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 150
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Whiting to Eighteenth, July 9, 1867.
Wine to Eighteenth-and-a-half, July 9, 1867.
Wing to Nineteenth, July 9, 1867.
Wing Place to Labrosse, April 26, 1877.
Warren to Napoleon, October 1, 1866.
Whitney to Alfred, February 14, 1870.
Waterloo to Antietam, July 9, 1867.
Witherell to Woodward Avenue, July 9, 1867.
West Park Place to Park Place, November 2, 1878.
Walnut to Bagg, April 29, 1882.
In this connection the following extract, from a report made in 1882 by the writer to the Common Council, contains facts that are pertinent and sug- gestive :
The frequent changing of street names, in various parts of the city, and at irregular intervals, is a serious annoyance, and if all changes known to be desirable at any one time were made by the same ordinance, the public convenience would be greatly pro- moted. A list of all changes could then be preserved until the new names had gained a place in speech and memory.
The general plan of the city is well established, and all changes now desirable can be easily determined, and both citizens and
strangers would be benefited by a systematic and thorough revision of the street names.
Comparatively few alterations are necessary. There is no oc- casion for delay, and every year increases the difficulties arising from duplicate names, or names of similar sound ; and obstacles in the way of making changes will constantly increase. * * *
The suburban duplication of the street names of Detroit is also a growing evil for which there is no excuse or necessity. The city cannot control the naming of streets in the adjoining town- ships, but such legislation should be secured as would prevent any suburban street, not in line with a city street, from being called by the same name. Sooner or later, large portions of Ham- tramck and Springwells will be attached to the city, and the number of duplicate street names wil. be greatly increased, unless the evil is remedied.
The naming of streets ought not to be left to the caprice of individuals. Street names are for the public convenience, and more attention should be paid to sense and sound. The further introduction of names nearly allied in spelling and pronunciation to names already in use, should be prohibited. Vexatious delays, confusion, and loss are of daily occurrence through the similarity of names, or because of mispronunciation. Street names should be of such a character that their pronunciation would be easily apparent.
Far less thought has been bestowed upon this subject than its importance demands. Some of our streets have such foolish and ill-sounding names that, should unforeseen improvements make their locality desirable, one of the first suggestions would be a new street name.
With a genealogy dating from the dawning of the sixteenth century, we would do well to give special heed to our historic past, and strive to preserve its memories in our street names as well as in our story. Street names approach immortality. Gov- ernments change, political parties die, officials and constituents pass into oblivion, buildings are burned, pavements uprooted, but well-chosen street names usually live as long as the city stands. A street name is a more valuable and a more perpetual memorial than a monument of bronze or granite. They may be destroyed or defaced, but street names live though a city is burned. Every- thing tends to perpetuate and preserve them-land titles, business notices, social facts, city records, and in fact almost all the details of municipal government unite to fasten them in the memory and hand them down to the future. There are no. other names in connection with the life of a city that are so frequently used as the names of its streets; and no other names are so frequently thought of and talked of by both residents and strangers. We are compelled to know and memorize them, and everything com- bines to repeat and reiterate them. As an instrumentality for pre- serving the remembrance of individuals and facts, they have no equal.
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PART XII. SUPPLEMENTAL.
CHAPTER LXXXIX.
THE ANNALS OF DETROIT.1
IN order to show the relation of various events to each other, and for the sake of giving a historic summary of the more important events that have affected the interests of Detroit, the following Chro- nological Table has been prepared. With its aid the events that give character to each epoch may be easily traced, and the chapter as a whole consti- tutes a complete epitome of the history of the city. In addition to the more important dates given in appropriate chapters, the table contains a large number of interesting items on various subjects for which no suitable place was found in the body of the work :
1603. The Detroit River is described by Indians to Champlain.
1658. March 5. Antoine Laumet de la Mothe Cadillac born.
1670. Spring. Fathers Galinee and Dollier visit the region of Detroit.
1679. August 10. The Griffon, with La Salle, passes through the Detroit. The first sail-vessel on the lakes.
1687. May 19. M. de Tonty visits the site of Detroit.
September 6. Baron de La Hontan visits this locality.
1694. September 16. Cadillac appointed com- mandant at Mackinaw.
1701. July 24. Cadillac and his company arrive to establish a permanent fort and settlement at Detroit.
July 26. Foundations for first chapel laid.
