.;\ \0^^. .c5 r. •^^.# ^^%, .^ .^^ c- . '(- .V^" ^^ .aV A-^- r"^- . . - ;^ '^' ' " v^ ."' * c, ^- '■ ^^^ '^^ ■ X^'' ^^ ^'^SlI^'J!^ % ^, .-?v^ '"/" -/- " N -v c- ?i^'« '^'<- 1" '"'-" .^^ Sj- ,s^ \ .^ ,->'' ,-0' .•u^-' ■^' V, '■> ^ '■ , ■<- sV ./> •^ ■^,^' v,'= ■% %< ■x^ '^ .lip ^ o 0^ ^■f. .^^ >:■ tP ^^ ' ^ A-^"*^ ,*^ '«* ■*bo^ .^^ -^^. o>' V ^ "< * /• -^ <<- ,■0' ■\ O -V- <-'. t<' X "'-<- cP" «^ ^>' " V V ^i- ^ " " / '■' -?• -oo— aHE=?1 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN; BIOaEAPHIOAL SKETCHES, PORTRAIT ENGRAVINGS, AND NUMEROUS ILLUSTRA TIONS. A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE PENINSULAR STATE FROM ITS EARLIEST SETTLEMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME. COMPILED BY CHARLES RICHARD TUTTLE. ..pyright"^ .874 , ; DETROIT: . --Uillh:-^^ R. D. S. TYLER & CO., 66 GRISWOLD STREET. PRINTED BY THE DETROIT FREE PRESS COMPANY. 1873. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, By CHARLES RICHARD TUTTLE, In the offlce of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. (^ <^> TO THE MEN OF MICHIGAN, WHO, FKOM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS, BY TIMELY PERSEVERANCE AND WELL DIRECTED ENTERPRISE, HAVE WON WEALTH FOR THEMSELVES OR FAME FOR THE PENINSULAR STATE, THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED. PREFACE. Some one has very properly written that the country is already overloaded with histories of itself; and the same writer as properly adds : " Not one of them pretends to constitute a general history of the United States in volumes, embracing a complete history of each State separately — a work that would be of incalculable value to the archives of every Commonwealth of the American Repub- lic." It has been offered in reply to this, that " the early history of the United States is so consolidated and intermingled as not to admit of being divided into volumes that would adapt themselves respectively to each State." The last argument holds good only in so far as the task of compiling such a work is a difficult one, involving much labor that can scarcely hope for just compensa- tion. The work presented in this volume is threefold in its character, embracing a general history of Michigan, from its earliest settlement to the present time (unincumbered by the records of a neighboring Commonwealth), including illustrations and brief descriptive sketches of the most prominent features of the Peninsular State, with portraits and short biographical sketches of its present leading business and professional men. With regard to the first and most important feature, it is proper to state that the works which the author has consulted freely, and to which the perfection of this book is most indebted, are Lan- man's History of Michigan, Sheldon's Early History of Michigan, Bancroft's History of the United States, Parkman's Conspiracy of Pontiac, Lanman's Red Book of Michigan, Tackabury's New Atlas of the State of Michigan, Way's History of the Boundary Difficulty, and numerous other volumes. The great aim has been to condense from these works, and from more recent records, a plain and truthful history of the State from its earliest settlement to the present time. VUl PREFACE. In the second and third features, the aim has been to depict, by descriptive sketches and engravings, the more prominent modern features of the State, and to present the portraits with brief bio- graphical sketches of some of its leading citizens. In doing the latter, care has been taken to select representative men in all the departments of trade, and in the learned professions, without regard to the accident of political prominence. The latter con- sideration has not, of course, been ignored in making the selection, but preference has been given to those who have, by unaided industry and native force of character, placed themselves in prominent and leading positions in their chosen field of labor. The labor of compiling this volume has been immense, and not always pleasant. The object has been to furnish to the citizens of the State a more complete history of the Commonwealth than has yet been written ; and at the same time to give to the world, in a condensed and popular form, reliable information in regard to the resources of a State now truly imperial in wealth, population and power. How well this task has been performed we leave to the judgment of an indulgent and discriminating public. It will be observed that the portrait engravings in this volume are inserted without reference to chronological order. This became necessary for the reason that printing was commenced before the engravings were finished. The only order observed is that in which the engravings reached the hands of the printer. In conclusion, the publishers desire to express their gratitude to the Detroit Free Press Company and its employes, for the faithful- ness and painstaking care with which they have carried the mechanical part of the work forward to completion. The intelli- gence and skill displayed in this part of the work is patent to every reader, and is in itself an illustration of the enterprise which is characteristic of the men of Michigan, as well as of the magnitude and excellence of the oldest printing house in the Peninsular State. Detroit, December, 1873. ILLUSTRATIONS. MISCELLANEOUS. New State Capitol (Frontispiece). The Indian Council at St. Mary's Falls (1671) 89 La Salle in the Griffin 107 Death of La Salle 107 Old Fort Michilimackinac 191 Unveiling of the (Conspiracy of Pontiac 249 Fort Pontchartrain (Detroit) in 1705 273 The First Cliurches Built in Michigan 355 Hon. T. J. Campau's Residence 373 Pear Trees in the Old Jesuit Garden 399 Residence of Isaac Newton Swain 409 Country Residence of W. W. Backus 445 Burt's Solar Compass 517 Burt's Surveying Company (with Marquette in the distance) 521 Michigan Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument 541 Residence of James Nail, jr 591 University of Michigan 603 Agricultural College, Lansing, Michigan 611 Map of Straits of Mackinaw 615 Michigan Female Seminary 627 Detroit Homeopathic College 631 Goldsmith's Bryant & Stratton Business College 635 Steamer W. L. Wetmore 651 Saugatuck Union School .' 669 Residence of M. Jacques Campau 677 The Joseph Campau Residence 687 View of the City of Grand Rapids 691 View of the City of Adrian 699 View of the City of Detroit 705 Second Presbyterian Church, Detroit 707 City Hall, Detroit 709 View of Fort Street, Detroit 711 View of the City of Flint 719 X ILLUSTRATlOXS. PORTRAITS. Hon. Lewis Cass 21 Lieutenant-Governor Andrew Parsons 41 Governor John J. Bagley 61 Governor H. P. Baldwin 65 Hon. Frederick L. Wells 69 Hon. Elihu L. Clark 73 Henry Fish 77 Colonel Wm. M. Fenton 83 Hon. Martin S. Brackett 91 Hon. Timothy Jerome 95 Thomas P. Sheldon 99 Hon. Jonathan B. Tuttle 103 General Joseph O. Hudnut 113 Hon. J. W. Begole 117 Hon. James Watson 123 Hon Peter Desnoyers 125 Captain John Clarke 129 Hon. John R. Kellogg 185 Hon. Charles W. Grant 141 Professor Duane Doty 145 Hon. J. G. Sutherland 149 Hon. John N. Mellen 153 E. B. Ward 157 Hon. Charles M. Garrison 101 Hon. Lysander Woodward 167 Hon. Peter C. Andre 169 Hon. Charles S. May . 173 Hon. B. W. Huston 177 Ray Haddock 183 Hon. George H. Durand 185 F. G. Russell 193 Hon. A. F. R. Braley 197 Dr. Edward W. Jenks 201 Hon. Samuel D. Pace 205 Hon. John Moore 209 E. T. Judd 213 Dr. J. B. White 217 Hon. Eleazer Jewett 221 R. W. Jenny 225 General Mark Flanigan 231 J. M. Stanley 235 James Shearer ... 241 Lorenzo B Curtis 245 Right Reverend Samuel A. McCoskry 253 Hon. S. M. Green 257 Hon. Moses B. Hess 265 ILLUSTRATIONS, XI Hon. James Birney 269 M. S. Smith 277 Hon. James Turrill 283 Ezra Rust 285 David Preston 289 Hon. Bela W. Jenks 293 E. O. Haven, D. D., LL. D 297 Hon. John F. Driggs 305 Rev. J. M. Arnold 309 Hon. R. P. Eldredge 313 Hon. W. L. Webber 321 Chester B. Jones 325 Hon. James F. Joj' 33i Hon. Albert Miller 337 A. W. Wright 341 Hon. L. B. Parker 345 Hon. G. D. Williams 349 Colonel Wm. L. P. Little 357 Bradford Smith 361 Spencer Barclay 367 Hon. T. J. Campau 369 Hon. Alfred Russell 379 Dr. J. W. Kermott 381 Hon. Zachariah Chandler 385 Charles H. Borgman 389 Hon. A. B. Turner 395 Isaac Newton Swain 403 Aaron Dikeman 413 Major Lowell Hall 417 James Scribner 421 Hon. R. McClelland 425 M. V. Borgman 487 John P. Allison 443 Hon. George V. N. Lothrop 449 Hon. R. A. Haire 459 E. H. Turner 461 Hon. N. B. Eldredge 465 Captain J. F. Marsac 469 Hon. George W. Swift 473 Sandf ord Howard 481 Hon. D. Horton 485 Hon. George E. Hubbard 489 Rev. Marcus Swift 497 Dr. G. L. Cornell 505 Colin Campbell 509 Hon. Wm. A. Burt 513 Horace R. Gardner 525 XU ILLUSTRATIONS. Hon. Thomas W. Ferry 529 Myron Butman 537 Hon. Thomas H. Bottomley 539 Hon. John Ball 545 Hon. Jay A. Hubbell 549 General J. G Parkhurst 553 Smith R. Woolley 559 Hon A. N.Hart 561 Dr. L. Younghusband 565 Hon. E. S Eggleston 569 Professor David Parsons 573 General A. T. McReynolds 577 D. M. Ferry 583 Hon Ira Mayhevv 585 James Nail, jr 589 James W. Frisbie 593 J. H. Gold.smith 597 Hon. C. C. Comstock 601 Hon. Jonathan Shearer 605 Okemos 609 Edgar Conkling 613 Hon. John S. Barry 617 Hon. Moses Wisner 631 Hon. E Ransom 625 Hon. Wm. Woodbridge 629 Hon. O. D. Conger 633 Hon. Israel V. Harris 641 Hon. David H. Jerome 645 Hon. George Willard 649 Hon O. M Barnes 653 Hon. A. C. Baldwin 659 Hon. Charles Rynd, M. D 661 Hon. Henry H. Crapo 665 Hon. Joseph Campau 679 Hon. H. M. Look 693 Hon. J. W. Gordon 701 Hon. Wm. L. Greenly ^ 703 Hon. Wm. C. Duncan 713 Hon. Wm. W. Wheaton 716 Hon. Alexander H. Morrison 722 Hon. John S. Horner 725 Hon. Alpheus Felch 737 Hon. Kinsley S. Bingham 729 Hon. Stevens T. Mason 731 CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. rrance moves to establish a colony in America— Cartier proceeds to Canada— His second voyage — Roberval's expedition — Other French expeditions— Champlain's first expedition to the St Lawrence— He forms a settlement at Quebec 17 CHAPTER n. Champlain and his infant colony— A pleasant winter in the new fort— Condition of Indian aflairs -The natives— New France ceded to England in 1629— Champlain returns to France 29 CHAPTER HI. History of New France from the war with the English in 1629 to that of 1689— The French and the Iroquois— Colonial history— The government of Fronte- nac— Defeat of the English 38 CHAPTER IV. History of New France from the administration of Frontenac to its overthrow by "the English, at Quebec, in 1759— The battle of Quebec-The fall of Wolfe and Montcalm— Canada ceded to the English 58 CHAPTER V. Progress of the French toward Michigan— The struggles and adventures of the missionaries— Life and death of the great and good Marquette— Pioneer life, 81 CHAPTER VI. Robert de la Salle--First vessel on Lake Erie— Loss of the Griffin- Unfortunate expedition in search of the Mississippi— Mutinous conduct of LaSalle's men— Death of LaSalle— His character— Fate of his companions 102 CHAPTER VII. The Sault Ste. Marie— Fort St. Josevih— Detroit founded— Its early condition- Attacked by the Ottawaa- By the Foxes— Early French travelers through the lake region 112 CHAPTER VIII. Colonial emigrants— Merchants— The peasantry— French soldiers— Legal admin- istration-Policy of the French government— Mode of land distribution 122 CHAPTER IX. War between the French and English colonies— Braddock's march— His defeat— Acadia, Niagai'a and Crown Point- Battle of Lake George— Condition of Canada 139 CHAPTER X The English take possession of the western outposts of Canada— March of Major Rogers and the Provincial Rangers— Appearance of Pontiac— Surren- der of Detroit and Michilimackinac to the Luglish— End of French rule in Michigan 165 CHAPTER XI. Hostility between the northern Indians and the English— Experience of the lirtst English traders who visited Michilimackinac— Their persecutions -The English soldiers take possession of Michilimackinac 172 xiv CONTENTS. CHAPTER XII. Hostility between the Indians and the English — Its cause explained —The Indians rising to drive the English from the country— Pontiac's message — The council and speech in which the conspiracy is matured— The war 189 CHAPTER XIII. Michilimackinac — Description of the place in 1762 — Assembling of hostile Indians around Michilimackinac— Adventures of an P^nglish trader— The Indians preparing for the massacre— The game of ball commenced 200 CHAPTER XIV. The massacre at Fort Michilimackinac— Indians drinking the blood of English- men-Sufferings of English prisoners— The Ottawas espouse the cause of the English and take possession of the fort— The Indian council 215 CHAPTER XV. The English persecuted at Michilimackinac after the massacre— The adventure of Henry— Prisoners divided between the Chippewas and the Ottawas — Lieu- tenant Corell rescues the prisoners from the Ottawas, and the English leave the country —Escape of Heury 229 CHAPTER XVI. Conspiracy of Pontiac, continued— The plot to destroy the garrison of Detroit discovered— Pontiac commences the siege— Captain Campbell's captivitj'— Pontiac demands the surrender of the fort 248 CHAPTER XVII. Conspiracy of Pontiac, continued— A council among the officers of tlie fort of Detroit— Gladwyn determines to hold out— Difficulty between Pontiac and the French— Fate of Cuylers expedition— The horrors of Indian warfare thickening around Detroit 264 CHAPTER XVIII. Conspiracy of Pontiac. continued— Fate of the forest garrison— The m.assacre at Fort St. Joseph— The fate of Sandusky, Miami, Ouatanon, Presque Isle, Le Boeuf and Venango— The reign of blood and havoc— The bloody work of the great Pontiac and his treacherous followers 276 CHAPTER XIX. Conspii-acy of Pontiac, continued- The siege of Detroit— Adventure of a British schooner on the Detroit river— Mode of Indian warfare— Pontiac inviting the Ereuch to join his ami)'- Another council— Exchange of prisoners 282 CHAPTER XX. Conspiracy of Pontiac, continued— The battle of Bloody Run— Captain Dalzell's detachhient slaughtered by the savages— Adventure of the schooner Glad- wyn— The Indians sue for peace— Approach of winter 296 CHAPTER XXI. Conclusion of Pontiac's war— The siege of Detroit raised — Bradstreet in the west— The English at peace— The Revolutionary War— Instigating savages to take American scalps— Captain Byrd's expedition— Hamilton's expedition —His capture— DePeysler commands at Detroit— American liberty trium- phant—Peace restorecl 312 CHAPTER XXII. The retention of the western posts by Great Britain after the treaty of 1783— Northwestern Territory organized— Indian troubles again— The great war council at Detroit — Campaign of General Harmer — St. Clair's defeat- Wayne's victories— Michigan surrendered to the United States 324 CHAPTER XXIII. William Hull a))iiointed governor of the Territory of Michigan- Tecumseh's warriors assembling— An .army raised in Ohio— It marches to Detroit under General Hull — War declared between England and the United States— Hull advances into Canada 330 CONTENTS. XV CHAPTER XXIV. Michilimackinac— Removal of the fort to Mackinaw island— Condition of the fort and settlement in 181'2— Captain Kol)erts' expedition captures the fort— The garrison sent to Detroit— The English once more in possession of Mack- inaw 344 CHAPTER XXV. General Hull's cowardice— He evacuates Canada -Alleged treason— A detach- ment sent to meet Colonel Brush— The fort surrendered to the British — Indig'nation of the army— Colonel Brush escapes— Detroit again under the British flag 353 CHAPTER XXVI. The British celebrating their success at Detroit —Account of General Brock's ex])edition against Detroit— Scenes and circumstances in and about Detroit after the surrender— The massacre at Chicago— Commodore Perry on Lake Erie -Harrison's campaign— Recapture of the western posts, including Detroit, by the United States 365 CHAPTER XXVII. Mackinaw— Expedition under Commodore Sinclair and Colonel Croghan for its reduction- (Jolonel Turner captures the Perseveranci; at St. Mary's and reduces that post— Capture of the Mink— Destruction of goods belonging to the Northwest Company— Landing of the forces at Mackinaw— Fall of Major Holmes— Defeat of the "Americans -Full account of the battle, etc 377 CHAPTER XXVIII. The ordinance of 1787— Erection of the Territory of Michiiian— Its boundary — Judicial administration— The Woodward code of laws— Governor Hull— His trial by court-martial 394 CHAPTER XXIX. General Cass appointed governor -Defenseless condition of the Territory- Indian depredations around Detroit— Bravery and energy of General Cass— His treaty with the Indians— Condition of Michigan at the close of the war — E.vpetlitiou of General Cass to the Upper Peninsula— Discoveries— Pros- perity of the Territory under Cass' administration— The treaty of Chicago- Execution of Indians 402 CHAPTER XXX. The administration of Governor Porter— The Black Hawk war— Construction of roads— The lirst railroad company organized— Banks chartered— Common Schools organized- Change in the method of disposing of public lands — Death of Governor Porter 441 CHAPTER XXXI. The organization of a State government— The boundary question — The Toledo war— Incidents and accidents— Settlement of the question— Admission of Michigan into the Union 448 CHAPTER XXXII. Michigan as a State— Resources and population— Administration of Governor Mason— Woodbridge — Gordon — Barrj- — Felch— Greenly — Ransom— Barry— McClelland -Bingham— Wisuer 480 CHAPTER XXXIII. Administration of Governor Blair— The war of the rebellion— Patriotic action of Michigan— The troops sent to the fleld— The draft— Governor Crapo's administration— close of the war— The troops return home— Financial con- dition of the State 494 CHAPTER XXXIV. Governor Henry P. Baldwin's administration— Steady growth of the State — Constitutional amendment— Governor Baldwin's re-electiou— The State Cap- itol—The great and destructive fires in Michigan— The Soldiers' and Sailors' 3Ionument— Administration of Governor BagLey 536 Xvi CONTENTS. CHAPTER XXXV. Present condition of Michigan railroads 544 CHAPTER XXXVI. Mineral and forest wealth of Michigan— Iron— Copper— Salt— Gypsum— Coal- Other minerals— Lumber 672 CHAPTER XXXVII. Education in Michigan— The common school Bystem— The University- Agricul- tural College— State Normal School— Albion College— Adrian College— Kala- mazoo College— Hillsdale College— Olivet College— State Reform School- State Public School— Asylum for the Ueaf, Dumb and Blind— Michigan Female Seminary— Detroit Medical College— Detroit Homeopathic College- Goldsmith's Bryant & Stratton Business University— Mayhew's Business College 596 CHAPTER XXXVIII. Agriculture— Manufactures— Commerce 640 CHAPTER XXXIX. Mineral Springs of Michigan— Their discovery— Analyses of the waters— The location of each— The St Louis Spring— Alpena— Midland— Eaton Rapids- Spring Lake— Lansing— Fruitport— Butterworth's— Owosso— Hubbardston — Leslie— Mount Clemens 658 Governors and oflicers of Michigan 671 Population of Michigan 674 Sketch of Grand Rapids 689 Sketch of Adrian 698 Sketch of Detroit 706 Sketch of Flint 718 THE HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. CHAPTER I. France Moves to Establish a Colony in America — Cartier Pro- ceeds TO Canada — His Second Voyage — Roberval's Expedition — Other French Expeditions — Champlain's First Expedition to the St. Lawrence — He Forms a Settlement at Quebec. Other volumes of this work, treating of other States, give a complete narrative of the efforts of England and Spain to colonize the New World. Hence, in this place, it is sufficient to trace only the movements of France, in her unfoi|tunate struggle to plant a permanent branch of empire in America. This is the more expe- dient since only the name of the latter is associated with the first settlement of Michigan. At the beginning of the sixteenth century the discoveries of Christopher Columbus and Sebastian Cabot were creating consid- erable excitement in France, and Francis I granted a commission to Jacques Cartier, of St. Malo, authorizing him to prosecute dis- coveries in the far West. Cartier's outfit for this expedition con- sisted of two ships, of sixty tons burden each, and a crew of sixty- one efficient men. He set sail for America from St. Malo on the 20th of April, 1584. This was by no means the first western movement of civilization. The Spaniards already occupied Florida; the English had taken possession of the middle portion of the continent, and the north- ern regions alone remained for the French. To the latter point the brave commander directed his little fleet. He made a safe voyage, and after exploring the northern coast of Newfoundland, he returned to France, reaching St. Malo on the 15th of Septem- ber, 1534. 