USA > Michigan > Ingham County > Lansing > Past and present of the city of Lansing and Ingham county, Michigan > Part 6
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PLANK ROAD.
About the years 1846 to 1850 several com- panies, no less than six, were chartered to build plank roads through or to terminate in Ingham county, but only one was ever built, the Lansing and Howell, chartered March 20, 1850, by James Seymour, H. H. Smith, E. B. Danforth, George W. Lee and F. C. Whipple.
Among the stockholders were Erastus Corning, Horatio Seymour, John Owen, C. C. Trowbridge, H. P. Baldwin and Zacha- riah Chandler. The contractors for the con- struction were H. H. Smith, James Turner and Charles Seymour, all of them merchants of Lansing, who made payment for much of the labor in store orders. It was finished and opened for travel in 1853 and connected at Howell with the Detroit and Howell plank road, making a through road to De- troit. No one in these days can know or
imagine how much it was appreciated, even more than was the first paved street in Lan- sing, for other roads were continuous mud holes in wet times and almost as bad in dry times, because of the ruts worn when wet by wheels of loaded wagons. There were toll gates at Lansing and Howell and about ten miles apart between, and it was great fun for sleighing parties to run through the gates or get the keepers up in the early morning hours. It passed through Okemos and Williamston in this county. In this con- nection it is pleasant to remember the old four horse stage coaches on the line between Detroit and Lansing and the tin horns of the driver when they were sounded long and loud on the approach of the stage and the gathering of men and boys at the tavern to see the stage come in at a speed greatly accelerated for their wonder and enjoyment and the driver's whip with the long lash artistically wielded and cracked for the same purpose.
The road was excellent at first and for a few years, but after that the planks warped and their ends were drawn up by the heat of the sun until it became worse than the dirt roads for travel and they were finally taken up and the roadway was gravelled.
EARLY PHYSICIANS.
Some of the physicians who practiced in Ingham county prior to 1863-partly revised from Durant's History of Lansing :
Dr. Solomon D. Newbro was probably the first physician who settled in Lansing. He came immediately after the location of the capitol in 1847 and remained until his death. He was of the Thompsonian School, relying almost entirely on the curative properties of roots and herbs. He first built himself an office on the south side of Franklin Street, eighty feet east of Center Street, and after-
INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 45
wards the building known as the Newbro Block on the east side of Center Street be- tween Franklin and Wall Streets. If this building is ever taken down a novelty will be disclosed, for the walls were built by nailing strips of wood, one by four inches in size, one upon another. It was a long time building, as one may imagine. The lower story was fitted for stores and he and his brother Eugene occupied the north one with drugs. For a long time he was the favorite doctor with many families in that part of the town. He died in Lansing, March 12, 1896.
Dr. Hulbert Bartow Shank was born on the 3Ist of May, 1820, in Springport, Cayu- ga county, N. Y. He came to Michigan and settled in Lansing in the fall of 1848. He was a particular friend of Dr. David E. Mc- Clure, then about giving up the active prac- tice of medicine, and who gave Dr. Shank the benefit of his experience and assisted him to practice. From that day until his death Dr. Shank was a prominent practitioner in Ingham and the surrounding counties of Central Michigan. He was first physician to the State Reform School for Boys, was a member of the House of Representatives in the Legislature of 1861-1862, and went out as surgeon of the Eighth Michigan In- fantry in the War of the Rebellion. He was a member of the old State Medical Society and served as its president one term. He died April 23, 1889.
