USA > Michigan > Washtenaw County > Past and present of Washtenaw County, Michigan > Part 83
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Governor Felch settled down to the practice of law in Ann Arbor after the work of the com- mission was ended, and continued in practice for many years. On the ninetieth anniversary of his birth the bar of Washtenaw county tendered him a complimentary banquet, which was attended by many distinguished guests as well as members of the association. Governor Felch always arose grandly to the requirements of every occasion and yet never got above the ordinary duties of
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everyday life. He was married in Monroe, Sep- tember 14, 1837, to Lucretia Williams Lawrence, a daughter of Judge Wolcott Lawrence. Five children survived him: Mrs. C. B. Grant, of Lansing : Mrs. E. H. Cole, of Ann Arbor; Theo- dore A. Felch, a physician of Ishpeming ; Frank S. Felch, a banker of Sandusky, Ohio: and Mrs. Dr. C. G. Jennings, of Detroit.
WILLIAM S. MAYNARD.
William S. Maynard was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, April 25, 1802, and at the time of his death, which occurred June 18, 1866, was 64 years old. He came to Ann Arbor in September, 1830. Up to within a few months of his death he was actively engaged in business enterprises of various kinds, private and public. He was elected mayor in 1856, 1857 and 1865. and in the meantime served one term as alder- man. He also served on the school board and was a member of the cemetery board.
JOSHUA G. LELAND.
Hon. Joshua G. Leland was born in Madison county, New York, July 19, 1805, and died April 27, 1876. He spent the earlier years of his life at his native place, and was married in 1827. In 1831 he removed to Michigan and settled in the town of Ann Arbor, and one year later removed to the township of Northfield, where he continued to reside until within a few years of his death, when he removed to the city of Ann Arbor. His energy and force of character were very marked, and he was always busy, even to the last days of his life.
He was justice of the peace in Northfield for many years, and was twice elected to the state legislature, in 1840 and 1844. He was once president of the Washtenaw County Agricultural Society, president of the Farmers' Insurance Com- pany, and president of the Pioneer Society. He was closely identified with many of the public interests of the county. Mr. Leland was a re- ligious man, having been converted at his home in Northfield in 1834. Soon afterwards he joined the Methodist Episcopal church, of which
he remained a faithful member up to the time of his death, and in which he help positions of trust. He was in his barn about 10 days before his death, and, seeing a rat, attempted to kill it with the sharp prongs of the pitchfork he held in his hand, but missed his aim, and the rat ran up the handle of the fork and bit him on the arm. His arm and hand swelled rapidly and he had to take to his bed, from which he never rose again. His son is the present judge of probate of Wash- tenaw county.
I. M. WEED.
Rev. Ira Mason Weed was born in Hinesburgh, Vt., January 14, 1804. He prepared for college and entered the University of Vermont at Bur- lington, in the sophomore year, graduating in 1825, after which he entered the office of Judge Fine, in Ogdensburg, N. Y., where he remained a year. It was during this period that his atten- tion was attracted to religious subjects, and his conversion took place.
In May, 1830, he was married to Miss Caro- line N. Dutton, of Hillsborough, N. H., and came immediately to Ypsilanti, arriving early in June. At that time the few members of the Presbyterian and Congregational churches (13 in number) were living widely apart in the settle- ments surrounding the new village-two, four and six miles, and sometimes more. They had to walk, or, at best, take the most primitive modes of conveyance to get to the village. Mr. Weed continued as pastor of the Presbyterian church in Ypsilanti until 1847, when he moved to Chicago, where he entered on an agency for the American Board of Foreign Mis- sions, becoming district secretary for the northwest. This field included northern Il- linois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota, as far as their population extended. In 1847-48 there was hardly a railroad out of Chicago. Here was a pioneer life to encounter again! Long, lonely drives over "slews" and deep prairie mud, to reach a shelter at night with the new settlers. The churches were most of them feeble, but he laid strong foundations in benevolent work. There is abundant evidence of his excellent in-
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fluence upon the churches he visited during these eight or ten years, while in the service of the American board.
GEORGE P. WILLIAMS.