2 18 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. , He gave a very favorable account of the new country to the French court, which was well received ; but subsequent develop- ments proved that he had done little more than land on the north- western banks of Newfoundland. Fearing the consequences of the autumnal storms upon his ships, he remained but a few weeks. Nevertheless he had seen enough to persuade the belief that a fruitful country lay beyond, in the direction of Michigan and the surrounding States. Immediately after Cartier's return to France preparations began for a second expedition. Three vessels were fitted out with a view to a more extended voyage. They were the Great Herminia, of about one hundred and twenty tons; the Little Herminia, of sixty tons, and the Hermirillon, of forty tons. The first named was the flag ship. Tlie fleet set sail on the loth of May, 1585. This was a very important day at St. Malo. Every adventurer about to sail for the New World was an object of much interest to the inhabitants, and not a little pains were taken to celebrate their departure. In the hour of separation from kindred and country, the priests of their religion had sought to propagate their future comfort and support by preparing a gorgeous pageant. The officers and crews of the whole squadron confessed, and received the sacrament. Afterwards they presented themselves before the altar in the great cathedral at St. Malo, where the bishop, arrayed in sacerdotal robes of rare magnificence, bestowed on them his benediction. An account of the voyage, which was many years after jiub- lished in a French journal, states that it was very tempestuous. Many of the crew suffered unnumbered hai'dships, but after many days of toil and discontent, the eastern banks of Newfoundland again appeared to the eye of the adventurous commander. After five or six hours' sail, the squadron being in a higher latitude than Cartier had supposed, they passed the coast of the island, and still continuing their course, they entered, on St. Lawrence day, a broad gulf In commemoration of this event, they gave the name of St. Lawrence to the gulf, and to the great river that flows into it, which they bear to this day. Proceeding up the river's course, they found themselves, in a HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 19 few days, opposite the Indian village of Stadacona, then occupy- ing a portion of the ground on which the city of Quebec now stands. As the vessels came to an anchor, the terrified natives fled to the forest, where they gazed with mingled feelings of awe and wonder on the "winged canoes" which had borne the pale- faced strangers to their shores. The Indians at once resolved on a wary intercourse with the strangers. Their chief, Donacona, approached the vessels with a fleet of twelve canoes, filled with ariiied warriors. Ten of these canoes he directed to remain a short distance, while he proceeded with the other two to ascertain the j^urport of the visit — whether it was for peace or war. With this object in view, he commenced an oration. Cartier heard the chief patiently, and with the aid of a Gaspe Indian interpreter, he was enabled to open a conver- sation, and to quiet his apprehensions. An amicable understand- ing having thus been established, Cartier moored his vessels safely in the River St. Charles, where, shortly afterwards, he received a second visit from Donacona, who, this time, came accompanied by five hundred warriors of his tribe. Having thoroughly rested and refreshed himself and his men, Cartier determined to explore the river to Hochelaga, another Indian town, which he learned was situated further up its course. With the view of impressing the Indians with the superiority of the white man, he caused, prior to his departure, several cannon shots to be discharged, which produced the desired result. Like their countrymen of the South on the arrival of Columbus, the red men of the St. Lawrence were alarmed by the firing of artil- lery; and, as its thunders reverberated among the surrounding hills, a feeling of terror took complete possession of their minds. Leaving his other ships safely at anchor, Cartier, on the 19th of September, proceeded up the river with the Hermirillon and two boats. He was compelled, however, owing to the shallowness of the water, to leave the vessel at Lake St. Peter. Bold, and loving- adventure for its own sake, and at the same time strongly imbued with religious enthusiasm, Cartier watched the shifting landscape, hour after hour, as he ascended the river, with feelings of the deepest gratification, which were heightened by the reflection that 20 GEXERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. he was the pioneer of civilization and of Christianity in that unknown clime. "Nature," says MacMullen, "presented itself in all its primitive grandeur to his view. The noble river, on whose broad bosom he floated onward, day after day, disturbing vast flocks of water fowl ; the primitive forests of the North, which here and there presented, amid the luxuriance of their foliage, the parasitical vine, loaded with clusters of luscious grapes, and from whence the strange notes of the whippowil, and other birds of varied tone and plumage, such as he had never before seen, were heard at intervals; the bright sunshine of a Canadian autumn ; the unclouded moonlight of its calm and pleasant nights, with the other novel accessories of the occasion, made a sublime and profound impression upon the mind of the adventurer." Cartier arrived, on the 2d of October, opposite the Huron vil- lage of Hochelaga, the inhabitants of which lined the shore on his approach, and made the most friendly signs to him to land. Supplies of fish and corn were freely tendered by the Indians, in return for which they received knives and beads. Despite this friendly conduct, however, Cartier and his companions deemed it most prudent to pass the night on board their boats. On the following day, headed by their leader, dressed in the most imposing costume at his command, the exploring party went in procession to the village. At a short distance from its environs they were met by a sachem, who received them with that solemn courtesy peculiar to the aborigines of America. Cartier made him several presents. Among these was a cross, which he hung round his neck and directed him to kiss. Patches of ripe HON. LEWIS CASS. The lale Hon. Lewis Cass was born in Exeter, New Hampshire, Octo- ber 9, 1782. Having received a limited education in his native place, at the earl}' age of seventeen he crossed the Alleghany ^Mountains on foot, to seek a home in the " Great West," then an almost unexplored wilder- ness. Settled at Marietta, Ohio; he studied law and was successful. Elected at twenty-five to the Legislature of Ohio, he originated the bill which arrested the proceedings of Aaron Burr, which, as stated by Mr. Jefferson, was the first blow given to what is known as Burr's conspiracy. In 1807 he was appointed by Mr. Jeflerson ^Marshal of the State, and held HON. LEWIS CASS. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 23 corn encircled the village, which consisted of fifty well built huts, secured from attack by three lines of stout palisades. It is recorded that Cartier did all that he could to soothe the minds of the savages, and that he even prayed with these idolaters, and dis- tributed crosses and other symbols of the Catholic faith among them. After the usual ceremonies with the Indians, Cartier ascended the mountain behind the native village. Here he erected a cross and a shield, emblazoned with the Fleur-de-lis, emblem of church and State, and named the region of his discoveries " New France." Favorably as Cartier had been received, the lateness of the season compelled his return to Stadacona. The adventurers win- tered in the St. Charles river, and continued to be treated with apparent kindness and hospitality by the Indians in that vicinity, who had fortunately laid up abundant stores of provisions. Unaccustomed, however, to the rigor of a Canadian winter, and scantily supplied Avith warm clothing, Cartier and his companions suffered severely from the cold. The long and tedious winter at length drew to a close ; the ice broke up, and, although the voyage had led to no gold dis- coveries or profitable returns in a mercantile point of vieAV, the expedition prepared to return home. They compelled Donacona, and two other chiefs and eight warriors, to bear them company to France, where a greater part of these unfortunate men died soon after their arrival. On reaching home Cartier reported to the French Court that the country he had discovered was destitute of gold and silver, and that its coast was bleak and stormy. the oflace till the latter part of 1811, when he volunteered to repel Indian aggressions on the frontier. He was elected Colonel of the Third Regi- ment of Ohio volunteers, and entered the military service of the United States at the commencement of the war of 1812. Having by a difficult march reached Detroit, he urged the immediate invasion of Canada, and was -the author of the proclamation of that event. He was the first to land in arms on the enemy's shore, and, with a small detachment of troops, fought and won the first battle, that of the Tarontoe. At the subsequent capitulation of Detroit he was absent on important service, 24 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. This sad account had a most disastrous effect upon the energies already awakened in France, and not until four years after Car- tier's return was there a single movement in the whole empire looking toward a third exi)edition. Early in the year 1540 Fran- cis I granted patents covering all the territory north of British occupancy to Francoix de la Roque, Seigneur de Roberval. The commission also invested him with supreme power within its bounds. In the summer of the same year a squadron of five vessels was fitted out for New France. Cartier, who had already twice suc- cessfully reached the western hemisphere, was appointed to the command, and accordingly the fleet set sail to convey the French flag once more to America, After a very successful voyage, they reached the lake and river that had received its name from Car- tier four years previously, and, i^roceeding in a westerly course, they subsequently arrived at Stadacona. He was at first received with every appearance of kindness by the Indians, who expected that he had brought back their chief Donacoua, as well as the other chiefs and warriors who had been taken to France. On learning that some of these were dead, and that none of them would return, they offered considerable resist- ance to the formation of a settlement in their neighborhood. By these and other difficulties Cartier Avas induced to move higher up the river to Cape Rouge, where he laid up three of his vessels and sent the other two back to France with letters to the king. His next proceeding was to erect a fort, wdiich he called Charlesbourg. Here, after an unsuccessful attempt to navigate and regretted that his command and himself had been included in that capitulation. Liberated on parole, he repaired to the seat of government to report the causes of the disaster and the failure of the campaign. He was immediately appointed a Colonel in the regular army, and soon after promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General, having in the meantime been elected Major-General of the Ohio volunteers. On being exchanged and released from parole, he again repaired to the frontier, and joined the array for the recovery of Michigan. Being at that time without a com- mand, he served and distinguished himself as a volunteer aide-de-camp to General Harrison at the battle of the Thames. He was appointed by HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 25 the rapids above Hochelaga, he passed a most uncomfortable winter. The promised supplies not having arrived, another severe winter completely disheartened Cartier, and he accordingly resolved to return home. Putting into the harbor of St. John, Newfound- land, he encountered Roberval, who was now on his way to Canada, with a new company of adventurers, and an abundance of stores and provisions. Cartier refused to return, and, to avoid forcible detention, he weighed anchor in the night. On the following morning the viceroy arose and observed that his wearied servant had departed. Roberval sailed up the river to Charlesbourg, which he strengthened by additional fortifications, and where he passed the ensuing winter. Leaving a garrison of thirty men behind, he returned the following spring to France, where he was detained by his sovereign to assist in the war against Charles V. After the Peace of Cressy, Roberval, in company with his brother Achille and a numerous train of adventurers, again set out for this country. The fleet was never heard of after it put to sea, and was supposed to have foundered, to the regret of the people of France, who greatly admired the brothers for the gal- lant manner in which they had borne themselves in the war. This loss completely discouraged Henry II, then (1543) King of France, and he made no further efibrts to eftect a settlement in Canada. It was not, therefore, till 1598 that any noticeable movement was made by the French Government in projects of trans-Atlantic colonization. In this year the Marquis de la Roche, a nobleman of Brittany, encouraged by Henry, fitted out President Madison, in October, 1813, Governor of Michigan. His posi- tion combined witli the ordinary duties of chief magistrate of a civilized community the immediate management and control, as Superintendent, of the relations with the numerous and powerful Indian tribes in this region of country. He conducted with success the affairs of the Terri- tory under embarrassing circumstances. Under his swaj^ peace was preserved between the whites and the treacherous and disaffected Indians, law and order established, and the Territory rapidly advanced in population, resources and prosperity. He held this position till July, 1831, when he was by President Jackson made Secretary of War. In the 26 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. a large expedition, which convicts were permitted to join, as it was then difficult to find voluntary adventurers owing to former disas- ters. Armed with the most ample governmental powers, the Mar- quis departed to the new world, under the guidance of Chedotel, a pilot of Normandy. But he lacked the qualities necessary to insure success, and little is recorded of his voyage, with the excep- tion that he left forty convicts on Sable Island, a barren sj^ot off the coast of Nova Scotia. Owing to the failure of this adven- ture, and his attempts to equip another being thwarted at Court, the Marquis fell sick shortly after his return home, and literally died of chagrin. The unfortunate convicts whom he left behind were entirely forgotten for several years, and suffered the most intense hardships. Their clothes were soon worn out, their provi- sions exhausted. Clad in the skin of the sea-wolf, subsisting upon the precarious supplies afforded by fishing, and living in rude huts formed from the planks of a wrecked vessel, famine and cold gradually reduced their number to twelve. After a residence on the island of twelve years, these wretched men w'ere found in the most deplorable condition hj a vessel sent out by the Parlia- ment of Rouen to ascertain their fate. On their retura to France they were brought before Henry, who pardoned their crimes in consideration of the great hardships they had undergone, and gave them a liberal donation in money. In 1599 another expedition was resolved on by Chauvin, of Rouen, a naval officer of reputation, and Pontgrave, a sailor mer- chant of St. Malo, who, in consideration of a monopoly of the fur trade granted them by Henry, undertook to establish a colony of five hundred persons in Canada. In the spring of 1600 two vessels were equipped, and Chauvin, taking a party of settlers latter part of 1836 President Jackson appointed him Minister to France, where he remained until 1842, when lie requested his recall and returned to this country. In .January, 1845, he was elected by the Legislature of Michigan to the Senate of the United States, which place he resigned on his nomination, in May, 1848, as a candidate for the Presidency by the political party to which he belonged. After the election of his opponent (General Taylor) to that office, the Legislature of Michigan, in 1849, re-elected him to the Senate for the unexpired portion of his original HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 27 with him, arrived safely at Tadoussac. He erected a fort at this place, and duriug the summer he obtained a considerable stock of very valuable furs for the most trifling consideration. Being anxious to dispose of these to advantage, he returned to France on the approach of winter, leaving sixteen settlers behind. These were slenderly provided with provisions and clothing, and in the cold weather Avere reduced to such distress that they had to throw themselves completely on the hospitality of the natives. From these they experienced much kindness, yet so great were the hard- ships they endured that several of them died before succor arrived from France. Chauvin's death, in 1603, left Canada without a permanent white settlement, yet the spirit of enterprise that had taken firm hold of the more adventurous did not become weak- ened. After two more unsuccessful expeditions, one under the direc- tion of De Chaste, and the other under De Mots, the latter obtained in 1607 a commission from King Henry for one year, and, owing to the representations of Samuel Champlain, who had conducted the expedition under De Chaste, he now resolved to establish a French settlement on the St. Lawrence. Fitting out two vessels, he placed them under the command of Champlain, a bold and experienced navigator. The exj^edition set sail from Harfleur on the 13th of April, 1608, and arrived at Tadoussac on the 3d of June. Here Pontgrave remained to trade with the Indians while Champlain proceeded up the river to examine its banks, and determine upon a suitable site for the settlement he was to found. After a careful scrutiny, he fixed upon a promon- tory distinguished by a luxuriant growth of vines, and shaded by some noble walnut trees, called by the natives " Qubio " or " Que- term of six j-ears. When Mr. Bucliauan became President, he invited General Cass to the head of the Department of State, which position he resigned in December, 1860. He devoted some attention to literary pur- suits, and his writings, speeches and State papers would make several volumes, among which is one entitled, "France, its King, Court and Government," published in 1840. He died in Detroit, June 17, 1866, and will long be remembered as the most eminent and successful statesman of Michigan. 