The history of Detroit and Michigan; or, The metropolis illustrated; a chronological cyclopedia of the past and present, Vol I, Part 112

Author: Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Detroit, S. Farmer & co
Number of Pages: 1096

USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > The history of Detroit and Michigan; or, The metropolis illustrated; a chronological cyclopedia of the past and present, Vol I > Part 112

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J. A. Roys began in 1845, and in 1884 is the Nestor of the trade. In 1847 Messrs. Bates &

Burns opened an extensive book-store. About 1848 J. G. Krug commenced keeping a small stock of Ger- man Catholic books. The business is still continued. John Pickering was keeping a book-store as early as 1852, as was also F. P. Markham & Brother. The same year the latter firm changed to Markham & Elwood; in 1853 and 1855 the firm name was S. D. Elwood & Company, and in 1857 the firm was suc- ceeded by W. B. Howe. In 1869 he sold out to J. H. Caine & Company, and they to Mr. Clark of Pittsburgh, who sold the stock at auction. After selling out to Mr. Howe, Mr. Elwood went into the law-book trade on Griswold Street, and in 1865 formed a partnership under the firm name of W. A. Throop & Company. On the retirement of Mr. Elwood, Gove Porter became a partner with Mr. Throop. After a few years the firm went out of business.

In 1853 Mr. Allen was a well-known book-dealer. In 1860 Putnam, Smith, & Company had succeeded to his business. In 1860 E. B. Smith was sole pro- prietor. From time to time other persons became associate partners, and the firm name was changed to E. B. Smith & Company. In 1880 T. Nourse be- came sole proprietor. In 1882 the firm name was changed to W. L. Berry & Company. Early in 1883 Gorton, Blewett, & Company succeeded to the business, and on October 4 of the same year the firm name was changed to Gorton, Berry, & Com- pany. During 1884 Mr. Nourse again became sole owner, and discontinued the business. G. & M. Boehnlein began about 1857, and still continue. J. M. Arnold began in 1863. In 1864 the firm was Arnold & Littlefield ; afterward Arnold & Van Aikin. In 1867 and 1868 the firm was composed of J. M. Arnold and Silas Farmer. After 1868 C. H. Gaston became a member of the firm, and was succeeded by John Willyoung, who, in 1880, became sole owner. He died in 1884, and the business was sold to Phillips & Hunt, as managers of the Metho- dist Book Concern.

W. E. Tunis began the book trade at Detroit in 1863. In 1872 the firm was Tunis & Parker. After the death of Mr. Tunis, in 1876, D. P. Work suc- ceeded to the retail business. Boothroyd & Young- blood were in business in 1864, Boothroyd & Gibbs from 1872 to 1876, and Boothroyd, Woodward, & Company from 1876 to 1884. In 1863, and for a few years after, Everett & Company and W. L. Fos- ter & Company, were known as booksellers. L. S. Freeman began about the same time, and in 1872 was succeeded by Macauley Brothers. J. D. An- drews began in 1873. As early as 1869 Herman Reiff was engaged in the sale of German books. Herman Sucker began in 1875. The Detroit News Com- pany, J. A. Marsh manager, was established in 1876. In 1874, and for a year or two after. C. H. Borgman

696

ALMANACS .- STATE GAZETTEERS.

was keeping a German book-store. L. F. Kilroy began in 1878. John Macfarlane opened his store in 1881. Messrs. Lapham & Throop commenced in July, 1884.

Of the dealers in second-hand books, G. W. Pat- tison is the pioneer, and has been in the trade for about twenty years. Andrew Wanless and one or two others are also engaged in the same line of trade.

THE

DETROIT NEWS COMPANY

WHOLESALE

DASS BOOKS ."STATIONERY

Newspapers. Periodicals

DETROIT NEWS COMPANY'S STORE, CORNER OF LARNED AND WAYNE STREETS.

ALMANACS.

