USA > Michigan > Midland County > Portrait and biographical album of Midland County, Mich. containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 44
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minutes. Leave being granted, they withdrew, and Ashman, taking the fellow around the corner of the house, said : "Did you steal that hog?" "Yes," said Pat. "Have you got any money," asked Ashman. "Tin dollars, me frind," answered the Irishman. "Then give me half of it," said Ashman, "and skip for the woods, and don't stop, for they'll have you sure if you are caught." The fellow handed him five dollars and fled like a frightened deer for the woods, and to this date has never been heard of.
Ashman sat down on a stump outside and com- placently lighted his pipe. After waiting, as the Jus- tice thought, quite long enough for the necessary in- formation to be obtained, a messenger was dispatched to tell them to come in. Ashman responded promptly, when the Justice, seeing him alone, asked where the prisoner was. "Gone to h-1, d-n him!" said Ash- man. "The d-d Irishman stole the hog and I wouldn't have anything to do with him. He con- fessed to me that he stole the hog. Let him rip, and enter a verdict of guilty." This announcement was a poser to everybody but Ashman, but as the prisoner was "non est," nothing more could be done.
Swallowed the Account.
T another time Mr. Ashman was employed by Frank Cole to defend his cause. P. C. Andre, a merchant, had sued him for a bill which had been accumulating for some time, and Cole refused to pay. Andre had kept no book account, but simply marked the items on a sheet of paper. He had every lawyer employed that resided in Saginaw, hoping by this means to keep Cole from employing any but a shyster; but in this he was mistaken. The trial commenced, and the lawyers for Andre chuckled with satisfaction as they imagined the discomfiture of Ashman. As no books had been kept, the account was brought into court and was lying on the table, around which was seated the legal luminaries with their books already marked at every point which had a bearing on their case.
Ashman's quick eye discerned the important paper which contained the items, dates, etc., and knowing that his client's case was hopeless unless this paper could be secured, cautiously reached out his hand,
and, while the attention of the attorneys was engaged elsewhere, he slipped the paper into his mouth in bits, and calmly chewed and swallowed the entire ac- count ! He was just finishing the last piece when one of his opponents noticed the manneuver and also missed the account.
"We are ready for trial, your honor," said Ashman, as he coolly expectorated the last mouthful of the well masticated account into the cuspidore. "If there be no objection I should like to look at the account against my client," said Ashman. A search for the paper failed to produce it. The lawyer who had noticed him manipulating the paper declared that Ashman had swallowed it. "Prove it, then," said this erratic individual. The account being thus disposed of, the case was dismissed at complainant's cost, and another victory, although somewhat dishonestly gained, was checked up against the Saginaw lawyers. Ashman was then and there voted the most adroit knave among them all.
The Champion Drinker.
ARVEY LYON, one of the oldest veterans now living in Midland, relates with great gusto some of the old-time reminiscences in which he took an active part. According to his story, every one of the early settlers was a lover of whisky, and it formed a staple article of sustenance in many cases. In the days that canoes carried all the provisions from Saginaw, every one upon his return journey brought back a gallon or two of whisky. Voyagers going down would row across to the canoe that was coming up, and the jug was put into circulation, thus making merry all hands around.
A lot of the fellows living in the neighborhood of Midland had been down to Saginaw, and did not arrive home until almost morning. They put up at Larkin's Hotel, all of them being pretty well "corned," which of course added nothing to the quietness which ought to prevail in a well regulated hotel so early in the morning. Yarns were told, songs sung and a general revelry continued until almost daylight, when those who were fullest became drowsy, and most of them went to sleep.
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Among the wide-awake ones was William Mc- Crary. A stranger came into the bar-room about daybreak with a jug to get some liquor. The jug proved too small to hold the contents of the measure, and a glassful was left,-not one of the kind that holds a " thimbleful," but a good old-fashioned one that encircles a pint of the precious fluid. The cor- dial stranger, wishing to appear social, passed around the glass to the boys who were yet awake, but all of them declined on the score of having already as much sail as they could carry, until the fellow came to McCrary. When the glass was proffered to "Mac" he said, " I don't like to see ye drink alone, stranger ; so, go ahead and I'll help you out." The fellow in- sisted upon McCrary taking the first draught, which he declined but subsequently accepted, as he "didn't want to hurt the feelings of the stranger." Without drawing a breath or removing his lips from the glass he drained it of its contents, and, turning to the as- tonished looker-on, said, "I should call this pretty good liquor." "Yes, it is," said the stranger, "and I think you have the best throat for it I have ever seen!"