28 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. bee," and which was situated a short distance from the spot where Cartier had erected a fort, and passed a winter sixty-seven years before. Here, on the 3d of July, 1608, he hxid the foundation of the present city of Quebec. Rude buildings of wood were first erected on the high grounds, to afford a shelter to his men. When these were completed an embankment was formed above the reach of the tide, where Mountain street now lies, on which the house and battery were built. With the exception of Jamestown, in Virginia, this was the first permanent settlement established in North America. Having followed the French in their repeated journeys across the ocean, and left them in their first successful settlement, we will next trace their footsteps in those western voyages of dis- covery and adventure that secured the early settlement of the peninsular State. CHAPTER II. Champlain akd His Infant Colony — A Pleasant Wintek ln the New Fokt — Condition of Indian Affairs — The Nati\':es — New France Ceded to England in 1629 — Champlain Returns to France. Samuel Champlain, as already observed, founded the settle- ment of Quebec in 1608. This was the first permanent foothold of civilization in Canada. The little garrison passed the winter of 1608 without suffering any of those extreme hardships which, during the same period of the year, had distinguished the resi- dence of former adventurers in Canada. Their dwellings being better protected from the cold, their persons more warmly clothed, more abundantly supplied with provisions, and with a greater amount of experience than their predecessors possessed, they dis- covered that a winter existence among the snows of the North was not only possible, but even had its pleasures. Winter gradually merged towards spring without producing any incident of very great importance to the infant colony. Meanwhile everything had been done to preserve a good under- standing with Indians who visited the fort. Champlain wisely perceived that the success of the settlement of the country depended upon their friendship. Nor were the Indians them- selves, who belonged to the Algonquin nation, averse to the culti- vation of a friendly understanding wuth the French. The spring of 1609 seems to have been an early one with the colony, and no sooner had the weather become sufficiently warm to make traveling agreeable, than Champlain prepared to ascend the river, and explore it above Mount Royal. He spent the sum- mer in the vicinity of the St. Lawrence, and made many valuable discoveries. In the autumn a disarrangement in affairs in France caused his return home. In the spring of 1610 he again visited 30 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. his little colony, and again returned to France in the autumn of that year. In IGII Champlain returned to America, and determined to establish a settlement further up the river than Quebec. After a careful survey he fixed upon a site near Mount Royal. His choice has been amply justified by the great prosperity to which this place, under the nanie of Montreal, has subsequently risen. Having cleared a considerable space of ground, he fenced it in by an earthen ditch, and planted grain in the enclosure. Champlain again returned to France with a view of making arrangements for more extensive t)perations. After meeting with some difiiculties, he sailed for Canada from Harfleur in the begin- ning of March, 1618, and arrived at Quebec on the 7th of May following. He at once commenced the prosecution of discoveries. On the 21st of May he arrived at Lachine Rapids, and proceeded with his crew up the Ottawa. In the latter undertaking he expe- rienced severe hardships, and encountered numerous difficulties. After traversing large tracts of country, and visiting several Indian villages, Champlain, observing the approach of winter, and the need of supplies, returned to France on the 26th of August, 1614. In the following May, Champlain arrived at Quebec with a new expedition. On board of this fleet came out four fathers of the order of the Recollects, whose benevolence induced them to desire the conversion of the Indians to Christianity. These were the first priests who settled in Canada. After adjusting matters in the little colony, Champlain set out for the Indian headquarters at Lachine Rapids. He spent the summer and the following winter among the natives, aiding them in their wars with the Iroquois, and joining them in the hunt. No sooner had the spring of 1616 set in, however, than he returned to Quebec, and shortly afterward sailed for France. Here he remained over two years, endeavoring to secure another expedition. This was delayed by a diffieulty between the Prot- estants and Roman Catholics, and not until July, 1620, did the father of New France return to his charge. Champlain's judicious management soon led to the arrival of HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 31 additional settlers, and in 1623 the settlement of Quebec alone had fifty inhabitants. Without attempting the details in the early history of Canada, we will push forward in the channel of events, toward the settle- ment of Michigan. The reader must remember, however, that the early history of this State cannot be made authentic and com- plete without including much from the records of that country to which our earliest settlements owe their existence. On the first settlement of the French in Canada, three great nations divided the territory — the Algonquins, the Hurons, and the Iroquois or Five Nations. The dominion of the Algonquins extended along the banks of the St. Lawrence about a hundred leagues, and they were once considered as masters of this part of America. They are said to have had a milder aspect and more polished manners than any other tribe. They subsisted entirely by hunting, and looked with disdain on their neighbors who con- descended to cultivate the ground. A small remnant of this race is still to be found at the Lake of the Two Mountains, and in the neighborhood of Three Rivers. The Hurons, or Wyandots, were a numerous people, whose very extensive territory reached from the Algonquin frontier to the borders of the great lake bearing their name. They were more industrious, and derived an abundant subsistence from the fine country they possessed, but they were more effeminate, and had less of the proud indej^endence of savage life. When first known they were engaged in a deadly war with their kindred, the Five Nations, by whom they were finally driven from their country. A remnant of this tribe is still to be found in La Jeuue Lorrette, near Quebec. The Iroquois, or Five Nations, destined to act the most conspic- uous part among all the native tribes, occupied a long range of territory on the southern border of the St. Lawrence, extending from Lake Champlain to the western extremity of Lake Ontario. They were thus beyond the limits of what is now termed Canada, but were so connected with the interests of this country that we must consider them as belonging to it. The Five Nations, found on the southern shore of Lake Ontario, embraced the Mohawks, 32 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. Oneidas, Onondagas, Senecas and Cayugas. They were the most powerful of all the tribes east of the Mississippi, and were further advanced in the few arts of Indian life than their Algonquin neighbors. They uniformly adhered to the British during the whole of the contest that took place subsequently between the French and English. In 1714 they were joined by the Tusca- roras, since which time the confederacy has been called the Six Nations. After the return of Champlain to France in 1616, the interests of the colony were in great danger from the Prince of Cond6, Viceroy of Canada, being not only in disgrace, but in confinement for the share taken by him in the disturbances during the minor- ity of Louis XIII. After a great deal of quarreling amongst the merchants, the Due de Montmorency made an arrangement with Coud^ for the purchase of his office of Viceroy, which he obtained upon the payment of 11,000 crowns. Champlain con- sidered this arrangement as every way favorable, as the Due was better qualified for such functions, and from his situation of High Admiral possessed the liest means of forwarding the objects of the colonists. Disputes between Rochelle and the other commercial cities, and between the C-atholics and Protestants, prevented the departure of any expedition for several years. During this time attempts were made to degrade Champlain from the high situation in which he had been placed, but by virtue of commissions, both from Montmorency and the king, he succeeded in crushing this oppo- sition ; and in May, 1620, set sail with his family and a new expe- dition, and after a very tedious voyage arrived at Tadoussac. The first child born of French parents at Quebec, was the son of Abraham Martin and Margai-et L'Anglois; it was christened "Eustache" on the 24th of May, 1621. The office of Viceroy liad lieen hitherto little more than a name, but at this pei'iod it came into the h;inds of a man of energy and activity. The Due de Veutadour having entered into holy orders, took charge as Viceroy of the affairs of New France solely with the view of converting the natives. For this purpose he sent three Jesuits and two lav brothers, who were, fortunately, men of HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 33 exemplary character, to join the four Recollects at Quebec. The.'^e nine were the only priests then in Canada. The mercantile company, which had now been intrusted with the affairs of the colony for some time, was by no means active, and was in consequence deprived of its charter, which was given to the Sieurs De Caen, uncle and nephew. On the arrival of the younger De Caen at Tadoussac, Champlain set out to meet him, and was received with the greatest courtesy. The appointment of a superintendent could not have been very agreeable to Cham- plain, who was certainly the person best fitted for the manage- ment of the local affairs of the colony. His amiable disposition and love of peace, however, induced him to use conciliatory measures. The new superintendent, on the contrary, acted in a most violent manner, claimed the right of seizing on the vessels belonging to the associated merchants, and actually took that of De Pont, their favorite agent. Champlain remonstrated with him, but without effect, as he possessed no power that could effectually check the violence of this new dictator. Fortunately he thought proper to return to France, and left with the settlers a good sup- ply of provisions, arms and ammunition. His conduct, however, induced the greater part of the European traders to leave the colony; so that, eventually, instead of its being increased by him, it was considerably lessened, a spirit of discontent diffused, and the settlers were reduced to forty-eight. Having got rid of the troublesome superintendent, Champlain set himself earnestly to terminate the long and desolating war which now raged between the Hurons and the Iroquois. He accompanied some of the chiefs to the headquarters of the Iro- quois, where they met with a very kind reception. The treaty between the nations was about to be concluded when it was nearly broken off by the relentless conduct of a savage Huron, who had accompanied the party in the hope of making mischief and pre- venting peace. This barbarian, meeting one of the detested Iro- quois in a lonely place, murdered him. Such a deed in a member of any civilized mission would have terminated all negotiations; but, the deputies having satisfied the Iroquois that it was an indi- 3 34 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES vidual act, lamented by the Huron nation, it was overlooked, and the treaty was concluded. The colony was at that time in a very unsatisfactory state, the settlements at Quebec consisting only of fifty-five persons. Indeed the whole of the available possessions in New France included only the fort at Quebec, surrounded by some inconsider- able houses, a few huts on the island of Montreal, as many at Tadoussac, and at other places on the St. Lawrence, and a settle- ment just commenced at Three Rivers. The Indian affairs were also in disorder. The Iroquois had killed a party of five on their way to attack a nation called the AVolves, and a hostile spirit was kindled amongst these fierce tribes. Champlain did all in his power to check the spirit, but he found it impossible to prevent a body of hot-headed young Indians from making an inroad into the Iroquois territory. This band, having reached Lake Champlain, surprised a canoe with three persons in it, two of whom they brought home in tri- umph. The preparations for torturing them were already going on when intelligence was conveyed to Champlain, who immediately repaired to the spot. The sight of the captives quickened his ardor in the cause of humanity, and he entreated that they might be sent home unhurt, with presents to compensate for this Avanton attack. This advice was so far adopted that one of them was sent back, accompanied by a chief and one Mangau, a Frenchman. This expedition had, however, a most tragical end. An Algonquin, who wished for war, contrived to persuade the Iroquois that the mission was devised with the most treacherous intentions. The Iroquois, misled by this wicked man, determined to take cool and deliberate revenge. When the poor prisoner, the chief and the Frenchman arrived, they found the fire kindled and the cauldron boiling, and, being courteously received, were invited to sit down. The Iroquois then asked the Algonquin chief if he did not feel hungry. On his replying that he did, they rushed upon him and cut slices from different parts of his body, which soon after they presented to him half cooked; and thus continued to torture him till he died in lingering agonies. Their couutrvman, who had HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 35 returned to them so gladly, attempted to escape, and was shot dead on the spot; and the Frenchman was tormented to death in the usual manner. When the news of this dreadful tragedy reached the allies of the French, the war-cry was immediately sounded, and Champlain, though deeply afflicted, saw no longer any possibility of averting hostilities. He felt that, as one of his countrymen had been deprived of life, the power of the French would be held in con- tempt if no resentment were shown. Indeed he experienced no little trouble amongst the friendly tribes who surrounded him, and in several cases Europeans were murdered in an atrocious and mysterious manner. In the meantime the De Caens, though not resident in the col- ony, took an active interest in the fur trade. Being Huguenots, however, and not likely to forward the Due's measures, Cardinal Richelieu, prime minister to Louis XIII, revoked the privileges which had been granted to them, and encouraged the formation of a company, to be composed of a great number of men of property and credit. A charter was granted to this company in 1637, under the title of " The Company of One Hundred Associates." This company engaged, first, to supply those that they settled with lodging, food, clothing and implements for three years, after which time they would allow them sufficient land to support them- selves, cleared to a certain extent, with the grain necessary for sowing it; secondly, that the emigrants should be native French- men and Roman Catholics, and that no stranger or heretic should be introduced into the country; and, thirdly, they engaged to settle three priests in each settlement, whom they were bound to provide with every article necessary for their personal comfort, as w^ell as the expenses of their ministerial labors, for fifteen years. After which clear lands were to be granted by the company to the clergy, for maintaining the Roman Catholic Church in New France. In return for these services the King made over to the company the fort and settlement at Quebec, and all the territory of New France, including Florida, with power to appoint judges, build fortresses, cast cannon, confer titles, and take what steps they 36 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. might think proper for the protection of the colony and the fos- tering of commerce. He granted to them at the same time a complete monopoly of the fur trade, reserving to himself and heirs only supremacy in matters of faith, fealty and homage as sovereign of New France, and the presentation of a crown of gold at every new succession to the throne. He also secured for the benefit of all his subjects, the cod and whale fisheries of the gulf and coast of St. Lawrence. The company were allowed to import and export all kinds of merchandise duty free. Gentlemen, both clergy and laity, were invited to a share in the concern, which they readily accepted till the number of partners was completed. This was a favorite scheme of Richelieu's ; and the French writers of the day speak of it with great ap2:>lause, as calculated, had it been strictly adhered to and wisely regulated, to render New France the most powerful colony in America. This plan of improvement met with a temporary interruption by the breaking out of the war between England and France in 1628. Charles I, of England, immediately gave to Sir David Kirkt, a French refugee, a commission authorizing him to conquer Canada. In consequence of this, after some offensive operations at Tadoussac, he appeared with his squadron before Quebec, and summoned it to surrender; but he was answered in so spirited a manner that he judged it prudent to retire. In 1629, however, when Champlain was reduced to the utmost extremity, by the want of every article of food, clothing, imple- ments and ammunition, and exposed to the attacks of the Iro- quois, Sir David Kirkt, and his brothers Louis and Thomas, appeared again with a squadron before Quebec. The deplorable situation of the colony, and the very honorable terms proposed to him by Kirkt, induced Champlain to surrender Quebec, with all Canada, to the crown of England. The English standard was thus for the first time raised on the walls of Quebec, just one hun- dred and thirty-five years before the battle of the Plains of Abraham. No blame can be attached to Champlain for this act, as famine pressed so closely on the colonists, that they were reduced to aii HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 37 allowance of five ounces of bread per day for each person. Kirkt's generosity to the settlers, who were his own countrymen, induced most of them to remain. Those who wished to go were allowed to depart with their arms, clothes and baggage, and, though the request to convey them home to France could not be complied with, they were provided with a commodious passage by the way of England. Champlain, with two little native girls, whom he had carefully educated, arrived at Dover, in England, on the 27th of October. He proceeded thence to London, for the purpose of conferring with the French ambassador. He soon afterward returned to France, where, his counsels prevailing at the court of Louis XIII, he was, upon the return of peace, again invested with the govern- ment of Canada. CHAPTER III. History of New France, from the War with the English in 1629, TO that of 1689 — The French and the Iroquois — Colonial History — The Government of Frontenac — Defeat of the English. The English held possession of Canada for three years, but, attaching little or no value to the territory, they readily restored it to France at the Peace of St. Germain en Lage, which was con- cluded on the 19th of March, 1632. The great and good pioneer, Samuel Champlain, had the pleasure of reentering his beloved country once more with a squadron, containing all necessary sup- plies. He resumed the government of the colony which he had so long fostered, and continued to administer all its affairs with singular prudence, resolution and courage. Champlain continued to prosper the colony till 1635, when, full of honors and rich in public esteem and respect, he died, after an occasional residence in Quebec of nearly thirty years. His obse- quies were performed with all the pomp the little colony could command, and his remains were followed to the grave with real sorrow by the clergy, the civil and military authorities, and the inhabitants of every class, each feeling deeply the loss of a tried friend. The death of Champlain was the most grievous misfortune with which Canada had yet been visited. During the greater part of his active life the chief object of his heart was to become the founder of the colony which he felt confident would attain to a summit of extraordinary power and importance, and to civilize and convert its native inhabitants. So great was his zeal for reli- gion that it was a common saying with him, " The salvation of one soul was of more value than the conquest of an empire." It was just about the period of his death that the religious establishments, now so numerous, were commenced in Canada. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 39 Though they did little for the immediate improvement of the colony, yet they formed the foundation on which arose those morals and habits which still characterize the French Canadians, and which in some instances merit admiration. The first mover in this work of benevolence was the Marquis de Gamche, whose fervor had led him to join the order of Jesuits. He conceived the design of forming a college at Quebec, and was enabled by his friends to offer six thousand gold crowns for this purpose. His proposal was readily accepted and carried into effect. An institution for instructing the Indians was also established at Sillery, a few miles from Quebec. The Hotel Dieu, or House of God, was founded two years afterwards by a party of Ursuline nuns, who came out under the auspices of the Duchesse d'Aiguil- lon. Madame de Peltrie, also, a young widow of rank, engaged several sisters of the Ursulines at Tours, in France, whom she brought out, at her own expense, to Quebec, where they founded the Convent of St. Ursula. The state of the Indian nations rendered the situation of M. de Montmagny, the governor, who succeeded Champlain in 1635, peculiarly critical. Owing to the weakness of the French, the Iroquois had advanced by rapid steps to great importance. They had completely humbled the power of the Algonquins, and closely pressed the Hurons, scarcely allowing their canoes to pass up and down the St. Lawrence. The governor was obliged to carry on a defensive warfare, and erected a fort at the Richelieu, by which river the Iroquois chiefly made their descents. At length these fierce people made proposals for a solid peace, which were received with great cordialty. The governor met their deputies at Three Rivers, where the Iroquois produced seven- teen belts, which they had arranged along a cord fastened between two stakes. Their orator then came along and addressed Mont- magny by the title of Oninthio, which signifies Great Mountain ; and, though it was in reference to his name, they continued ever after to apply this term to the French governors, sometimes add- ing the respectful appellation of Father. The orator declared their wish " to forget their songs of war, and to resume the voice of cheerfulness." He then proceeded to 40 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. explain the meaning of the belts. They expressed the calming of the spirit of war, the opening of the paths, the mutual visits to be paid, the feasts to be given, the restitution of the captives, and other friendly proceedings. In conformity to Indian etiquette, the governor delayed his answer for two days, and then bestowed as many presents as he had received belts, and through au inter- preter expressed the most pacific sentiments. Piscaret, a great chief, then said, " Behold a stone wliich I place on the sepulchre of those who were killed in the war, that no one may attempt to move their bones, and that every desire of avenging their death may be laid aside." Three discharges of cannon were considered as sealing the treaty. This engagement was for some time faith- fully observed, and the Iroquois, the Algonquins and the Hurons forgot their deadly feuds, and mingled in the chase as if they had been one nation. M. de Montmagny appears to have commanded the general respect of the natives, but, owing to a change in the policy of the court, he was unexpectedly removed. Montmagny was succeeded by M. d'Aillebout, who brought with him a reinforcement of one hundred men. The benevolent Margaret Bourgeois, too, at this time founded the institution of the Daughters of the Congregation at Montreal, which is at pres- ent one of the first female seminaries in the colony. While the French settlements were thus in Canada, those of England on the eastern shore of America were making an equally rapid progress. A union among them seemed so desirable to the new governor that he proposed to the New England colonies a close alliance between them and the French ; one object of which LIEUT.