political trifling, ignorance and vice. The whole history of the Union fails to present anything so horribly grotesque as the Mormon settlement on Beaver Island, and the introduction of royalty there by a low, un- serupulous, yet elear headed animal, born at Scipio, N. Y., in 1813. and named James Jesse Strang. Here we will briefly review the rise and fall of his kingdom in Northern Michigan. The paper of Charles K. Backus, published in March. 1882, having discussed the progress of Mormonism, the death of Joseph Smith and the dispersion at Nauvoo, selects James Josse Strang as a representative of that church, and traces him through the varied stages of his life, from June IS, 1544, when he proclaimed the receipt of Joseph Smith's letter, to July 9. 1556, when he died from the effects of wounds dealt by two of his former co-religionists.

Mr. Backus says: " The community at Vorce grew steadily in numbers and in 1546 its

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leader determined to plant a colony in the Lake Michigan Archipelago. In May, 1847, he, with four others, visited Beaver Island on an errand of exploration. The few traders and fishermen already in possession received them with deliberate inhospitality; but they built a camp of hemlock boughs, found food in beech nuts and wild leeks, and completel their task in the face of many obstacles. When winter came, five Mormon families were permanently settled at Beaver Harbor. In the summer of 1548, their number was quadrupled, and in 1849 they began to be counted by hundreds. Their Gentile neighbors resisted their immigration strenuously; but they were persevering. industrious, sober, and their foothold on the island continually grew firmer. The village on the harbor was named after its founder -- the City of James, a title which was soon shortened and sanctified into St. James; a road was cleared to the farming lands of the interior, a saw-mill was built and a schooner was launched. The missionary work was also carefully planned for the winter of 1849. and, with the opening of navigation in 1850, converts flocked to the Mormon island in large numbers. St. James was then made the permanent quarters of the new church. which, at its annual conference in July, was re-organ- ized as a kingdom, with Strang as King, his office uniting those of 'apostle, prophet, seer, revelator and translator.' Counselors and subordinate officers were numerous. but Strang's restless energy was felt everywhere. The communal plan was abandoned, and the lands of the church were apportioned among its members. A system of tithing was instituted, and the funds thus created paid the taxes, cared for the poor and met all general expenses. Schools

for children and debating clubs for adults were established. A well-equipped printing office not only executed the orders of its king, but from the royal press was issued regularly (weekly for some years, but daily at the last) the Northern Islander, a paper whose appearance and lit- erary merit surprised the occasional tourist in that remote region. The erection of a large tabernacle was commenced, and roads, docks, and kindred improvements contributed to the comfort of the settlers. The prohibitory principle was rigidly applied to tea, coffee, tobacco, as well as to liquor, and the observance of Saturday as the Sabbath, and attendance at church on that day, were made compulsory. Prostitution was threatened, with rigorous penalties, but polygamy was sanctioned, although it was never practiced in more than twenty families. The King had five wives: but in no case did the number exceed three, and in every instance it was required that the ability to support a large family should be shown before plural marriage was permitted. All the women were compelled to wear the short skirts and ample pantalets of the Bloomer costume. With its domestic affairs managed in this exceedingly paternal fashion. the Mormon Kingdom grew into a community of nearly two thousand souls, occupying homes which were at least comfortable, controlling a small commerce and slowly accumulating property, but never approaching the civilization of Salt Lake City. Strangers who visited Beaver Island at this time described the men as rough and generally illiterate, and its women as with but few ex- ceptions, sensual and ignorant. Strang himself was found to be a man of vigorous frame. light com- plexion and high forehead, intellectual. fluent in speech, of suave manners and very companionable. He was the master of a tervid variety of oratory. and skilled in the art of appealing to the untrained sensibilities of his hearers by stimulating his emotions. At times his authority was unsuccessfully resisted by some of the more turbulent or more capable of his followers; but the faith of the mass of his subjects in his supernatural powers was implicit, and over them his sway was absolute. The ruler of the Beaver Island Kingdom never succeeded in establishing its foreign relations on a peace footing. For three years the Gentile islanders opposed the Mormon immigration by all lawful and some lawless means. Then the new-comers found themselves strong enough to abandon their original policy of non resistance, and they commenced to club the disturber of their meetings, and to retaliate violence with harder blows. The result was a fierce and often bloody border feud, which continued with varying fortunes for six years. As the outcome of this chronic frontier warfare, the Mormons, who were constantly growing in numbers, and had the advantage of a definite organization, became in the end sole possessors of the island, and were heartily hated and feared along the entire coast. In his diplomacy, King Strang was shrewd and successful. He speedily established friendly relations with the Indians, despite the interested hostility of the traders, who possessed great influence over the chiefs. In 1851, the Government became convinced that the islanders were a band of land pirates, who had

