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 7
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
Carlton & Van Antwerp, Printers, Jackson.
60
HISTORY OF JACKSON.
ance of the Prison as a source of revenue to Jackson-though these are not all the items. No computation is made of the immense amount of manufactures turned out at the Prison by convict labor, or of the number of men or amount of capital engaged therein.
The institution at the present time has little to remind one of its primitive appearance. It is a large, commodious and good-looking edifice, and the road that leads to it is as good as need be. The main building is of brick, 60 feet front, 50 feet broad and three stories high, containing offices, &c., with two wings of stone, each 220 feet in length, by 57 feet wide and 44 feet high. These wings contain 640 cells, for convicts, in four galleries, facing to the walls. Back of the east wing is the solitary prison, containing 24 cells for life convicts. In the rear of the west wing is the prison for fe- males. The workshops, forming three sides of a square, are en- closed by a wall 22 feet high, there being about six acres in the prison yard. A hospital, chapel, and two artesian wells are within the enclosure. Recent improvements have been made to the build- ings, and some new ones erected. The value of convict labor per annum is estimated at $500,000. Furniture, wagons, agricultural implements, boots and shoes, horse collars, cigars, brooms, etc., are made there in great abundance. The visitor, as he picked his way over bogs, through mud and other obstacles, to find the Prison in 1838-9, would have hardly dared to predict the present well or- dered institution known as the State Prison.
In 1838 the Legislature changed the name of Jacksonburgh to Jackson. A State Road was also ordered to be laid out from Jackson to Mason this year. In the Business Directory of 1838, the following names appear : Farrand, Johnson & Higby, law office, south side public square; W. Baker & Co., advertise for many rags; Green & Jessup, advertise steel and iron, also books and stationery ; Gregg & Eggleston, tailoring establishment, one door east of W. Baker & Co's ; M. Collamer, furniture warerooms, east side river, purchased the establishment of C. E. Sillsbee ; J. M. Gilbert, saddlery, immediately over S. Blackwell & Co's store, public square ; L. Graves, tailor ; J. B. Cobb and Smith M. Brown, carriage painters ; David F. Dwight and David Porter, advertise lime; Bunnell & Fish, advertise shingles ; M. B. & J. W. Med- bury, sell Brandreth's Pills ; Amos Bigelow, hardware store in the
61
HISTORY OF JACKSON.
building now occupied by Dr. Gorham for an office in the village of Jackson ; Ford & Buck, merchants; W. Chittock, tailoring establishment, new building, one door east of Russell Blackman's public house ; N. Allen, agent, office for sale of Rowland's tonic mixture ; S. Blackwell & Co., opposite Court House, general mer- chandize ; Jackson Academy, Mr. Dudly, (tuition $7 per quarter.) `J. W. Gledden, watch and clock repairing; L. S. House, hat store.
The first number of the Democratic paper, " THE MICHIGAN · DEMOCRAT," appeared March 8th, 1838, office over the store of W. W. Budington & Co., J. Ford and H. H. Vandercook adver- tise for proposals for erecting frames for 20 dwellings on the east side of Grand River. Moody & Johnson's law office, south side public square. Myrick C. Hough, attorney and counselor-at-law, east side. About the same names appear here as were given from the " SENTINEL" of 1837. Ford & Son, advertise " all kinds of current wild-cat received in payment for flour." P. Stone of Adrian, and Ring and Hibbard, advertise daily line of stages to Adrian, office at the Jackson Exchange. Livery stable, horses, carriages, horses and sleighs, D. Hibbard." Grand River House, by H. P. Mabee. " Jackson Iron Foundry, at the old stand of Clark, Monroe & Co., Joseph Ganson and Stephen Monroe, pro- prietors." D. Parkhurst, attorney at law ; Charles Derby, auc- tioneer ; E. Higby, attorney and counselor-at-law, office in the Court House, (Dec. 20, 1838.)
The township officers of 1838, were James Ganson, supervisor ; J. C. Baily, town clerk ; Oliver Russ, Edward Morrell and Linus Collamer, assessors ; Simon Peterson, Joseph Wing, John T. Du- rand, commissioners of highways; Samuel Higby, Alonzo Ben- nett, Jason B. Packard, school inspectors ; David Fuller, collector; Lewis D. Welling, David Fuller, Jno. Gillispie, Jno. Kane, con- stables ; Oliver Russ and Wm. P. Warden, directors of the poor ; Fidus Livermore was town treasurer.
The SENTINEL contains the following paragraph : " DISGRACE- FUL .- While several of the members of the Legislature were re- turning on Friday evening last, through this place to their re- spective homes, a large number of persons assembled in front of the stage house, and assailed their persons with eggs and stones,
Carlton & Van Antwerp, Printers, Jackson.