-GOV. ANDREW PARSONS. Anuuew Parsons was born in the town of Hoosick, county of Rens- selaer and ytate of New York, on the 23d day of July, 1817, and died June 6, 1855, at the early age of thirty-eight years. He was the son of John Parsons, born at Newburyport, Mass., October 2, 1782, who was the son of Andrew Parsons, a revolutionary soldier, wlio was the son of Phineas Parsons, the son of Samuel Parsons, a descendant of Walter Parsons, born in Ireland in 1290. The name is still extant, and some one hundred and thirty years ago Bishop Gibson remarked, in his edition of Camden's Britannia, " The honorable family of Parsons have been LIEUT.-GOV. ANDREW PARSONS. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 43 was ail eugagemeiit to assist each other, when necessary, in mak- ing war with the Five Nations. However desirous the English colonies might have been on other accounts to form such an alli- ance, the condition with respect to the Indians was not acceptable to them, and the negotiation was broken ofi'. Of what effects this union, if it had taken place, would have been productive, it is impossible now to conjecture. There is no doubt but that the failure of the proposition must have had an important bearing upon the events which followed ; first, in the continued rivalry of the two nations, and afterwards in the Avars between them, which did not end until the whole of Canada was subjected to Great Britain. At this period the missionaries began to combine with their religious efforts political objects, and employed all their influence in furthering the French power. Amongst other movements they induced a number of Iroquois to leave their own country and settle within the boundaries of the colony, but they do not appear to have succeeded in civilizing them. They found the Hurons, however, far more tractable and docile. It is said that nearly three thousand of them were baptized at one time. A consider- able change soon appeared in this wild region, and the christian- ized Indians were united in the villages of Sillery, St. Joseph and St. Mary. During the administration of M. d'Aillebout, the Iroquois renewed the war in all its fury, and these peaceable settlers found that their enemies could advance like foxes and attack like lions. While the missionary was celebrating the most solemn rites of his advanced to the dignity of viscounts, aud more lately Earls of Ross." The following are descendants of these families: Sir John Parsons,' born 148 1, was mayor of Hereford. Robert Parsons, born in 154G, lived near Bridgewater, England. He was educated at Ballial College, Oxford, and was a noted writer and defender of the Romish faith. He established an English college at Rome and another at Valladolid. Francis Parsons, born in 1556, was Vicar of Rothwell, in Nottingham. Bartholomew Parsons, born in 1618, was author of various noted sermons. 44 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. church ill the village of Sillery, the war ciy was suddeuly raised, aud an indiscriminate massacre took place amongst the four hun- dred families residing there. Soon after, a band of the same people, amounting to a thousand, made an attack upon the mission of St. Ignace, and carried off or killed all the inhabitants except three. St. Louis was next attacked, and made a brave resistance, which enabled many of the women and children to escape. The mission- aries could have saved themselves, but, attaching a high import- ance to the administration of the last sacrament to the dying, they sacrificed their lives to the performance of this sacred rite. Deep and universal dismay now spread over the whole Huron tribe. Their land, lately so peaceable, Avas become a land of hor- ror and blood, and a sepulchre for the dead. At length the Iro- quois began to make overtures of peace, to which it was found the missionaries had powerfully contributed. At first these excellent men had been regarded with extreme antipathy, but many of them, after suffering protracted torture and partial mutilation, had been spared and adopted into the Indian families. Their meek deportment, their solemn ceremonies, and the fervor with which they raised to God " hands without fingers," made a strong impression on the savage breast. Hence deputies appeared asking for peace. In their figurative language they said that " they came to wipe away the blood which reddened the mountains, the lakes and the rivers," and " to bring back the sun, which had hidden its face during the late dreadful seasons of warfare." They also solicited "Black Robes," as they called the mission- aries, to teach them the Christian doctrine, and to keep them in the practice of peace and virtue. In 1()34 Thomas Parsons was knighted by Charles I. Josepli aud Benjamin, '^brothers, were born in Great Torrington, Eng- hvnd, and accompanied '_their father and others to New England about 1630. Samuel Parsons, born at Saulsbury, Mass., 1707; graduated H. C, 1730; ordained at Hye, N. H., November 3, 1736; married Mary Jones, only daughter of Samuel Jones, Esq., of Boston, October 9, 1739; died Janu- ary 4, 1789, at the age of eighty-two, in the lifty-third year of his ministry. The grandfather of Mary Jones was Captain John Adams, of Boston, grandson of Henry^of Braintree, who was among the first settlers of HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 45 The Viscount d'Argenson, the next Governor, considered it necessary to accept these terms. The most amicable professions, however, hardly procured a respite from hostility, for whilst one party treated another attacked. In the following summer Abb6 Montigny, titular bishop of Petre, landed at Quebec with a brief from the Pope, constituting him apostolic vicar. Curacies were at the same time established in Canada. The Viscount d'Argenson, having requested his recall on account of ill health, was relieved by the Baron d'Avangour, an officer of great integrity and resolution. His decisive measures seemed to have saved Canada. He represented the defenseless ■state of the country, and its natural beauty and importance, to the King in warm and forcible language, and excited a deep interest for these distant possessions in the mind of his Majesty, who had been hitherto ignorant of their value. It was at length announced that a grand deputation was coming from all the cantons with the intention of " uniting the whole earth," and of " burying the hatchet so deep that it might never again be dug up," and they brought with them a hundred belts of wampum, each of which signified some condition of the proposed peace. Unfortunately a party of Algonquins formed an ambus- cade and killed the greater part of them. Owing to this deplor- able event all prospects of peace were blasted, and war raged with greater fury than ever. The Iroquois, having seen the powerful effect of firearms in their wars with the French, had procured them from the Dutch at Manhattan (now New York), and thus acquired an additional Massachusetts, and from whom a numerous race of the name are descended, including two Presidents of tlie United States. Tlie Par- sonses have become very numerous, and are found tlirougliout New England, and many of the descendants are scattered in all parts of the United States, and especially in the Middle and Western States. Gov. Andrew Parsons came to Michigan in 1835, at the age of seven- teen years, and spent the first summer at lower Ann Arbor, where he for a few months taught school, which he was compelled to abandon from ill health. In the fall of that year he explored the Grand River valley in a frail 46 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. superiority over the Avild tribes of the west. They attacked the Ottawas, who did not even make an attempt at resistance, but sought refuge in the islands of Lake Huron. They commenced a desp(>rate war with the Eriez, a name in their Language signifying cats, and after a hard struggle completely succeeded. It is remarkable that this powerful nation has left no memorial of its existence exce})t the great lake which bears its name. In 1663 the colony was visited by a most remarkable succession of earthquakes, which commenced on the 6th of February and continued for half a year with little intermission. They returned two or three times a day, visiting both land and water, and spreading universal alarm, yet without inflicting any permanent injury or causing the loss of a single life. This remarkable event Avas preceded by a great rushing noise, heard throughout the whole extent of the country, which caused the people to fly out of their houses as if they had been on fire, Instead of fire they were surprised to see the walls reeling back- ward and forward, and the stones moving as if detached from each other ; the bells sounded, the roofs of the buildings bent down, the timbers cracked and the earth trembled violently. Animals were to be seen flying about in every direction, children were crying and screaming in the streets, and men and women, horror-stricken and ignorant whither to fly for refuge, stood still, unable to move. Some threw themselves on their knees in the snow, calling on the saints for aid, while others passed this dreadful night in prayer. The movement of the ground resembled the waves of the ocean, and the forest appeared as if there was a battle raging between canoe, the whole length of the river from Jackson to Lake Michigan, and spent the following winter as clerk in a store at Prairie Creek, in Ionia county, and in the spring went to Marshall, where he resided with his brother, Hon. Luke H. Parsons, also now deceased, until fall, when he went to Shiawassee county, then, with Clinton county, an almost unbro- ken wilderness, and constituting one organized township. In 1837 this territory was organized into a county, and at the age of only nineteen years he (Andrew) was elected County Clerk. In 1840 he was elected Register of Deeds, re-elected in 1843, and also in 1844. In 1846 he was elected to the State Senate, was appointed Prosecuting Attorney in 1848, HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 47 the trees, so that the Indians declared in their figurative language, " that all the trees were drunk." The ice, which was upward of six feet thick, was rent and thrown up in large pieces, and from the openings came thick clouds of smoke or fountains of dirt and sand. The springs were impregnated with sulphur, many rivers were totally lost, some became yellow, others red, and the St. Law- rence api^eared entirely white down as far as the Tadoussae. The extent of this earthquake was so great that one hundred and eighty thousand square miles were convulsed on the same day. There is nothing, however, in the whole visitation so worthy of remark as the care and kindness which God showed to the people in preserving them, so that not one was lost or had a hair of his head injured. Louis XIV resolved at this time to raise Canada to her due importance, and no longer to overlook one of the finest countries in the world, or expose the French j^ower to contempt by allowing it to be trampled on by a handful of savages. For this purpose he sent out four hundred troops, accompanied by M. de Mesy as Governor, to examine into and regulate the different branches of administration. Hitherto the Governor had exercised in person, and without control, all the functions of government; but Louis resolved immediately to erect Canada into a royal government with a Council and lutendant, to whom should be intrusted the weighty affairs of justice, police, finance and marine. In this determina- tion he was warmly seconded by his chief minister, the great Col- bert, who was animated by the example of Great Britain to elected Regent of the University in 1851, and Lieutenant-Governor and became acting Governor in 1853, elected again to tlie Legislature in 1854, and, overcome by debilitated health, hard labor and the responsibilities of his office and cares of his business, retired upon his farm, where he died soon after. He was a fluent and persuasive speaker, and well calculated to make friends of his acquaintances. He was always true to his trusts, and the whole world could not persuade nor drive him to do what he conceived to be wrong. When Governor a most powerful railroad influence was brought to bear upon him to induce him to call an extra session of the 48 GENERAL HI8TOKY OF THE STATES. improve tlic navigation aud conHUoree of his country by colonial establishments. The comi)any of the "One Hundred Partners" hitherto exer- cised the chief power in Canada. They were very attentive to their own interests in rigidly guarding their monopoly of the fur trade, but had been all along utterly regardless of the general welfare of the colony. They were now, however, very unwillingly obliged to relinquish their privileges into the hands of the crown. M. de Mesy was succeeded by the Marquis de Tracy, who arrived in Canada in 1665. He brought with him the whole regiment of De Carignan Salieres, consisting of more than one thousand men, the officers of which soon became the chief seigneurs of the colony. The regiment had been employed for some time in Hungary, and had acquired a high reputation. This, with a considerable number of settlers, including agriculturists and artisans, with horses and cattle, formed an accession to the colony which far exceeded its former numbers. The enlightened policy of Colbert, in thus raising Canada into notice and consideration, was followed by the success it deserved. To well regulated civil government was added increased military protection against the Iroquois. Security being thus obtained, the migration of French settlers increased rapidly, and, being pro- moted in evei-y possible way by the government. New France rose rapidly into consideration and importance. Owing to the pres- ence of so many soldiers, a martial spirit was im])arted to the population, and they began to i)repare to defend properly the country of their adoption. Legislature. Meetings were held in all jmrts of the State for that pur- pose. In some sections the resokUions were of a laudatory nature, intended to make hun do their bidding by resort to friendly and tiattoring words; in other i)laces the resolutions were of a demanding nature, while in others they were threatening beyond measure. Fearing that all these influences might fail to induce him to call the extra session, a large smn of money was sent him, and liberal olTers tendered if he would gratify the railroad interest of the State and call the extra session. But he returned the money, and refused to receive any favors whatever from any partj' who would attemiit to corrupt him by laudations, hberal offers, or by HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 49 The new Viceroy lost no time in preparing to check the inso- lence of the Iroquois, and to establish a supremacy over them he erected three forts on the river Richelieu, the first at Sorel, the second at Chambly, and the third further up the river. Over- awed by these movements, and by the report of a large force marching against them, three of the cantons sent deputies with ample professions of friendship, proposing an exchange of all the prisoners taken on both sides since the last treaty, to which the Viceroy agreed. The Marquis de Tracy continued in authority only a year and a half, and on his return to France carried with him the affection of the people. He maintained a state which had never been seen before in Canada. Besides the regiment of Carignan, he was allowed to maintain a body-guard, wearing the same uniform as the Garde Royale of France. He always appeared on state occa- sions with these guards, twenty-four in number, who preceded him, while four pages immediately accompanied him, followed by five valets. It was thought at that time that this style gave favorable impressions of royal authority. Before this officer returned home he jilaced the country in a state of defense, and established the Company of the West Indies, as this new company was called from having been united to the other French possessions in America, which we have not yet men- tioned. This very able Governor left M. de Courcelles to act as Governor-General, with several officers of great ability under his command. As already stated, M. de Courcelles succeeded M. de Tracy in the government of New France. threats; and in a short letter to the people, after giving overwhelming reasons, that no sensible man could dispute, showing that the circum- stances were not ^'■extraordinary,'''' he refused to call the extra session. This brought down the wrath of various parties upon his head, but they were forced soon to acknowledge the wisdom and the justice of his course. One of his greatest enemies said, after long acquaintance: "Though not always coinciding with his views, I never doubted his honesty of purpose. He at all times sought to perform his duties in strict accord- ance with the dictates of his conscience and the behests of his oath." 4 50 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. During bis administration little doubt was entertained as to the permanency of the colony. The inhaliitants began to extend their settlements, and to cultivate their lands. The officers and soldiers had liberal grants made to them, and a free trade was granted to the country generally. As the number of men greatly exceeded that of the women, several hundreds were sent from France to Canada. As soon as they arrived, an advertisement was published to let the people know "that a supply had been sent over, and that such as had the means of supporting a wife should have their choice." It is said the collection consisted of tall, short, fair, brown, fat and lean. So great was the demand that in about a fortnight the whole cargo was disposed of. In 1670 the church of Quebec was constituted a bishopric; some important measures were also adopted for the better govern- ing of the country, and for maintaining peace with the savages. The trade and agriculture of the country prospered; and the clerical orders became more enthusiastic than ever in their efforts to make proselytes of the Indians. A fatal calamity, however, which had been hitherto unknown in the New World, made its appearance among the tribes north of the St. Lawrence, namely, the small-pox. This scourge, more terrible to the savages than all the fire-arms in Eurojoe, carried off more than half their number, and spread a universal panic over the land. Courcelles had requested his recall, and in 1672, on his return from a journey to Cataraqui, where he had fixed upon a spot for His amiable widow is a sister of J. S. and Dr. D. O. Farrand, of this city, aud we understand slie is now a member of the Doctor's family. The following eulogium from a political opponent is just in its concep- tion and creditable to its author: " Governor Parsons was a politician of the Democratic school, a man of pure moral character, fixed and exem- plary habits, and entirely blameless in every public and private relation of life. As a politician he was candid, frank and free from bitterness; as an executive officer, firm, constant and reliable." The highest conunendation we can pay the deceased is to give his just meed — that of being an honest man. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 51 building a fort near the present site of Kingston, he found his place supplied. His successor was Louis Count de Froutenac, who was destined to act an important part in Canada. Frontenac was able, active, enterprising and ambitious; but proud, overbearing and subject to capricious jealousies. Entering, however, cordially into his predecessor's views in regard to the fort at Cataraqui, he caused it to be built immediately, and actively promoted vast projects for ex2:)loring the interior regions of this continent. The brilliant talents of M. de Frontenac were sometimes obscured by prejudices, but his plans for the aggrandizement of Canada were splendid and just. He possessed, however, a spirit which would not brook contradiction. For having neglected some orders given by him, he imprisoned the Intendant-General, M. de Chesnau; the Procurator-General he exiled; the Governor of Montreal he put under arrest; and the Abbe de Salignac, Fenelon, then superintending the seminary of the St. Sulpicians, at Mon- treal, he imprisoned under j)retence of having preached against him. His principal op2:)oneut was the Bishop, who, very properly, disajiproved of the sale of spirits to the Indians, which was found to produce the most pernicious effects. The Count, however, considered it as at once extremely profitable, and as a means of attaching them to the French interest. In 1682 Frontenac was recalled, and M. de la Barre appointed his successor. Soon after his arrival, the Iroquois ass^imed a tone of defiance, and made formidable preparations for war. These caused great apprehensions of a general war among the Indians, and the state of Canada became alarming in the highest degree, as the whole population consisted only of nine thousand persons. The military strength of Canada had been reduced greatly in consequence of many of the troops having become proprietors and cultivators of land. M. de la Barre, however, determined upon war, and, having obtained a reinforcement of two hundred men, advanced up the St. Lawrence. He was met at Montreal by a deputation from the cantons, who made strong professions of friendship, but he considered them as unworthy of credit. He direct^ ^Jl bis force .against the Senecas, because it was through 52 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. their country that the English had penetrated to the fur trade on the lakes. He found, however, that the tribes had determined to make common cause, and had received ample assurance of aid from New York, which had been taken possession of by the Eng- lish. Through their various settlements, the English held a kind of dominion over the Iroquois country, and they endeavored, with success, to alienate them from the French, chiefly by dealing with the tribes on more advantageous terms. The Iroquois soon found it to their interest not only to carry all their furs to the English market, but to buy up those of the other tribes in alliance with France. Heavy complaints were constantly made by the French, but the Indians treated them with great indifference. They shrewdly discovered, in the eager competition between these two European nations, the means of rendering their own position more secure and imposing. After meeting the deputies at Montreal, M. de la Barre pro- ceeded to the northern shore of Lake Ontario, where he had another interview with the Indians. He assumed a lofty tone, complained of their inroads into the country of the tribes in alliance Avith France, and of their having conducted the English to the lakes, and enabled them to supplant the commerce of his countrymen. He concluded by stating that, unless reparation was made for these injuries, with a promise to abstain from them in future, war and devastation of their country must be the imme- diate consequence. The deputies very coolly replied "that he appeared to speak like one in a dream, and that if he would open his eyes, he would see himself wholly destitute of the means of executing these formidable threats." With regard to the English they said, "that they had allowed them to pass through their country on the same principle on which they had given permission to his people to pass." They professed themselves anxious "that the hatchet should still remain buried, unless the country granted to them should be attacked." The Onondaga deputies guaranteed reparation for any actual plunder inflicted on French traders, but added that no .more could be conceded, and that the army must be immediately withdrawn. Humiliating as these terms were after such lofty threats and preparations, De la Barre had no choice but to comply, and return to Quebec. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 53 Here he found that a fresh reinforcement had been landed. The letters he received from court intimated the expectation that he was carrying on a triumphant war with the Five Nations, and conveyed from the King an absurd and cruel request that he would send a number of Iroquois to man the galleys. When the real issue of the campaign was reported at court, great dissatisfaction was felt. The Governor was immediately pro- nounced unfit for his situation, and was superseded by the Mar- quis de Denouville. This active and brave officer, immediately on his arrival, pro- ceeded to Cataraqui, now Kingston, with about two thousand troops. After a very short time he declared his conviction that the Iroquois could never be conciliated, and that it Avas necessary either to extirpate them or reduce them to a state of entire dependence. He proposed to erect a strong fort at Niagara, to prevent them from introducing the English fur trade into the Upper Lakes. An instance of treachery stains the character of Denouville. Having, under various pretences, assembled a number of chiefs at Fort Frontenae (Kingston), he iniquitously put them in irons, and sent them off to France, to fulfill the king's absurd wishes. He then proceeded towards the Seneca country, where he met with but little opposition, and marched for ten days, burning and destroy- ing all grain and provisions not required by his troops. Although the Governor of New York remonstrated with him, urging that the Iroquois were the subjects of England, yet he persevered, and carried into execution his plan of erecting and garrisoning a fort at Niagara. He then found it necessary to return to the Canadian side of Lake Ontario. Scarcely had he reached home before the Iroquois showed that they were masters of the country. They attacked Fort Niagara, and razed it to the ground. They covered the lake with their canoes, attacked Fort Frontenae, burned all the corn-stacks in the neighborhood, and captured a French bark laken with provisions and stores. The Indian allies of the French attacked the Iroquois of Sorel, and committed many depredations on the English settle- ments, plundering the property and scalping the inhabitants. 54 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. At length botli parties desired peace, and a treaty was set on foot for this pur})ose. Deputies from the Iroquois proceeded to Montreal, leaving at two days' distance behind them twelve hun- dred of their countrymen, fit for immediate action. Proud of their commanding situation, they demanded the restoration of the chiefs, unjustly seized, and of all other captives. They allowed the Governor only four days to consider the offer, threatening, if not accepted, immediately to set fire to the buildings and corn fields, and to murder the inhabitants. The deepest consternation prevailed at Montreal, and Denonville found himself under the necessity of accepting these humiliating conditions, and of request- ing back from France the chiefs he so basely sent thither. This deej) and deserved mortification was a just recompense for his treachery to the Indians. The state of afiairs in Canada became desperate. The peace with the Iroquois was soon ended in another war. The Fort of Niagara had been destroyed. Fort Frontenac was blown up and abandoned by the French, and two ships that were built for the purpose of navigating Lake Ontario, were burned to prevent them from falling into the hands of tlie Iroquois. War, famine and dis- ease seemed as if combined for the utter destruction of the colony. In this extremity it was judged necessary to place at the head of affiiirs an officer possessing energy of character and address in dealing with the natives. These qualities were found united in the Count de Frontenac, who, during his former administration, had nuide himself both beloved and feared by the Indians. The Count, in 1689, brought out with him the captive chiefs whom Denonville had so unjustly seized. So fascinating were his manners that he completely gained their favor, Oureonhare, the principal one, remaining ever most strongly attached to him. All the chiefs, indeed, had so great a regard for him that he enter- tained hopes of conciliating the Iroquois without much difficulty. With this view he sent a de})uty of that nation, with four of his captive countrymen, to announce his return and his wish to resume amicable relations. Oureonhare transmitted a message, requesting them to send an embassy to their " Ancient Father," from whom they would ex])erienee much tenderness and esteem. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 55 The Iroquois council sent back the same deputies with six belts, intimating their resolution, which was expressed in lofty and bitter terms. Choosing to consider " Oninthio " one and the same, though they knew that Frontenac was not the offending person, they complained " that his rods of correction had been too sharp and cutting ; that the roots of the tree of peace, which he had planted at Fort Frontenac, had been withered by blood, and the ground had been polluted." They demanded atonement for these injuries, and that Oureonhare and his captive companions should be sent back previous to the liberation of the French prisoners. " Oninthio would then be free," they said, " to plant again the tree of liberty, but not in the same place." Two circumstances emboldened the Iroquois to take so high a tone at this period. The first was that, in consequence of the revolution in England, the cause of James II was warmly embraced by the French, and the two kingdoms were at open war. On this account the Indians could depend upon the cordial coop- eration of the English. The second was that they were engaged in -a treaty with the Ottawas for a better market for their furs. Frontenac, finding his attempts at negotiation fruitless, resolved to act with such vigor as to humble the Iroquois. He therefore collected his allies, and divided them amongst his regular troops, and several English settlements were surprised and pillaged. Schenectady, the frontier town of New York, was attacked by a party of one hundred French and a number of Indians. The fort and every house were pillaged and burned, and all the hori-ors of Indian warfai-e let loose upon the iidiabitants. The English accounts say that sixty-three men, women and children were mas- sacred in cold blood. His next care was to send detachments to convey to Montreal the furs which had been stored at Michilimackinac. This they effected, and a large party, who attempted to attack them, was completely defeated. Notwithstanding these successes, the Iro- quois maintained the same hostility and haughtiness. The old allies of the French, seeing them resume their former energy, determined to prefer them to the English. The Ottawas owned that they had made some progress in a negotiation with the 56 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. English, but that, as soon as they had heard of the return of their " Ancient Father," they had broken it off. The Hurons denied " having entered into any treaty which could detach them from their beloved Oninthio." The attention of Frontenac was called in the autumn of this year from the Indians to the English, who had determined to strike a blow which, they hoped, would deprive the French of all their possessions in America. This was a plan of attack on Can- ada, which was carried out by the English colonists at an expense of £15,000. It Avas twofold : first, by land and inland naviga- tion on the southern frontier, and, second, by a fleet sent from Boston to attack Quebec. The squadron, under the command of Sir William Phipps, appeared as far up the river as Tadoussac before the alarm reached Quebec. Frontenac immediately hastened to strengthen the defenses of the place, which consisted of rude embankments of timber and earth, and to put it into as good condition as it was possible for him to do in so short a time. On the 16th of October the squadron, consisting of thirty-four vessels of different descriptions, advanced as far as Beauport. Sir William Phipps immediately sent a flag of truce on shore to summon the town to surrender. This was gallantly rejected by Frontenac. This officer, who was a man of great pride, lived in the castle of St. Louis, amidst all the splendor with which he could possibly surround himself Being resolved to astonish the Eng- lish officer who was sent on shore with the flag of truce, he caused him to be met by a French major, who placed a bandage over his eyes, and conducted him by a very circuitous route to the castle. Every delusion was practiced to make him believe that he was in the midst of a numerous garrison. On arriving at the castle the bandage was removed, and he found himself in the presence of the Governor-General, the Intendant, the Bishop, and a large staff of French officers in full uniform, who were clustered together in the middle of the hall. With the greatest self-posses- sion, the young officer presented to Frontenac a summons to sur- render, in the name of William and Mary, King and Queen of England. Frontenac gave a most spirited answer, refusing to HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 57 acknowledge any King of England but James II. The English- man wished to have his answer in writing. Frontenac peremp- torily refused, saying, " I am going to answer your master by the cannon's mouth. He shall be taught this is not the manner in which a person of my rank ought to be summoned." The ban- dage being replaced, the officer was conducted with the same mys- teries to his boat, and was no sooner on board the Admiral's vessel than the batteries began to play upon the fleet. On the 18th fifteen hundred English troops landed near the River St. Charles, but not without sustaining great loss from the constant fire kept up by the French from amongst the rocks and bushes. Four of the largest vessels were anchored opposite the town, and commenced a bombardment, but theiire from the bat- teries was directed with such effect as to compel them to move up the river beyond Cape Diamond. A sharp skirmish took place on the 19th, and on the 20th an action was fought, in which the French made a gallant stand and compelled the English to retreat to Beauport, leaving their cannon and ammunition. Two days after they reembarked and returned to Boston. Owing to the bad management of Sir William Phipps, this expedition was attended with great loss of life, seven or eight of his vessels being wrecked in the St. Lawrence. The expedition against Montreal did not take place at the appointed time, owing to a want of concert between the parties, and Frontenac was thus enabled to concentrate all his strength and oppose the plans of the English with vigilance and success. CHAPTER IV. History of New France from the Administration of Frontenac TO ITS Overthrow by the English at Querec, in 1759 — The Battle of Quebec — The Fall of Wolfe and Montcai,m — Canada Ceded to the English. During the year 1691 the Iroquois, with the English and native allies, advanced along the liiver Sorel or Richelieu to attack Montreal. De Caillieres, a very able officer, then held the command of that city. He had assembled nearly eight hundred Indians in addition to his own countrymen, and the assailants, after a very sharp contest, Avere obliged to retreat. They burned thirty houses and barns, and carried off' several prisoners, whom they put to the most cruel torture. At length, however, De Frontenac, by the unremitting vigor of his measures, secured the defense of the colony so far that in 1692 the inhabitants were enabled to cultivate their lauds, and the fur trade was renewed and carried on with considerable advantage. In the beginning ot 1694, the Iroquois made overtures of peace. Two Onondagos arrived at Montreal, and asked the Governor if certain deputies, who were on their way, would be received. Tliough they were answered in the affirmative, several months elapsed before they a})peared. They were well received, and brought several belts with them, one of which expressed the most friendly disposition, and solicited the restoration of the fort at Cataraqui. On their return home, Oureonhar6 accompanied them. AVhen he came back, he brought Avith him several persons of distinction, who had been long held in captivity by the Indians. Though the first belts brought by the deputies were friendly, the others were obscure, and all attem])ts to obtain an exjjlanation were fruitless. All that was conlcmplated merely seemed to be "to suspend the hatchet." The Count rejected all the belts except one, declaring HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 59 that, unless more friendly sentiments were entertained, he could not long suspend the threatened blow. Unwilling to come to an open rupture with a people who could muster three thousand warriors, he endeavored to gain time. In the meanwhile, he reestablished the fort at Cataraqui, and strengthened the outposts, intending in the summer to commence more active measures. At length, in June, 1696, all the forces that could be mustered at Cataraqui marched into the canton of Onondago. On reaching a lake, they i'ound suspended from a tree two bundles of rushes, which intimated that fourteen hundred and thirty-four warriors were waiting to engage them. They sailed across the lake immedi- ately, and formed themselves in regular order of battle, expecting to engage their enemies. De Caillieres commanded the left Aving, the Chevalier de Vaudreuil the right, and De Frontenac, then seventy-six years of age, was carried in the centre in an elbow- chair. The Five Nations, however, did not appear, and their principal fortress was found reduced to ashes. It soon, indeed, became evident that the Indians had determined to let them march through their country unmolested. The Oneidas sent deputies to Frontenac, but he would accept nothing short of unconditional surrender. De Vaudreuil marched into their country and laid it waste. It had been determined to treat the Cayugas in the same manner, but the Count returned rather suddenly to Montreal, for which the French writers severely censure him. He might, it is thought, have completely humbled the Iroquois at this time. He could not, however, be prevailed upon to destroy the canton of the Goyoquins (or Cayugas), of which his friend Oureonhare was chief. The shameful manner in which the Indian allies of the French were treated with regard to their chief source of wealth, the fur trade, gave continual cause of complaint and discontent. This traffic was carried on by an adventurous but desperate race, called " eaureurs des bois." It was a strict monopoly, the merchants fitting out the coureurs with canoes and merchandise, and reaping profits so ample that furs to the value of 8,000 crowns were pro- cured by the French for 1,000 crowns. 60 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. As soon as the Indians found out the true value of their com- modities, they made loud and incessant complaints. In order to conciliate them, it was proposed that they should bring their own furs and dispose of them at Montreal. The Governor, however, and the other members of the administration, objected that this would bring the Indian allies from the retirement of their forests into the immediate neighborhood of the Five Nations and of the British ; and they dreaded that, while the profits of the fur trade would be lost, a general confederation of the tribes might be effected. In the meantime, the Iroquois continued the war with vigor, though both they and the English began to wish for peace. Negotiations were, however, entered into with them through Oureonhare, in whom Fronteuac placed great and deserved confi- dence, but his sudden death at Quebec retarded them. Their success was, however, secured by the treaty of peace signed at Ryswick, September 15, 1697, and the English and French Gov- ernors mutually entered into arrangements for maintaining harmony among the Indians. The anxious desire manifested by both nations to secure the friendship of the Iroquois flattered that bold and deceitful people, and gave them an exalted opinion of themselves. The object of both the French and English should have been to diminish their power, but this rather tended to increase their consequence and conceit. Soon after the conclusion of peace, Louis Count de Frontenac died, in the seventy-eighth year of his age, upwards of twenty of which he had spent in Canada. His great personal abilities pre- served this colony to France, and always secured to him the GOVERNOR J. J. BAGLEY. John J. Bagley, tlie present Governor of the State of Michigan, was born July 24th, 1832, in Orleans County, New York. His father settled in St. Joseph County, in this State, 1840, where Mr. Bagley received a common scliool education. In 1840 he removed to Shiawassee County, and in 1847 to Detroit. He served his time at the tobacco trade with Isaac S. Miller. In 1853 he engaged in business for liimself, and is still conducting it. Mr. Bagley has held various positions of public trust in the city gov- GOVERNOR JOHN J. EAGLET. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 63 confidence of the King, the respect of his officers and the esteem of the Indians. He was buried in the Recollect church at Quebec, which formerly stood near the site of the present English cathedral. The only memorial of him now to be found in the city is in the street called from his family name Buade street. Frontenac was succeeded by De Callieres, who had been for some time Governor of Montreal. He administered the affairs of the colony with more steadiness and prudence, and with equal vigor and address, and in 1700 effected a general pacification among the Indian tribes. Upon the exchange of prisoners which took place at this period, a most surprising and mortifying fact transpired. The natives early sought their homes ; the greater part of the French captives, however, were found to have con- tracted such an attachment to the wild freedom of the woods, that neither the commands of the King nor the entreaties of their friends could induce them to quit their Indian associates. Peace had scarcely been concluded between the savage tribes, when it was broken by their civilized neighbors. The succession of Philip of Anjou to the throne of Spain gave rise to a long and eventful war betAveen France and Spain. It was begun by Louis XIV with every prospect of giving law to all Europe. Instead of this, the exploits of the great Marlborough and Prince Eugene, and the fields of Blenheim and Ramilies, reduced him to the lowest condition, and at one time seemed to place his throne in peril. The French colonists were thus left to their own resources, while England conceived the bold design of uniting within her territory the whole of North America. The lamented death of De Callieres, its able Governor, placed Canada in a critical state, and endangered the French power in the colony. ernment of Detroit, aud in 1873 was Park Commissioner, Vice-President of tlie American National Banl<:, President of the Detroit Safe Company, Director of the Wayne County Savings Bank, Novelty Works, Detroit Fire and Marine Insurance Company, and Michigan Mutual Life Insur- ance Company. In the summer of 1873 Mr. Bagley was nominated by the Kepublican State Convention for Governor, and was elected by a large majority. 64 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. The Count de Vaudreuil, who succeeded, proved himself worthy of his high office, and for several years managed to prevent the colonists from being molested, and to cherish the trade and culti- vation of the country. In 1708 he carried warlike operations into the British frontier settlements, having previously negotiated for the neutrality of the Iroquois, who were flattered by being treated as an independent power. Little success, however, attended these operations, and he was soon compelled again to resume a defensive position. The persecutions of the Protestants in France caused at this time a religious animosity to be added to the hatred entertained towards the French. This unfortunately encouraged a spirit of discord amongst the colonists themselves. A people like the New Englanders, who had themselves but just escaped from persecu- tion, could not look with indifference upon their persecuted French Protestant brethren. Some of the persons in power amongst them, however, did not sympathize in this sentiment, and estrange- ment from each other and opposition to authority increased daily. During all the changes which took place in the colonies, it is surprising how the Iroquois contrived to preserve their neutrality, as they had it in their power to gain infoi'mation on both sides. The court that was paid to them by both powers probably fostered in them habits of dissimulation. When the English called the Five Nations to assist them against the Fi'ench, they showed the great- est unwillingness. They alleged that " when they concluded a treaty they intended to keep it, but that the Europeans seemed to enter into such engagements solely for the purpose of breaking them ;" and one old chief, with the rude freedom of his country, intimated that " the nations were both drunk." In 1709 a person of the name of Vetch laid before the court of Queen Anne a plan for the conquest of Canada, and was supplied with authority and resources, supposed to be sufficient for its accomplishment. The English forces which had been destined for the St. Lawrence wei'e, however, required in Portugal, and thus the Marquis de Vaudreuil had time to make better jirepara- tions for defense. The British in the meantime had occupied Lakes George and HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 65 Champlain, and erected forts. But the Iroquois treacherously deceived them, and attempted to poison the water they drank. They immediately abandoned the enterprise and returned to New York, after burning their canoes and reducing their forts to ashes. GOVERNOR H. P. BALDWIN. Among the numerous citizens of Micliigan, who, from very small beginnings, by lionest perseverance have accumulated wealth and local fame, ex-Governor Baldwin stands very prominent. He was born in Coventry, R. I., February, 1814, and was left an orphan boy at the ten- der age of eleven years, his parents having died previous to 1825. At the age of twelve he secured a position in a mercantile house near his native town, in which situation he remained eight years. In those days salaries were small, consequently, Mr. Baldwin was unable to lay by very much; but to say that he had not, during those eight years, accumulated a capi- 5 66 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. Canada now enjoyed a short interval of repose, though it was understood that the English were making active preparations for a fresh expedition, and were sparing no pains to secure the cooper- ation of the Five Nations. At this time the French were engaged in a desperate struggle with an Indian nation called the Outagamis or Foxes. These people, who dwelt in the upper terri- tory, were at last reduced to the necessity of humbly soliciting terms of peace, but the French were persuaded by their savage auxiliaries to push matters to the last extremity, and this unfor- tunate tribe was nearly exterminated. A combined land and sea expedition against Canada took place in 1711. This expedition was shamefully managed, and the Brit- ish fleet, owing to tempestuous weather and ignorance of the coast, met with so many disasters that it was obliged to return to Boston. They lost, at the Seven Islands near the mouth of the St. Lawrence, in one day, eight vessels and eight hundred and eighty-four officers, soldiers and seamen. tal that is more precious than gold, would be contradictory with the fol- lowing circumstances. At the age of twenty he left this situation, and, entirely without capital of his own, began business for himself. Thus will be seen Mr. Baldwin had already established himself in the confi- dence and esteem of the people of his own native State. In 1838 Mr. Baldwin's keen penetration had foreseen the near future of lake commerce, as guaranteed by the rapid development of the North- west, and he hastened to the scene of pioneer life. Having removed to Detroit, he immediately resumed mercantile pursuits. Success followed the effort, and has continuously attended all his business operations, which have increased to considerable magnitude. He has taken an active interest in many of the leading enterprises of Michigan, most of which have vigorously advanced the growth, prosperity and honor of the State. Prominent among these is the Second National Bank of Detroit. This institution commenced business in 1863 with a capital of $500,000, which was increased in 1865 to $1,000,000, and has been one of the most suc- cessful enterprises of the West, having already accumulated a surplus fund of $600,000. Mr. Baldwin was its first president, and has continued to hold that responsible position during its whole career to the present time. In relation to his political life, he has rather declined than sought after oflBce or emolument. He was a staunch Whig when that party existed, HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 67 The restoration of peace between France and England, by the treaty of Utrecht, took place in 1713, by which France retained Canada, but ceded Acadia and Newfoundland, and made over to Great Britain all her claims to the sovereignty of the Five Nations. This once more left the colony an interval of rest, which lasted ten years, during which her trade and resources were greatly increased. The Marquis de Vaudreuil availed himself of the peace to strengthen the fortifications of Quebec and Montreal ; the training of the military, amounting to 5,000 in a population of 25,000, was carefully attended to, and barracks were con- structed. An assessment was levied on the inhabitants, for the support of the troops and the erection of fortifications. During the remainder of M. de Vaudreuil's administration, which was terminated by his death in 1726, the province prospered under his vigilant, firm and just government. The death of the Marquis de Vaudreuil in 1726, was deserv- edly lamented by the Canadians. He was succeeded, in 1726, by and became as firm a Republican at the organization of that party. He was twice nominated by liis party to the mayoralty of Deti'oit, and in 1860 was elected to tlie State Senate. His career in the Senate was marked with considerable ability. He was chosen Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Senate, of the Joint Finance Committee of the two Houses, and of the Joint Committee for investigating into the condi- tion of the State Treasury and the defalcation of John McKinney. It will be remembered that when the Legislature met in 1861 the State Treasury was without funds, the Treasurer being cliarged as a defaulter, and the State finances being in a most embarrassed condition. Senator Baldwin made a most thorough examination of the department, and embodied in his report to tlie Legislature a complete statement setting forth the irregularities by wliich the difficulty had been incurred, and suggesting plans whereby the State finances could be advantageously regulated and sustained in good condition. The report and measures recommended by Mr. Baldwin were adopted, and have been the basis of the successful management of the State finances up to the present time. In 1864 Senator Baldwin's name was brought forward spontaneously by the people for the distinguished office of Governor of Michigan. At the State Convention of that year his nomination was defeated by a single .vote. Had lie even signified a desire to reach the gubernatorial chair, it is generally believed tliat he would have been unanimously chosen by the 68 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. the Marquis de Beauharnois. His ambitious administration excited greatly the alarm of the English colonists of New York and New England. Beauharnois continued in power twenty years, and diligently employed himself in promoting the interests of the colony. He planned an enterprise to cross America to the South Sea, which did not succeed. He erected also the important fort at Crown Point, on Lake Champlain, with several other forts at different places, for the purpose of keeping the English within the Alle- ghany Mountains, and preventing their approach to the lakes, the St. Lawrence, the Mississippi, and their tributary streams. The war between Great Britain and France led to the reduction of Cape Breton in 1745, by a British naval and military force, assisted by the provincial troops of the New England colonies. The successful battle of Fonteuoy, in Europe, however, roused the martial spirit of the Canadians to attenqjt the re-conquest of Nova Scotia, in 1746 and 1747, in which they failed, and the Convention, but, having not even sanctioned the voice of the people, his nomination was carelessly though scarcely defeated. In 1866 he was earnestly pressed to allow his name to be placed before the Republican Convention for the same honorable office, but, as it had been customary to renominate the Governor for a second term, he declined absolutely. Notwithstanding this, he received more than sixty votes at that time. In 1868 he received the nomination of his party for the high office of Governor, and was elected by the largest majority which, at that time, had ever been given for a Governor of Michigan. In 1870 he was nomi- nated by acclamation, aud reelected. In 1873 he was again strongly pressed to accept the nomination, but positively refused, and, in a letter addressed to the Republican Convention of that year, requested that no votes should be cast for him. Thus I have given, in a very concise manner, the most prominent fea- tures of Governor Baldwin's life. In point of perseverance, purity or accomplishment, its estimation is enhanced by comparison. No stain mars the pages of his sliort history of success. He came forth from the obscurity of a humble orphan boy, and, through his own honest persever- ance, unaided by naught save that which integrity, energy and affability merits, accumulated much wealth, aud won a public name unblemished by coarse associations. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 69 treaty of Aix la Chapelle, in 1748, suspended further hostilities. Commissioners were then appointed to settle a boundary line between the British and French territories in North America. The Canadian government immediately proceeded to survey the HON. FREDERICK L. WELLS. Frederick L. Wells, the present Senator in the State Legislature for the Twenty-second Senatorial District, was born in the town of Stanford, Duchess county, New York, on the 24th of March, 1833, and emigrated to Michigan in October, 1838, taking up his residence in the city of Port Huron, where he now resides. This trip, at that early time of railroads, consumed nearly a week, Mr. Wells traveling on the New York Central from Albany to Fonda, which at that time comprised the whole length of that road. From the latter place to Buffalo the passage was made on 70 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. projected line of demarcation, with a great display of military pomp, calculated to impress on the minds of the Indians the idea that France would assert her rights to the limits marked. Leaden plates, bearing the arms of France, were sunk at such distances upon this line as the Canadian Governor, in his liberality, pleased to assign to England, and the whole ceremony was conducted with much formality. Such an imprudent step seriously alarmed the Indians, and terminated in their active cooperation with the English, for the utter expulsion of the French from North America. About this time a royal edict directed that no country houses should be built but on farms of one acre and a half in front and forty back. This law had the eiFect of confining the population along the banks of the river, and the whole shore, from Quebec to Montreal, was soon settled with cultivated farms. A favorable change took place, too, in the fur trade, and a more liberal and equitable system appears to have been adopted. A large annual fair was opened at Montreal, under judicious regulations, and became the general centre of the trade. The Count de Galissoniere, a nobleman of great acquirements, succeeded M. de Beauharnois in 1747. He was superseded by the Sieur de la Jonquiere in 1749, who was superseded temporarily by the Baron de Longueuil, until the arrival of the Marquis du Quesne as Governor-General in 1752. a canal boat, and at Buffalo he embarked on the steamboat "James Madison" for Port Huron, which boat was then considered first-class. Upon his arrival at Port Huron, he found that tlie Indians were more numerous than the whites ; and in his younger day he has often seen the former participating in the "savage war dance" in the center of the city, where now lie Huron avenue and Military street. He soon formed an admiration for the beautiful forest scenes surrounding his new home, and from early boyhood took a great interest in the welfare of his town. By his rigid honesty, indomitable energy, and rare business qualifications, he soon rose to the front rank among his townsmen. Although Mr. Wells has never sought political honors, still his towns- men have seen fit to acknowledge their appreciation of his abilities by electing him to a large number of important official positions. In 1855 he was elected to the office of Village Recorder, and again, in 1857, he HISTORY OP MICHIGAN, 71 Du Quesne appears, more openly than any other governor, to have carried on the system of encroaching on the British Colonies. So far did he proceed that the fort at Pittsburg, bearing his name, was erected within the confines of Virginia. The British immediately erected another in the immediate vicinity, which they quaintly termed Necessity. To this a garrison was dispatched, from Virginia, under the command of George Washington, whose name afterward became so illustrious, and who then held a lieutenant-colonel's commission in the British army. Washington, on his march to assume the command of Fort Necessity, was met by a party from Fort Du Quesne, under M. de Jumonville, who peremptorily forbade the English to pro- ceed further. The mandate was answered by a burst of indigna- tion and a volley of musketry, which killed Jumonville and sev- eral of his men. The French at Fort du Quesne, however,* quickly commenced offensive hostilities, invested Necessity, and obliged Washington to capitulate. A great alarm was now spread through the English settlements, and a plan of common defense was brought forward, in a conven- tion held at Albany in July, 1754. At this meeting Benjamin Franklin proposed a general union of the colonies, to resist the French. Though not then acted upon, this document was the basis of the federal union subsequently formed for the overthrow of the British dominion in the United States. was chosen for the same position. In 1859 he was elected City Clerk, and was reelected to the same office the two following years. He was Chief Engineer of the Fire Department during the year 1862, and in 1863 was chosen Mayor of the city. He has also held the oflSce of Alder- man for three terms of two years each, which makes him a city oflBcer of thirteen years' standing. After a spirited contest, in 1870, Mr. Wells was elected to represent the Second District of St. Clair county in the State Legislature. He filled this position so well that the people of St. Clair county elected him to represent them as Senator in the Legislature of 1872-3. He was a member of the standing committees of the Senate — lumber interests, asylum for deaf, dumb and blind, and State capitol and public buildings, being chairman of the first mentioned — where he zeal- ously looked after the interests of the State, performing a large amount of arduous labor. 72 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. England was at this time preparing for an open war with France, which the ambition of Frederick of Prussia, and the state of Europe, soon rendered general. A strong fleet with troops, was despatched from France to reinforce Quebec ; an English fleet pursued it, but succeeded in capturing only two frigates, with the engineers and troops on board, on the banks of Newfound- land. The Marquis de Quesne having resigned, Avas succeeded by the Sieur de Vaudreuil, the last French governor in Canada, in 1755. This administration was auspiciously opened by the defeat of the brave but rash General Braddock, in one of the defiles of the Alleghany Mountains. Braddock, unaccustomed to Indian war- fare, neglected every precaution of scouts and outposts, and refused to make proper preparations for the meeting of the French and their Indian allies. When the British entered a gorge where retreat was impossible, they poured upon them, from their ambus- cades, a deadly fire, under which numbers of the unfortunate sol- diers fell. Braddock himself was killed, and the remainder of the army was saved only by the intrepidity of Colonel George Washington, who now, for the first time, distinguished himself, and won back the laurels he had lost at Fort Necessity. These troops having afterward joined the provincial force under Generals Johnson, Lyman and Shirly, repulsed an attack made by the French under Baron Dieskau. After a battle of four hours' duration the French retreated to Crown Point, with a loss Mr. Wells has also taken a great interest in Free Masonry, having received all the degrees to the " S. P. R. S.," thirty-second degree of the A. & A. Scottish rite. He has held many important offices in the lodge of which he is a member. He has been Worshipful Master of the Port Huron Lodge, No. 58, for five years ; High Priest of Huron Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, for two years, and has held for the past year, and still holds, the office of Eminent Commander of the Port Huron Com- mandery of Knights Templar. For tlie past nineteen years, and at present, he is extensively engaged in the manufacturing of lumber. He is also a partner in the banking house of John Johnston & Co. , Port Huron. In all the positions Mr. Wells has held he has performed his duties faithfully, and exhibited a large amount of business tact. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 73 of one thousand men and the capture of their leader, who was severely wounded. This success restored the drooping spirits of the British army, and these battles helped to train the colonists for those contests HON. EI!IHU L. CLARK. Elihxi L. Clark, President of the Lenawee County Savings Bank, was born in Wayne County, New York, on the 18th of July, 1811. Both of his grandfathers served in the Revolutionary War, the one on his father's side being one of Washington's Rangers, and the one on his mother's side being in active service at the battles of Monmouth, Princeton and a num- ber of others. Mr. Clark remained on the farm where he was born until he was nine- teen years of age, when he went to the village of Palmyra, in the same county, and served as clerk in a dry goods store for one year. After- 74 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. which they were to wage with those very men by whose side they now fought hand to hand against the French. Little did Wash- ington then contemplate the destiny that awaited him. France, now fully aware of the importance of Canada, sent out a chosen body of troops, under the command of the gallant and experienced Marquis de Montcalm. He obtained a series of suc- cesses, terminating by the reduction of the important British forts at Oswego, and Fort Edward, near Lake George. This victory was stained by the barbarous murder of near two thousand Eng- lish prisoners, by the Indian allies of the French. This monstrous deed completely roused the indignation of the English, and led to those mighty preparations which finally destroyed the power of France in America. As some compensation for these losses, the fortified and garri- soned town of Louisburg, in the island of Cape Breton, was taken in the most gallant manner by the English army under General Amherst and Brigadier-General Wolfe, the future conqueror of Canada. In 1758 Fort Frontenac, near Kingston, and Fort Du Quesne, near the Ohio river, were captured by the colonists. The campaign of 1759 was opened with a plan of combined operations by sea and land. Canada was to be invaded at three different points by Generals of high talent. The commander-in- chief. General Amherst, undertook the reduction of the forts at Crown Point and Ticonderoga. He was to cross Lake Champlain, and, proceeding along the Richelieu, was to reach the St. Law- rence and join the other army before Quebec. The force destined to proceed by sea to Quebec was under the command of the heroic General Wolfe. General Prideaux, with another army and a wards he was the owner of a mercantile establishment in the same town for two years. In Septembei", 1834, he married Miss Isabella T. Bean, and in June of the following year he emigrated to Michigan, and at once engaged in the mercantile business, in which he remained until 1848. In the autumn of tliat year he was elected a Representative in the Legisla- ture of Michigan from Lenawee County, being the only Whig in the Legislature from that county of five Representative districts. From that time until 1870 he has been engaged in a private banking and bro- kerage business, accumulating considerable wealth. In 1870, upon tlie HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 75 large body of friendly Indians, under Sir William Johnson, was appointed to reduce the fort at Niagara. Wolfe's army, amounting to about eight thousand men, was conveyed to the vicinity of Quebec by a fleet of vessels of war and transports, and landed in two divisions on the island of Orleans, on the 27th of June. The Marquis de Montcalm made vigorous preparations for defending Quebec. His armed force consisted of about thirteen thousand men, of whom six battalions were regulars and the remainder well disciplined Canadian militia, with some cavalry and Indians. He ranged these forces from the river St. Charles to the Falls of Montmorency, with the view of opposing the landing of the British. Wolfe first attempted the entrenchment of Montmorency, land- ing his troops under cover of the fire from the ships of war, but was gallantly repulsed by the French. In consequence of this repulse he sent dispatches to England, stating that he had doubts of being able to reduce Quebec during that campaign. His pros- pects, indeed, were not encouraging. The great stronghold kept Aip an incessant fire from its almost inaccessible position, bristling with guns, defended by a superior force, and inhabited by a hostile population. Above the city steep banks rendered landing almost impossible ; below the country for eight miles was embarrassed by two rivers, many redoubts and watchful Indians. A part of the fleet lay above the town, and the remainder in the north channel, between the island of Orleans and Montmorency. Soon after this repulse, however, Wolfe roused his brave and vigorous spirit, called a council of war, and proposed, it is gener- ally said at the instigation of his second in command, General organization of the Lenawee County Savings Bank, lie was chosen President of that corporation, which office lie still holds, performing the duties to the entire satisfaction of the stockholders and depositors in the bank. During the late civil war, Mr. Clark was an active supporter of the Union cause, and did much for the Michigan soldiers. One of his sons sacrificed his life in defense of the nation. Mr. Clark is well known throughout Lenawee and the adjoining counties, and is held in very high esteem. 76 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. Townsend, to gain the Height's of Abraham behind and above the city, commanding the weakest part of the fortress. The council acceded to this daring proposal, and their heroic commander com- menced his preparations, in the meanwhile making such active demonstrations against Montcalm's position that the French still believed it to be his main object. On the 11th of September the greater part of the troops landed and marched up the south shore opposite Quebec, forded the river Etchemin, and embarked on board the men-of-war and transports which lay above the town. On the 12th the ships of war sailed nine miles up the river to Cap Rouge. This feint deceived Mont- calm, and he detached DeBougainville, who with his army of reserve proceeded still farther up the river, to prevent the English from landing. During the night the English troops dropped silently down the river with the current in boats, and at four o'clock in the morning began to land. It is surprising how the troops contrived to land, as the French had posted sentries along the shore to challenge boats and give the alarm. The first boat was questioned, when Captain Donald McDonald, one of Frazer's Highlanders, w\io was perfectly well acquainted with the French language and customs, answered to "Qui i;/('e .^ " which is their challenge, the word, " Xa France." When the sentinel demanded, " A quel regiment f " the captain replied, " De la Heine," which he knew by accident to be one of those commanded by DeBougainville. The soldier took it for granted that it was an expected convoy, and saying "Passe" the boats proceeded without further question. One of the sentries, more wary than the rest, running down to the water's edge, called out, " Pourquoi, est-ce que vous ne parlez pas plus hautf" to which the captain answered, in a soft tone of voice, "Tais-toi, nous serons entendus. Thus cautioned, the sentry retired, and the boats pro- ceeded without further altercation, and landed at the spot now celebrated as " Wolfe's Cove." General Wolfe was one of the first on shore, and, on seeing the difficulty of ascending the precipice, observed familiarly to Captain McDonald, " I do not believe there is any possibility of getting up, but you must do your endeavor." Indeed, the precipice here was HISTORY OF MICHIGAN, 77 80 steep that there seemed no possibility of scaling it, but the Highlanders, grasping the bushes that grew on its face, ascended the woody precipice with courage and dexterity. They dislodged a small body of troops that defended a narrow pathway up the ,-<^"*«53j^ssaso»5>^ HENRY FISH. Henky Fish, cue of the present leading citizens of Port Huron, Michi- gan, was born five miles above Montreal, Canada, in 1824. His parents were of New England birth, but removed to Canada at an early day. In the year 1830 the family came to Michigan, and settled in Macomb county. In the year 1848 Henry Fish moved to Port Huron, and engaged in merchandising and lumbering. For the past eighteen years he, in connection with his brother, has been engaged in the lumbering business exclusively, the firm of A. & H. Fish being favorably and extensively 78 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. bank ; and, a few more mounting, the General drew up the rest in order as they arrived. With great exertion they reached the sum- mit, and in a short time Wolfe had his whole army drawn up in regular order on the plains above. Montcalm, struck with this unexpected movement, concluded that unless Wolfe could be driven from this position Quebec was lost. Hoping, probably, that only a detachment had as yet reached it, he lost his usual prudence and forbearance, and finding that his opponent had gained so much by hazarding all, he, with an infatuation for which it is difficult to account, resolved to meet the British army. He crossed the St. Charles on the 13th, sallying forth from a strong fortress without field artillery, without even waiting the return of Bougainville, who Avith two thousand men formed a corps of observation. Before he could concentrate his forces, he advanced with haste and precipitation, and commenced a most gallant attack when within about two hundred and fifty yards of the English line. The English moved forward regularly, firing steadily until within thirty or forty yards of the French, when they gave a general volley, which did great execution. The English had only a light cannon, which the sailors had dragged up the heights with ropes. The sabre, therefore, and the bayonet decided the day. The agile Scotch Highlanders, with their stout claymores, served the purpose of cavalry, and the steady fire of known. Mr. Fish is one of the most active and influential lay members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Michigan, being elected President of the State Convention of that church, held at Albion, in 1871. The Detroit Annual Conference, in company with Mr. John Owen, of Detroit, elected him as lay delegate to the General Conference of May, 1873. He was the candidate of the Prohibition party for Governor of Michi- gan in 1870 and again in 1872. The National Prohibition party, yet in its infancy, presented its first national ticket to the people in 1872. It had its inception in a meeting of a few friends of temperance (of whom Mr. Fish was a leading one), held in Detroit, on the 8th of January, 1867. This meeting advised the formation of an independent political party, because, as they stated, legal prohibition of the liquor traffic is such a radical reform as cannot be accomplished through the agency of a politi- cal party composed of temperance men and the sellers and drinkers of HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 79 the English fusileers compensated in some degree for the want of artillery. The heroism of Montcalm was as conspicuous as that of his illustrious opponent ; both headed their men ; both rushed with eagerness where the battle raged most fiercely. Often by their personal prowess and example did they change the fortune of the moment. Both were repeatedly wounded, but still fought on with enthusiasm. And at last both these gallant commanders fell mor- tally wounded, whilst advancing to the last deadly charge at the head of their respective columns. Wolfe was first wounded in the wrist. He immediately wrapped a handkerchief round his arm, and, putting himself at the head of his grenadiers, led them on to the charge. He was then struck with a second ball, but still pressed on, when, just as the enemy were about to give way, he received a third ball in the breast and groin, and sank. When they raised him from the ground he tried, with a faint hand, to clear the death-mist from his eyes. He could not see how the battle went, and was sinking to the earth, when the cry, " They run ! they run ! " arrested his fleeting spirit. "Who run ?" asked the dying hero. "The French," replied his supporter ; " they give way everywhere." " What ! " said he, " do they run already? Now God be praised — I die happy; " and, so saying, the youthful victor breathed his last. Such was the death intoxicating liquors. Both the Republican and Democratic parties are so composed, and are, therefore, organically disqualified to indorse prohibi- tion as a party measure, and without such indorsement no political party can be depended upon, when in power, to enact and enforce laws prohib- iting the liquor traffic. Hence, they declared that both reason and expe- rience proved the necessity of independent political action on the part of the friends of prohibition. As the result of this meeting, a State Conven- tion was held at .Jackson, January 27th, 1869, and such a party formed. The following year they nominated their first State ticket, headed by Mr. Fish for Governor, and at the election in November he received a vote exceedingly flattering to himself and his party. In 1872 he was again the candidate of the same party for the same office, and with similar results. Mr. Fish is a careful and competent business man, of far more than average culture, and a very aflfable and agreeable gentleman. 80 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. of Wolfe at the early age of thirty-five, when but few men begin even to appear on the theater of great events. There is a small monument on the place of his death, with the date and this inscription : " Here Wolfe died victorious." He was too precious to be left even on the field of his glory ; England, jealous of his ashes, had them laid with his father's in Greenwich, the town in which he was born. The news of these events reached Britain but forty-eight hours later than the first discouraging dis- patch, and spread universal joy for the great victory, and sorrow for its price. Throughout broad England were illuminations and songs of triumph ; one country village was, however, silent and still — there Wolfe's widowed mother mourned her only son. The chivalrous Montcalm also died nobly. When his wounds were pronounced mortal, he expressed his thankfulness that he should die before the surrender of Quebec. On being visited by the commander of the garrison, M. de Ramzay, and by the com- mandant, De Rousellon, he entreated him to endeavor to secure the retreat of the army beyond Cap Rouge. Before he died he paid the victorious army this magnanimous compliment : " Since it has been my misfortune to be discomfited and mortally wounded, it is a great satisfaction to me to be van- quished by so brave and generous an enemy." Almost his last act was to write a letter recommending the French j^risoners to the generosity of their victors. He died at five o'clock on the morn- ing of the 14th of September, and was buried in an excavation made by the bursting of a shell, near the Ursuline convent. The battle had scarcely closed before Bougainville appeared in sight ; but the fate of Canada was decided, the critical moment was gone. He retired to Pointe aux Trembles en has, where he encamped, and thence he retreated to Three Rivers and Montreal. Had all the French forces been concentrated under Montcalm, it is doubtful if the heroism of the British troops could have secured the victory, so great was the valor displayed. On the 17th a flag of truce came out of the city, and on the 18th a capitulation was effected on terms honorable to the French, who were not made prisoners, but conveyed home to their own country. General Murray then assumed the command. CHAPTER V. Progress of the French toward Michigan — The Struggles and Adventures op the Missionaries — Life and Death of the Great and Good Marquette — Pioneer Life. Having followed the history of New France to the end of the French rule in Canada, we will now return and trace the west- ward movements of civilization to the borders of Michigan. The French settlers who had established themselves upon the banks of the St. Lawrence were never wanting in zeal and enter- prise in extending their explorations westward. It was early the avowed object of the government to carry the cross of the Catho- lic Church to the remotest bounds of the western territory, and thus to secure the advantages of its great resources. The princi- pal directors of the ecclesiastical establishments that were collected at Quebec found it their policy to become informed of the con- dition of the domain of the great lakes, and as early as 1634 the Jesuits Breboeuf and Daniel joined a party of Hurons, who were returning from that walled city, and, passing tlirough to the Ottawa River, raised the first hut of the Society of Jesus upon the shore of Lake Iroquois, a bay of Lake Huron, where they daily rang a bell to call the savages to prayer, and performed all those kind offices which were calculated to secure the confidence and aflTection of the tribes on the lake shore. In order to confirm the missions a college was founded in Quebec during the following year, and a hospital was established at the same place for the unfortunate of every class. A plan for the establishment of mis- sions, not only among the Algonquins of the north, but also south of Lake Michigan and in Michigan, was formed within six years after the discovery of Canada. Cartier was the pioneer, but Champlain was the founder of the French power upon this continent. For twenty years succeeding 6 82 GENERAL HISTORY OP THE STATES. the commencement of the seventeenth century he was zealously employed in planting and rearing upon the banks of the St. Law- rence that infant colony which was destined to extend its branches into Michigan, and finally to contest with its great rival the sover- eignty of North America. We shall not here attempt to trace the progress of these remote settlements, nor to mark the alternations of prosperity and adver- sity. They are in this work peculiarly interesting to us only as they exhibit the gradual and successive steps by which a knowl- edge of the lake country was acquired, and its first settlements founded. As the tide of French power flows toward Michigan, we become more anxious to trace its principles and progress, and to inquire into the motives and means of the hardy adventurers who were every year ascending still further and further the boundless waters before them. It was early discovered that a profitable trafiic in furs could be carried on with the Indians, and the excitement of gain prompted those engaged in it to explore every avenue by which the camp and hunting grounds of the Indians could be approached. A better and nobler feeling, too, brought to this work a body of learned and pious men, who left behind them their own world, with all its pleasures and attach- ments, and sought in the depths of remote and unknown regions objects for the exercise of their zeal and piety. The whole history of human character furnishes no more illustrious examples of self- devotion than are to be found in the records of the establishments of the Roman Catholic missionaries, whose faith and fervor ena- bled them to combat the difficulties around them in life, or to triumph over them in death. By the operation of these causes a knowledge of the great fea- tures of the continent was gradually acquired, and the circle of French power and influence enlarged. As early as 1632, seven years only after the foundations of Quebec were laid, the mission- aries had penetrated to Lake Huron by the route of Grand River, and Father Sagard has left an interesting narrative of their toils and suflTerings upon its bleak and sterile shores. The Wyandots had been driven into that region from the banks of the St. Law- rence, by their inveterate enemies, the Iroquois, whose valor, flIStORY OIP MICHIGAN. 