1703. June 28. Thirty Huron Indians arrive from Mackinaw to settle at Detroit.
In this year, during an Indian attack, the church was burned.
1704. February 2. Baptism of first white child, a daughter of Cadillac.
1706. June 6. The Ottawas attack the French and Miamis. Cadillac given entire control of Detroit.
1707. March 10. First known grant of land by Cadillac.
August 6 to 10. Great council of chiefs at Fort Pontchartrain.
1709. Second Church of St. Anne built.
1710. May 5. First recorded marriage between white people at Detroit.
1712. May 13. M. de Vincennes, from the Miami country, with seven other Frenchmen, arrives. The Indians attack Fort Pontchartrain and are defeated by Du Buisson. Church of St. Anne burned.
1717. July 3. M. Tonty, commander of the post, returns from a visit to Montreal. In this year the Fox Indians made an attack on the fort, but did little harm.
1718. Fort Pontchartrain rebuilt.
1721. June 6. Father Charlevoix arrived. He left June 18.
1723. Third Catholic Church erected.
I'746. The fort attacked by the Indians. Pontiac and his tribe aided in defending it.
1747. September 22. A large number of boats with 150 soldiers arrived from Montreal.
I749. First large emigration to Detroit, necessi- tating enlargement of the fort.
1755. Fort again enlarged because of arrival of new settlers. Fourth Church of St. Anne erected.
March 16. Bishop Henri Dubreuil de Pontbriand visits Detroit.
1760. November 29. Fort Pontchartrain sur- rendered by the French to the English.
1761. September 3. Sir Wm. Johnson, Superin- tendent of Indian tribes, and his party arrive.
1763. April 27. Pontiac completes plans for his conspiracy.
May 6. Pontiac's conspiracy revealed to Gladwin.
May 7. Gladwin exposes Pontiac's treachery.
May 10. Pontiac begins his attack.
May 12. The Indians surround the fort, firing from morning till evening.
May 21. Schooner Gladwin dispatched to hasten supplies from Niagara.
June 3. Receipt of news of the treaty of peace between France and England and of the cession of Detroit.
June 30. Schooner Gladwin returned with 60 troops, and a supply of ammunition and provisions.
July 3. Inhabitants collected to hear the Articles of Peace between France and England.
1 Copyright, 1884, by Silas Farmer.
[955]
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THE ANNALS OF DETROIT.
July 8. Many of the principal inhabitants bring their goods inside of the fort for safe keeping.
July 10. The Indians sought to set fire to the vessels in the river by means of a raft filled with fagots, birchbark, and tar. No damage was done.
July 29. Several sloops and schooners arrived with 300 soldiers commanded by Captain Dalyell.
July 31. Battle of Bloody Run or Bloody Bridge. Defeat and death of Captain Dalyell.
August 6. Schooner arrived with 80 barrels of provisions, a large quantity of naval stores, and some merchandise.
August 13. Schooners Beaver and Gladwin left for provisions.
August 28. The Beaver with guns and cargo lost at Cat Fish Creek.
September 3. The Indians burned a windmill about 300 yards from the fort.
September 5. Schooner Gladwin arrived with 47 barrels of flour and 160 barrels of pork.
October 3. A schooner arrived with 185 barrels of provisions.
October 19. Through councils held with some tribes of friendly Indians, wheat and flour were ob- tained.
1764. March II. An attempt was made by some traitor to fire the magazine, but the brand fortunately went out.
June 4. The birthday of His Majesty King George III. was celebrated by three volleys from the troops and three discharges of cannon, and by the drinking his Majesty's health on parade, by the officers and several Frenchmen who were invited guests. At night almost the entire town was illumi- nated.
August 26. Colonel Bradstreet with 1,200 troops arrived.
August 30. All inhabitants over 15 years of age appeared, by order, to renew their oath of allegiance.
August 31. Gladwin relieved of command of Detroit by Colonel Bradstreet.
October 20. The sloop Charlotte sailed for Fort Erie with 121 packs of peltries, the last of 1,464 packs sent since April.
1765. August 17. Colonel George Croghan ar- rived; he was sent by the English Government to conciliate the Indian nation who had acted with the French.
September 26. Colonel Croghan left for Niagara.
1770. August 13. Chaplain Turring solemnized a marriage. He was the first Protestant minister known to have been in Detroit.