Almanacs with titles as follows were published in the years named : "The Western Almanac and Michigan Register for 1829. Astronomical Calcu- lations by Hiram Wilmarth. Printed and published by J. W. Seymour." "Farmer's Calendar or Mich- igan Almanac for 1834. Astronomical Calculations by H. Wilmarth. Published by G. L. Whitney." " Detroit Almanac and Michigan Register for the year 1839. Astronomical Calculations by William W. McLouth. Printed and sold by Berger & Stevens." " Michigan Almanac 1840. Published by S. L. Rood." " Michigan Almanac 1843. Pub- lished by W. Harsha. Calculations by A. E. Hathon." " Michigan Almanac for 1844. Calcu- lations by A. E. Hathon, Detroit. John I. Her- rick, publisher, 98 Jefferson Avenue, Detroit."

Editions of the Christian Almanac, with a few pages of items especially prepared for residents of Michigan, were issued in 1836, 1838, 1839, 1840, and probably in other years.

In 1869, and yearly since then, the publishers of the Post and Tribune have issued "The Michigan

Almanac." It contains a variety of general and statistical information, and is sold at fifteen cents per copy.

STATE GAZETTEERS.

The first Gazetteer of the Territory was entitled " The Emigrants' Guide, or Pocket Gazetteer of the Surveyed Part of Michigan," and was published by John Farmer at Albany, New York, in 1830. It was a small pamphlet of thirty-two pages in fine type. It gave a very comprehensive view of the country, and for that time was relatively as com- plete as those of later days. It was sold both separately and in connection with a map of the Territory, and reached a circulation of many thous- ands. A second and revised edition was issued in 1831. In 1836 Mr. Farmer issued a new work, entitled " The Emigrants' Guide, or Pocket Gazet- teer of the Surveyed Part of Michigan." It con- tained information gathered from every post-office, and was sold separately and in connection with a map of the State.

In 1838 John T. Blois compiled and G. L. Rood printed the first bound Gazetteer, a remarkably thor- ough and valuable work of 418 pages. After 1838 nothing worthy of the title of Gazetteer was issued until 1863, when Charles F. Clark issued a Gazet- teer of Michigan. It contained 662 pages, and was in every way a model. In 1860 and 1865 Gazetteers, of 400 and 500 pages respectively, were issued by G. W. Hawes.

In 1867 H. H. Chapin published a Gazetteer of 540 pages, and in 1871 M. T. Platt one of 350 pages. In 1873 Messrs. J. E. Scripps and R. L. Polk issued a Gazetteer which was the most complete of any issued ; it contained 746 pages. In 1875, and every other year since, R. L. Polk & Company have issued complete Gazetteers of the State. The firm also publish Gazetteers of all the territories and of Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky; Minnesota, Da- kota, and Montana, in one volume; Missouri, Penn- sylvania, Arkansas, Indiana, New Jersey, Texas, Wisconsin, Delaware; Maryland, and West Virginia, in one volume; and City Directories of Detroit, Grand Rapids, East Saginaw, Saginaw, Bay City, Jackson, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Toledo, St. Paul, London, Ont., and several other cities.

CITY DIRECTORIES.

A Directory with a map was proposed to be issued as early as 1832, but none was published until March, 1837, when Julius P. Bolivar McCabe brought out his complete and useful work. In May, 1842, he announced a Directory to appear in June; but not receiving sufficient encouragement, he was unable to publish. The following table gives the more important features of the several Directories

CITY DIRECTORIES. - MAPS OF MICHIGAN.

697

of the city. The losses by enlistment for the war with the South are clearly indicated by the reduced number of names in 1863, 1864, and 1865 :

Publishers.

Date.

Pages.