Of all the members of the university faculty in the early days. Prof. George P. Williams stands pre-eminent in the affections of the old boys. Somehow he got hold of their heartstrings as no one else could. If ever a student had any misfortune befall him, or got into trouble, to no one would he go so soon for advice and com- fort as to "Old Punky," as the boys affection- ately called him. The origin, by the way, of this nickname has never been definitely explained, but it is supposed to have arisen from the dryness of his wit. There was a fatherly kindness in his bearing. a genuine sympathy in his nature, that won the entire confidence of his students. He was a delightful man to meet. a noble and gener- ous soul, and charmed everyone with his pres- ence. No doubt one secret of the hold that Dr. Williams had upon his students was his ready wit and genuine good humor. The best stories and the keenest repartee became associated with his name, but the shafts of his wit were never cruel and unkind.
Probably no man had so much to do with shaping the fortunes of the university in the earlier days of its history. He was the first member of the faculty, being appointed in 1841 to the chair of ancient languages. from which he was soon after transferred to that of mathe- matics. He served the university for 40 years, and for more than 10 years prior to the advent of President Tappan he was virtually its head. His influence during that formative period was very great. The classes were small and the personal touch of the teacher was sensibly felt by every student. The personal relation between teachers and students became intimate, and this closeness of contact doubtless accounts for the loyalty and devotion of the older generation of graduates to the memory of their professors. This feeling found tangible expression in an effort made some 30 years ago to raise a fund, the income of which should be given to the venerable professor in
retirement from active service, in order to pro- vide his declining years with additional comforts and to free his mind from sordid cares. After his decease the fund was intended to perpetuate his memory by the endowment of a chair to he called by his name. Unhappily this generous undertaking never has been realized, owing to gross mismanagement of the funds. A portion, however, of the funds has been saved and is now accumulating with the hope of securing eventu- ally the ulterior aim.
Dr. Williams belonged to the older type of the college professor. He was a teacher, rather than an investigator : a man of liberal training, more than a specialist. And yet his attainments in mathematics and physics were by no means in- significant. He recognized, however, as teachers of science now-a-days are less inclined to do, the vital relationship of all learning, and he was a stanch advocate of a broad education as the only sound basis for special and professional training.
As a teacher, Dr. Williams was noted for ac- curacy and clearness of statement, and for com- summate skill in detecting fallacious reasoning and erroneous methods. An incident that oc- curred in his class-room affords a good illustra- tion of this trait. One of the students was at the blackboard explaining a problem in analytical geometry which he had solved. as he proudly supposed. by a formula of his own invention and by a method superior to that given in the text- book. When the critical point was reached the professor interrupted the explanation with a ques- tion : "Mr. -, what have you done there?" "Simplified it," was the confident reply. "Yes, stultified it." came back from the chair, where- upon the professor pointed out the fallacy that lurked beneath the process to the surprise of the over-confident student.
A graduate of 1862 has said of Dr. Williams : "Among the worthies of that earlier time when we were young and our teachers were enthroned among our divinities, dear old Dr. Williams will forever hold a large place in grateful memory, not so much for what science he taught us as for what he was to us as a man and a friend. His genial smile and benignant presence still haunt and charm our memory."
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HENRY P. TAPPAN.
When Dr. Tappan came to Ann Arbor the students were housed in dormitories, the only buildings then on the campus, except the old medical college. These two dormitories now constitute the old north and south wings of Uni- versity Hall. It was the Doctor's idea that these buildings were needed for better purposes than sleeping rooms for students, and so he turned the boys out to find quarters among the residents of the town. This innovation provoked a great out- cry. Such a thing had never before been heard of. To thus set free from inquisitorial restraint even a small horde of young men, subject to their own sweet will, was deemed a most hazardous proceeding. There were all sorts of direful pre- dictions, which happily came to naught. Dr. Tappan said to the students that they were big enough and old enough to conduct themselves as gentlemen under all circumstances, and that it was best for them to take the responsibility. They had passed the age of being tied to their mother's apron strings. That well expressed the theory of his government. If students, as residents of Ann Arbor. violated the laws of the land, officials charged with enforcement of laws would take them in hand; if they showed themselves unfit or unworthy of membership in the university, it was best for all concerned that they should re- tire from it.
