USA > Michigan > Lenawee County > Illustrated history and biographical record of Lenawee County, Mich. > Part 5
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42
The notice of the arrival of locomotive No. 1, the first one in the tier of states bordered by the great lakes, and the advertisement of
The First Locomotive and "Pleasure Car" on the E. & K. R. R.
the road, in 1837, is here given, copied from the Toledo Weekly Blade :
[From the Toledo Blade. January 20, 1837.]
It affords us pleasure to announce the arrival of the long-expected locomotive for the Erie & Kalamazoo railroad. The business of our place has been embar- rassed for want of it; goods have accumulated at our wharves faster than we could transport them into the interior on cars drawn by horses, and as a natural consequence several of our warehouses are now crowded to their utmost capacity. It is expected that the engine will be in operation in a few days, and then, we
57
RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
trust, goods and merchandise will be forwarded as fast as they arrive. A little allowance, however, must be made for the time necessary to disencumber our ยท warehouses of the large stock already on hand.
[Advertisement.] TO EMIGRANTS AND TRAVELERS.
The Erie & Kalamazoo railroad is now in full operation between
TOLEDO AND ADRIAN.
During the ensuing season trains of cars will run daily to Adrian, there con- necting with a line of stages for the west, Michigan City, Chicago and Wisconsin Territory.
Emigrants and others destined for Indiana, Illinois, and the western part of Michigan
WILL SAVE TWO DAYS
And the corresponding expense, by taking this route in preference to the more lengthened, tedious and expensive route heretofore traveled.
All baggage at the risk of the owners.
EDWARD BISSELL, W. P. DANIELS, Commissioners E. & K. R. R. Co.
GEORGE CRANE,
A. HUGHES, Superintendent Western Stage Company.
It will be observed no time is given for the departure of trains. The Board of Directors adopted the following tariff in 1836:
Resolved, That the fare in the "Pleasure Car" (a two-story, top-heavy affair, always jumping the track), shall be as follows: Passengers, Toledo to Adrian, twelve shillings, fifty pounds of bag- gage free. Freight, Toledo to Adrian, four shillings per hundred pounds ; salt, $1 per barrel.
For ten years this road had a stormy and troublous existence, its affairs being managed sometimes by a Commissioner, acting for the Board of Directors, sometimes by Trustees, appointed by order of the court, and part of the time by a Receiver at the Toledo end, and a Commissioner at the Adrian end, recalling the familiar anecdote of the retort of the mate of a vessel to the captain, "My end of this craft has come to anchor."
In 1848 the road was sold out under accumulated judgments; Hon. Washington Hunt, of Lockport, N. Y., and George Bliss, of Massachusetts, were the purchasers. They leased the road August 1, 1849, in perpetuity, to its rival, the Michigan Southern, then in operation from Monroe to Hillsdale, and, although it forms a part of the main line of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern from Toledo westward, the Erie & Kalamazoo company still exists, drawing and dividing its rental of $30,000 per year.
MICHIGAN SOUTHERN.
In 1837 the new State of Michigan launched out in a grand scheme of internal improvements, providing for a loan of $5,000,000 (an enormous sum at that time), for the improvement of rivers, con- struction of canals, and for three railroads-a Southern, a Central and a Northern railroad.
58
ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
The Southern road was to start at Monroe, on Lake Erie, traverse the southern tier of counties, and terminate at New Buffalo, on Lake Michigan. Chicago was a mere Indian trading post, with a fort (Dearborn), in an apparently irreclaimable quagmire. The track was laid with the flat or "strap" rail, 272 inches wide, 34 inch thick. The road was opened as follows :
Monroe to Petersburg, eighteen miles, in 1839; Adrian, thirty- three miles, in 1840; Hudson, fifty miles, in 1843; Hillsdale, sixty- six miles, in 1843. This comprised all the Southern road built by the state.
The Palmyra & Jacksonburg railroad (now the Jackson branch) was started by the owners of the Erie & Kalamazoo railroad, and opened to Tecumseh, its terminus for nearly twenty years, with a. celebration August 9, 1838.