1774. June 22. Quebec Act passed. First civil government provided by English for territory includ- ing Detroit.
1775. June 9. Martial law proclaimed by Sir Guy Carlton.
August 6. A boy named George Forsyth was lost in the woods, his two companions running off and leaving him, and on October 2, 1776, the re- mains were found by an Indian near the upper end of the Woodbridge Farm.
November 9. Lieutenant-Governor Hamilton ar- rived in Detroit.
1776. May. Captain Foster and his party leave Detroit for the Cedars.
August 10. . All vessels on the lakes were required to be enrolled at Detroit and placed under control of the Crown.
1777. March 26. John Coutincinau and Ann Wyley hanged for larceny.
July 27. Governor Hamilton reported that he had already sent out fifteen scalping parties.
1778. September 17. Governor Hamilton in- dicted for allowing the execution of Coutincinau.
October 7. Governor Hamilton and his forces leave for Vincennes.
In the fall of the year, the erection of Fort Ler- noult was begun.
1779. March 5. Colonel George Rogers Clark captures Governor Hamilton and his forces at Vin- cennes.
1780. April 12. Captain Bird's force left for a foray on Kentucky.
August 4. Captain Bird and party return with several hundred prisoners.
1781. July 16. Father Potier killed by a fall.
November 3. Arrival of the Moravian brethren arrested at Sandusky by order of Colonel A. S. De Peyster on charge of aiding the Americans. They were tried and acquitted November 9, and left De- troit November 14.
1782. March 8. Colonel Williamson and his forces massacre the Moravian Indians on the Mus- kingum.
April 20. The Moravians are again brought to Detroit.
July 20. The Moravians leave for a new settle- ment in what is now Macomb County.
November 5. The Moravians consecrate their church on the Clinton River.
November 30. Preliminary treaty between Eng- land and America concluded.
1783. August 11. General Haldimand informs Baron Steuben that he had received no order to de- liver up the posts on the lakes.
September 3. Second treaty between England and the United States.
1786. April 28. The Moravians are compelled to leave their settlement on the Clinton River.
1787. July 13. Ordinance for government of Northwest Territory passed.
1788. July 24. Judicial District of Hesse in- cluding Detroit, created by Canadian authority.
957
THE ANNALS OF DETROIT.
August 10. Visit of Brant, the noted chief of the Six Nations.
1790. October 19-22. General Harmer de- feated by the English and Indians.
1791. November 4. Governor St. Clair and his army defeated by the English and Indians.
December 9. The Montreal merchants protest against the delivering up of the western posts.
December 26. Detroit and Michigan become part of Upper Canada.
1792. July 16. County of Kent created. It in- cluded all of Michigan, besides other territory.
August. Election at Detroit of two members to first legislature of Upper Canada.
September 17. First Canadian legislature con- venes at Newark.
October 16. Name of District of Hesse changed to Western District.
1794. April. Governor Simcoe selects site for British fort on the Miami.
August 30. General Wayne defeats the English and Indians.
November 19. The Jay Treaty between England and United States concluded.
1796. January 29. English Court of General Quarter Sessions held its last session in Detroit.
July II. Detroit first occupied by American troops.
August 15. Wayne County first established.
August 25. Rev. David Jones, Baptist minister, chaplain of General Wayne's army arrives.
1797. August 24. Thomas Powers arrives at Detroit in order to interest General Wilkinson in the French and Spanish intrigue for the possession of Detroit and the West.
1798. March 13. First notice of a fire engine at Detroit.
May 10. The grand jury presents cut money as a nuisance.
May 22. Governor St. Clair and two judges of the Supreme Court arrived at 9 A. M.
June. Rev. Gabriel Richard arrives.
July 27. A large number of armed men came in the night time to the Grand Marais, and under pre- text of searching for British deserters, forced open and searched the houses of several inhabitants. The Court of General Quarter Sessions, on August 4, 1798, recommended the inhabitants to collect and seize any such offenders in future, if possible, and bring them to justice.
October 29. Election ordered for members of General Assembly of Northwest Territory.
December 17. First election in Detroit of dele- gates to General Assembly of Northwest Terri- tory.
1799. January 14-15. Election of members of Northwest Assembly at Detroit.
February 4. First session of General Assembly of Northwest Territory began at Cincinnati.
March 2. Detroit constituted a port of entry.
September 16. Second session of General Assem- bly of the Territory of the United States Northwest of the Ohio River held at Cincinnati.