62
HISTORY OF JACKSON.
and their ears with tin-pans, horns, etc., to not only the great annoyance of the honorable gentlemen themselves, but to that of the more quiet and peaceable disposed portion of our citizens."
This was the method the constitutents of the " honorable gen- tlemen" took to show their disapproval of their course in the legislature. The indignation arose from the understanding that the Senator from this county had voted against an appropriation to aid in the building of the road from Chelsea to this place.
In 1839 the following township officers were elected : James Ganson, supervisor : Wm. J. Moody, justice of the peace ; Joseph C. Baily, town clerk ; Edward Higby, treasurer ; A. Swain, J. Fifield, J. Marvin, assessors ; S. Peterson, A. Bennett and Joseph Wing, highway commissioners ; Walter Budington, Myrick C. Hough and David Johnson, inspectors of common schools ; Lewis D. Welling, collector ; Lewis D. Welling, James Hale, D. Fuller and Jas. Bradt, constables.
Jackson contained at this time: two banks, two printing offices-" Jackson Sentinel" and "Mich. Democrat ;" two semi- monthly publications, " American Freeman" and " Michigan Tem- perance Herald ;" two drug stores, ten dry goods stores. Five re- ligious denominations met weekly, viz : Episcopal, Presbyterian, Methodist, Close Communion Baptists and Free Will Baptists. The papers claim a population of 1000 people and 200 dwellings- 80 buildings in course of completion for the year 1839.
In this year a State road was laid out from Jackson to White Pigeon.
The names of Benjamin Hazelton, (ashery), Drs. J. M. Terry, E. D. Merriman, J. C. McLean, D. G. McClure, appear in the papers ; also Childs, Houssel & Brown, carriage painters, paper hangers and cabinet ware. The whole number of votes given in the county, November, 1839, were 2,304. The whole amount of tax levied in the county for the year 1839, was $25,233 17. Be- low we give the condition of county finances for 1840 :
From the Report of the County Commissioners, made Dec. 31, 1840, the sum of $17,841 96 constitutes the grand total for which the county is to be taxed, including the premium for collecting the same :
For State Tax,
- - $3,322 00
63
HISTORY OF JACKSON.
Support of poor, enlarging building, etc.' $1,448 00
Interest due for purchase of poor farm, 452 00
Int. on loan for erection of County buildings, 1,050 00
Contingent expenses of County, - 6,645 00
" " of townships as rendered, 4,033 44
Non-resident highway tax returned unpaid, 898 52
The incidental expenses of Jackson are $724 92-high 16.90.
The Commissioners-Alvin Clark, Nicholas Townly and Druses Hodges, Jr., say it is a matter of congratulation to the board, that the expenses of the county have been reduced the present year, and that the taxpayer is measurably relieved from the bur- then of taxation. There seems to have been a great profuseness and extravagance attending the maintainance of government, of law and of good order throughout our country for the past ten years, but we trust that the time has arrived when this spirit of pride and extravagance which has pervaded not only national Governments, but all orders and ranks of the great mass of com- munity, is to be checked, reduced and brought within the super- vision of sober sense. When this takes place, and the people return within the precints of sober sense and reason, salaries will be less; public expenditures reduced, tithes and taxes mitigated, and the whole great body of community be relieved. The board have fixed the salary (compensation) of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County at $450. They have also allowed the Treasurer of the County $525, from the time he entered upon the duties of his office up to the first Monday of January, 1841, (comprising a period of about 13 months,) as full compensation for his services. The duties of the Treasurer have been greatly increased during the past year, requiring his constant attention, and in some cases the assistance of a clerk.
In the year 1840, a large building composed of tamarack logs was erected on a lot where the Reynolds' block now stands. This structure was intended by its builder, Mr. Lemuel S. House, as a block of stores, it being sufficiently large to make seven, 22 feet front by about 40 feet deep. Fortunately, before it was finished it was blown down, and in its fall the ambition of its originator to rear such an uncouth block never revived. The logs were ø
Carlton & Van Antwerp, Printers, Jackson.
-
64
HISTORY OF JACKSON.
brought from some land belonging to Mr. House, a little ways north east of the village.
The Jackson County Mutual Insurance Company was incorpor- ated in 1840, with Martin B. Medbury, John Daniels, Jeremiah Marvin, William Jackson, Geo. W. Gorham, Rufus Tiffany, Edward Lewis, Jr., R. B. Rexford, Henry Acker, David Adams, Daniel Parkhurst and John Belden, Directors.