McCrary still lives, despite the pernicious effects of the " thistle dew," and is one of the greatest temper- ance advocates of Edenville Township and one of her most respected men.
At an early day it was considered just the thing to be able to knock a man out in four rounds, and to stand up after drinking the balance of the boys drunk was an accomplishment to be proud of. Sun- days were always spent at " The Forks," as Midland was then called, in jumping, wrestling, shooting at mark, and other athletic sports, and men would come for miles away to have a jolly time together on that day.
Another Liquor Story.
WO brothers-in-law, Nathaniel Huntley and George Eldridge, were residents of Eden- ville Township at an early day. They had a dispute about some trivial matter, and Hunt- ley made a pass with his fist as though he in- tended knocking Eldridge down. Eldridge, not to be thus intimidated, let fly with his "right duke" and Huntley was knocked senseless. After recover-
ing consciousness, Huntley picked himself up and called at the office of Justice Geo. Baker, who, after hearing a recital of Huntley's wrongs, issued a war- rant for the arrest of Eldridge. The parties with their witnesses came up for trial, and after the evidence had been heard and sifted by the legal functionaries, he decided that both parties were equally guilty, and fined Huntley $5 for assault, and Eldridge $5 for battery, and each one to pay half the costs. The latter refused to pay his fine, and the Justice issued a commitment. John Nottinghanı. the Constable, started with his prisoner to Midland. They had proceeded as far as Edenville, when they stopped at the saloon to get a drink. The boys who were congregated around joined in a "health to Eld- ridge," a " successful journey," etc., until the consta- ble became very much intoxicated,-so much so that he could travel no farther, and consequently remained a guest at the hotel for a couple of days. In the meantime Eldridge returned home, and when Not- tingham had sufficiently recovered from his spree he did likewise. This ended the case nothing more be- ing done by Esquire Baker, he seeming to be well pleased with the fine and costs paid by Huntley.
A Fine to be Paid in Liquor.
ILLY Mccrary, at an early day in the his- tory of Averill, started a saloon and lunch counter in that burg, which was known as the "Red Keg." Averill being the terminus for some time of the Flint & Pere Marquette Road, every one that wanted to come to Midland on the cars made that place an objective point. A number of men from the lumber camp at "Sixteen" came to Averill one day "on a bum," and the "Red Keg" was headquarters, of course.
Among the men who were imbibing most liberally was a woodsman who at last did something which vexed McCrary, and the latter with a well-aimed blow knocked the fellow out of time and tune. A constable standing near arrested "Billy," and was just starting over to the office of a Justice, when Charley Axford, one of the most widely known men in the county, stepped up and said, "What are you taking him to a Justice for? Try him before me; I
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am in the business and can do it as well as any- body." To this the parties agreed, and they ad- journed to Avery's hotel. "Stand up, Billy; God Almighty made you," said Axford. "Are you guilty or not guilty?" "Guilty, your honor," said Mccrary. "Then I fine you $3 and whisky for the crowd," was Axford's reply ; "we will now adjourn to the 'Red Keg' and collect the fine and costs." The boys took a drink, and 'Squire Axford, laying the $3 on the counter which Mccrary had just paid, said, "Let's put the fine with the costs. Set 'em up, Billy, as long as the money holds out." Thus was justice meted out and everybody satisfied !
Did Not Pass.
HE second candidate for admission to the Bar was Leonidas P. Bailey. He had been Justice of the Peace several terms and had read some in the statutes of Michigan. Judge Turner presided, and Bailey came up smiling to the front to be questioned. Hon. John Moore and two other gentlemen were appointed a committee to examine hi.n, and it was observed that Bailey answered promptly and correctly.
One of the others was then asked to question him, and the answers suddenly became defective and less brilliant than before. Judge Turner noticed Bailey's confusion and suggested that Mr. Moore should pro- ceed with the questions, as Mr. Bailey was quite bashful. "Your Honor," said Mr. Moore, "I have already asked him all the questions he gave me, and I fear what I should ask would nonplus the candi- date more than those already propounded !"
