USA > Michigan > Jackson County > Jackson > Jackson city directory and business advertiser. With a history from the first settlement of the city, and a general portrait of its business at the present time, for 1867-1868 > Part 2
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HISTORY OF JACKSON.
July 3d, 1829. Thus was begun the settlement of Jackson county, and this was the advance guard of that vast army of emigrants so soon to overrun Central and Western Michigan.
The next morning being the 4th, an impromptu celebration was had, which consisted of a salute from three rifles, a dinner, pre- pared by Capt. Laverty for the occasion, and toasts washed down by beakers of river water. The celebration over, the explorers be- gan to take measures to "spy out the land." The more they saw the better they were satisfied, and Blackman's choice was soon made. He "stuck his stakes" upon the s e q of section 34, town 2 south of range 1 west. He discovered that this place was a favo- rite camping-ground of the Indians, and had been for a great length of time. Some nine or ten trails from different points met here, and not far from where he had pitched his tent, the St. Joseph trail divided, one branch, known as the Washtenaw trail, taking a southwesterly direction and leading to Chicago, via White Pigeon and the southern portion of the Territory ; the St. Joseph trail leading almost due west to Lake Michigan. Evidences of Indian occupation of the soil in the vicinity were apparent. On a piece of ground near where stands the Congregational Church a cornfield had been planted a year or two before. An Indian cem- etery was on the west bank of the river near the fording place of the St. Joseph trail, but the nearest existing Indian village was at Spring Arbor. From the Indian guide, Blackman learned that on the bank of a lake, several miles northeasterly from this place, a half-breed, called Baptiste Boreau, kept a small trading post for the Indians. Blackman believed, from what he observed, that this might become an important place, the next county seat west of the organized county of Washtenaw, and even dreamed of its becom- ing the capital of the future State. The site which Mr. Blackman fixed for the erection of his log cabin is that upon which Mr. John T. Durand's house now stands.
The party returned to Ann Arbor after a short sojourn in the wilderness, and from there Blackman at once went to Monroe to obtain the duplicate for his patent from the Government, this du- plicate entitling the holder to a deed whenever called for. Not long after, Horace Blackman was joined at Ann Arbor by his brother Russell, who had come on from New York, and the two,
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HISTORY OF JACKSON.
with some hired men obtained at Ann Arbor, came out to "Black- man's Location," put up a log cabin and covered it, preparatory for use the following spring. Blackman then returned to New York, leaving his brother Russell at Ann Arbor to look after the matters at Grand River, intending to return in the spring with his family and a colony of settlers. It is proper here to state that Mr. Horace Blackman acted as the agent of his father, Lemuel Blackman, who was the real owner of the lands entered by Horace.
In the fall of the same year, the initiatory period of our history, two other adventurers found their way to the Washtenaw valley, and in looking upon this land "saw that it was good." These were John Daniels and Isiah W. Bennett. Mr. Daniels, however, soon returned to his home in New York, and the next year, in May, 1830, came on to this place and purchased 480 acres, embracing the following descriptions of land, viz : The west half of section 33, the west half of the south east quarter, and the west half of the north east quarter of the same section, in town 3 south of range 1 west. Mr. Bennett, however, remained in Ann Arbor, and as he subsequently became one of the original proprietors of the town site, it is supposed he was not indifferent to a location, which soon began to attract the attention of pioneers.
It was during the winter of 1829-30 that the Legislative Coun- cil, in Detroit, passed an act setting off a new tier of counties along the trails above spoken of, west of Washtenaw county, to Lake Michigan, as follows: Jackson, Calhoun, Kalamazoo and St. Joseph. Jackson county was to contain twenty-seven townships, giving it an area of 720 square miles, being. twenty-four miles north and south, and thirty miles east and west ; and "Blackman's Location" was thus brought within one-half mile of the geographical centre of the county, and within 12 miles also of the centre of the Territo- ry of Michigan, according to the United States survey, which seemed to fix it as the site of the future State capitol. A road was also authorized by the Council, afterwards known as the TERRITO- RIAL ROAD, running through this tier of counties, which opened a route for the emigrant some distance north of, but running almost parallel with, the military, or as it was better known, the CHICAGO ROAD, leading from Detroit to the Fort on the Chicago River. This new road branched off from the " Chicago road," at a point
Carlton & Van Antwerp, Printers, Jackson.