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trespassed on the public domain, robbed the mails and harbored counterfeiters, and that the kingly pretensions of the leader constituted a veritable case of high treason. Suddenly the United States steamer Michigan entered Beaver Harbor, bearing the officers of the national courts. Strang surrendered gracefully, and, with several others, was taken to Detroit under guard. A trial of some length followed. in a crowded court room and amid much public inter- est. Strang aiding in conducting his own defense, making a dramatic speech, in which he postured before the jury as . one persecuted for righteousness' sake,' and being rewarded by & verdict of acquittal. The downfall of the Beaver Island Kingdom came not. from a foreign foo, but from domestic sedition and conspiracy. Its ruler's discipline was at times severe, including the corporal punishment of adults in its list of penalties. His determination to compel compli- ance with the minutest article of church law also grew more resolute, and in the conference of 1855 he sternly denounced the tea-drinkers and tobacco-users of his flock, and said: 'The laws of God shall be kept in this land, or men shall walk over my dead body.' To these sources of disaffection should be added his systematic efforts to make polygamy popular. At intervals, some of his zealous followers would fall away and join the ranks of his Gentile enemies. The most capable of Strang's disciples was Dr. H. D. McCulloch, of Baltimore, an educated physician, an ex-Surgeon of the United States Army, a man of social position at home, but one of unfort- ihate habits. In him Beaver Island nihilism found an organizing head. In the winter of 1855, chronic differences with Strang ended in his deposition from offices in the church on the charge of renewed intemperance. In the spring, he left the island, and headed a movement to overthrow the Mormon Kingdom. He found two Mormons, Thomas Bedford and Aleck Went- worth, ready to join him in any sehome of vengeance. One of them was horsewhipped by an angry husband, with the approval of Strang, and the other had been publicly rebuked for vi- olation of some church law. On June 16, 1856, the United States steamer Michigan was at anchor in Beaver Harbor. King Strang left his home in the afternoon to call upon her officers. As he was stepping upon the deck. Bedford and Wentworth sprang from behind a convenient wood pile and tired upon him with a navy pistol and a revolver. He fell wounded, but his death was not immediate. He was removed to Vorce, and there died July 9, 1856. The same boat which carried the wounded King away also brought many of his followers. Before all had determined to evacuate the kingdom, the settlers along the main land shores made a descent upon the island, burned the tabernacle. sacked the printing office, pillaged the royal castle; but the most ignoble aet of all was the destruction of the King's library. The Mormons were given one day to leave their homes, and next day Beaver Island was in possession of the Gentiles.

THE GERMAN IMMIGRATION OF 1845.

The extensive German immigration of 1845 brought to Michigan a number of Franco- nians and Bavarians, who felt themselves oppressed at home. These. under the advice of Pastor Loche, resolved to emigrate to the United States, there to follow the profession of the Lutheran ereed, and to essay the conversion of the Indians. Within a few years, the first col- ony of fifteen succeeded in attracting five times that number to our land, and of the second and third bodies of immigrants a few settled in St. Clair County-the greater number locating in Saginaw.

The immigration of 1849, the result of an attemp' made by the people to cast away the tyrant, marked the history of that year. The Revolutionists sought refuge in the United States, not a few of them finding a home of liberty in this county. The German immigration of later days brought us Pomeranians and Mecklenburghers.

Louis Bloedon, the historian for the Saginaw German Pioneer Society, says: " Ever since our first appearance in history, from the year 303 B. C. to the present day, the Germans have been fond of omigrating. The main reasons for this have always been the too crowded condi- tions of the old country; the inherited love of living free and independent, and, last but not least, the desire to have a home or establishment of their own, no matter how small. German explorers, colonists and artisans are, therefore, to be found every where.

"Our forefathers went to Rome. to Carthage, to Jerusalem. as conquerors, and the best thing our German citizens here can do is to teach their children and descendants to take Wash

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ington, not as conquerors of old, but in order that they might bring back the Government to what it was when the grand old fathers of this republic left it to its purity and simplicity to all that's grand and noble. The most favored place to which the Germans could emigrate, if not misled by others, has always been the United States of North America. And why not ? Climate, soil, fertility of land, a free and almost too mild Government are attractions which no country in the world offers as does this one of our adoption. For all these things we should, most assuredly. be gratified; and especially should we seek to create for the General Govern - ment no trouble which could reasonably be avoided.