Dr. Andrew D. White, in his fascinating auto- biographical reminiscences, relates an anecdote which illustrates Dr. Tappan's method of disci- pline. It shows both his tact and his shrewd- ness. The bell which called the students to their classes was hung on a high post in the rear of the recitation halls. One night this bell mysteri- ously disappeared. The next morning at chapel Dr. Tappan quietly said : "The authorities of the university had provided a bell as the signal for the opening of classes. They were not obliged to do this; it was wholly for the convenience of the students. But I see that the students have thought it unnecessary and have removed it. Probably it was thoughtful and commendable on their part to save the regents the expense of maintaining a bell and employing a man to ring
it. They will take notice, however, that here- after they must depend upon themselves to keep the time. Classes will go on just the same. Those not in their seats at the appointed moment must take the consequences." Not many mornings later the old bell was found mysteriously back in its place again.
Dr. Tappan's nature was of the kindliest. Though his discipline was firm, its justice was always evident, and so the subject of it could not harbor resentment. The student body regarded the president with genuine personal affection. The body was then not so large but that he could recognize each and know something of his char- acter and circumstances. His kindness of heart was no mere pretense. More than one young man seeking an education on the slimmest of financial resources had reason to know this.
On first view, the dignity of Dr. Tappan was something awful; on further acquaintance it seemed to fit him like a well-cut garment. He was a six-footer broad of shoulder and of ample girth. Some of the Ann Arbor people thought him pompous, and when he went out to Lansing to hypnotize the legislature into liberal appropria- tions it was painfully apparent that he could never have made a fortune as a lobbyist. The fact is that neither Dr. Tappan nor his family were very popular in Ann Arbor or Lansing. They were charged with being aristocrats and exclusives, and with looking down on the deni- zens of this neck of western woods with a sort of condescension that was anything but agreeable. That they seemed to regard the people out here as provincials is no more than other New York- ers, both before and since, have done. But in all their intercourse with students neither Dr. Tap- pan nor his family showed anything of this spirit. They were cordial, unreserved, unosten- tatious, hospitable, kind. The Doctor had the re- spect and esteem of every student. It is not too much to say that he inspired the affection of most. Mention Dr. Tappan's name in the presence of one of the fellows of '54 to '64 and the brighten- ing eye and quickening pulse will show that a tender cord has been touched. When he was driven from his post by the intriguers, not one of whom was worthy to unlatch the buckles of
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his shoes, his stanch admirers felt like deeds of desperate revenge.
It was Dr. Tappan's ideas and influence which transformed the mere college, teaching only the studies of the established college curriculum of his day, into the genuine university. He set out to lay the foundations of an institution of learn- ing which should cover the widest range of knowledge, with post-graduate courses, labora- tories for scientific investigation, libraries and an ample teaching staff. Such an institution was then unknown in this country. He opened the way for it, slowly but surely. The enthusiasm of the leader inspired like feeling among his followers. The success which the University of Michigan has achieved is in a large sense due to his initi- ative. The educational interests of Michigan, and of the whole country as well, owe a debt to Dr. Tappan which can not be too frequently called to mind.
JAMES C. WATSON.
James Craig Watson was born in Middlesex. now Elgin county, Canada, west, June 28, 1838. His parents removed from Northumberland county. Pennsylvania, sometime previous to his birth. From here his father removed with his family to Michigan and located in Ann Arbor. Professor Watson was essentially a self-made man. For a time he was employed as a printer on the Michigan Argus. By industry and self- denial he secured the means which permitted him to obtain a college education. All that he has become, all the reputation that he has at- tained, is due to his indomitable preseverance. and the determination with which he set himself to surmount the obstacles which stood in his path. Professor Watson graduated at Michigan University with high honors in 1857, and was the first pupil of the famous astronomer, Dr. Brunnow, who was then director of the observa- tory and professor of astronomy in the Univer- sity of Michigan. Soon after his graduation, in the year 1858, he was appointed instructor in mathematics, in the university, and assistant ob- server. In 1859, upon the retirement of Professor Brunnow. Mr. Watson was appointed professor of astronomy, which position he held during the
college years 1859-60. In the latter year he accepted the chair of physics in the university. which he held for three years. He was then ap- pointed professor of astronomy and director of the observatory, upon the recommendation of many of the leading astronomers of the country. Although only 25 years of age his abilities and pre-eminent qualification for this responsible po- sition had already won recognition, and even thus early had he given evidence of the future eminence which he was to attain. These positions he held until 1879, when he resigned them to ac- cept a similar place in the University of Wiscon- sin, at Madison, Wis., where very great induce- ments and superior facilities were offered him. During his long directorship of the observatory here, although only 25 years of age at the time of his appointment, the list of discoveries and contributions made by him from a record of which any university might be proud.