No. of

J. P. B. McCabe

1837

115

1,330

James H. Welling

1845

169

2,800

James H. Welling

1846

214

3,238

Daily Advertiser

1850

290

4,322

J. Shove

1852

238

6,279

James D. Johnson

853

320

7,736

James D. Johnson

1855

304

8,096

James D. Johnson

1856

352

11,100

James D. Johnson

1857

352

11,282

James D. Johnson

1859

292

10,512

* D. W. Umberhine

1860

156

1,485

Charles F. Clark

1862

390

14,620

Charles F. Clark

1863

312

12,436

Charles F. Clark

1864

322

13,222

Charles F. Clark

1865

334

14,440

Charles F. Clark

1866

352

18,225

Charles F. Clark

1867

398

19,843

Charles F. Clark

1868

406

22,640

Charles F. Clark

1869

448

23,750

C. F. Clark & Co.

1870

488

24,840

C. F. Clark & Co.

1871

484

25,336

Burch & Polk

1872

348

14,050

Hubbell & Weeks

1872

550

28,728

J. W. Weeks & Co.

1873

628

32,408

J. W. Weeks & Co.

1874

650

36,996

J. W. Weeks & Co.

1875

692

38,038

J. W. Weeks & Co.

1876

740

39,500

J. W. Weeks & Co.

1877

790

42,500

J. W. Weeks & Co.

1878

850

43,212

J. W. Weeks & Co.

1879

886

44,240

J. W. Weeks & Co.

1880

966

45,800

J. W. Weeks & Co.

1881

1,099

53,688

J. W. Weeks & Co.

1882

1,155

56,540

J. W. Weeks & Co.

1883

1,232

61,480

J. W. Weeks & Co.

1884

1,438

67,002

MAPS OF MICHIGAN ISSUED AT DETROIT.

A Map of the Territory was first suggested in the fall of 1823. Philo E. Judd then issued pro- posals for a Map of Michigan, price $2.00, to be twenty-two by twenty-six inches in size, on a scale of twenty inches to one mile, and to be accompa- nied by a Gazetteer. The title of this map was copyrighted on May 5, 1824. Mr. Judd died at Flat Rock on September 19, and his manuscript was bought by John P. Sheldon, who in December, 1824, announced the probable completion of the work in June, 1825.

This plan was not consummated, for the task of

preparing an accurate map and gazetteer was found to be more formidable than had been anticipated, and in the meantime other publications entered the field. During September, 1824, and before the death of Mr. Judd, Orange Risdon published pro- posals for a map of Michigan, to include all south of Saginaw Bay and east of the principal meridian, to be on a scale of four miles to an inch, the price to be three dollars, in book form. The engraved copies of this map contain no mention of the fact, but the draft was made by John Farmer. The title was copyrighted on January 29, 1825, but the map, which was engraved at Albany, New York, was not issued until a year or more afterwards.

While this map was being engraved, Mr. Farmer himself concluded to become a map publisher. He was undoubtedly well qualified, being a thoroughly educated surveyor and remarkably skilful in pen- manship and draughting. In the year 1821, before coming to Detroit, he had taught map drawing in the best schools of Albany. In 1822, and during the following year, he made by hand scores of maps of Michigan from the surveyor's plats, which for some months found ready sale at $5.00 per copy. He subsequently taught map drawing in Ohio. Returning to Detroit in the spring of 1825, he made for the Treasurer of the United States a map of the road from the Ohio State line to Detroit. These various enterprises suggested the idea of preparing and publishing a map in his own name; and early in June, 1825, his manuscript map was put into the hands of engravers at Utica, New York. The title was copyrighted on August 29, and the map was completed and published in Sep- tember, more than six months before the Risdon map appeared. His map thus became the first published map of Michigan. It was warmly com- mended by Governor Cass, by the Secretary of the Territory, William Woodbridge, and by other terri- torial officials; and was so favorably received that the map of Mr. Risdon, when issued, found com- paratively few purchasers.

The copyright of Mr. Farmer's work was sold, soon after its publication, to Edward Brooks. In 1826 Mr. Farmer laid out the village of Ypsilanti and several other embryo cities. In the same year he issued a second Map of Michigan, the finished copy being deposited at Washington on December I, 1826 (the certificate of deposit bears the signa- ture of Henry Clay as Secretary of State); he also prepared for the Legislative Council a very large manuscript map of the Territory. In 1829 he drafted a similar map for the same body, besides laying out and surveying roads in various directions for the territorial officers. In that year he also copyrighted two different maps of Michigan, and one of "Michigan and Quisconsin Territories."

* A Business Directory only.

Names.