Dr. Hosea Stanton Burr was born in the town of Darien, Genesee county, N. Y., about 1820. In August, 1847, he moved to Lansing, Michigan, where he purchased property and continued his practice with great success. He superintended the build- ing of his first dwelling, which was on River Street and one of the first erected in that part of town, doing a large amount of the work with his own hands. For a number of weeks he and his wife lived in a shanty
hastily constructed on his lot while his dwelling was in progress. The whole site of Lansing was then a dense wilderness, ex- cepting a few small clearings here and there, and Mrs. Burr remembered well of getting lost in the woods on the west side while returning from North Lansing. The paths were almost impassable. But the doctor did not live long to enjoy and profit by the repu- tation which he was fast building up. A destructive epidemic in the nature of a con- gestive or spinal fever visited the place in the spring of 1849, . and numbered among its victims Dr. Burr, who died on the 15th day of April in that year. It was so alarm- ing that the Legislature adjourned on ac- count of it. Many of the people died of the disease.
Dr. John Goucher came from Ohio to Lansing about the first of September, 1847. He purchased the lots where the Hotel Downey now stands and erected a dwelling and office. He belonged to the Eclectic school and built up a considerable practice in this vicinity. About 1865 he sold the property to LaFayette C. Baker for five thousand dollars and soon after removed to Pennsylvania. The property was really pur- chased by subscriptions among a few prom- inent citizens of Lansing, who donated it to Mr. Baker in consideration of his agree- ment to erect a first-class hotel on the ground. He then built there, the present "Hotel Downey" and named it the "Lansing House."
Dr. James Watts Holmes was born on Pompey Hill, Onondaga county, N. Y., May 27, 1810. He began practice in Lansing, Tompkins county, N. Y., removed to Bliss- field, Lenawee county, Michigan, in 1836 and remained until January, 1848, when on the removal of the capitol, he settled in Lan- sing, Michigan, where he continued until his death, which occurred on the 8th day of
1
46
PAST AND PRESENT
May, 1872. Dr. Holmes was a member of the State Medical Society, also of the board for locating the State Reform School.
Dr. David E. McClure was also an early settler in Lansing. In August or Septem- ber, 1848, he removed to Lansing, where he had purchased property, soon after the town was laid out. He erected a frame store, one of the first in the central part of the town, on the northwest corner of Wash- ington Avenue and Allegan Street. It was a wide building and occupied by himself- for a drug and grocery store and a tenant. He subsequently erected several business buildings and about 1851 built a two-story frame dwelling on the northeast corner of Washington Avenue and Ionia Street. His death occurred November 21, 1858, and his remains were interred in the old cemetery, but subsequently reinterred in the new one.
Dr. Daniel Johnson was among the phy- sicians who settled here at an early day though he never practiced his profession here and was a native of Canterbury, Conn., where he was born October 1, 1795. In the fall of 1848 he removed to Lansing, Michi- gan. Dr. Johnson died in Lansing on the 2d day of December. 1865.
Dr. S. W. Wright was born in Rome, Oneida county, N. Y., June 22, 1817. He died in Lansing, March 19, 1884.
Dr. Orange B. Webster was born in Clarkson, Monroe county, N. Y., September IO, 1828. In May, 1851, he settled in Lan- sing and commenced practice at North Lan- sing, where he lived until a few years ago, when he went to South Lyons and is said to be living there now.
Dr. Ira Hawley Bartholomew was born in the town of Waddington, St. Lawrence county, N. Y., in January, 1828. He came to Michigan and settled in Lansing in the fall of 1854. For the first three years of his residence he was in partnership with Dr.
Shank, but after 1857 practiced by himself. He was for a time engaged in the drug busi- ness in Lansing, but continued practicing during that time. His professional business soon grew to large proportions and his ride extended over a wide region in all directions, he being frequently called as far away as Jackson or Ionia. His education included a knowledge of surgery, which he also prac- ticed as circumstances demanded. He had held many official positions, both professional and civil; he was a member of the State Medical Association, of which he was presi- dent in 1870-71 ; and was the second presi- dent of the Central Michigan Agricultural Society, which position he held for two years. He was principally instrumental in getting a law passed authorizing the forma- tion of district agricultural societies. He also, as chairman of the committee on pub- lic health in the House of Representatives, drew up and introduced in the Legislature the bill for the organization of the State Board of Health, an institution which de- servedly stands at the head of similar or- ganizations in the union. He vigorously supported the measure and urged it upon its final passage. The doctor was a member of the American Public Health Association and was present in 1879 at its annual meeting at Nashville, Tenn. He filled the office of Mayor of Lansing for three consecutive terms. He died in Lansing, October 18, 1889.