" Have we all succeeded in establishing for ourselves a happy home ? and have we all lived up to the requirements of good citizenship ? These are questions which, I hope. could be answered by us with smiling faces and without fear."

HOLLANDERS.

In October, 1848. the New York Sun noticed the arrival at that port of a party of Hol- landers, who came in the ship Garonne from Rotterdam: and who, having been forced, by religious persecutions, to leave their homes, settled near their countrymen at Freedrop and Grand Haven. in this State. The Sun says, they came under the direction of their pastor, the Rev. D. Budding, a very talented, eloquent and wealthy clergyman, who was, for many years, conspicuous in Holland for his advocacy of liberal opinions, and his opposition to the tyranny of the Government.

When the Government passed a law that no synod of more than nineteen members should be allowed to assemble, he denounced it repeatedly from the pulpit. For doing so, he was fined altogether over 40,000 guilders, and was imprisoned for a considerable time. The com- pany which he brought out were all from the city of Dordrecht. They were seventy-seven in number, and, though poorly dressed, brought with them over $100,000 in specie.

Another company of twenty-five Hollanders, who came in the ship Madeline, brought with them over $40,000, and went to Grand Haven. Within a year past, the Rev. Drs. Van Rualte and Stickkice have brought over and settled colonies at New Holland, Mich .; the Rev. Drs. Niphen, Bolks and Vander Menle, colonies at Freedrop, Mich .; the Rev. Dr. Scholten a colony in Iowa, and the Rev. Dr. Sonne a colony in Wisconsin; all of which are in a most flourishing condition From these centers of Dutch colonization, the immigrants spread out, some set- tling in St. Clair County.

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

PIONEER REMINISCENCES AND SKETCHES.

T' THE character of the pioneers of St. Clair, the manners and customs of their times, the Indians and traders who were known to them, are all referred to in former chapters.

The forest, the fertile oak openings, the hard but happy labors of the husbandman and his family, and the bright hopes which burned, combined to impress a distinct character, to bestow a spirit of enterprise, a joyousness of hope and an independence of feeling. The community formed an admixture of many nations, characters, languages, conditions and opinions. All the various Christian gods had their worshipers. Pride and jealousy gave way to the natural yearnings of the human heart for society; prejudices disappeared; they met half way and embraced, and the society thus gradually organized, became liberal, enlarged, unprejudiced, and naturally more affectionate than a community of people all similar in birth and character. In the following pages these facts will appear more manifest. The tales of the olden time point out that time as one where solidarity of interests marked the character of the people, and leave little doubt that the ideal of good-will to man ruted in their hearts.

THE FIRST FOUR VILLAGES.

The following reminiscences of early days in St. Clair County were written by the Rev. O. C. Thompson, now of Detroit, formerly of St. Clair:

Within the memory of those now living there were three or four families of pioneer resi- dents on the River St. Clair who had been there since Wayne's victory at Monroe in 1796. At what precise date these persons commenced their residence there cannot now be ascertained. They lived in what is now called the township of Cottrellville, a few miles below the Belle River. Their names were Capt. Cottrell, Capt. Alexander Harrow, Capt. William Thorn and a Mr. Pasehal. Capt. John Cottrell was a captive among the Indians and was adopted by a man of the name of Cottrell, and from him received the appellation. His real name was Haven, and he was kidnaped by Indians from Kentucky. His first name is supposed to have been John, but he always went by the name of Captain.

Capt. Alexander Harrow, a young adventurer, located himself on the river a little below Capt. Cottrell's. He was unmarried, and, fortunately for him, there was among the Indians in the neighborhood a captive white girl, whom they had stolen from her parents in Kentucky. She was only fifteen, intelligent and handsome. Young Harrow offered the Indians a barrel of rum for their captive. The offer was accepted and she became Mrs. Harrow after the manner of wedlock in those regions at that time. After raising a family of children, they were married in the form that civilization requires. The family were quite respectable, and many of them are still living. Capt. William Thorn was the father of John Thorn, who afterward owned and platted the first part of the village of Port Huron.