J. D. Johnson & Co.

1861

344

14,850

698

MAPS OF MICHIGAN.

These maps were placed on the market in 1830 and many thousands were sold in Boston, Providence, Hartford, New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Wash- ington, Albany, Rochester, Buffalo, Cleveland, Erie, and other places as well as at Detroit. So great was the demand for these maps that, in that day, it was almost impossible to supply them. Emigrants on their arrival at Detroit, before going into the woods, would often go from house to house, seeking to purchase a second-hand copy, and many maps changed owners at an advance of several hundred per cent on their first cost. In 1833, 1834, and 1835 Mr. Farmer collected material from all parts of the Territory, and planned a much more elaborate map; indeed, the draft was so minute that the eastern engravers would engrave it only at a price that utterly precluded any idea of profit from its publi- cation. Mr. Farmer then determined to do his own engraving, and though he had literally no knowledge of the business beyond that obtained by observation, he procured a set of engraver's tools and undertook the work, which was a pronounced success in excel- lence of execution, in detail, and in amount of sales. Single book-stores in Detroit bought over one thousand copies at a time. The map was sold sep- arately and in connection with a pocket Gazetteer, issued the same year.

These maps and gazetteers of 1830 and 1836 cir- culated extensively at the East, and had a more marked effect in stimulating the unprecedented emigration of those days than any and all other private enterprises. It will be remembered that Michigan has a larger proportion of York State and New England settlers than any other western State. No other Territory or State, in its infancy, was so accurately represented or so thoroughly advertised by means of reliable maps as Michigan. The maps and gazetteers of Mr. Farmer contributed largely to this work, and his publications, though issued by private enterprise, were none the less a great public advantage. To this day there are scores of witnesses to the fact that his maps were deemed as essential for travelers as pocket-book or compass, and with their aid new-comers by hundreds, on horseback and on foot, traversed the wilds of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan and personally selected their future homes. So accurate were his maps that it was a common thing to decide from the map alone the number of acres of marsh land on a tract of eighty acres, or the number of rods that a stream ran on a given tract. The camping-grounds of travellers, for days ahead, were determined from the map alone. The map of 1836 was sold to J. H. Colton & Company, of New York, and was pub- lished by that firm for many years.

In 1837 Mr. Farmer was extensively employed in making maps of the innumerable "paper cities" of

that period, to some of which he gave place on his maps. As time proved them failures, they were erased. Other publishers who made use of his labors copied these new cities, and many of their maps show, even to this day, "paper cities" whose sites have been owned and cultivated as farm lands for a score of years. It is unquestionably true that there is no map of Michigan, large or small, that does not contain valuable information originally given on the maps compiled by Mr. Farmer and his successors, and appropriated therefrom. In 1844 Mr. Farmer personally engraved a map of Michigan on a scale of twelve miles to an inch. It embraced such an amount of detail, was so clearly and beau- tifully executed, and was withal so thoroughly accurate, that it gave him a national reputation. No State other than Michigan has had a map com- parable with it for completeness. Millions of acres of land have been located by reference to it, and for this purpose alone thousands of copies have been sold. As a topographical map it has never been, and probably never will be, superseded ; although it first appeared nearly forty years ago, it still has a regular sale to appreciative customers.

During 1847 Mr. Farmer issued his first Map of Lake Superior and the Mineral Regions. Revisions of this map are still accounted the best maps of that region. In 1848 he published a sectional Map of Wisconsin, and in 1849 his combined Map of Michigan and Wisconsin, made up of the three maps last noted. In 1853 he issued his large Wall- map of Michigan, on a scale of seven and one half miles to an inch. This map was extensively used by the St. Mary's Falls Ship Canal Company in locating their lands. In 1855 he issued a map of Wayne County, showing all the "private claims," with the names of the original owners.

His first Township Map of Michigan and Wis- consin appeared in 1857. Two years later he issued a revision of his large map of 1853, with the addi- tion of two sheets, forming a map nearly six feet square. It included all of Michigan and Wisconsin. On this map he located all the swamp lands then owned by the State. This information afforded facilities which enabled land buyers to make hun- dreds of thousands of dollars with but a tithe of the expense they would otherwise have had to incur.