This year was also memorable for the political excitement which was as warm here as in other places. Log cabins, hard cider, " Tippecanoe and Tyler too," and all the surroundings and inci- dents of that jolly political campaign made Jackson lively and festive, and withal, as parties were pretty evenly divided, some- times pretty " hot."
In the month of December, in the year 1841, the Michigan Central Railroad was finished to Jackson, and the cars commenced running regularly before the close of the year. The occasion of the arrival of the first train into Jackson was celebrated in fitting style. The band, which had then but a little while been formed, with Albert Foster as its leader, was there to enliven the event with stirring music ; the people turned out " en masse," and the greatest enthusiasm prevailed. No untoward disturbance marred the great event. The train was well loaded with excursionists from Detroit, Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, etc., and among them was Mr. Geo. Dawson, the Editor of the Detroit ADVERTISER, who made the speeches on behalf of the excursionists. A supper was had at the American, when speeches, toasts and songs followed each other in happy succession. It was a memorable occasion-a gay and festive celebration.
From this time forward the destiny of Jackson became evident. Its progress more rapidly developed, and its business interests steadily increased. We have followed its career heretofore very circumstantially ; we shall only allude henceforward to some par- ticular events. The young and thriving village gave at this time unmistakable evidences of its future. and it has not disappointed even its most sanguine friends. Though still rough in its exterior, the character of its citizens for enterprise, even at that time, gave it great credit with people looking about for a place to settle. It grew slowly but very surely, the county towns round about it
1
65
HISTORY OF JACKSON.
filled up by degrees and contributed to its wealth and importance. In the year 1843 the village of Jackson was incorporated by act of the Legislature. The following is the language of the act, in- cluding boundaries, etc. Be it enacted, etc., That so much of the township of Jackson as is included in the following boundaries, to wit : All that tract of land included within 240 rods north, south, east and west of the northeast corner of section three, in town- ship three south of range one west, shall and the same is hereby constituted a town corporate, by the name and title of the " vil- lage of Jackson." The act provides for the election of a Presi- dent, Recorder, Treasurer, six Trustees and two Assessors. The Board are empowered to choose a Marshal, Street Commissioners, to organize fire companies, etc. To take effect and be in force on and after the third Monday in April, 1843.
P. B. Loomis came to Jackson in 1843, and engaged in the dry goods trade, in a wooden building in the rear of the store now oc- cupied by Penny & King ; and subsequently moved into the store now occupied by a Mr. Gregg. In 1845 he formed a co-partner- ship with John N. Dwight, and moved into the Porter block, where they continued some five years, and in 1850 they purchased the Kennedy Steam Flouring Mills, which they continued until 1852, when Mr. Loomis became sole proprietor. He continued until 1854, and in March, 1856, in company with S. W. Whitwell, commenced the Banking business in a building in the Tem- perance block, as successors of Root, Noyes & Co. In the summer of 1856, Mr. S. W. Whitwell erected the building now occupied by Mr. Loomis, and the bank was removed to the new building the same year. In 1865 Mr. Whitwell withdrew from the busi- ness and Mr. Loomis became, as he is now, the sole proprietor.
Mr. Loomis was made President of the Gas Company when it was first organized in 1857.
We have before alluded to Judge William R. De Land, the pioneer and the village patriarch, the magnate of the Arcadean age of our primitive history-as indeed we could not avoid doing, as his name is so closely associated with all our beginnings. A more detailed account of Mr. De Land, however, is necessary to make up our record. William R. De Land is a native of Mass., and was born July 20th, 1795, at North Brookfield, Worcester I
Carlton & Van Antwerp, Printers, Jackson.
-
66
HISTORY OF JACKSON.
Co., sixth son of Jedediah De Land, a soldier of the Revolution and a respectable citizen of that town, was brought up in the rural pursuits of husbandry ; received a good common school education, of which he became a "high graduate." Taught school for five or six years-from his 20th to his 26th year, in Mass., New York and Penn. Was married Feb. 25th, 1823, to Miss Mary G. Keith, at Caroline, Tompkins Co., N. Y. Returned to his native town in 1824. Emmigrated to Michigan in the spring of 1830. Leaving North Brookfield, April 14th, and ar- riving on the spot on which Jackson now stands May 27th, a period of 40 days, and a distance of about 800 miles, whereas the Chil- dren of Israel were 40 years performing a journey of a less dis- tance. On arrival found as " goodly a land" as those migratory Israelites, "a land flowing with milk and wild honey," and plenty of "venison" into the bargain. One of "the first settlers ;" took an active part in all its improvements; in the incipient planting of the standard of civilization in this wilderness. Was appointed the first Justice of the Peace, the only magistrate till the organization of the county in 1833. On the organization of the Circuit Court, was appointed Associate Judge of said Court for the County of Jackson for four years. Was elected Justice of the Peace in 1837, County Clerk in 1838, for two years, by virtue of which office he was the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, and issued orders on the Treasury for all claims audited and allowed. In 1840 was elected Judge of Probate.