This road became involved and was sold to the State of Michi- gan in 1844 for the amount of the state's loan and interest, $22,000. . The state united it with the Southern road, as the "Tecumseh branch," stipulating in the sale of the Southern road, in 1846, that this branch should be extended to Jackson, which, after a delay of ten years, was done. In 1846 the state sold the road to a company, with Edwin C. Litchfield at its head, for $500,000, in ten equal annual installments. The new company did but little the next four years, adding but four miles to the west end to reach Jonesville. During the years 1851-2 the road was constructed very rapidly, reaching Chicago, 243 miles from Toledo, in March, 1852. The lease of the Erie & Kalamazoo, already noticed, August 1, 1849, settled the struggle for supremacy between Monroe and Toledo, in favor of the latter.
Following is a copy of a time table printed in the Watchtower office, Adrian, May 6th, 1844, sixty years ago :
MICHIGAN SOUTHERN RAILROAD. SPRING ARRANGEMENTS FOR 1844. (Road owned and operated by the State of Michigan.) FROM MONROE TO ADRIAN, HUDSON AND HILLSDALE.
This Road is now in operation from Monroe to Hillsdale, a distance of 66 miles, and being well provided with Locomotives, Freight and Passenger Cars, is prepared to transport
FREIGHT AND PASSENGERS
Expeditiously and at low rates. This Road is the cheapest and most direct for Passengers going to Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, South and Western parts of Michigan.
Stages leave Hillsdale for Jonesville, Coldwater, Marshall, Kalamazoo, White Pigeon, Constantine, Niles, Mishawaukie, South Bend,
Mouth of St. Joseph River, and all the important Western Villages and Cities. Passengers will find it for their interest to leave the Lake at Monroe, to avoid
..
59
RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
delay, as the Cars on this Road pass Adrian for the West before they can reach Adrian from Toledo ; and also to avoid the expense and trouble of transhipment.
THE TRAIN FOR PASSENGERS LEAVES MONROE DAILY, SUNDAYS EXCEPTED, AT SIX O'CLOCK A. M.,
And Adrian at Nine o'clock A. M., and arrives at Hillsdale at
HALF PAST ELEVEN O'CLOCK A. M.
Leaves Hillsdale at half past 12 o'clock P. M., and Adrian at 3 o'clock P. M., and arrives at Monroe at 6 o'clock P. M. FARE THROUGH, $2. To intermediate places in proportion.
TABLE OF DISTANCE.
12 miles
Monroe to Adrian
34 miles
Sturges to White Pigeon
66
Adrian to Hudson. 17
Mottville to Edwardsburgh 21
66
Hudson to Hillsdale 17 Edwardsburgh to Niles 11
Hillsdale to Jonesville 66 5 Niles to Michigan City. 36
Jonesville to Coldwater. .18
Michigan City to Chicago (steamboat) __ 60
Coldwater to Bronson Prairie 13
Boat runs through daily.
Bronson to Sturges' Prairie. 14
66 Niles to mouth St. Joseph River 25 66
Boat leaves St. Joseph daily for Chicago.
May 6, 1844.
J. H. CLEVELAND, Sup't.
The Wabash Railroad.
One of the most important events in the history of Adrian was the construction of the Detroit, Butler & St. Louis railroad, from Detroit to Butler, Indiana. In 1880 the movement to construct such a road was completed and was headed by the Hon. James F. Joy and other prominent men in Detroit. It was unquestionably the intent of the prime movers, at its inception, to make this road part of the Wabash system, although its construction was accomplished by an independ- ent company. The importance of the great undertaking has been demonstrated in the highest degree since its completion, as it has become the "main line" of this great thoroughfare between the East and West. There is now no greater or more efficient railroad line between .Chicago, St. Louis and New York, than the Wabash, and Adrian and Lenawee County are benefited proportionately.
The Detroit, Butler & St. Louis railroad was built during the years 1880-1, and the first passenger coach came into Adrian from Detroit, a distance of about 57 miles, May 12th, 1881. June 10th, 1881, Jay Gould passed over the entire line from Butler to Detroit. The great financier stopped in Adrian for some two or three hours, and a grand reception was given him. He was driven about the city by the Hon. W. S. Wilcox, the carriage being occupied by Mr. Gould and Ald. W. T. Lawrence, with Mr. Wilcox at the reins.
A splendidly served lunch was given at the Lawrence House, when Mr. Gould proposed as a toast, "Prosperity to Adrian," which was heartily responded to by the large number of citizens present.