Dr. Russel Thayer was born in Lebanon, Madison county, N. Y., in August, 1822. He came to Michigan and settled in Lansing in 1854, where he established himself in the drug business, giving up active practice ex- cept occasionally among his friends and con- tinued in Lansing until the time of his death, which occurred on the 3Ist of August, 1865.
Dr. Joseph B. Hull was born in Vermont, in 1824, came to Lansing in 1856, where he
47
INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
practiced his profession until his death, May 18, 1901, having almost to the last an ex- tensive practice. As Alderman he was the promoter of many of the public improve- ments and he also expended large sums in private improvements, including a fine brick residence and the three-story brick building at No. 219 Washington Avenue, north.
Dr. William H. Haze was born in Co- burg, Canada, April 13, 1816, and came to Michigan in April, 1838, and settled on a farm near Howell. He came to Lansing in 1857 and in 1858 was elected Alderman of the first ward (then including the present first and fourth wards) and became a mem- ber of the first Common Council of the city. He was Mayor of the city in 1866 and was U. S. Revenue Assessor in 1870 and 1871. He practiced his profession until he lost his eyesight and is still living in Lansing.
The first physician who settled in Ingham county was Dr. Valorous Meeker, who came to Leslie township early in 1837. He was then a young man and most excellent physi- cian for his day. He enjoyed a very large practice and had an extensive ride and is well remembered by the pioneers now living. Not long previous to 1847 his health having failed as a consequence of his labors, he returned to the State of Vermont and finally died in the East. Dr. Meeker was succeeded by Drs. M. L. Fiske and John J. Sawyer. The latter soon after settling here removed to Eaton Rapids, but afterwards returned and finally located in Jackson, where he died. Dr. Fiske was a son of Henry Fiske, a pio- neer of Leslie, and studied and grew to man- hood in the township.
Dr. J. D. Woodworth came to Michigan in 1831 from Genesee county, N. Y., with his father, George WV: Woodworth, who set- tled on a farm in Jackson county. He came to Leslie in 1849 and began active practice which he has since continued.
Dr. Henry A. Raney, a young physician, came to Leslie soon after the arrival of Dr. Woodworth, but remained only a few months.
The first physician at Mason, and the second in the county, was Dr. Minos McRob- erts, who was born in Springfield, Vermont, February 14, 1804, and came from Clinton county, N. Y., in June, 1837, and engagedl in practice at this place. He had previously practiced four or five years in the East. For his own convenience he built an office which was found useful for a variety of purposes -- doctor's office, County Register's office, and also, as the doctor said, almost a courthouse. Dr. McRoberts afterwards owned and con- ducted a drug store, but in 1848 sold out to Dr. D. W. Halstead and ceased practice. He died in Mason, February 5, 1884.
Dr. J. W. Phelps was the second physi- cian to locate in Mason, coming in 1841 from Plymouth, Wayne county, Michigan. He died in Mason, August 31, 1864.
Dr. Charles H. Sackrider, for many years a popular and successful physician of Mason, finally relinquished practice (except consul- tation) on account of failing health. He died November 8, 1881.
Dr. Charles H. Darrow, a native of Schenectady, N. Y., moved to Michigan in 1853, in which year he located at St. Johns, Clinton county. After practicing one year at that place-then entirely new-he changed his place of residence to the village of Okemos, Ingham county, in 1854, and entered upon a practice which reached ex- tensive proportions. He remained in Oke- mos until 1867 and during this time achieved a widespread reputation for the efficiency. His ride covered a large territory and the labor incident to his practice finally caused his health to break down and necessitated his withdrawal from the field. In 1867, having
48
PAST AND PRESENT
been elected Register of Deeds for Ingham county, he removed to Mason, where he re- sided until his death May 28, 1885.
