Past and present of Washtenaw County, Michigan, Part 82

Author: Beakes, Samuel W. (Samuel Willard), 1861-; S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago : The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 886

USA > Michigan > Washtenaw County > Past and present of Washtenaw County, Michigan > Part 82

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).

Alexander W. Hamilton, rep. . . 4477 Myron W. Clark, dem. .. .. . 5366 889

Sheriff- Frederick Wedemeyer, rep. . .. 4468

Michael Brenner, dem. 5359

891

County Clerk- John Cook, rep. . 4355

Arthur Brown, dem. 5469

III4

Carlyle P. Mckinstry, rep. 4485

856 Andrew T. Hughes, dem. 5341

County Treasurer- John Keppler. rep. 4639

Paul G. Sukey, dem.

5183

544

Prosecuting Attorney-

Arthur J. Waters, rep.

4399

Thomas D. Kearney. dem

5440

IO11

Probate Judge-

Henry B. Platt, rep.

4373

J. Willard Babbitt, dem. 5460

1087

Circuit Court Commissioners

Wright A. Pray, rep. 4405 Herbert W. Childs, rep. 4418 Patrick McKernan, dem 5420 1015

Tracy L. Towner, dem. 5465

10.17

Coroners-

William K. Childs, rep. 4377

George W. Hull, rep. 4382

Martin Clark, dem. 5466 1089

Edward Batwell, dem 5472

1090

Representatives in State Legislature- Frederick B. Braun, rep. 2300 Charles H. Kline, dem 2736 436

Gideon L. Hoyt, rep. 2126

Frank E. Mills, dem. 2688

562

1893.

Supreme Court Justice- Frank A. Hooker, rep. . 3345

845

George H. Durand, dem

3980

635

IĻII

795

1146

676

PAST AND PRESENT OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

Circuit Judge-

Edward D. Kinne, rep. 4553 1476

Edward R. Gilday, dem. . 3077

School Commissioner-

Martin J. Cavanaugh, dem. 3793

3284

Representatives in State Legislature-

Reuben Kempf, rep.

. 2629

Walter H. Dancer, dem.

2143

Jabez B. Wortley, rep

2265

Frank E. Mills, dem.

19II

486

355

1894.

Governor-

John T. Rich, rep. · 5007

Spencer O. Fisher, dem. 4151

Congressman-

George Spalding, rep. 4903

Thomas E. Barkworth, dem.

4221

Senator-

John W. Watts, rep. 4838

Charles H. Manley, dem. 4122

Sheriff-

William Judson, rep .. 4935

801

Michael Brenner, dem.

4134

County Clerk-

William Dansinburg, rep. 4808

Jacob S. Schuh, dem.

4197

Carlyle P. Mckinstry, rep. 4898

Andrew T. Hughes, dem.

4054

County Treasurer-

William F. Rehfuss, rep. 5060

Paul G. Sukey, dem.

.3934

Prosecuting Attorney- Seth C. Randall, rep. . 4836

Thomas D. Kearney, dem.

4131

Circuit Court Commissioners-

Joseph F. Webb, rep. 4864

O. Elmer Butterfield, rep.

4837

Patrick McKernan, dem.

4210

Tracy L. Towner, dem.

.4251

Coroners-

Harris Ball, rep.

4909

801

1895.

Supreme Court Justice-

Joseph B. Moore, rep

.4431

580

John W. McGrath, dem

3851

State Senator-

Charles H. Smith, rep.

4327

467

John A. McDougal, dem.

3860

County School Commissioner-

William W. Wedemeyer, rep. . . 4543

David A. Hammond, dem.

3782

Joseph B. Steere, pro.

761

1896.

President of the United States-

William McKinley, rep.

5677

329

William J. Bryan, dem.

5348

844

Governor-

Hazen S. Pingree, rep

- 5975

1099

Charles R. Sligh, dem.

4876

II26

Congressman-

George Spalding, rep

. 5617

212

Thomas E. Barkworth, dem .. . . 5405

705 Judge of Probate- H. Wirt Newkirk, rep. 5737

388

Thomas D. Kearney. dem.

. 5349

654

Sheriff-

586

William Judson, rep.

. 5558

Hiram Lighthall, dem.

5491

667

County Clerk-

William Dansingburg, rep.

. 5552

Jacob F. Schuh, dem

5547

William R. Barton, rep 4843 735

Martin Clark, dem.

4108

Edward Batwell, dem.