It is needless, perhaps, to add that the candidate did not pass.
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Liquor Still Ahead.
ENRY W. Patterson employed Ashman as counsel in a case in which damages were claimed by reason of Charles Fitzhugh's horse coming through a fence and destroying Patterson's wheat. The horse was confined in- side a brush fence, but, breaking through, had opportunity to do the mischief. It was not denied
that the horse did the damage, but Fitzhugh claimed that his was a "legal brus !: fence." The trouble seemed to be in establishing what kind of a fence constituted a legal one of the kind mentioned, sev- eral witnesses testifying as to their opinion regarding it. Ashman swore that a brush fence, to be legal, must be "four rods high and six rods wide!" The case was decided against Patterson, who took it to the Circuit Court at Saginaw, leaving it in charge of Ashman, who, when the case was called, was so full of "tanglefoot" that he forgot to appear, and of course it was decided against Patterson the second time.
Divorced by a Justice.
BRAHAM Egbert, the pioneer of Egbert Township, was its first Justice. It is rela- ted of him that he married a German by the name of Jacob Hagar, to a German woman fresh from the old country. After living together for several months in rather an unsat- isfactory manner, they again appealed to Egbert, who divorced them, as he supposed, in a legitimate way. The leaf of the docket containing a full history of the affair was abstracted from that record by Timothy Jerome and given to a friend in Detroit, who had it framed and kept it for years as a relic. This was un- fortunately lost.
Inquest, Liquor, Peculation.
HILE Axford was acting Justice, a man by the name of Johnson was found dead upon the ice a few miles above "Sixteen," and a team was sent up to bring the body down to the hotel, that an inquest might be held, as it was too intensely cold for the same to be conducted where the body was found. The remains were placed in a room at the hotel, a jury was empaneled, Tom Moore acted as clerk, and the inquest proceeded. Johnson was quite well known at "Sixteen," and the boys were bound to do the fair thing at the inquest, if they never had while John- son was one of their number.
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At the beginning of the inquest there was a ter .- gallon keg of whisky in the room, but it disappeared very rapidly, and testimony became harder and harder to procure. One of the witnesses was a teamster who was anxious to go on with his logging, and the evening of the second day he hitched up his horses and started for the camp. Moore told Esq. Axford that it was against the law for a witness to leave before the trial was over. A capias was issued and an officer dispatched for the fellow who had so signally offended the dignity of the court. The officer returned the next day with the unwilling wit- ness, and he was given a hearing before the magis- trate, who imposed a fine of $10 and costs for his "contempt of court."
The inquest then proceeded, and as the last drop of whisky was drawn out of the keg on the evening of the third day a verdict was reached, which de- termined that Johnson came to his death from natural causes, he being too drunk to withstand the cold which then prevailed.
Axford agreed to give Tom Moore half the fee he received from the county, and put in his bill for $120; but the Board of Supervisors allowed only $40, which he kept, insisting always that he could not collect Moore's half !
A Sheriff Done For.
S most business affairs were conducted at "Sixteen," a great many reminiscences cen- ter there. Many of the men were a lawless set, as mentioned in the history of Edenville, while others were peaceable and law-abiding citizens.
Charley Axford had given a mortgage upon his team, which Sheriff Rankin, of Saginaw, came to Edenville to close. Axford not being at home, sev- eral of the boys concluded not to let Rankin take the team. Waiting until the Sheriff went to the barn for them, Will McKeever, Thomas Moore and Dan E. Grover locked the door and gave Rankin to un- derstand that his fate would be slow starvation unless he consented at once to leave and never show his face in the township again. To this Rankin con- sented, and Moore let him out at the door. Rankin
did make tracks as lively as possible, leaving the team behind, which to this date has not been called for.
Serio-Comical.
STORY is told about Tom Snyder, of Eden- ville, that is well worth preserving. He was one of the greatest cowards when he came the into woods that ever lived, and feared even the rustle of the wind through the pine trees, detecting in every breath the steps of an ap- proaching bear or a wily Indian.
Tom had a few dollars in money when he arrived at " Sixteen," but, like many other fellows, had spent it nearly all before making an effort to do anything. Instead of working, Tom decided to become a hunter, and, purchasing a long rifle, one large and one small revolver, a dirk knife, with plenty of tobacco and ammunition, he made his way into the forests border- ing on Tobacco Creek. Here he tramped and hunt- ed and fished for more than a month, frightening away the small amount of game accidentally stumbled upon, but killing nothing. He had boarded during the time with a family living in the woods, who, despair- ing of getting their pay, seized his rifle for the debt.