66
60
ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
The actual bonus given by the citizens of Adrian to secure this important railroad connection was $36,199. The largest subscription of any Adrian citizen was that of Hon. E. L. Clark, amounting to $10,000.
July 6th, 1881, an excursion party of ten carloads, containing Mayor Thompson and prominent and enterprising citizens of Detroit, came to Adrian to rejoice over the completion of the road. This was during the administration of Thos. J. Navin. As mayor he made a short speech of welcome, and Mayor Thompson, of Detroit, responded. It was looked upon as a great occasion by both cities. The day was intolerably hot, but all participants were unanimous in their sanguine faith of future results.
July 15th, following, the subscribers to the bonus raised by Adrian, were invited to Detroit, as the guests of that city, in honor of the completion of the road. The number of citizens who took advantage of the occasion was 725, and a grand ovation was enjoyed.
Col. W. F. Bradley was appointed agent for the company in this city, June 15th, 1881, and still fills that important position.
Detroit Southern Railroad.
The first train to arrive in Adrian, over what was then known as the Lima Northern railroad, was on Sunday, July 27th, 1896. At that time the track was completed from Lima, Ohio, to the Wabash track in South Adrian, and a temporary traffic arrangement was made with the Wabash company. The work of tracklaying was soon afterwards pushed on through Adrian, north to Detroit, and in 1898 trains commenced running between Lima and Detroit. In 1902 the name of the road was changed to the "Detroit Southern," and it is now a very important line. It connects with all the trunk lines running through Ohio, and at its present terminal, Ironton, Ohio, with the Chesapeake & Ohio and Norfolk & Western roads, making it a very important freight and passenger road.
Toledo and Western Electric Line.
The first car to run from Toledo to Adrian on this line arrived in Adrian on Saturday, December 7th, 1901. Cars commenced run- ning on the following day on schedule time. The subway, under the Wabash railroad tracks at Adrian, was completed in August, 1903, and the first through car went into Adrian on August 11th.
61
RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
THE SHERIFFS OF LENAWEE COUNTY.
Following is a complete list of the Sheriffs of Lenawee County, who have filled that important office since Michigan became a state :
Joseph H. Cleveland, Dem., elected 1836-8.
Darius Jackson, Dem., elected 1840-2.
Olmsted Hough, Dem., elected 1844 -- 6.
Sumner Spofford, Dem., elected 1848. Joseph R. Bennett, Whig, elected 1850-2.
George Ketcham, Know Nothing, elected 1854.
Joseph R. Bennett, Rep., elected 1856-8.
Flavius J. Hough, Rep., elected 1860-2.
Sylvester B. Smith, Rep., elected 1864-6. William R. Tayer, Rep., elected 1868-70. John G. Mason, Rep., elected 1872. Nathaniel B. Eldredge, Dem., elected 1874-6. James R. Cairns, Rep., elected 1876-8. Charles Bidwell, Rep., elected 1880-2. A. K. Whitmore, Dem., elected 1884-6. Edward C. Baldwin, Rep., elected 1888-90.
Edward G. Wilson, Rep., elected 1892-4. Edwin S. Ferguson, Rep., elected 1896. John C. Iffland, Dem., elected 1898. William F. Shepherd, Rep., elected 1900-2.
James Patchen, of Tecumseh, was sheriff previous to the removal of the county seat to Adrian. Allen Washburn was appointed the territorial sheriff after the removal to Adrian, and served until Joseph H. Cleveland was sworn in under the state organization.
NEWSPAPERS OF LENAWEE COUNTY.
Below will be found the names and places of publication of the different newspapers in Lenawee County at this time :
ADRIAN-Times and Expositor, daily and tri-weekly. Times Printing Co .; Thomas A. Dailey, editor and manager.
The Telegram, daily. D. W. Grandon, editor and proprietor. Adrian Press, weekly. Willard Stearns, editor and proprietor. College World, semi-monthly. Adrian College.
ADDISON-Courier, weekly. A. J. Kempton, editor and pro- prietor.
62
ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
BLISSFIELD -- Advance, weekly. John C. Howell, editor and proprietor.
CLINTON -- Local, weekly. J. R. Blanchard, editor and pro- prietor.
DEERFIELD -- Times-Journal, weekly. Wm. McNamara, editor and proprietor.