Mr. D. has shared largely in the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens, having held many offices of honor and profit in their gift and conferred by their kind and generous patronage, and for the bestowment of which he will ever feel grateful. In the discharge of all these public duties he has been regarded as a prompt, faithful and efficient officer.
Judge D. has also laid his fellow-citizens under obligations for the valuable contributions he has made to our local history. With- out his efforts and his care in preserving the records, the light of other days would have, in a great measure, if not wholly, faded away. He has lived to see the little hamlet of four or five houses expand into a great city, and has himself been one of the contributors to that result. May he be spared yet many years, and live to see
67
HISTORY OF JACKSON.
Jackson double its present size and prosperity. His sons are Col. C. V. De Land, now editor of the SAGINAW REPUBLICAN, resid- ing in East Saginaw, and Capt. Jas. S. De Land, a citizen of Jack- son. They were both in the service during the late war, and both severely wounded. These two sons are all the family remaining. Capt. De Land was severely wounded in the last attack on Peters- burgh, and has lost the use of his left arm.
In the year 1840 Austin Blair came to Jackson, from Caroline, Tompkins county, N. Y., and opened an office with Judge De- Land in the Court House, the Judge being at that time Judge of Probate. He remained here about six months, and as there were a number of good lawyers here at that time, he yielded to the solicitations of the citizens of Eaton Rapids, and removed to that place and commenced the practice of law there in 1841. He re- mained at Eaton Rapids about a year, when he returned to Jack- son. He was not long after elected to the House of Representa- tives and then to the Senate. It is needless to write up for the people of Jackson the political history of Gov. Blair, but we could not well pass him without a remark, though it be like carrying coals to Newcastle.
In 1840 the population of Jackson County was 13,130.
Feb'y 25, 1841, Zephaniah Platt, of Jackson, was appointed Attorney General of the State, in place of Peter Morey, whose term of office had expired.
March 4th. A local paper has the following notice of a pro- jected improvement, probably the first in town. " A proposition is on foot to build a desirable sidewalk on St. Joseph street (Main,) from the Eagle to the river. This is right, and we hope our citi- zens will show a proper regard for so beneficial an improvement, and contribute liberally to the fund that is being raised for its con- struction. A word to the wise!" By this we learn that no walks of any kind were at that time laid upon Main street.
The GAZETTE of July 1, 1841, has a long jeremiad on the down- fall of the Bank of Michigan. " The downfall of the Bank of Michigan, heretofore deemed a model of financial skill, has capped the climax of Michigan banking," etc.
July 17. A County Agricultural Society was formed : Presi- dent, J. G. Cornell ; Vice-Presidents, P. B. Ring, A. F. Bolton,
Carlton & Van Antwerp, Printers, Jackson.
68
HISTORY OF JACKSON.
James Valentine and James Ganson ; Recording Secretary, R. C. Baker ; Cor. Secretary, Chester Bennett; Directors, Norman Allen, Isaac Taylor, Jno. E. Fisher, Guy C. Chatfield, E. T. Crout, Jonah Whitman, S. F. Adkins, R. Davis and Sam. Sheldon.
For several years there were no events of interest occurring worthy of special mention more than is related incidentally in the sketches we have given of the earlier settlers.
In 1845, the Jackson PATRIOT was established by R. S. Cheney, and soon after Wilbur F. Storey became its editor. About this time Mr. Storey was appointed Postmaster. Mr. S. afterwards removed to Detroit and became editor of the FREE PRESS. He is now editor and part owner of the CHICAGO TIMES.
In 1846, an Act was passed to incorporate the Grand River Valley Railroad Company, Amos Root, Harvey Williams, Benj. Porter, B. Knight, E. B. Danforth, A. V. Berry, I. C. Backus, Jno. Sumner, Amasa B. Gibson, Allen Bennett, Jr., Wm. P. Kassick, A. Roberts, Philo M. Everett, Jno. Ganson and Lewis Bascom, were made directors by the Charter. This road was to be constructed from Jackson to Grand Rapids.
The Village Charter was amended this year, increasing bound- aries, providing for the election of President, six Trustees, Re- corder, Treasurer, Marshal, Street Committee, Attorney and two Assessors.