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HISTORY OF JACKSON.
then known as " Sheldon's Corners" in Wayne county, and run- ning westerly, terminated at the mouth of the St. Joseph, on Lake Michigan, very closely following the St. Joseph Indian trail. The commissioners appointed to locate this road were Col. Orrin White, Jonathan F. Stratton and Seeley Neale, of Washtenaw county. Mr. Stratton was appointed surveyor. The Commission- ers immediately entered upon the discharge of their duties, rightly judging that the winter season would be the most favorable time to make the survey, when the streams and marshes would be frozen over. Accordingly making ample arrangements for the work, and supplying themselves with tents, tools, provisions, ax- men, a marker and guide, they set out on the first day of January, 1830, to establish that great road, of such immense value to the pioneer, and so soon to be traversed by myriads of emigrants, and dotted with "clearings," farms, hamlets and villages, along its entire extent,-that highway known the world over as the " Terri- torial road," which opened a way for the settler to the splendid and fertile lands along its route, and which was of such immense benefit to the Territory generally. Previous to this there was no road (except the Chicago road) west of a little distance this side of Ann Arbor, and therefore, all the region this side of that vil- lage was a "terra incognita," surrounded by myther terrors, a veritable howling wilderness.
The Commissioners commenced their work at Sheldon's corners, as above stated, and reached Ann Arbor on the 7th of January. Here they were joined by several citizens of that place, among whom were Isiah W. Bennett, Alexander Laverty, Samuel Van Fossen, William Hunt Russell, Henry Rumsey, Zenas Nash, Jr., and Edward Clark, who volunteered to accompany them as far as the Grand River, and assist in opening the road, removing ob- structions, and in doing such work as was practicable at that sea- son of the year. At night great fires were made by felling trees into heaps, firing them, and with tents and blankets they suffered nothing from cold, though the snow was a foot deep in the woods. On the morning of the 14th, they reached " Blackman's location," and took shelter in the one lone log house, put up by Blackman the fall previous. This house was " unchinked" and without doors or windows, but had a roof on, and the party were obliged to cut
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HISTORY OF JACKSON.
their way into the primitive dwelling. Tents were hung up to keep out some of the wind and cold. The party remained here two nights, and before the volunteers parted with the Commission- ers, it was resolved to hold a' "convention," and name the "vil- lage." Mr. Rumsey was called to the "chair" (a log) which position he filled with dignity and grace. Messrs. White and Stratton were appointed a committee to report a name; and " re- tiring," after due deliberation came in and made their report, that the village should be called "JACKSONBURGH." The report was " accepted" and adopted with nine cheers. Some of the best things in the " commissary department," that had been reserved for the last of the feast, were brought out, and a " glorious occasion" was duly celebrated until a late, or rather early hour in the morning. A little after daybreak, the Commissioners made ready their prepa- rations for their western journey, and the volunteers for their return to Ann Arbor. Only a quart of flour was left in the larder of the latter party, and this was the last of their provisions. The thought that thirty miles of wilderness was between them and a place to obtain food, and the snow more than a foot in depth, was not a cheering one; but they put their flour into the frying pan, wet it with water, cooked it, and this "unleavened" bread they divided into eight pieces; each one of the party taking one share. The cattle that had picked up a shabby living for several days on browse, were yoked to the wagon, the "traps" were loaded in, and with an early start the " train" moved on their weary journey to Ann Arbor, crossing streams, and, after getting so wet and cold. that it seemed they would perish; but finally, after all sorts of "moving accidents" they reached "Clement's" and "McCarty's," a few miles west of Ann Arbor, late at night, and were made com- fortable. They reached home in good spirits the next day.
The Commissioners, on reaching Kalamazoo, finding they had exhausted their stock of provisions, abandoned the further. prose- cution of their work, and struck across the country to White Pigeon, on the Chicago road, and returned home. The road west of Kalamazoo was surveyed the next fall.
The year 1830, was an eventful one in the formation of the colony. Early in the Spring, the settlement began with the ar- rival of a company from Ann Arbor, consisting of Isaiah W. Ben- B
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HISTORY OF JACKSON.
nett, Wm. R. Thompson, Benj. H. Packard, E. W. Morgan and Chauncey C. Lewis, who immediately located land.