HUDSON-Gazette, weekly. News Publishing Co., proprietors. Post, weekly. Charles Steuerwald, editor and proprietor.
JASPER-Journal, weekly. Miss Minnie Forman, editor and proprietor.
MORENCI-Observer, weekly. Allen Bros., editors and pro- prietors.
ONSTED-News, weekly. B. E. Thayer, editor and proprietor.
TECUMSEH-Herald, weekly. George Stacy, editor and pro- prietor.
News, weekly. O. E. Hawkins, editor and proprietor.
WESTON-Kodak, semi-monthly. Mrs. D. J. Strang, editor and proprietor.
This is the only log house left in the Township of Rome. It was built by John York, in 1837, and is a good sample of the pioneer home. It is now owned by Charles H. Severance, of Adrian, and was occupied as a residence until 1903.
63
RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
MAYORS OF ADRIAN FOR FIFTY YEARS.
Following is a complete list of the names of the men who served as Mayor of Adrian from 1853 to 1903, and the date of their official service. In the spring of 1852 James Sword was elected President of the Village Board. In January, 1853, Adrian became a city by act of the Legislature, and Mr. Sword was acting Mayor until the regular election in April, 1853. Here are the names and dates :
1853-Addison J. Comstock.
1854-Dr. Parley J. Spaulding.
1855-Francis J. Buck.
1856-Fernando C. Beaman.
1857-Richard H. Whitney.
1858-William L. Greenly.
1859-Henry Hart.
1860-William W. Cook.
1861-Daniel A. Loomis.
1862-Charles M. Croswell.
1863-John D. Campbell.
1864-Benjamin Folsom.
1865-William S. Wilcox.
1866-William S. Sammons.
1867-John Townsend.
1868-William S. Sammons.
1869-Norman Geddes.
1870-Nathaniel B. Eldredge.
1871-Richard B. Robbins.
1872-Henry A. Angell.
1873-William H. Waldby. 1874-Dr. Nelson H. Kimball.
1875-Dr. Nelson H. Kimball.
1876-William W. Luck.
1877-Charles H. Comstock.
1878-George H. Bruce.
1879-Frank O. Bray. 1880-James A. Stacy.
1881-Thomas J. Navin.
1882-William Corbin.
1883-William Corbin.
1884-Richard A. Bury.
1885-Dr. Nelson H. Kimball.
1886 -- Dr. Daniel Todd.
1887 -- Adolph J. Kaiser.
1888 -- Adolph J. Kaiser.
1889 -- Abram Wing.
1890 -- Seth Bean.
1891-Leonard W. Hoch.
1892 -- Alanson B. Treat.
1893-Wm. Foster Bradley.
1894 -- Charles S. Cain.
1895 -- Dr. Clifford Kirkpatrick.
1896-William O. Hunt.
1897-J. Will Kirk.
1898-J. Will Kirk.
1899-Willard Stearns.
1900-Willard Stearns.
1901-Dr. James H. Reynolds.
1902-Dr. George B. M. Seager.
1903-Jacob N. Sampson.
EMINENT MEN OF LENAWEE.
Lenawee County has been the home of several noted men, but it is our purpose here to call attention to those only who have attained the greatest eminence. It being about eighty years since the first white settler located here, the record is very creditable.
The county has furnished the state with two Governors, three members of Congress, and one of the most eminent jurists in the
64
ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
nation. Several men have reached the distinction of a candidacy for Congress and high state offices, many of whom were successful.
In 1845 Hon. William L. Greenly, of Adrian, was elected Lieu- tenant Governor, and succeeded to the governorship in 1847 by the election of Governor Felch to the United States Senate.
The Hon. Charles M. Croswell, of Adrian, was elected Gov- ernor in November, 1876, and was re-elected in 1878.
The first member of Congress to be elected from Lenawee County was Hon. Fernando C. Beaman, of Adrian, who was first chosen in 1860, filling that responsible position for five terms, a period of ten years.
In 1884 Hon. Nathaniel B. Eldredge, of Adrian, was elected, and re-elected in 1886.
In November, 1898, Hon. Henry C. Smith was elected, and re- elected in 1900.
It will be observed that out of its eighty years of existence Len- awee County has furnished a Governor for five years and a member of Congress for eighteen years. Not a bad record, when it is under- stood the much older counties of Monroe and Wayne have always comprised a part of the congressional district.