Jan. 18, 1848, the first number of the DAILY PATRIOT made its appearance. The following is among the local matter of this number : THE TELEGRPH .- This wonderful instrument was com- pleted to this place, and put in operation on Thursday last. The occasion was one of congratulation among our citizens, and the office was crowded for a day or two by those who had never before "seen the elephant." The facility with which communications are made is wonderful, and we doubt not our citizens will avail them- selves of the conveniences it will afford. The wires are in pro- gress of being " strung up" towards the west.
INFAMOUS ATTEMPT .- An attempt was made by some.diabolical villain or villains, on Saturday night, to burn the Congregational Church in this village. A fire was kindled in the pulpit by the use of hay and some pieces of cigar box. When the Sexton en- tered the house in the morning, he found it filled with smoke, and
.
.
69
HISTORY OF JACKSON.
on examination, the floor and stairs of the pulpit were discovered . to have been considerably burned. The fire, almost miraculously, seemed to have become extinguished.
Sept. 27, 1848. The first number of the MICHIGAN STATE JOURNAL, by A. A. Dorrance, made its appearance. It was a large handsome looking sheet, seven columns to the page.
Oct. 10, 1848. The number of scholars between the ages of 4 and 18 years, according to the census was 411. The Union School House, Thos. S. Myrick, principal and Mary M. Jones, preceptress, will seat 136. Complaint is made of want of room. On the 12th of October, it was voted that the Union School be enlarged, by the construction of two wings, at the expense of $500. The school then to accommodate 250 scholars.
The Jackson PATRIOT of May 2, 1849, edited by W. F. Storey, and published by R. S. Cheney, says it is now the only paper published in the county. It contains a call for an Agricultural Society, which was subsequently formed.
Aug. 1, 1849. That dreaded scourge the cholera made its ap- pearance. The PATRIOT of this date says : "Up to the hour of going to press, nine cases of cholera have broken out, eight of which were in one house. The name of the family where the eight cases occurred is Cooper ; only one of the family, a small child escaped. The father and mother of Mr. Cooper arrived from the east on a visit a day or two previous to the breaking out of the disease. The old man was first attacked and died on Friday, 28th July, and on Tuesday morning the last of the eight were laid in the grave." The ninth case was a son of Deacon Bennett. The precautions immediately taken by the Board of Health, prevented the spread of the disease, and there were no other cases that year.
E. B. Brigham & Burtis Hoyt, in 1849, formed a copartnership, and started a custom carding and cloth dressing mill, in the build- ing now occupied by Vandercook & Lusk. In 1852 Mr. Brigham became sole proprietor. And in 1854, the building took fire and the whole upper story was burned out; a Mr. Brown had a wool carding building adjoining Brigham's, the fire took in Brown's building and ignited Brigham's. In 1855 Mr. Brigham erected
Carlton & Van Antwerp, Printers, Jackson.
70
HISTORY OF JACKSON.
the building adjoining the Gas house, and started a woolen manu- factory, which he continued until 1863.
Nov., 1849. W. F. Storey was among the grocers of Jackson.
The Lansing JOURNAL speaks of the stage line between Jackson and that place, as follows : "JACKSON STAGES .- Messrs. Hibbard & Knapp now leave here at 2 o'clock, P. M., with the mail, and arrive at Jackson in time for the cars the next morning, going West, as well as East. This is a great convenience to those re- siding in the Western part of the State. These gentlemen deserve much credit for the regularity with which they have delivered our mails here. Within the last year, they have not failed on a single trip to deliver the mail here by four horse teams, as the law di- rects. This is extraordinary indeed, over a newly made road, in the timbered land. There is probably not an instance of punctu- ality to equal it on record in the Post Office Department."
The CITIZEN makes its first appearance Aug. 16, 1849.
Official canvass of votes in November of this year, shows the number of voters in the county to have been 2,992.
H. G. Bliss, established and opened the first "regular" drug store in Nov., 1849. It was a fine affair for those days.
Nov. 22. Timothy Ruggles, died suddenly in his shop (hatter,) on the 22d inst., from apoplexy-no person being in the room at the time.
Dec. 12, 1849. Plank road between here and Lansing in good motion.
The New Methodist Church edifice is making progress, the basement being nearly ready for use Dec. 19.
March, 1850. Great excitement this year about California gold.
March 11. Village election : President, John Sumner ; Re- corder, William Osborn ; Marshal, Wm. Knickerbocker ; Trustees, J. W. Hulin, Wm. N. Choate and O. C. Mosher ; Treasurer, Levi J. Buer, no opposition ; Assessors, Geo. W. Logan, Warren N. Buck ; Street Commissioner, C. Bennett ; Attorney, D. Johnson. No license, 45 majority.
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.