The west side of the river was generally chosen for locations, especially that adjoining the Blackman purchase. In March, 1830, the original plat (Thompson, Bennett and Packard, pro- prietors,) of the village, (a small affair compared with the present limits of the city) was laid out on the west side of Grand River, extending from Trail street on the north to Franklin street on the south, and from Mill street running along the bank of the east to the quarter post line of sections 34 and 3, townships 2 and 3 south, range 1 west, containing about 150 acres .* The plan was regular-all the principal streets crossing at right angles, forming the whole into blocks and squares, and subdivided into lots of 4 by 8 rods. Public alleys of one rod in width ran through the entire plan once in eight rods, parallel with the streets, so that every lot was accommodated with a street in front and an alley in the rear. This plan has been fully carried out, and the essential features of the OLD village are prominent to-day. In the centre was a public square of 484 rods, through which were to run the
* On Liber 10 of Deeds, page 600, is the following record : I, Benjamin H. Packard, now of Spring Arbor, Jackson county, Michigan, formerly of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw county, Michigan, do depose and say, that in the year, A. D. 1830, I did in con- junction with Isaiah W. Bennett, Horace Blackman and Russell Blackman, cause to be surveyed and plotted a part of the North East quarter of Section Number 3, in 'Township No. 3 S of Range No. 1 W, and also a part of the South E q of Sec. No. thirty-four, in Township No. two S of Range number one West, for a village, which ยท said village was called Jacksonburgh, and a plat thereof was called " A Plan of the vil- lage of Jacksonburgh, by Jonathan F. Stratton, Surveyor." The said Plat of the vil- lage of Jacksonburgh, was duly signed, sealed and acknowledged by myself and Anna Packard, my wife, and by the other individuals above named. That I did cause the same to be deposited in the Office of Register of Deeds for Washtenaw county for Record, and that the same was filed for Record in said office. And I do further depose and say. that having ascertained that the said map or plat of the village of Jackson- bnrgh, has by some means become lost, before being Recorded, and that I have used every proper means to obtain the original as signed and acknowledged, without suc- cess. And I do further depose and say, that the annexed plat is a true copy of the original plat of the village of Jacksonburgh condensed, and that the blocks, lots, streets, alleys and public grounds are herein laid down and numbered in the annexed plat, as in the original, all which, I do depose and say, according to my best recollection, know- ledge and belief.
Subscribed and affirmed before me, this 24th day of August, A. D. 1842. GEO. BYRNE, Notary Public, Jackson Co., Mich. A true copy of the original, Recorded September 21st, 1842, at 3 o'clock P. M.
BENJ. H. PACKARD.
GEO. BYRNE, Register.
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HISTORY OF JACKSON.
two principal streets, forming the base and meridian line ; Main or St. Joseph street as the base, and Jackson street as the merid- ian line crossing Main street at right angles in the centre of the square. The northwest quarter of this square only remains now, the balance having been vacated by order of the Circuit Court. Horace Blackman, through the agency of Russell, his brother, be- came a partner in this plat in compromise for some lots which Thompson and Bennett desired to obtain immediately south of Blackman's purchase, on the river, with a view of obtaining the water-power on the river, and involving a portion of the Black- man purchase.
It was the purpose of the Ann Arbor company to get the start of Horace Blackman, who was expected to arrive soon with a picked colony from the east. In pursuance of this object, Thomp- son and Bennett determined to erect a mill at once above the Blackman property ; and a number of hands were engaged at Ann Arbor, and were soon on the spot. Among those who came for this purpose were Linus Gillett and wife, Mr. Josephus Case, (brother of Daniel L. Case, late Auditor General of the State) and wife. Mr. Case was to do the blacksmithing, and Gillett and wife to board the hands. Mrs. Case and Mrs. Gillett, were the first white women that came into Jackson county. Mr. John Wickham, millwright, and Mr. Caniff, worked on the mills, and Messrs. Hiram Thompson (brother of W. R. Thompson,) George Mayo, S. Town and Jason Barlow, constituted the gang of hands employed by Bennett and Thompson. Blackman's house was occupied by these people until another could be built, which was shortly done; the second house in the "village" being a large double log house with two rooms, and stood on the spot now occupied by the marble block of Reynolds and Breitenbach, and was occupied by Bennett and Thompson for several years as a tavern.
The plat of the village having been surveyed by Mr. Stratton, the sale of village lots commenced. They were offered at low rates, with a proviso that the purchasers should immediately build upon and occupy them. Sales were made to Messrs. Strat- ton, Gillett, Case, Wickham, Caniff, Mills, Prusia, and others who had lately come in, and the beginning thus made was full of promise to the village proprietors. Soon after, the Commissioners
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HISTORY OF JACKSON.
appointed by the Legislative Council, located the county seat of Jackson county in the village of Jacksonburgh, and the action of the Commissioners was confirmed by Gov. Cass, who issued his proclamation establishing the county seat.