Professor Watson was elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 1867; of the American Philosophical Society in 1877: of the Royal Academy of Sciences, Catania, Italy, in 1870. He was the discoverer of 23 asteroids, for which he received in 1870 the gold medal of the French Academy of Sciences. In 1875 he received from the khedive of Egypt the decora- tion of knight commander of the Imperial Order of the Medjidich of Turkey and Egypt. He was appointed judge of awards in the Centennial ex- position. He received the degree of Ph. D. from the University of Leipsic in 1870, and from Yale University in 1871. In 1877 Columbia College conferred upon him the degree of LL. D.
He was placed by the government of the United States in charge of the expedition to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, to observe the total eclipse of the sun in 1860; was sent to Carlentina, Sicily, for a similar purpose in 1870, and to Pekin, China, in charge of the expedition of 1874 to observe the transit of Venus. The notes of his observations on the latter expedition are very valuable and voluminous. The last and most noted of Professor Watson's discoveries was that made in July, 1878, in Wyoming, of the existence of one and probably two intra-Mercurial planets. Always a firm believer in Leverrier's theory of
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the existence of Vulcan, he had the satisfaction on this expedition of proving its positive ex- istence, and of obtaining convincing proof to himself, at least, of still another intra-Mercurial planet of lesser magnitude.
Professor Watson died at Madison, Wis., Tues- day, November 23, 1880, while in the prime of his life. Professor C. K. Adams said of him : "In the death of Professor Watson science lost one of its greatest lights and the University of Michi- gan the most illustrious of its alumni. Where- ever astronomy is a science the name of Watson has become familiar to every scholar. His fame has spread not only over America and Europe, but his services have been sought and his la- bors rewarded by nations on the opposite side of the globe, where science is but little known. It is no disparagement either to the living or the dead to say that in the peculiar sphere of his in- tellectual activity he has probably had no superior in the history of this country. With all Professor Watson's genius he united the modesty of the most genuine scholarship. His name was much more frequently spoken in scientific circles than in popular society. During the last years of his life he even left the announcement of his dis- coveries to the scientific journals and societies to which he alone contributed. For many years he was a regular contributor of the most promi- nent scientific journals of Europe and America, and by these journals many of his discoveries were first announced."
HENRY SIMMONS FRIEZE.
Henry Simmons Frieze was professor of Latin language and literature in the University of Michigan from 1854 to 1889. He was born in Boston, Mass., September 15, 1817, and died at his home, in Ann Arbor, December 7, 1889. He was graduated at Brown university in 1841 at the head of his class. For the three years subse- quent to his graduation he was a tutor in that university. Then for 10 years he was one of the two proprietors and principals of the University Grammar school in Providence, which was a noted preparatory school for students going to college. Under the persuasions of his friend,
Professor Boise, who had resigned the chair of Greek in Brown university to accept a similar position in the University of Michigan in 1853, he accepted the chair of Latin in the university and held it until his death. After the resignation of President Haven, in 1869, he held the office of acting president in the university until 1871, and again he acted in that capacity during the absence of President Angell in China from 1880 to February, 1882.