Tom having neither gun nor ammunition, thought best to go down to "Sixteen " and get a job. He started down the Tobacco in a canoe that he had built with boards, determined to leave nothing behind, and feeling much safer on the water, for there neither Indian nor prowling lynx could creep upon him un- awares. His knife was carried in his belt, the small revolver in his breast pocket, the large one in the hip, or pistol, pocket of his trowsers.
It was late in the afternoon of a November day that Tom embarked. The ice was rapidly forming along the banks of the stream, and the wind howled dismally through the tree-tops. He was lazily drift- ing along when a splash in the water behind him arrested his attention. "What if it should be an Indian throwing at me?" fearfully soliloquized Tom. Feeling for his revolver, he was horrified to find it gone. It occurred to him that perhaps it had fallen into the water when the splash was heard. He con- cluded to tie up the boat, take off his clothes and feel
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around for it, as most of his wealth was represented by it. Acting upon this idea, Tom waded into the freezing water up to his chin, but the most patient search failed to restore it.
Hastily dressing, he hurried on his way, when he espied an old trapper named Dumont, who for years had lived in that neighborhood. Dumont was a hard- looking specimen, wearing his hair and beard for years without cutting or combing, and his hailing Tom almost scared the latter out of his wits. "Where are you going?" inquired Dumont. "Down to Sixteen," answered Tom. "Come ashore, then," said Dumont; "the dam below is too high for a boat to go over." Tom declined to do as suggested, believing the old fellow wanted to rob and perhaps murder him. So he plied the paddle vigorously, and the old man was soon out of sight.
Presently the roar of the water-fall warned Tom that it would be policy to go ashore and examine the dam. Sending his boat up to the bank, Tom leaped out, when by his side was Dumont. "You had better go home with me and finish your trip to-morrow," said the old man ; I live only a mile below." Tom dared not refuse, feeling that death was certain in either case. He therefore consented, when Dumont said, "Let us send the boat over and we can pick it up be- low." The canoe was then pushed into the river, but it unfortunately filled with water and sank. Dark- ness rapidly coming on, Tom scarcely knew what to do. His knees smote together, and he became more convinced at every step that Dumont intended to kill him. "What other reason could he have for pushing the boat into the river?" thought Tom.
Following along until Dumont was 50 yards ahead, Tom darted into the woods and ran for dear life. He soon came to a fallen tree, under which he crawled, his joy at thus escaping death being almost greater than he could bear, when Dumont's voice was heard calling him. Not daring to reply, he huddled still closer and prayed for darkness, which soon came. Dumont's footsteps could be heard as he moved off toward his cabin, and Tom breathed easier. By this time it had grown intensely dark and a drizzling sleet and rain storm set in. Tom became soaked to the skin, and fearing that he would freeze to death, concluded to risk building a fire if it could be accomplished. While thus engaged, the remaining revolver dropped from his pocket to the ground and the fire was built upon
it. As he stood by the cheerful blaze warming his benumbed hands, one chamber of the revolver ex ploded, scattering the burning brands in every direc- tion. Supposing it was Dumont concealed in the brush (!) and firing at him, his fright increased in a ten-fold ratio. Kicking the burning sticks in every direction, hoping thereby to put out the fire which had betrayed his location, he then took refuge behind a tree, hoping to contrive some means of skipping away unobserved, when he was startled the second time by another loud report, as the coals were whisked toward him. This made his conviction certain that Dumont would kill him unless he removed far from the fire light, and he executed a flank move- ment through the dense underbrush to what he con- sidered a safe distance from the assassin's bullet.
Daylight came at last, and Snyder, almost per- ished with cold, mustered up courage enough to ap- proach the spot where a few coals were yet smolder- ing, when he saw the barrel of his revolver peeping from the ashes. The cause of the firing was thus made intelligible, and Tom cursed his cowardly legs which ran away with his brave body. He made his way to "Sixteen," and little by little told the story as above related. Tom still tells the story, but has long since learned that a lively imagination is the greatest cause for fear.
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Too Much "Cross Haul."