In 1860 John F. Geil published his very complete Map of Wayne County. This was subsequently purchased by the firm of Silas Farmer & Company, who succeeded to the business of John Farmer. The last named firm, from time to time, have pub- lished revisions of the maps already named, and since 1862 have sold about forty thousand copies of the Railroad and Township Map of Michigan, and many thousands of a Township Map of Wisconsin, first issued in 1867. They issued a Map of Wisconsin

MAPS OF MICHIGAN.

699

in 1865, about fifty by fifty inches in size, which sold at $7.00 per copy. The same year they issued a Map of Elmwood Cemetery. In 1871 Messrs. Cal- vert & Company published a Map of Michigan and Wisconsin, which had been compiled almost entirely from the maps of Silas Farmer & Company, and upon a showing of this fact in court the map was transferred to the latter firm, who, in 1873, revised and republished the Michigan portion. In 1874 they published a Sectional Map of Iowa, which was

warmly commended by the county officers in every one of the ninety-nine counties of that State. Their small but very complete map of Wayne County (price fifty cents) was first issued in 1883.

The various city maps published by John Farmer and his successors are named elsewhere. The total sales of their various publications have amounted to fully one hundred thousand copies.

CHAPTER LXXI.

CITIZEN AND VISITING AUTHORS.

IT is an honor to the city that its list of authors begins with its existence. The founder of the settle- ment was not only a soldier but a scholar as well, and the torch of knowledge that he first waved on the shores of the Detroit has never been extin- guished. If our literary heavens do not show as many stars as are visible in other localities, not a few of the first order are included, and together they form a brilliant and beautiful constellation.

Cadillac wrote memoirs on Acadia describing the coast and islands from Nova Scotia to New York. His memoir on Michilimackinac includes detailed descriptions of the appearance, traditions, and usages of the savage tribes of that post and beyond. He was equally successful in describing the manners and customs of the Indians, in suggesting means for outwitting the English, and in exposing the malice and intrigues of those who opposed him. His writings sparkle with bon mots and epigrammatic sentences, some of them remarkable for their con- centrated thought. His reasoning powers were of a high order, and his arguments clear, logical, forcible. His opinions were definite, and expressed with clearness and precision. He had marked powers of analysis, and described with a minuteness of detail equally interesting and satisfactory. His writings abound in tropes, and proverbs dropped easily from his pen. His literary successors are named in the following list, which, if not complete, is nevertheless so nearly perfect that not many names from past records can be added; the future, it is hoped, will add many noteworthy names.

John Anthon, son of Dr. G. C. Anthon, of Detroit, was born in the old Cass House in 1784. He wrote an "Essay on the Study of Law," and numerous other works. The names of his brother, Charles Anthon, and his nephew, Charles E. Anthon, are well-known in literary and educational circles.

Miss L. B. Adams in 1862 published a book entitled "Sybelle and other Poems."

Rev. W. Aikman, D. D., for several years pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church, is the author of books entitled "The Future of the Colored Race in America," "Life at Home, or, The Family and its Members," "The Moral Power of the Sea," and several other works.

Rev. J. B. Atchinson, at one time assistant pastor

of the Central M. E. Church, was a successful com- poser of religious songs, and many of his composi- tions are highly prized.

H. C. Allen is the author of "The Homoeopathic Therapeutics of Intermittent Fever," published by the Drake Homoeopathic Pharmacy Company in 1879.

Rev. Nathan Bangs, D. D., author of "History of Methodism," and founder of the Missionary Society of the M. E. Church, was here as a Methodist pastor in 1804.

Dr. Leonard Bacon, of New Haven, was born in Detroit in 1802, and his abilities reflected honor on his birthplace.

Dr. Orestes A. Brownson, editor and publisher of Brownson's Quarterly Review, author of "Essays and Reviews," and of other works of special inter- est to Roman Catholic circles, was a resident of Detroit for several years, and died here on April 17, 1876. In 1882 his son, Henry F. Brownson, com- menced the publication of a proposed complete series of the works of his father, in seventeen volumes.