The first resident physician of Aurelius township was perhaps Dr. Levi Mann, who lived northeast of Aurelius Center. The first at the latter place was Dr. George W. Swartout, who came to Michigan in 1855 and located in Mason, removing to Aurelius Center in 1860.
Dr. Hiram Frye, from Andover, Mass., settled in Onondaga township in 1838, and a few years later commenced the practice of medicine, which he continued until about 1877.
The first physician to locate in Dansville was Dr. Daniel T. Weston, who came in 1847-48, or perhaps earlier. In 1863 there were located in the village Drs. Thomas J. Webb and Edgar Hahn.
James Leasia was born in the city of De- troit of French parents, on the 16th of Jan- uary, 1821. He settled in Williamston in 1844. The early years of his practice were mostly passed on horseback, excepting oc- casionally when the roads were impassable for a horse, and then he performed his jour- neys on foot, sometimes traveling a distance of ten miles on a single trip. He had an extensive ride, including the counties of Ing- ham and Shiawassee and portions of Clin- ton. He died October 20, 1888.
Among early physicians in the southeast- ern parts of the county was Dr. Tunnicliff, who practiced in Stockbridge at a very early day.
Dr. James Ackley also practiced at Stock- bridge previous to 1844. He removed soon after that date to some part of Jackson county.
Dr. C. A. Jeffries, a homeopath when homeopathy was young, was born in Throopsville, Cayuga county, N. Y., in 18II. He was educated at Auburn, N. Y., and
Pittsfield, Mass. He studied medicine at Auburn and commenced practice under the old school at Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1834. He remained there three or four years when he removed to a farm in Washtenaw county, but the business not proving satisfactory or congenial to his taste, he continued it only about a year and a half, when he removed to Howell, in Livingston county, and resumed the practice of medicine. He remained there until 1844, when he removed to Dexter, in Washtenaw county, and continued until the spring of 1847. While visiting patients in Livingston county, in April of that year, he met three men who afterwards became prominent men of Lansing-Messrs. Bush, Thomas and Peck. These gentlemen were then busily interesting themselves in lands at the new capital, and persuaded Dr. Jef- fries to accompany them to the place, which he did. The spring was late, the streams had overflowed and ice was everywhere. The roads were nearly impassable, and in one place they got the single wagon which they had along with them into a swampy place and were obliged to take off the horse and pull it out backwards.
They came by the old Territorial road. At the crossing of the Cedar river they were delayed for some time. Finally a part of the company went back, and the doctor, together with Bush and Thomas, took turns in riding the saddle horse to Lansing, adopt- the the old method of "riding and tying." when they arrived at North Lansing the dwelling of Deacon Page, who usually kept travelers, was full, and they were obliged to proceed to the house of Justus Gilkey, nearly two miles farther down the river, to find accommodations. The doctor remained a few days, went over the ground where the new capitol now stands and examined the lands to the south of section sixteen. The doctor soon returned to his home in Dexter.