4108

856

682

716

611

J. Morton Calkins, pro. 509

677

PAST AND PRESENT OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

County Treasurer ---

William F. Rehfuss, rep 5818 572

George J. Mann, dem. 5246

Alfred Davenport, dem 5245

Prosecuting Attorney ---

Seth T. Randall, rep . 5195

John P. Kirk, dem. 5776

581

Circuit Court Commissioner-

O. Elmer Butterfield. rep. 5654

Joseph F. Webb, rep.

5632

Henry A. Condon, dem

5385

Lee N. Brown, dem.

5399

Coroner ---

Harris Ball. rep 5633

William R. Barton, rep

.5641

Ernest E. Clark, dem

.5415

Walter P. Beach, dem.

5391

1897.

Justice of the Supreme Court

Charles D. Long, rep. 150I

George L. Yaple, dem.

2837

Dan P. Foote, gold dem.

1332

County School Commissioners-

William M. Lister, rep.

4500

Alton B. Dewitt, dem

. 2973

Governor-

Hazen S. Pingree. rep. 1704

Justin R. Whiting, dem

4572

Congressman-

Henry C. Smith, rep. . 4698 192

Orrin R. Pierce, dem.

4506

Sheriff-

John H. Kingsley, rep 4475

John Gillen, dem.

4775

County Clerk- John Heinzman, rep 4145 Jacob F. Schuh, dem. 5081

County Treasurer- Jacob Braun. rep. 4538 853 George J. Mann, dem. 3675

Prosecuting Attorney-

Frank E. Jones, rep.

. 4036

John P. Kirk, dem.

.5254

1218

Circuit Court Commissioners-

O. E. Butterfield, rep.

4493

Fred W. Green, rep.

. 4575

William H. Murray, dem.

165-

Tracy L. Towner, dem.

4639

Coroners --

250

Harris Ball, rep.

. 4472

George W. Hull, rep.

4546

Benjamin F. Watts, dem.

4695

149

Christian F. Kapp, dem.

4604

1899.

1644

Justice Supreme Court-

Claudius B. Grant, rep.

4605

136

Thomas E. Barkworth, dem.

4469

1527

Circuit Judge-

Edward D. Kinne, rep

.5178

1166

Martin J. Cavanaugh, dem.

4012

132

County School Commissioner-

William N. Lister, rep.

4857

606

Dorsey Hoppe, dem.

....

. 4251

1900.

President of the United States William McKinley. rep .. .5378 306 William J. Bryan, dem. 5072

300

Governor-

Aaron T. Bliss, rep.

.5027

William C. Maybury, dem.

.5458

431

936

269

233

218

678

PAST AND PRESENT OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

Congressman-

Henry C. Smith, rep. 5520

Martin G. Loennecker, dem. 4966

State Senator-

Hugo C. Loeser, rep. . 5057

Charles A. Ward, dem. 5336 279

Judge of Probate --

H. Wirt Newkirk, rep. . 4633

Willis L. Watkins, dem. 4843

Henry S. Dean, ind. rep. . 1050

Sheriff-

Cassius M. Warner, rep 4166

Jolın Gillen, dem. 5224

Cyrenus G. Darling, ind. rep. . . 1130

County Clerk --

John Kalmbach, rep 3722

Philip Blum, Jr., dem. . 5318

William E. Boyden, ind. rep.

1452

County Treasurer-

Cone E. Sperry, rep. 3885

George J. Mann, dem. 5363

D. E. Waite, ind. rep

1244

John Reno, rep. . 3880

Clifford R. Huston, dem. . 5442

C. O. Barnes, ind. rep.

1172

Prosecuting Attorney-

Frank A. Stivers, rep. 3953

John L. Duffy, dem. 5401

Frank E. Jones, ind. rep.

1164

Circuit Court Commissioners-

Carl T. Storm, rep. 4136

E. A. Holbrook, rep ..

.4129

William H. Murray, dem

. 5222

Frank Joslyn, dem.

. 5228

WV. E. Bailey, ind. rep.

II28

E. W. Owen, ind. rep.

1161

Coroner-

Harris Ball, rep. . . .4065 H. A. Britton, rep. 4132

Benjamin F. Watts, dem .5283

115I

1063

Justice Supreme Court- Robert M. Montgomery, rep. . . 4801 686

Allen C. Adsit, dem. 4115

County School Commissioners-

Charles E. Foster, rep.

4585

339

Dorsey Hoppe, dem.

4246

1058

1902.