On the 27th of May, Horace Blackman arrived with the follow- ing company of colonists : Lemuel Blackman and family, three sons and two daughters; Elizur B. Chapman and wife and brother- in-law, and William R. Deland, wife and two children. This party came up the Lake on the steamboat " William Penn," and were five days coming from Buffalo to Detroit. For a time there was a great deal of " crowding" for household room in the new place, but the weather being fine, and the men practical and full of re- source, were not long in increasing the number of dwellings, and providing roofs and shelter for the incoming population.
About this time Mr. Samuel Roberts and family came in and located on the Territorial Road, six miles west of Jacksonburgh, near Sandstone Creek, and was the first settler in the township of Sandstone. He was followed by others, and soon a small settle- ment was gathered at that place ; among whom were Capt. Wall, M. Freeman and others. Emigrants came pouring in, and loca- tions were made in and around Jackson in all directions. Lyman Pease, Wm. R. De Land, John McConnell, Samuel Wing and O. H. Fifield, located lands and began a settlement about four miles north of the village, in the (now) township of Blackman. Isaac N. Swain and Orrin Gregory commenced a settlement three miles south, on the west branch of the Grand River, in the town of Summit. Capt. John Durand, John & A. W. Daniels, Jotham Wood, John Van Vranken, Ezekiel Critchet, E. C. Lewis, Alex- ander Laverty and others, had made locations in the vicinity of Jacksonburgh, and some had commenced making improvements. Mr. Isaac Sterling and Ralph Updyke settled in Grass Lake, Mr. S. erecting a log house which he occupied as a tavern, this being the only stopping place between Jacksonburgh and Mill Creek for several years. This tide of emigration could not fail to have a good effect upon the young village, which was the nucleus of the surrounding country, and the question of supplies became, in a little while, an important one. By dint of frugality on the part of the emigrants, by encouraging trade with the Indians for game,
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HISTORY OF JACKSON.
fish, sugar, berries, etc., and by employing teams in going and coming from Detroit, supplies were provided sufficient to meet the wants of the colonists. The whites lived on the most amicable terms with the Indians, who were for several years a great help and support to the people of the new country. The tribe most numerous among the Indians here were the Pottawattamies. These had less of the Indian characteristics than most other tribes of Indians. They were less warlike, more domestic in their habits. They were very fond of display in their dress. They took great pride in decking themselves in gay costumes and colors, and their ponies were even arrayed with bells, ornaments and fanciful trap- pings. But though a domestic people, devoted to agricultural pursuits and the excitement of the chase, they were brave. Their territory extended from the southern portion of Michigan into Illinois and Wisconsin. The OTTAWAS were an older tribe of In- dians, and have a more conspicuous history. Between the Otta- was and Pottawattamies the best of feeling has always existed, the latter holding the former in great respect. Pontiac was an Otta- wa, and is said to have belonged to some of the tribes of Western Michigan near the lake. The title of the Indians to their former lands in Michigan, was extinguished by treaty several years pre- vious to the time of which we write, though many of that " an- cient race" still lingered around their loved hunting grounds. In 1840, the government removed them west of the Mississippi.
Though the first season was very healthy here, the colony was not wanting in physicians. Dr. Stoddard, now of Spring Arbor, the first physician in the county, had arrived in September with other comers ; and in November, Dr. Oliver Russ, of Hartland, Vt., arrived. The latter gentleman erected a log house, on the north west corner of Van Buren and Jackson streets, soon after he came. The first merchant was a Mr. Jessie Baird, who came in the Summer of this year, bringing with him a small remnant of a stock of goods which he had had in Ohio. It was a very small affair, and he was not long in selling out. Mr. Hogan soon after came in and opened a store in Mr. De Land's house, keeping a miscellaneous stock of dry goods, groceries, hardware, etc., such an assortment as usually graces a country store. His first frame
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HISTORY OF JACKSON.
store was directly back of the present store of Webster & Courter, and was built in 1831.
The increase of population made it necessary that the settlement should have a tribunal of justice. Accordingly a public meeting was held in October, and the citizens unanimously selected Mr. Wm. R. De Land as a proper person to exercise the functions of magistrate. A petition was therefore forwarded to the Governor for his appointment. The following commission was afterwards sent to Mr. De Land, which, as it is the first commission ever issued to a civil officer in this county, we think it worthy of putting upon the record :
LEWIS CASS,
Governor in and over the Territory of Michigan, To all to whom these presents may come, greeting :
Know Ye, That, reposing special trust and confidence in the in- tegrity and ability of WILLIAM R. DE LAND, Esquire, I have nominated, and by and with the advice and consent of the Legis- lative Council of the said Territory, have appointed him Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Washtenaw, for the term of three years.