All his pupils bear loving testimony to the in- spiration and charm of his teaching. They caught from him the appreciation of what is finest and best in literature. The purity and beauty of his character left their impress upon all who came under his influence. Many important changes in university methods were due to his suggestion or fostered by his wise support. We owe to him the introduction of the so-called diploma relation of the schools to the university and the provision for musical study. He was a warm advocate of the extension of the elective system. He ac- tively encouraged the development of graduate work. He was ever seeking to elevate the range and to enrich the character of university teach- ing. No man except President Tappan has done so much to give to the university its present form and spirit.
He has long been widely known by his scholarly work in editing Vergil and Quintilian. Among his writings of conspicuous importance may be mentioned his life of the Italian sculptor. Giovanni Dupre, his memorial address on Dr. Tappan, his address on Religion and the State University dellivery at our semi-centennial cele- bration in 1887, and the annual reports which he made while acting president.
But valuable as were his public services, what is uppermost in the minds of his pupils is his winsome personality. They will recall his un- wearying kindness, the cultivation of their taste for art, for music, for the choicest things in litera- ture by their association with him, the strengthen- ing of manliness and nobility of character by the lessons he drew from the examples he studied with them in Roman literature and history. Few of us have had the good fortune to know men whose aesthetic nature was so finely attuned and
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developed as his. He was born with a marked natural gift for music, and this faculty was sedulously cultivated from his boyhood. His skill as an organist was great and his talent as a musical composer was conspicuous. No other person has done more to cultivate in the uni- versity and in the town a love for the best music. He was also a most appreciative lover of painting and sculpture, was largely instrumental in secur- ing the collections of the works of art which are possessed by the university, and gave to his classes most inspiring and instructive lectures on art. His life was also enriched by the simplest and most genuine Christian spirit.
Hundreds of graduates are ever testifying how great a debt they owe to him for all the best ideals which have shaped and brightened their lives. For them and for the university he de- lighted to live and to toil. No one was ever more devoted to the interests of the institution or cherished a more abiding hope for its permanent prosperity and usefulness. During the later years of his life he used to say that he should like to live to see 2,000 students on the university grounds. Not that he admired mere bigness, but he believed that the university could do work good enough to give a worthy training to so many students. He was spared to see his wish granted. His last days were made happy by the manifest signs that his aspirations for the university. to which he gave 35 years of his life, were to be fully met in the days that were to come.
JOHN J. ROBISON.
Hon. John J. Robison was born in Palmyra, N. Y .. August 13. 1824. He was the son of Andrew Robison, who removed with his family to Sharon in 1843, where he resided until his death in 1879. Andrew Robison was a member of the Michigan state legislature of 1859, and also served as supervisor of Sharon township for a number of years.
John J. Robison was married to Miss Althea E. Gillett. of Sharon. May 2, 1847. Mr. Robi- son was a frequent delegate to democratic state conventions, and was a delegate to the democratic national convention of 1872. He represented
Sharon on the board of supervisors for three terms. In 1860 he was defeated for county clerk ; in 1862 he was elected state senator, and re- elected in 1864; in 1868 he was elected county clerk, and re-elected in 1870: in 1874 and 1876 he was the democratic nominee for congress, be- ing defeated by small majorities ; in 1882 he was elected county clerk again, and re-elected in 1884: in 1886 he was elected mayor of Ann Arbor; in 1878 he was elected a member of the state legis- lature, and was complimented by his party with the nomination for speaker of the house. He was a famous story teller and a man of a strong and winning personality. He died at Sharon. October 26, 1897.
THOMAS M. COOLEY.
Judge Thomas M. Cooley was born in Attica. N. Y., January 6, 1824. He sprang from sturdy Yankee stock, his first American ancestor settling in Massachusetts in 1630. His father was a farmer, who removed from Massachussets to New York in 1804. Although in possession of but moderate means and a large family he was able to give his children a fair academic education, which in Judge Cooley's case was supplemented by three years' teaching. Judge Cooley worked on the farm and at a blacksmith's forge until at the age of 19. when he entered the office of Judge Theron R. Strong. at Palmyra. N. Y .. The following year he started west, intending to locate at Chicago. but his funds gave out and he stopped at Adrian. Mich., where he entered the law office of Tiffany & Beaman. While a law student in this office he held the office of deputy county clerk.
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