Governor-

Aaron T. Bliss, rep. 3548

1596

Lorenzo T. Durand, dem. 5054 1506

Congressman-

Charles E. Townsend, rep. 4284

Frederick B. Wood, dem.

4298

1478

State Senator-

Frank P. Glazier, rep

.4156

Henry N. Tefft, dem

4296

140

1562

Sheriff-

James E. Burke, rep.

3560

Joseph Gauntlett, dem.

5009

1449

County Clerk-

1448

James E. Harkins, rep.

. 4228

Philip Blum, dem.

4361

133

County Treasurer-

Cone E. Sperry, rep

3836

Charles Braun, dem.

4698

862

1086

1092

Charles A. Barnes, rep.

.3775

Clifford R. Huston, dem

1788

1013

Prosecuting Attorney-

John L. Duffy, dem.

4815

( No opposition. )

554

Christian F. Kapp, dem. .5195 H. B. Jenks, ind. rep. 1134 John Slater, ind. rep. I126

IQOI.

210

670

PAST AND PRESENT OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

Circuit Court Commissioner-

William D. Putnam, rep. 3949

J. Stewart Lathers, rep. .3975

William H. Murray, dem. 4645 670

Frank Joslyn, dem. 4585 610

Coroner-

Harry B. Britton, rep. . 3945

James B. Wallace, rep. .3997

Benjamin F. Watts, dem. 4579

Christian F. Kapp, dem.

4534

537

1903.

Justice Supreme Court-

Frank A. Hooker, rep. 4168

James H. Pound, dem. 3828

County School Commissioners

Charles E. Foster, rep. .4095

Warren H. Smith, dem. . 3904

1904.

President of the United States

Theodore Roosevelt, rep. 6557

Alton B. Parker, dem. 3780

Governor-

Fred M. Warner, rep. 4892

Woodbridge N. Ferris, dem. . . 5571 679

Congressman-

Charles E. Townsend, rep. .5660

John P. Kirk, dem. 4755

State Senator-

Archibald J. Peake, rep 5,580

Arthur Brown, dem.

.4829

Judge of Probate-

Emory E. Leland, rep. 5639

Tracy L. Towner, dem. 4763

Sheriff-

Frank T. Newton, rep 5631

Joseph Gauntlett, dem.

4761

County Clerk-

James E. Harkins, rep . . .6263 2150 Byron C. Whittaker. dem. .4113

County Treasurer-

Otto D. Luick, rep.

.5880

I378

Charles Brown, dem.

. 4502

John Lawson, rep. . 5532 674 William A. Seery, dem. 4858

Prosecuting Attorney-

Andrew J. Sawyer, Jr., rep. . .6008 1637

William H. Murray, dem. . . 4371

Circuit Court Commissioners-

George W. Sample, rep. .6066 1622 1682 William S. Putnam, rep. .6006 Herbert D. Witherell. dem. 4310

Frank Joslyn. dem

4384

Coroners-

Samuel W. Burchfield, rep .. ... 6026

170I

1726

James P. Wallace, rep. ..... .6051 Frederick G. Ronneberger, dem . 4325 Christian F. Kapp, dem. .4313

1905.

Justice Supreme Court-

Joseph B. Moore, rep. . 4404 685

Vernon H. Smith, dem. 3719

Circuit Judge-

751 Edward D. Kinne, rep. .. . .. . 4555 (No opposition. )

Board of County Auditors-

George H. Fischer, rep. 413I

Frank Stowell, rep .4110 John Farrell. rep. 4039 Jeremiah D. Ryan, dem. .4007

James D. McGregor, dem.

4017

William Bacon, dem

4134

340

19I

2777

905

876

870

582

680

PAST AND PRESENT OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE ILLUSTRIOUS DEAD.

JOIIN ALLEN.

John Allen, one of the founders of the city of Ann Arbor, was born in Augusta county, Vir- ginia, May 17. 1796. His parents were James and Elizabeth (Tate) Allen, both of whom were native Virginians. In January, 1824, he came to Michigan, and in company with Elisha W. Rum- sey located the site of Ann Arbor. Shortly after the location of the village Mr. Allen began specu- lating in land and in laying out embryo cities. At one time he was the owner of many thousand acres of land in the western part of the state. The hard times of 1837 affected him severely, and he went east to dispose of his land, but the dullness of the money market operated against him, entailing a great loss. Mr. Allen was a man of an exceedingly hopeful disposition, and one of considerable force and character. Whatever he undertook he brought to bear all the energies of his nature and in every enterprise looking to the development of Ann Arbor he was in the lead. In company with S. W. Dexter, he published for a time the Western Emigrant, the first paper in Washtenaw county. He studied law with James Kingsley, and was admitted to the bar in 1832, but gave but little of his time to his profession. He was state senator from 1845 to 1848.