Hon. Thomas M. Cooley was the most eminent man that ever made his home in Lenawee County. Born on a farm about one mile east from Attica, Genesee County, N. Y., January 6th, 1824, the tenth of a family of fifteen children, he was the only one to attain any position above mediocrity. He attended a district school until he was fifteen years old, and then became a student at the Attica Academy three years. His ambition was to attend college, but the family was too poor, and he never got beyond the academy.
In 1842 he began to read law in the office of Theron K. Strong, of Palmyra, N. Y., but in 1843 he removed to Adrian, where he con- tinued his studies in the law office of Alexander R. Tiffany and Fer- nando C. Beaman. A portion of his time was given as Deputy Village Clerk of Adrian. In December, 1843, he was married to Miss Mary E. Horton, of Adrian.
In 1848 he became a member of the law firm of Beaman, Beecher & Cooley. In 1850 he was elected Circuit Court Commissioner and Recorder of the village of Adrian. At this time he also assisted in running a farm in association with his father-in-law. He served as Secretary of the Lenawee County Agricultural Society, and edited a local paper.
In 1855 he formed a law partnership with Charles M. Croswell. He was first a Democrat, but joined the Free Soil party in 1848, and followed that into the Republican party. In 1857 he was chosen by the Legislature to compile the laws, state and territorial, up to that time, and accomplished the great task in nine months. In 1858 he was appointed Reporter of the Supreme Court. That year he was
.
65
RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
chosen by the Board of Regents of the State University, one of the three first professors of the law department, with Judge James V. Campbell and C. I. Walker, and he removed to Ann Arbor.
In 1864 he was elected to the bench of the Supreme Court of Michigan, and of course discontinued his work as Reporter, after having issued eight volumes of reports. In 1868 he published his great work on "Constitutional Limitations." In 1870 his edition of Blackstone appeared, and next, in 1874, his Story's Commentaries ; in 1876, his work on Taxation; in 1879, on Torts, and in 1880 a Manual on Constitutional Law.
In 1882, with the Hons. Allen G. Thurman and E. B. Wash- burn, he was appointed as a tribunal to settle differences between the great terminal lines.
In 1885 he left the bench. In 1886 he was appointed Receiver of the Wabash railroad, and became general manager.
In 1887 President Cleveland appointed him one of the first five members of the Interstate Commerce Commission, and he became its chairman and controlling spirit.
In 1891 he resigned on account of ill-health. In 1894 he became physically used up, and died Sept. 12th, 1898. His law books and commentaries are the standards among lawyers throughout the nation.
Judge Alexander R. Tiffany was a lawyer of eminence and in- fluence in Lenawee County. He was a student with the Hon. John C. Spencer, of Canandaigua, N. Y., who became Chief Justice of the State of New York. Mr. Tiffany came to Michigan in 1832 and settled in Palmyra, this county. In 1836 he was elected Judge of Probate of Lenawee County, was a member of the constitutional convention in 1850, and member of the Legislature and, chairman of the judiciary committee in 1855. He was the author of Tiffany's Justice Guide and Tiffany's Criminal Law, both being regarded as standard legal works. They are in general use in Michigan. The first edition of the Justice Guide was printed at the Watchtower office, in Adrian, in 1850. Mr. Tiffany printed two subsequent editions, and in 1866 the fourth edition was published by Charles Humphrey, of Adrian. The fifth edition was revised by Judge Andrew Howell, of Adrian. Mr. Humphrey published in all five editions. We believe that the tenth edition is now in general use.
The work on Criminal Law was issued soon after the Justice Guide. It was later revised by Judge Andrew Howell, and many editions have been issued. The copyright of these valuable compila- tions is still in the hands of Judge Tiffany's children, control being vested in his son, George S. Tiffany, of Tecumseh.
5
1
1
66
ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
JUDGES OF PROBATE.
One of the most important of all the county offices is that of Judge of Probate, and below will be found a correct list of the names of the men who have served the people in this capacity from the first organization of the county. The records of the court show that the first business was done in 1828, when only one case was settled during the year. In territorial days the office was an appointive one. The records do not show the dates of the appointments made by Governor Cass, but we find two names previous to 1836 :
1828-Musgrove Evans.