HE jokes played on the greenhorns that came to the lumber camps to obtain em- ployment were many and varied. One of the best was that which was played upon a fellow who came to Leon Pryor's camp. The proprietor " sized ' the fellow up and determin- ed to have a bit of fun should he ask for a job. That being the stranger's business, Pryor told him that he had men enough in the woods but needed one to go to "Sixteen " for a " cross haul." (This term needs no explanation to a resident of Northern Michigan, but for the information of readers living remote from lumber camps, we would say that a "cross haul" is a road cut opposite a tram-way upon which logs are loaded.)
The fellow, whom we will call " Jones " to preserve his identity, agreed to go, and was given a note of in-
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troduction to Tom. Moore, who was expected to carry out the joke without further instructions. Jones came walking in and proffered the note to Moore, who readily caught the inspiration. Loading a sack with So pounds of old iron and giving him a 24-pound dumb-bell to carry in the other hand, Moore dismiss- ed him with the injunction to carry the bag carefully, so the machinery would not be disarranged. Jones promised to be particular, and trudged weasily over the eight miles of sand and stumps before the camp was reached. He told Pryor as he entered, almost exhausted, that he didn't intend to carry any more " cross hauls." " You don't ?" exclaimed Pryor; "then what are you doing here? I only need you for this purpose."
Jones left the camp at once, determined to seek more congenial employment.
Rough and Tumble.
HERE has always been more or less feeling existing between Tom Moore and Charley Axford, they being rivals in the hotel busi- ness and many other enterprises. Moore is quite a practical joker, and often indulges this trait in his character, which has been the oc- casion of many a hearty laugh.
Moore, Axford, Dave Porter and Ben Howard were returning from Midland, where they had been trans- acting some business matters, and all were pretty well "corned." Three of them sat on the spring seat, the other on a barrel of lime in the back part of the wagon. The driver struck a stump before reaching Edenville, and the tongue was broken quite badly. Repairing it as well as they were able, they traveled along quite well until they reached the steep hill near the Edenville school-house. Moore suggested that they all walk down the hill for fear the broken wagon tongue would not stand the strain. Axford insisted that the team was his own, that the broken tongue was perfectly safe and the driver should let the horses run at full speed down the hill. The lat- ter plan was agreed upon and the horses were given the whip. Away they flew, but the ride, like Gilpin's, was very brief. Half-way down the hill the wagon tongue broke again, and the wheels, veering suddenly,
overturned the wagon upon the driver, while Ben Howard, who was sitting upon the lime barrel hold- ing a large mirror on his lap, was precipitated into the creek below. Axford was thrown almost off the bridge and would have fallen into the creek but from the fact that the lime barrel was across his legs. Moore landed on his feet just in time to see the horses flying up the hiil with the whiffletrees dangling at their heels. Mr. Moore then turned his attention to the rescue of his companions. Porter being still imprisoned under the wagon box, was yelling vocifer- ously for aid. He was liberated, and Charley Axford helped upon his feet. By this time Ben Howard had scrambled out of the creek, and upon comparing notes it was found that all had escaped serious in- jury.
Dan Grover and Philip Flock, seeing the horses coming without a driver, thought something must be wrong, and hitching them to another vehicle, started in search of the party. Charley Axford was consider- ably overcome by the effects of " thistle dew," as well as shaken up by the fall, and was laid in the wagon, after which the remainder of the freight was trans- ferred from the broken one. In doing this, Tom Moore hurt his hand severely, and it bled freely. Thinking it a good time to play a joke on Charley, he rubbed the blood over his face, which when com- pleted looked gory enough to strike terror into the heart of a Comanche Indian. Driving up to Ax- ford's house, he was carried in and laid on the bed. The boys, knowing nothing serious was the matter, thought it good fun to frighten the old lady any way. The dame known as "Biddy Norman" made her home at Axford's, and she remarked, while taking in the situation, "An' sure, an' its a bad head he'll have upon him in the marnin'!" The joke leaked out after Charley was washed up, and Tom barely es- caped a licking for his fun.
Effect of Eating Bear Steak.
GOOD story is told on Alex. Bowman, who came to Edenville Township soon after its organization. "Alek " sat around the hotel رحهـ and heard the stories told by lumbermen about the quantities of game that could be found in the woods. His ambition to become a hunter grew day by day until he determined to take a hunt.
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