Mr. Allen was twice married. First, to Miss Mary Crawford, November 2. 1815, in Virginia. Mrs. Allen was. of an. old family of that state. She died May 6, 1819. Second, to Mrs. Ann J. McCue, widow of Dr. William McCue, and daughter of Thomas Barry, of Londonderry, Ire- land. In 1850 Mr. Allen went to California, hop- ing to recover the fortune he had lost. But such was not to be the case for he died on March II. 1851. Mrs. Allen returned to Virginia, where she died November 27, 1875. in the seventy-ninth year of her age.

SAMUEL W. DEXTER.

Samuel W. Dexter was born in Boston in 1792, and was the eldest son of the distinguished states-

man and advocate, Samuel Dexter. After gradu- ating at Harvard he removed to Athens, on the Hudson river. From there he came to Michigan in August, 1824. He located in the vicinity of the present village of Dexter the same year; and in 1826 came with his family to reside in a house which he built on the bank of the river Huron, very near the present railroad depot in the village of Dexter. This house was used for many years as a place of worship for as many as four or five denominations, who there held at stated intervals regular service, and it was also a home for the different preachers who came to conduct the services.

Mr. Dexter published the first newspaper in Washtenaw county, in 1829, at Ann Arbor, The Western Emigrant.

In 1826 he was appointed chief justice of the county court by Hon. Lewis Cass. He held the first court for the county of Washtenaw at the house of Erastus Priest, in Ann Arbor, on the third Monday of January, 1827. In the same year he was solicited to become a territorial dele- gate to congress, but resigned all claims in favor of his friend, Major John Biddle, of Detroit, who was a brother of the famous Nicholas Biddle, of United States Bank renown. In 1831, Mr. Dex- ter, Austin E. Wing and John R. Williams were candidates for the office of delegate to congress in the territory of Michigan. Mr. Wing was the democratic candidate. Mr. Williams was an in- dependent candidate, and Judge Dexter was the candidate of the anti-Masons. The vote in Wash- tenaw county resulted as follows: Mr. Dexter, 389: Mr. Wing, 227; Mr. Williams, 5; total vote in county, 621. The whole territory vote was as follows: Wing. 3188; Dexter, 2100; Williams, 1100; total vote, 4588. Mr. Dexter again ran for congress, this time upon the free-soil ticket, about the time of the Kansas-Nebraska excitement. In 1826 Judge Dexter established a private postoffice in his own house and carried mail on horseback to and from Ann Arbor once a week.

He located Saginaw city in the year 1825; and also Byron, Shiawassee county ; and in the same year he entered lands in the vicinity of Tecumseh. For the last twenty years of his life, finding that certain points of the country around about were

681

PAST AND PRESENT OF WASHTENAW COUNTY

not supplied with regular means of worship, he preached to the people in various schoolhouses. Mr. Dexter died at the old homestead in Dexter, Michigan, February 6, 1863.

GEORGE MILES.

Judge George Miles was born in Amsterdam, Montgomery county, New York, and was of old Puritan stock. He had to rely upon his own resources in early life, which tended greatly to develop his powers. He was admitted to the bar in 1822 in his native state. In 1837 he re- moved to Ann Arbor, where he continued the general practice of his profession until appointed to the bench in 1846, where he presided with great dignity. His reported opinions are notice- able for their ability, conciseness and close ad- herence to the points involved, and compare fa- vorably with the early New York reports. Judge Miles was possessed of an exalted character for integrity, and he was respected and esteemed by all. He died in the prime of life.

WILLIAM A. FLETCHER.

Judge William A. Fletcher, the first chief jus- tice of the state of Michigan, was born in New Hampshire, his younger days being spent in the mercantile business in his native state. This was in 1813. About this time he removed to New York, where he studied law and was ad- mitted to the bar. In 1821 he removed to De- troit, and in 1823 was appointed chief justice of the county court of Wayne county. On the 17th day of April, 1833, the legislative council of the territory organized a judicial circuit, em- bracing all the organized in the territory, ex- cept Wayne, and Mr. Fletcher was appointed judge of the circuit. It being necessary for the judge to reside in his district, he removed to Ann Arbor, where he continued to reside un- til his death. Upon the organization of the state, Judge Fletcher was appointed chief jus- tice of the supreme court, which office he re- signed in 1842. Judge Fletcher was possessed of a clear, discriminating mind, and was a very able lawyer. He died in September, 1852.