And, I do hereby authorize and empower him to execute and fulfil the duties of that office according to Law: To have and to hold the said, with all the rights, privileges, and emoluments thereunto belonging, during the term aforesaid, unless the Gover- nor of the Territory, for the time being, should think proper sooner to revoke and determine this commission.
In testimony whereof, I have caused these Letters to be made Patent, and the Great Seal of the said Territory to be hereunto affixed.
Given under my hand, at Detroit, this eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty- one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the fifty-fifth.
By the Governor :
LEWIS CASS.
JOHN S. MASON, Secretary of Mich. Territory.
Mr. Horace Blackman was appointed, by the new Justice, as a special constable to serve processes. The county was, in the Winter
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HISTORY OF JACKSON.
of 1830 and 31, organized into one township, and attached to Washtenaw county for judicial purposes.
The following are the names of the settlers who came here in 1830; most all of them became permanent residents. Those mark- ed with a star * are no longer living :
Horace Blackman*
Wm. E. Perrine*
Lemuel Blackman
Isaac N. Swain,
Russell Blackman*
Alexander Laverty*
Francis Blackman*
Ogden B. Laverty*
George Blackman*
Wesley W. Laverty*
Levi Blackman*
John Daniels*
Wm. R. De Land,
Abel W. Daniels,
Elizur B. Chapman,
Henry Daniels,
Isaiah W. Bennett*
Jotham Wood*
Wm. R. Thompson*
Samuel Roberts*
Hiram Thompson,
Hervey Roberts,
George Mayo, Linus Gillett*
Merrils Freeman,
Josephus Case,
John Durand*
Major D. Mills,
John T. Durand,
Christian Prusia*
John Van Vranken*
Stephen Town*
Chauncey C. Lewis,
John McConnell*
Lyman R. Lowell*
Sam'l Wing*
John Wellman*
Osgood H. Fifield,
Benj. S. Stewart,
Enoch Fifield*
Daniel Hogan,
James Fifield*
Thos. J. McKnight,
Lyman Pease*
John Wickham*
Wm. C. Pease,
Jas. Caniff *
Philander Pease, Jesse Baird*
Ralph Updike*
Isaac Sterling*
Lyman Baird,
Jason Barlow,
George B. Cooper*
Ezekiel T. Critchet,
Martin Flint*
Dr. Samson Stoddard,
Wm. D. Thompson,
Doct. Oliver Russ*
Of these settlers only seven remain now resident in this City, viz : Wm. R. De Land and wife, John T. Durand and wife, E. B. Chap- man and wife and Mrs. Blackman, widow of Horace Blackman.
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Chester Wall,
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HISTORY OF JACKSON.
Mrs. Durand and Mrs. Chapman, were daughters of Lemuel Blackman.
During the Summer and Fall, about 20 houses were erected in and near the village. Farms had been commenced upon a small scale, and during the season an encouraging supply of corn and roots were raised. The first ground broke in the county was by the Blackmans, on the flat between Blackman's Creek and Ganson street. This was an old Indian cornfield of considerable extent. Messrs. Durand, Laverty, Lewis, Daniels, Pease and Roberts, each cleared up fields and sowed them to wheat in the fall, which yielded well the following harvest, the product being a great help to the settlement. De Land, Blackman & Co., cut this season about 80 tons of hay, on marsh land three miles up the river. In September, the dam was completed and the mill made ready for sawing out lumber.
Mr. A. W. Daniels, who came in September. 1830, erected a log house on the land which his father, John Daniels, had located, and has remained there ever since. This farm is situated one-half mile west of the city limits on the Territorial Road. We speak of this more particularly, as it was one of the very first farms began in this county. He purchased a yoke of cattle in Detroit, came to Ann Arbor with them, and then hired a wagon, loaded it with provisions and farming implements, and came to Jackson. Sub- sequently his father, John Daniels, sent him some fruit trees to Detroit from Bethany, N. Y. These were the first trees of the kind introduced in Jackson county. When returning to this place with the trees, in crossing the river at the ford his load stuck in the mud, and he was forced to leave the wagon in the mire until the next day, when he obtained assistance to bring it out of its . styxian bed.
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