1834 -- S. Hale.
1836 --- Alexander R. Tiffany.
1844 -- Consider A. Stacy.
1856-Fernando C. Beaman.
1860 -- Robert R. Beecher.
1872 -- Fernando C. Beaman.
1880 -- Norman Geddes.
1888 -- Richard B. Robbins.
1900 -- Harry L. Larwill.
GENERAL JOSEPH W. BROWN,
General Joseph W. Brown, whose portrait we are pleased to present, was among the very first settlers, and was altogether the most prominent pioneer of Lenawee County. He was one of a party of fourteen men who came to Michigan in May, 1824, and settled on land where the village of Tecumseh now stands. Austin E. Wing was a resident of Monroe, and had been Secretary to Governor Lewis Cass. Musgrove Evans was a relative of Mr. Wing. Both Wing and Evans were ambitious politicians. Wing wanted to go to Congress, and Evans wanted something "equally as good." In 1823 Mr. Evans visited Mr. Wing at Monroe and unfolded his proposition. A plan was formulated by which they be- lieved both could make their point. Joseph W. Brown was then a miller and farmer at Brownville, Jefferson County, N. Y., and a relative by marriage to both Wing and Evans. Gen. Jacob Brown, a brother of Joseph W., was in Washington, in com- mand of the U. S. Army. Here was "influence." Wing and Evans at once started from Mon-
General Joseph W. Brown.
67
RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
roe to locate land, and after a short campaign decided to take up a large tract on the Raisin river, at the confluence of a stream they named Evans creek, the present site of Tecumseh. After this was done, Mr. Evans went to visit Joseph W. Brown, at his home in Brownville, N. Y., bearing a letter from Mr. Wing Mr. Evans succeeded in interesting Mr. Brown in the enterprise, the land was at once duly entered, and the firm of Wing, Evans & Brown organ- ized. In May, 1824, Mr. Brown became the resident member, a vil- lage was platted, a county seat established, etc., etc. In the spring of 1825 an election took place. Wing was chosen to Congress by the aid of the Tecumseh colony, and Evans was made United States Surveyor, while Mr. Brown was pioneer, miller and farmer. One of the first things Mr. Brown did, after putting up a log house for his wife and family of five children, was to build a mill for grinding grain and sawing lumber. He was a typical pioneer, able and reso- lute, with capability, courage and endurance enough to lead the great pioneer enterprise whose destiny he was then directing. The rapid growth of the settlement gave evidence of his fitness to lead. He built the first grist and sawmill in this county ; he did the first plowing, and ground the first wheat. He carried the first mail from Monroe to Tecumseh, built the first frame house, and established the first stage mail route between Detroit and Chicago. Mr. Brown was born of Quaker parentage, but inherited military instincts. In 1817 he was appointed adjutant of a regiment of cavalry ; in 1818, captain of a rifle company, and in 1819, lieutenant-colonel of the One Hundred and Eighth Infantry, by Governor Dewitt Clinton, of New York. In 1826 he was made chief justice of Lenawee County, Michigan, and in 1829, colonel of the Eighth Michigan Regiment, by Governor Lewis Cass. In 1831 he was appointed brigadier gen- eral of the Third Brigade, and in 1836, Register of the land office at Ionia, Mich., by President Andrew Jackson. In 1839 he was appointed brigadier general of Michigan troops, and also Regent of Michigan University, by Governor Stevens T. Mason. During the "Black Hawk War," of 1833, Gen. Brown was in command of the Michigan forces, and was commended by the territorial and national authorities. In 1835, the year of the "Toledo War," that might have resulted in blood and carnage, had the Ohio forces come upon the disputed territory, Gen. Brown, in command of 1,500 Michigan troops, marched to Toledo and thus put an end to the disgraceful proceeding of Governor Lucas, who, with 500 or more Ohio militia, was then encamped at Maumee. Governor Lucas was bringing this army to Toledo to protect a court that was to sit there to declare the disputed line "legal," and to extend civil jurisdiction over the stolen territory. But General Brown and his army arrived first, and the court never acted. Congress finally passed an act ceding to Ohio the disputed territory, and in return attached to Michigan our present upper peninsula, a tract of country then supposed to be worthless and almost uninhabitable. But it has proven a good trade for
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.