MUNNIS KENNY.

Munnis Kenny, the fourth son of Deacon Moses and Abigail Kenny, was born in New- fane, Vt., December 10, 1788. At the age of 15 he was sent to the academy of Chesterfield, New Hampshire, with the view of preparing him for college. He entered Williams college, where he spent three years ; then entering the senior class of Middlebury college, he graduted in 1809, at the age of 21. The same year he took the de - gree of A. B. in Williams college. After his graduation he began the study of law with Judge White, of Townshend. While here he married Martha, daughter of Dr. John Campbell. He then located in Townshend, where he followed his profession for several years, being in the mean- time honored with offices in the town and for three years sent to the legislature.

From Townshend Mr. Kenny went to Brighton, Mass., where he remained for several years. In 1829 he removed to Webster, Washtenaw county, Michigan, and located 240 acres of land. Hav- ing spent all of his life up to this time in in- tellectual pursuits, and in the society of the cul- tured and refined, it is not to be wondered he found much in pioneer life not congenial to his tastes, but he did not hesitate in the work he set out to do-the providing of a comfortable home for his family. Hospitality was one of his ruling traits. The "latchstring" at his house "was always out." The newcomer was always welcomed, and assisted in finding a home.

In politics Mr. Kenny was an anti-slavery man, and lived to read the proclamation of Abra- ham Lincoln, remarking, as he did, that he was satisfied. He was one of the founders of the Presbyterian church in Webster. Mr. Kenny was the originator of the Washtenaw Mutual Insurance company, and was for many years its secretary.

JAMES KINGSLEY.

James Kingsley was born in Canterbury. Windham county, Connecticut, on January 6, 1797, and moved with his parents to Brooklyn, in the same county, where he attended school till about 19 years of age. He then went to the

682

PAST AND PRESENT OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

city of Providence, R. I., where he studied Latin in Brown university. Returning to Brooklyn he studied law and was admitted to the bar. In 1823 he went to Virginia and was en- gaged as a private teacher in the family of Lud- well Lee, son of the famous Richard Henry Lee. He remained in Virginia until the winter of 1826, when he went to Mississippi. Shortly afterward, the yellow fever breaking out, he con- cluded to emigrate to Michigan, and came to Ann Arbor. He came up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers by boat, landing at Cincinnati, where he purchased a horse and rode to Detroit. At the latter place he sold his horse and came on foot to Ann Arbor, reaching here in the fall of 1826. Upon arriving in the village of Ann Arbor he selected two lots of land, about three miles north of the city, and returned the next day to Detroit and entered his lots in the land office there. He then returned here and began work by clearing on his land during that fall and winter five acres, devoting all his time to his land, as no court was held until January, 1827. At that time he commenced the practice of law in Ann Arbor, being the first attorney admitted to practice at the bar of Washtenaw county.

In 1830 he was married to Miss Lucy Ann Clark, a sister of General Edward Clark. She died in 1856, and three children survived her : Mrs. C. A. Chapin, of Ann Arbor; James and George Kingsley, of Paola, Kansas.

In 1828 Mr. Kingsley was appointed judge of probate, which office he held until 1836. From 1830 till 1833 he was a member of the legislative council of the territory of Michigan, and March 3, 1831, he was appointed a trustee of the Uni- versity of Michigan. In 1837 he was a member of the lower house of the state legislature, and in 1838, 1839 and 1842 a member of the senate. While a member of the senate, in 1842, he drew the charter of the Michigan Central railroad by which it went into operation-its first charter. In 1848 he was again elected a member of the house, and in 1850 was a member of the constitu- tional convention, in which he was on the judi- ciary committee, and occupied a prominent posi- tion in the proceedings and deliberations of the convention. In 1852 he became regent of the

university and held this office for six years. In 1869-70 he was again elected to the lower house, which was the last official position held by him. He was also the second mayor of Ann Arbor.

The city is especially indebted to him for his early and earnest efforts in locating, establishing and building up the university.

EDWARD MUNDY.