1800. May 7. Northwest Territory divided. Indiana Territory created.
June 4. Judges, court officers, lawyers, and lead- ing citizens go to Sandwich to celebrate birthday of King George III.
September 11. Rev. David Bacon, missionary to the Indians, arrives on his first visit.
November 3. General Assembly of Northwest Territory convenes at Chillicothe.
December 9. Circuit Court for Wayne County created.
1801. March 3. First post-road in Michigan established. In June of this year Bishop Peter Denaut visited Detroit.
1802. January 18. Town of Detroit incorporated. February 9. First session of Board of Trustees, James Henry made chairman.
February 15. A public meeting of freeholders and housekeepers (a notice of which, written in English and French, had previously been posted on the engine house, and served by reading on every housekeeper), was held at Court House to make known the Act of Incorporation. The Act was read in English and then in French.
February 23. First regulations made for preven- tion of fires.
April 17. First town-tax voted. This same month the trustees prescribed the size and price of loaves of bread.
May 3. First town election. Freedom of cor- poration voted to Solomon Sibley for getting the Act of Incorporation passed and for other eminent services rendered.
1803. January I. Post - office established at Detroit.
March 3. Present State of Michigan became part of Indiana Territory. In this year troops went from here to build first fort at what is now Chicago, going overland under command of Lieutenant J. S. Swearingen. Captain John Whistler, his wife, and their son, G. W. Whistler, the subsequent distin- guished Russian engineer, went by water on the schooner Tracey.
April 11. Colonel John Frederick Hamtramck, colonel of First United States Regiment and first American commander of Detroit, died, aged forty- five years.
May 2. Second election of corporation of De- troit. Freedom of corporation voted to Jonathan Scheifflin, one of the representatives in Northwest Legislature.
958
THE ANNALS OF DETROIT.
May 10. Governor Harrison visits Detroit.
September 19. First fire company organized.
1804. March 26. First United States land office established at Detroit and provision made for settlement of land claims in Michigan.
August. Rev. Nathan Bangs, first missionary to the white people of this region, arrived.
October 13. A town meeting of citizens at Court House considered a memorial to be forwarded to Congress, asking for a separate territorial govern- ment.
1805. January II. Michigan Territory created. Detroit, by Act of Congress, declared the seat of the territorial government.
June II. Detroit burned. Only one building saved.
June 29. Saturday. Town meeting ; great num- ber of citizens present. Ordinance of April 20, 1802, respecting public commons, repealed.
July 2. Tuesday. Oath of office administered to the Governor and Judges and the territorial gov- ernment commenced.
July 4. First session of the Governor and Judges as a Legislature.
July 9. First law passed by Governor and Judges. July 29. Supreme Court of Michigan Territory organized.
August 19. First session of District Court of Territory held under a green bower on the grand square.
1806. April 21. Governor and Judges author- ized to lay out new town of Detroit.
June 16. Total eclipse of the sun. The follow- ing extract of a letter from S. Griswold, Esq., of Detroit, to Francis Gardner, Esq., contained in The Washington Chronicle for September 10, 1806, gives an account of the total eclipse, as it appeared at Detroit, and its effect on the Indians :
For several months this anticipated phenomenon was a sub- ject of enquiry with the Indians, as many stories had been told them, partly by ignorant and partly by designing persons, of ter- rible things which would accompany that event. The troubled aspect of our national affairs with foreign powers facilitated the propagation of visionary and awful predictions. Hundreds came to me to consult on the subject of the eclipse and its threatened accompaniments and consequences ; some large parties came in from a distance on purpose to enquire on this subject. They knew that white people could foretell eclipses, and supposed we must be able to predict the attendant circumstances of wind and weather and every effect upon the earth. Most of them believe this faculty is given to white people by the Great Spirit.
It has long (perhaps always) been a general sentiment of Indians, that an eclipse, particularly of the sun, is an expression or rather token, of the anger of the Great Spirit, the degree of his anger being indicated by the magnitude of the eclipse. The expectation of a total eclipse, therefore, was sufficient to prepare them for the reception of every extravagant tale. Among other ideas, that of war, bloody war, naturally occurred, and was easily fomented, in conjunction with the then existing circumstances. It was not difficult for a designing person of influence among them to point out to their satisfaction, how and where this calam-
ity was to take place, and whose blood was to be shed. It is said the Indians defeated General Harmer on the day of an eclipse, and have since entertained a persuasion that such a phenomenon is peculiarly unfortunate for Americans, and sufficient to ensure success to Indians if they strike on that day.