Rev. William E. Boardman, author of the " Higher Christian Life," and of other works, lived here in 1851 and 1852 as agent of the American S. S. Union.

Margaret F. Buchanan, afterwards Mrs. Alexander Sullivan, was educated in and for many years a resident of Detroit. She has been a frequent con- tributor to various magazines, and in 1881 J. M. Stoddard & Company, of Philadelphia, published her "Ireland of To-day."

Rev. F. Baraga, the Indian missionary, after whom a county in Upper Michigan is named, was the author of a " Dictionary of Otchipwe," published at Cincinnati in 1853, and of other Indian diction- aries, grammars, and prayer-books. He lived here in 1854 and 1855.

Dr. J. H. Bagg published in 1845 a volume of 310 pages on "Magnetism; or, The Doctrine of Equi- librium."

W. A. Burt and Bela Hubbard's "Report on the Geology of the South Shore of Lake Superior," 106 pages, was published in 1843. In 1878 John Burt published a pamphlet, "History of the Solar Compass."

Henry Bibb, the ex-slave, whose "narrative," pub-

[700]

701

CITIZEN AND VISITING AUTHORS.

lished in 1850, had an extensive sale, lived here for several years.

Levi Bishop wrote " Teuchsa Grondie," a poem commemorating one of the early Indian names of Detroit. It has passed through several editions. Mr. Bishop also translated several French plays.

Mrs. B. Brinton, who was here about 1863, was the author of " Man is Love."

W. H. Brearley is the author of " Recollections of an East Tennessee Campaign," 40 pages, published in 1866.

Mrs. Julia P. Ballard, wife of a former pastor of the First Congregational Church, is the author of a numerous list of books especially designed for Sun- day schools.

L. J. Bates, one of the editors of The Post and Tribune, has produced many poems ; a number of them have been set to music, and obtained a large sale.

Clara Doty Bates, one of the editors of The Detroit Tribune from 1867 to 1870, is the author of " Black Jakey," "Classics of Baby Land," " Songs for Gold Locks," "Child Lore," " Heart's Content," and sev- eral other books. Some of her works were elabor- ately illustrated with original drawings by her sister, Mrs. H. P. Finley, a resident of Detroit.

O. T. Beard has written many stories for the daily papers. One of them, " Bristling with Thorns," has been issued in book form. He has also published a novel entitled " Trade and Trouble."

A. C. Blodgett has a work in preparation entitled "The Law of the Fire Insurance Contract."

Rev. Dr. Alfred Brunson, soldier of the War of 1812, and early Methodist pastor in Detroit, was the author of the " Western Pioneer," in two volumes, a "Key to the Apocalypse," and several other works.

Rev. James M. Buckley, D. D., is author of works entitled " An Appeal to Persons of Sense and Re- flection," "Supposed Miracles," "Two Weeks at the Yosemite," "Christians and the Theatre," and of larger volumes entitled "Oats and Wild Oats," and "The Land of the Czar and the Nihilist."

Dr. J. H. Brown, at one time pastor of St. Peter's Church, wrote "Pious Dead of the Medical Profes- sion," 320 pages. Several other smaller works also bear his name; one of the most recent is entitled "New Treatment of Consumption."

Rev. D. D. Buck, D. D., formerly pastor of the Central M. E. Church, was the author of several religious works; one, "The Christian Virtues Per- sonified," 300 pages, was published by Miller, Orton & Company, Auburn, 1856.

The "Life of Z. Chandler," published by the Post and Tribune Company in 1880, was compiled by C. K. Backus, O. T. Beard, James H. Stone, William Stocking, and G. W. Partridge.

C. K. Backus is also author of a pamphlet on the "Contraction of the Currency," and for several years compiled the "Michigan Almanac."

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The history of Detroit and Michigan; or, The metropolis illustrated; a chronological cyclopedia of the past and present, Vol I, Part 112

Author: Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902 Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Detroit, S. Farmer & co Number of Pages: 1096

Author: Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Detroit, S. Farmer & co
Number of Pages: 1096