Edward Mundy was born in Middlesex county, New Jersey, August 14, 1794. He was graduated from Rutgers college in 1812. He studied law and commenced practice in his native county. In 1819 he emigrated with his family to Illinois and engaged in practice there, but after a time returned to New Jersey and became a merchant. In 1831 he removed to Ann Arbor, where he hecame a justice, and from 1833 to 1835 was associate territorial judge. In 1835 he was a delegate from Washtenaw county to the first constitutional convention and was a leading member of that body. He was the first lieutenant-governor of Michigan, and held that position from 1835 to 1840 He then resumed the practice of law and was successful. From March, 1847, to April, 1848, he was attorney- general of the state. He was also prosecuting attorney of Washtenaw county at one time and a regent of the university. In 1848 he was ap- pointed by the governor and the senate judge of the sixth judicial circuit and associate justice of the supreme court. This appointment caused him to change his residence from Ann Arbor to Grand Rapids, where he lived until his death, March 13, 1851. He was a dignified presiding officer and an able judge. He was a man of fine personal appearance and well liked both in public and private life. He was a member of the Episcopal church and a democrat in politics.

ALPHEUS FELCH,

Alpheus Felch was descended from patriotic and revolutionary stock. His grandfather was a soldier in the war for independence of the col- onies and in consideration of such service par- ticipated in the soldiers' land grants down in the

683

PAST AND PRESENT OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

wilderness of Maine. His father was reared there as a farmer's boy, and on reaching his majority became a merchant at Limerick, York county, Maine. It was there that Governor Felch was born, September 28. 1804. He was the only son in a family of six children. The death of his father, when he was an infant of 2 years, and of his mother one year later. left him an orphan to be reared by his grandfather, and he never knew the deeper love and tender sym- pathy of a mother. He was carefully educated. beginning in the district schools and preparing for college in Philips Exeter Academy. At 19 he entered Bowdoin College, from which he gradu- ated in 1827. He studied law and was admitted to the bar at Bangor, Maine, in the autumn of 1830. His health was never robust, and the rigors of the climate of Maine became too se- vere for him, so he set out for the milder climate of Mississippi. He left Maine in 1833 with the intention of forming a partnership with the brilliant Sergeant S. Prentiss, at Vicksburg. On arriving at Cincinnati, however, he was taken clown with Asiatic cholera, then raging as an epidemic. His illness caused him to change his plans and to fix on Michigan as his place of residence. He first settled in Monroe, remain- ing there about 10 years, and in 1843 he removed to Ann Arbor, where he continued to live until his death. His public service began a year after his settlement in Monroe, as village attorney of Monroe. He became a member of the state legis- lature in 1835 and 1836; was state bank commis- sioner in 1838, auditor-general in 1842, justice of the supreme court in 1843. member of the board of regents of the University of Michigan from 1843 to 1847 and president of the board during the last two years, governor of Michigan from 1845 to 1847. United States senator from Michigan 1847 to 1853. commissioner to adjust and settle Spanish and Mexican land claims un- der the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo from 1853 to 1856, Tappan professor of law in the Uni- versity of Michigan from 1879 to 1883. and president of the State Historical society from 1888 to 1894. This is indeed a noteworthy record, unsurpassed by the service of any citizen or official in the life of the state. As a legislator

he opposed very earnestly the wild cat scheme of banking, inaugurated during that period, which proved, as he foretold, very disastrous to the people of the state. As bank commissioner he contributed very largely to the closing np of rotten banks and the retrieving of the credit of the people of the state, by placing the finances of the state on a a substantial basis. He was methodical and painstaking in the performance of whatever he undertook to do, and there ap- peared to be no thought of himself in the ac- ceptance of public office or the discharge of official duties. The opportunities of acquiring a fortune while in the service of the state or the nation were unnoticed. Apparently it never oc- curred to him to make personal use of them. The advantages offered by a residence of three years in California, as president of a commis- sion that adjusted claims aggregating many mil- lions were never improved for himself, and his honest work satisfied all the demands of justice. He was appointed commissioner at the close of his senatorial term by President Pierce, and was elected president of the commission. The work was of vast importance, requiring wise discretion and delicate diplomacy. There was a clashing of foreign and domestic interests. Among the ques- tions involved were the validity of titles granted by the rulers of Mexico to large tracts of land : the right of the Roman Catholic church to the missions established, under authority of Spain or Mexico: the right of the Pueblos to their lands in common ; and in many cases there were ad- verse claimants, individual or corporate, to the same lands. The testimony in all cases was heard with the same carefulness as in a court of justice. and when completed in March. 1854. filled 40 volumes.

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Past and present of Washtenaw County, Michigan, Part 82

Author: Beakes, Samuel W. (Samuel Willard), 1861-; S.J. Clarke Publishing Company Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Chicago : The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 886

Author: Beakes, Samuel W. (Samuel Willard), 1861-; S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago : The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 886