At the close of the last war with England, many new settlers came to the St. Clair country. Among these were Charles Chortie. Dominique Minnie, Joseph Beesna. William Hill, Joseph Minnie, William Brown, Androw Westbrook. Capt. Robertson. Gilbert Yax, Joseph Record, Mr. St. Barnard. L. Z. W. Bunee and Mr. Petit. These all occupied farms on the mainland between Point Aux Trembles and Black River. About this time, Jacob Harsen, a gunsmith, associated with a Mr. Graveraot, a silversmith, came to Harsen's Island. Harvey Stewart, the father of ('apt. John Stewart, the well-know sailor of those times, generally in the employ of Oliver Newberry & Brother, and of Henry P. Stewart, still living at Algonac. came from York State on foot through Canada in ISTO, had many adventures with the Indians and British during the war, and finally settled on Harsen's Island in 1815. A Mr. MeDonald, one of the Selkirk colony on the Thames, settled immediately after the war on what is now known as Dickenson's Island. He was a British subject in heart and soul, so bitter toward the Yankees that he could

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by no reason be induced to live outside of the British Dominions. Therefore he bought on this island because it was on the British side of the north channel. not doubting but that the dividing lines would run through the union channel and leave him in the government of his choice. He was greatly dissatisfied when the Commissioners fixed the line in the south channel The daughter of MeDonald became the wife of John H. Smith, who settled at Point du Chien, and was a prominent man in his day. He hekl offices of trust from the time he came to the day of his death. The family still have in their possession the original document from Gen. Cass, then Governor of the Territory, appointing him Justice of the Peace in Macomb County, which then included all of St. Clair County. Suits were brought before him from all the country around, frequently from Black River, now Port Huron, thirty miles away. He was the first Postmaster in St. Clair County, and held the office thirty-three years. The mail was brought across Lake St. Clair in a canoe to his office, and Abraham, his son, carried it to Pine

River, now St. Clair. Mr. Smith was appointed Collector of Customs in 1832. Mrs. Smith, who came with her father from Scotland in 1804, is still living at Algonac, hale and hearty.

St. Clair was the first village on the St. Clair River. James Fulton bought the land of Meldrum & Parks, and laid out the village Subsequently he sold out his interest to Thomas Palmer, of Detroit. This was the site where Gen. St. Clair built his fort. It stood on the rise of ground south of Pine River. The ruins of this fort were plainly visible when I first went to St. Clair. Judge Brewer says he saw a chimney of one of the old fort buildings standing. twenty feet high, when he came into the country. About a mile above Pine River there lived a Frenchman by the name of St. Bernard. He was at one time a particular friend of Father Richard, and was engaged by the Rev. Father to get out timber for building St. Ann's Church in Detroit. The venerable priest frequently visited and encouraged the men in their work, until the job was completed and timber delivered in Detroit.

Father Richard had made payments from time to time, until more than half of the account was paid, and then ceased. St. Bernard went to Detroit for the balance of his bill, and was met by Father Richard, who in his inimitable. affable and good natured way assured St. Ber- nard that so much was certainly his due, but that he could do no less than give it to the church. St. Bernard, thus diplomatically beset, was obliged to forego his little account. About this time he was running for Congress, and a neighbor of St. Bernard asked him who he was going to vote for. 'Don't know! don't know!' answered St. Bernard. 'Father Richard very good man for religion, but him bad man for business.'

At the time of the writer's first visit to St. Clair, in 1531. the Gratiot Turnpike was being built by the United States Government, and had been completed as far north as Mt. Clemens. For many years after this, no road from the River St. Clair communicated with the turnpike below Port Huron.

Our best way of getting to Detroit in the winter was by the river and lake on the ica. On one occasion, I took the ice at St. Clair, and did not leave it until I came ashore at the old tavern then three miles above Detroit. We drove out into Lake St. Clair five or ten miles from shore. It was not always sale. on account of seams in the ice. On one occasion, with Deacon S. S. Barnard and Mr. Coffin in my cutter with me, we were far out from land, and came to a seam where the ice was raised up like the roof of a house. It appeared perilous to venture over, so we voluntarily turned in toward shore, and finally found a track where a man had ventured over. Following this, when our horse was fairly on the ice, it began to settle down. The horse was up to his knees in water, and when the solid ice was reached the cutter was afloat.

Frequently, persons made this trip up and down the river and across the lake on skates. Sometimes there were air-holes in the ice, both on the lake and the river. On one occasion a man under the influence of liquor was driving furiously across from the Canada shore to the village of St. Clair (his daughter being with him), and drove directly toward one of these air- holes. It was several rods across it. Several persons standing on the shore of St. Clair saw the operation and they held their breath as the horse plunged into the water; but neither the horse nor driver entirely disappeared, but gained the solid ice and came ashore. It appears that a large field of ice was floating down under the air hole, on which the horse found footing.

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History of the St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources.., Part 35

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