It was generally reported, a short time previous to the late eclipse, that an attack under its auspices was agreed to be made upon this and other American posts in this quarter.
Besides that of war, the minds of the Indians were filled with other terrific anticipations. Some whole villages appeared im- pressed that the darkness would be equal to that of the darkest night, and would continue for months, and many imagined it would be a dark year. They expected the sun would be put out for that space of time ; that vegetables and animals would perish, together with most Indians who lived on the casual products of the chase. The more general expectation was, that it would be only a dark day, or as they expressed it, a night day. And they supposed the day would be productive of the most dreadful storms of wind, hail, and other elementary concussions beyond the power of man to describe. I found but one Indian out of some hundreds that came in from the wilderness who appeared to possess any just conception of the expected phenomenon. It was the son of an intelligent chief now dead, who declared that he had no fears, for he believed he had seen such a thing when a boy, and his father taught him it was caused by the night-sun (their term for the moon) getting over the day-sun, and thus stopping its light for a short time.
Seeing the general attention of the Indians thus excited, and wishing to allay their painful apprehensions, as well as prevent any possible consequences of a serious nature, I thought it my duty to instruct them as far as they were capable of understand- ing, into the cause and nature of an eclipse,- told them the day, and precise time of day, it would happen,- its duration, appear- ance, etc .; and as to the dreadful accompaniments of storm and wind, I discountenanced such an expectation, though something of the kind might take place, as on other days, but assured them that they would survive it, and expressed my hope of seeing a clear sky on that day, that I might behold the phenomenon in all its grandeur, and the stars in their glory surrounding it. They were thankful for these assurances, and some took encourage- ment, while others remained fearful and perplexed.
The eclipse made its appearance under every favorable cir- cumstance that could be wished, and agreeable to all I had told the Indians. The day was remarkably fine, without a cloud or a gust of wind. It commenced here about an hour earlier than the calculations at New York and Albany. The disc of the sun was completely covered for the space of three minutes, the stars ap- peared very brilliant within the compass of the eclipse's shadow on every side of the sun's plane. The greatest obscuration was equal to that of the clearest starlight evening. The brutes and the fowls gave signs that they thought it night, and were retiring to repose when they were recalled by the bursting forth of the light. Its effects upon the Indians were great. Those whom I saw during the greatest darkness, appeared thoughtful, but held their courage. Others, I was told, ran up and down with agita- tion. Some fell on their knees and prayed, while a few wrapped themselves in their blankets and lay down to die. After it was seen to pass off without harm, and the day proceeded as usual, all took courage and became very social.
By the evening many were ready to be drunk. A general muster of militia had been ordered on that day, which was well attended and had a good effect. Governor Hull had arrived in season to take the field.
September 13. City of Detroit incorporated. September 19. Detroit Bank incorporated.
September 29. First election for members of Upper House of Common Council of City of Detroit.
November 27. A convention of citizens of Mich- igan held to petition Government to take such action
959
THE ANNALS OF DETROIT.
as would settle the land titles. The convention lasted until December I.
1807. March 3. Congress disapproved of the chartering of the Detroit Bank.
March 28. The Governor and Judges order wells dug on the commons, now the Campus Martius.
The first brick house was erected this year.
August 9. The erection of a new stockade was begun.
November 17. A council was held with the Ottawas, Chippewas, Wyandottes, and Potowata- mies, and they ceded a large tract of land in the eastern part of the State.
1808. March 17. St. Patrick's Day first cele- brated in Detroit.
September 10. The Governor and Judges pass a law directed against the Detroit Bank.
December 14. The Park Lots were ordered sur- veyed.
1809. February 24. The Act incorporating the City of Detroit was repealed.
March 6. Forty-one of the Park Lots were sold at auction.
May 10. The church on the Melcher Farm was consecrated.
August 31. The Michigan Essay or Impartial Observer was first issued. It was the first paper printed in Detroit.
1810. The first Protestant church, a Methodist Episcopal society, was organized.
18II. October 8. Five selectmen or councillors for district of Detroit were elected.
November 7. General Harrison defeated the Indians at Tippecanoe.
December 27. An Indian war being imminent, a memorial was sent by citizens to Congress, praying for aid.
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