49
INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Messrs. Bush, Thomas and Peck were anx- ious to get him to settle in the new town, and as an inducement offered him lots on the cor- ner south of where the Everett House once stood. The offer being a good one, the doctor concluded to accept it and make Lansing his home, and accordingly in May, 1847, he came back and commenced to build his house, which forms a portion of the one still standing on the lot. He completed it and moved to Lansing in the fall of the same year. He continued in practice until 1850, when he returned to Washtenaw county to take charge of the farm of his father, who had died in 1849. He remained on the place until 1861, when he returned to Lan- sing, principally for the purpose of having his daughter attend the school for young ladies then recently opened by Miss Rogers. Here he remained in the practice of his pro- fession until 1864, when he once more re- turned to the homestead and remained upon it until 1867, when he sold it and removed to Ann Arbor, in which place he practiced until 1871 when he removed to East Sagi- naw and continued until 1876, in which year he moved to Omaha, Neb. In June, 1877, he again returned to Lansing, and again in 1879 returned for a short season to Omaha. In July, 1880, he came back to Lansing and engaged in practice with his daughter, Anna J. Jeffries, near the corner of Washington Avenue and Shiawassee Street. Dr. Jeffries adopted the practice of homeopathy in 1846 and in 1880 was the oldest living practition- er of that school in the State. About 1860 his eyesight began to fail and the infirmity increased upon him until he became wholly blind. He still continued his practice, how- ever, considering that he could fully under- stand disease and prescribe as well as before the misfortune overtook him. Dr. Jeffries was surgeon in the Michigan State Troops during the "Toledo War," on the staff of
Gen. Davis. He died a few years ago on his farm near Omaha, Neb.
Among early physicians of the homeo- pathic school, who have also practiced in the city of Lansing, may be named Dr. Henry Hawley, about 1858 to 1863, who was associated with Dr. Jeffries in 1861. He removed to Midland county, Michigan, about 1863.
CENSUS OF INGHAM COUNTY FROM 1840 TO 1904.
Compiled from the official State and Uni- ted States returns. Delhi, includes Holt ; Ingham-Dansville; Leroy - Webberville ; Leslie-the village; Vevay-Mason, until 1880; Stockbridge-the village; Williams- ton-the Village of Williamston.
1840.
1850.
1854.
1860.
1864.
1870
1874.
Alaiedon.
221
370
518
969
806
1.296
1,293
Aurelius ..
148
501
773
1.167
949
1,506
1,330
Bunkerhill.
93
374
457
672
657
957
925
Ingham.
273
739
861
1,161
1.141
1.392
1.338
Lansing.
1.216
1,556
496
471
823
871
Le Roy
110
254
415
621
647
859
1,205
Leslie
281
673
320
1,247
1,169
1.996
2,615
Locke
321
499
863
827
1,115
1.384
Mason City
Meridian ..
367
582
825
915
1,374
1,407
Onondaga
276
819
920
1.188
1.006
1,229
1.252
Stockbridge
385
657
769
875
715
892
872
Vevay
223
781
919
1.297
1,197
2,332
2.597
Wheatfield
231
359
572
630
781
942
White Oak
270
508
618
777
732
979
955
Williamston
121
393
510
693
774
1,237
1.405
Totals
2,401
8. 606 10,722 17.298 17. 128 25, 268 29. 493
1880.
1884.
1890.
1894
1900.
1904.
Alaiedon.
1.474
1.359
1,287
1,266
1,172
1,095
Aurelius
1,478
1,513
1.489
1,505
1,387
1.273
Bunkerhill
1,100
1.068
1,012
924
920
902
Delhi
1.543
1.507
1,504
1,576
1.476
1,433
Ingham
1.410
1,410
1,232
1.219
1,151
1,032
Lansing
1,208
1,261
1,422
1,378
1,353
1,844
Lansing City
8.326
9,774
1,723
1,572.
1.436
1.441
1,377
Leslie
2.511
2,505
2,337
2,111.
2,220
2,139
Locke ..
1.466
1.485
1,265
1.282
1,242
1,107
Mason City
1,929
1.884
1,875
1,761
1,828
1.955
Meridian
1.532
1,682
1,720
1,730
1,625
2.207
Onondaga
1,453
1,383
1,392
1.421
1.264
1.156
Stockbridge
993
1.143
1,276
1.296
1,389
1,351
Vevay.
1,207
1.118
1,131
955
923
917
Wheatfield
1,209
1.166
929
908
882
844
White Oak
1,038
1.077
1.070
967
1,026
899
Williamston.
1.852
1.881
2.051|
2.103|
2.033
1.980
Totals.
33,640 34. 939 37. 666 37. 685 39. 808 43. 607
1
928
919
1.259
1.357
Lansing City
3,047
3.573
5,241
7.745
Delhi ..
402
646
Le Roy.
1,911
13. 102 15,847 16. 485 20. 276
4
50
PAST AND PRESENT
THE PIONEER PRESS.
The first newspaper in the county was published in Mason and was the "Ingham Telegraph," as shown by the following, taken from the documents preserved by the Ingham County Pioneer Society. It also tells of other newspapers that followed the Telegraph.
"The first paper published in Mason, or in the county, was the Ingham Telegraph (neutral), by M. A. Childs. The first num- ber appeared in April, 1842. At that day it was useless to attempt to keep up the pub- lication of newspapers in the new counties of the State unless they had the advantage of publishing the tax-lists. At the election in this county in 1842, Jason B. Packard, Esq., then late of Jackson, was elected County Treasurer. There was a delinquent tax-list to be published in the January fol- lowing, which Mr. Packard absolutely re- fused to publish in the Telegraph, but made arrangements with G. W. Raney and R. S. Cheney of Jackson to establish a Demo- cratic paper in Mason, and publish the tax- list ; consequently Mr. Childs moved his es- tablishment to DeWitt, Clinton county.
In due time the Jackson firm sent material to Mason and commenced the publication of a paper. The tax-list was put in form at Jackson and brought to Mason, and a boy did all the work of the establishment. After about ten months this lad committed an act which rendered him odious to the community and he returned to Jackson. Then appeared one James H. Wells, to do the work on the paper. About the same time the name of Mr. Cheney was with- drawn as one of the proprietors, and prob- ably the name of Mr. Wells appeared as editor and publisher. The last number of the sheet appeared just before the election in 1844.
At the session of the Legislature in 1844, the control of publishing the tax-lists was given to the County Treasurers each in his own county.
At the election in 1844, that able man and stanch Whig, the late George Mat- thews, Esq., universally esteemed for his noble traits of character and many good deeds, was elected Treasurer of this county. The election of Mr. Matthews, it was be- lieved, offered a good opportunity for the establishing of a Whig paper in the county. J. H. Child and H. P. Stillman purchased of Mr. Raney the printing material in Mason, and in December, 1844, commenced the publication of the Ingham Herald. In January following, they entered into a con- tract with the County Treasurer to do the tax advertising of the county. At that time the influence of the Democratic press was all-powerful in the State. In several coun- ties Whig Treasurers had been elected, and some of the "spoils" were liable to go to the enemy. So the Democratic Legislature, on or about the 21st of March, 1845, passed an act restoring to the Auditor General the entire control of the tax advertising.
Storey and Cheney, of the Jackson Pat- riot, immediately packed printing materials for publishing a paper and started the same for Eaton county. They found the field al- ready occupied by a party from Marshall. Then 'twas right about face. They made up from the columns of the Patriot forms for a newspaper, christened it the Ingham County Democrat, and took said forms to the village of Leslie and the office of Hon. Henry Fiske, then Judge of Probate of this county and formerly president of the wild- cat bank of Kensington, and there with a brush printed off a few copies of the Demo- crat. Judge Fiske made affidavit that the paper was printed in Ingham county, and with that affidavit and a copy of said paper,
51
INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
he posted 'off to Detroit and placed them in the hands of the Auditor General, and that officer, on the first day of April, des- ignated the Ingham Democrat to do the tax advertising for this county for that year.
Almost the first intimation the people of Mason had that another paper was about to be published in the county was a rumor that a jaded span of horses with a wagon freight- ed with printing materials was coming towards town, through the mud and mire, on the old Columbia road. After being dragged through the swamps and sloughs of Eaton county and part of those of Ing- ham in search of a tax-list, the material found a resting place in the village of Mason.
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