83 enterprise and success constitute the romance of Indian history. The good priests accompanied them in this expatriation, and if they could not prevent their sufferings, they shared them. No portion of those wide domains was secure from the conquering COL. WM. M. FENTON. Wm. M. Fenton, one of the greatest of Micliigan men, was bom on the 19th of December, 1808, in Norwich, Chenango county. New York. Here liis fatlier, Hon. .Josepli S. Fenton, was one of the first citizens in wealth and social position, being a prominent banker, and an elder in the Presbyterian church, of which he was one of the main pillars of support. His mother, a member of the same church, was distinguished for devoted piety and an earnest zeal in every good work. William was the eldest of nine children, and in early life, while under the parental roof, was remarkable for his integrity and great love for knowledge, which made him a most indefatigable student, so that when 84 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. Iroquois, and they pursued tlieir discomfited enemies with relent- less fury. Little would be gained by an attempt to describe the events of this exterminating warfare. "The details are as afflict- ing," says General Cass, " as any recorded in the long annals of human vengeance and human sufferings." Villages were sacked; and by night and by day, in winter and in summer, there was nei- ther rest nor safety lor the vanquished. The character of the missionaries did not exempt them from a lull participation in the misfortunes of their converts, and many of them were murdered at the foot of the altar, with the crucifix in their hands and the name of God upon their lips. Some were burned at the stake, with all those horrible accompaniments of savage ingenuity which add intensity to the pangs of the victims and duration to their sufferings. But nothing could shake the fortitude of these apos- tles. They lived the life of saints, and died the death of martyrs. It is now difficult to conceive what, however, is now well authen- ticated, that two hundred years ago the great central point of Indian influence and intelligence was upon the southern shore of but fourteen years of age he passed his examination, and entered Hamii- ton College. From this institution he graduated at the head of his class in 1827, at the age of eighteen, when the most of students are only pre- pared to enter. From the college halls he went into the banking house of his father. The confinement consequent upon this business was too close for his feeble health, and after a service of but a few months, he entered upon a seafaring life, shipping from Charleston, S. C, as a com- mon sailor. Four years later he left this occupation, having acquired that physical culture and discipline, and gained that knowledge of human nature, wliich proved of great service to him through the remain- der of his life. At the time of quitting his marine life lie was mate of a merchantman, and was offered the captaincy of a similar craft. In April, 1884, he married a daughter of Judge James Birdsall, of Norwich, and u\ July of the same year emigrated to Micliigan, at the age of twenty-six. After residing for two years at Pontiac, being engaged in mercantile pursuits, he removed to Genesee county, and purchased the laud where the village of Feutou now stands. In 1839 he commenced the study of law in Fentonville, and in 1841, with Andrew Parsons, afterwards Governor, was admitted to Ihe bar. Soon after he engaged in politics, and his talents a^ a lawyer, and his extensive knowledge of men and things, at once made him a leader in I HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 85 Lake Supevior, aud far townrd its western extremity. This was the seat of the Chippewa power, aud here was baiaing the eternal tire whose extinction foretold , if it did not ocoujiion a national calamity. "No fact," says General Ca.ss, "is better established in the wliole rano-e of Indian history, than the devotion of some, if not all the tribes, to this characteristic feature of the ancient superstition of the Magi. And it proves their separation from the primitive stock at an early day, when this belief was prevalent among the eastern nations. All the ceremonies attending the preservation of this tire yet lived in Indian traditiou, aud it was still burning when the French first appeared among them. There were male aud female guardians, to whose care it was committed ; and when we recollect the solemn, and ritual, and dreadful impre- cations with which the same pledge of Roman safety was guarded and preserved, it ought not to surprise us that such importance was attached by the Indians, whose duration was to be coeval with their national existence. The augury has proved but too true. The fire is extinct, aud the power has departed from them. We have trampled on the one and overthrown the other." the Democratic party, of which he was a member. In 1844 he was the candidate of his party for representative in the State Legislature, but was defeated. At the next election, however, he was chosen Senator from the district comprising the counties of Oakland, Macomb, Genesee and Livingston. He was twice elected Lieutenant-Governor, serving from 1848 to 1852 inclusive, while Governors Ransom and Barry were in office. He presided with dignity and ability over the Senate, and had the party to which he belonged continued in power, he would undoubtedly have been raised to the office of Governor. He was twice nominated for Cir- cuit Judge by his party, and had he been elected he would have secured the same praise which he so unanimously received while performing other responsible public duties. In 1850 Mr. Fenton removed to Flint, where he resided until his death. He was appointed Register of the Land Office in that citj' by President Pierce, in 1852, aud held the position until the office was removed to Saginaw. During the year 1856 he traveled through Europe with his family, for the purpose of improving his wife's failing healtli. Return- ing, he was elected Mayor of Flint in 1858. When the first murmurings of the late civil war were indistinctly heard throughout our land, the voice of Mr. Fenton was raised far above 86 GENERAL HISTORY OP THE STATES. As the course of the French trade first took the route of the Ottawa River, their establishment upon the upper lakes preceded their settlements on the Detroit River. Soon after the middle of the seventeenth century trading posts were established at Michili- mackinac and the Sault Ste. Marie, at Green Bay, at Chicago and at St. Joseph. It was soon known, from the reports of the Indians, that a great river flowed through the country beyond the lakes in a southerly direction. In August, 1665, Father Claude Allouez founded the first per- manent white settlement on Lake Superior, among the kindly and hospitable Indians of the northwest. He soon lighted the torch of Catholicism at the council fires of more than twenty nations. He came in peace, the messenger of religion and virtue, and he found warm friends. The Chippewas gathered round him to receive instruction ; Pottawatomies, Sacs, Foxes, and even Illinois, an hospitable race, having no weapon but the bow and arrow, diminished in numbers by wars with the Sioux and the Iroquois, came to rehearse their sorrows in the hearing of this devoted mis- the din of party discord for his country, which he loved so well. He had been and was a Democrat, but he was more than either Democrat or Republican — he was a true patriot, and, dropping all considerations of a party character, he offered his services to his country in a way that at once attested his devotion to the principles of American union, and proved how much dearer his country was to him than his life. His wealth was also freely given to sustain the cause for which he fought, and, when financial difficulties first faced the government, he telegraphed to Governor Blair that the sum of |o,000 of his private means was at the disposal of the State for the equipment of the State troops. Early in the season of 1861 he was appointed a member of the State Military Board, and shortly afterward he received the appointment of major of the Seventh Infantry. On the 7th of August following, being commissioned by Gov- ernor Blair, colonel of the Eighth Infantry, he, with that regiment, started for the seat of war in Virginia, on the 37th of September, 1861. This regi- ment he was mainly instrumental in recruiting, and he seemed to diffuse his own courage through the entire command. No regiment has a better record, and, while health permitted, his record and that of the Eighth are identical. The rapidity and number of its marches were such as to give it the name of the " wandering regiment." From the time that it started for the seat of war until November 1st, 1861, a little more than HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 87 siouary. His curiosity was roused by their account of the noble river on which they dwelt, and which flowed toward the south. " They had no forests, but instead of them vast prairies, where herds of deer, and buffalo, and other animals, grazed on the tall grasses." They explained, also, the wonders of their peace pipe, and declared it to be their custom to welcome the friendly stranger with shouts of joy. " Their country," said Allouez, " is the best field for the gospel; had I leisure I would have gone to their dwellings, to see with my own eyes all the good that was told me of them." In 1668 additional missionaries arrived from France, who, fol- lowing in the footsteps of those already mentioned, Dablon and Marquette, founded the mission at St. Mary's Falls, on the shores of Lake Superior. While residing at St. Mary's, Father Mar- quette resolved to explore the Mississippi, of whose magnificence he had heard so much. Some Pottawatomie Indians, having heard him express this resolution, attempted to turn him from his purpose. " Those distant nations," said they, " never spare the thirty clays, it had been engaged in nine battles, occurring in four differ- ent States, South Cai'olina, Georgia, Virginia and Maryland. From this time until April 16th, 18M2, it was engaged most creditably in several battles, and afterwards became specially noted in the spirited engagement at the reconnoissance made on board the steamer " Honduras," by Colonel Fenton, at Wilmington Island, Ga., where, after landing from the boat, it encountered the Thirteenth Georgia, about eight hundi'ed strong, and drove them from the field in confusion. On the 16th of June following an assault was made on the enemy's works at Secessionville, on James's Island, S. C. The direct attack was made by Colonel Fenton, under General Stevens. Colonel Fenton led the brigade, while his own gallant regiment was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Graves. This was one of the most dashing ^ssaults of the war, but made at a distressing sacri- fice of life. Colonel Fenton's health failing, he was compelled to tender his resig- nation, which was accepted in March, 1863, after having done his country incalculable service. His name has passed into the history of his coun- try, and his gallantry and patriotism have become a part of the record of which his State may well feel proud. When he could no longer serve in the army, his whole energies and wide influence were given to aid the government in its mighty struggle to remain intact. 88 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. stranger; the great river abounds with monsters which devour both men and canoes." " I shall gladly," replied Marquette, " lay down my life for the salvation of souls." Such was the noble spirit of this brave and worthy missionary, such his entire devotedness to the sacred prin- ciples of that religion of which he was the humble expounder. Continued and peaceful commerce with the French having con- firmed the attachment of the Indian tribes of Canada and the Noi'thwest, a friendly alliance was now sought with them which was well calculated to extend the power of France on the conti- nent. In May, 1671, a grand Indian council was held at the Falls of St. Mary's. At this council, convoked by the agents of the French government, it was announced to the tribes assembled from the banks of the Mississippi, the head springs of the St. Lawrence and the Red River, that they were placed under the protection of the French king, formal possession being taken of Canada and the Northwest by officers acting under his authority. The Jesuit missionaries were present to consecrate the imposing In 1864 lie was the Democratic candidate for governor of the State, in opposition to Governor Crapo. Upon his return from the seat of war, he gave his attention to the prac- tice of liis profession, in whicli he ranlied very liigh, and to the details of his personal business, which was quite large. He built the magnificent block in Flint which bears his name, was the founder of the Citizens' National Bank in that city, and the president of it at the time of his death. He was also chief engineer of the Fire Department of that city, and, while in the performance of the arduous duties of that office, he met with the accident which caused his death. On the evening of May 11th, 1871, hearing an alarm of fire, he ran rapidly to the rescue, striking himself against a hitching post with great violence, from which he received the injuries which resulted in his death at eleven o'clock the following evening. The death of Colonel Fenton was a blow felt througliout the State, but more especially in his own city, where he occupied a position which but few men can ever attain. On the day of his funeral, all places of business in Flint were closed, and his remains were followed to their last resting place by a funeral cortege which constituted the most striking and bril- liant spectacle ever witnessed in that city, being conducted under the imposing ceremonies of the Knights Templar. 90 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. ceremonial. A cross of cedar was erected, and by its side rose a column of similar wood, on which was engraved the lilies of the Bourbons. The authority and faith of France being thus pro- claimed, " the whole company, bowing before the image of man's redemption, chanted to its glory a hymn of the seventh century." On the 10th of June, 1673, Father Marquette, who had long entertained the idea of exploring the Mississippi, the great river of the West, accompanied by Joliet, five Frenchmen, and two Algonquin guides, ascended to the head of the Fox River, and, carrying their two bark canoes across the narrow portage which divides the Fox River from the Wisconsin, launched them upon the waters of the latter. The guides now left them, and for seven days they floated down the stream, between alternate prairies and hill sides, beholding neither man nor beast — through the solitudes of a wilderness, the stillness of which overawed their spirits. At length, to their inexpressible joy, their frail canoes struck the mighty waters of the Mississippi, rolling through verdant prairies dotted with herds of buffalo, and its banks overhung with primi- tive forests. Having sailed down this noble stream for about sixty leagues, they discovered, toward the close of June, an Indian trail on its western bank. It was like the human footste[)s which Robinson Crusoe saw in tlie sand, and which liad not been effaced by the rising of the tides or the rolling of the waters. A little footpath was soon found, and, leaving their companions in the canoes, Mar- quette and Joliet determined to brave alone a meeting with the savages. After following the little path for about six miles, they discovered an Indian village. First imploring the protection of Divine Providence, they made known their presence to the Indi- ans by uttering a loud cry. " At this cry," says Marquette, " the Indians rushed out of their cabins, and, having probably recog- nized us as French, especially seeing a ' black gown,' or at least having no reason to distrust us, seeing we were but two, and had made known our coming, they deputed four old men to come and speak with us. Two carried tobacco pipes, well adorned and trimmed with many kinds of feathers. They marched slowly, lifting their pipes toward the sun, as if offering them to him to HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 91 smoke, but yet without uttering a single word. They were a long time coming the little way from the village to us. Having reached us at last, they stopped to consider us attentively. I now took courage, seeing these ceremonies, which are used by them HON. MARTIN S. BRACKETT. Martin S. Brackett, one of the leading men of the Peninsular Rail- way of this State, was born at Elbridge, Onondaga County, New York, December 19th, 1810. He is the youngest son of Captain Ezra Brackett, who was one of the first settlers of Elbridge. Mr. Brackett's boyhood days were passed with his father, on whose farm and in whose brickyard he worked during the summers, and attended school during the winters. At the age of fifteen he commenced his studies in the academy at Onon- daga Hollow, where he remained three terms. At the expiration of the third term, he returned to his native town, and continued his studies 92 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. ouly with friends ; I tlierefore spoke to them first, and asked them who they were. ' We are,' said they, 'Illinois,' and, in token of peace, they presented us their pipes to smoke. They then invited us to their village, where all the tribe awaited us with impatience. These pipes are called in the couutiy calumets." Our travelers having arrived at the village, an aged chief bid them welcome to his cabin with uplifted hands, their usual method of receiving strangers. " How beautiful," said the chief, " is the sun. Frenchman, when thou eomest to visit us ! Our whole vil- lage awaits thee ; thou shalt enter in peace into all our dwellings." A gi-and council of the whole tribe was held, which Marquette addressed on the subject of the Christian religion, informing them at the same time that the French king had subjugated their ene- mies, the Iroquois, and questioning them respecting the Mississippi and the tribes which inhabited its banks. The missionary having finished, the sachem of the Illinois arose, and spoke thus : " I thank thee, black gown, and thee. Frenchman," addressing M. Joliet, " for taking so much pains to come and visit us. Never has the earth been so beautiful, nor the sun so bright as to-day ; never has our river been so calm, nor so free from rocks, which your canoes have removed as they passed ; never has our tobacco under the instructions of the Rev. Timothy Stowe, pastor of the Presby- terian churcli of that village, until the latter part of the summer of 1828. At this time Mr. Brackett, for his brother, took charge of a large number of men and teams going overland to Washington, D. C. , and assisted in the construction of nine miles of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, in which there were nine locks. This work occupied some two years, at the end of which he again returned to Elbridge, and resumed his studies with the reverend gentleman heretofore mentioned. In the spring of 1831 he commenced civil engineering, under the super- vision of .ludge Wright, in the State of New Jersey, and assisted in the construction of the canal built through New Jersey at that time, and also the partial excavation of the canal for the water works at Trenton. The Trenton Company being enjoined from further proceedings, Mr. Brack- ett went to Philadelphia, and took a contract on the Philadelphia, Ger- mantown and Morristown Railroad. After finishing his contract on this road, he went to New York City and contracted with Robert L. Stevens, Esq., to furnish the stone blocks for the Camden and Amboy Railroad. Completing this contract, he returned to Onondaga and HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 93 had so fine a flavor, nor our corn appeared so beautiful as we behold it to-day. Here is my son that I give thee, that thou mayest know my heart. I pray thee to take pity on me and all my nation. Thou knowest the Great Spirit who has made us all, thou speakest to him and hearest his word ; ask him to give me life and health, and come and dwell with us that we may know him." " Saying this," says Marquette, " he placed the little slave near us, and made us a second present, an all-mysterious calumet, which they value more than a slave. By this present he showed us his esteem for our governor, after the account we had given of him. By the third he begged us, in behalf of the whole nation, not to proceed further, on account of the great dangers to which we exposed ourselves. I replied that I did not fear death, and that I esteemed no happiness greater than that of losing my life for the glory of Him who made all." This council was followed by a festival of Indian meal, fish, and the choicest products of the prairies. The town, consisting of about three hundred cabins, was then visited. Its inhabitants, who had never before seen a Frenchman, gazed at them with astonishment, and made them presents. " While we marched entered the law office of the Hon. James R. Lawrence, where he studied the legal profession for over two years. In 1836 the Auburn and Syracuse Railroad was commenced, and Mr. Brackett contracted for and completed the heaviest work on the line. It was also under his supervision that the Erie Canal was enlarged from Syracuse to Geddes. In the spring of 1838 Mr. Brackett removed to Micliigan, settling in the village of Bellevue, where he still resides. He officiated as Deputy County Clerk at the first term of the Circuit Court held in his county, in in the autumu of 1838, the Hon. .Judge Ransom presiding. The same fall he entered the firm of Gibbs & Bradley, attorneys, in Marshall, and, in the following year, was admitted to the practice of his profession in all the courts of the State. During the autumn of this j^ear he was elected to the office of County Clerk, which position he held for three successive terms, perforniiug the duiles of the office in a creditable and highly satisfactory manner. Immediately upon the expiration of his third term as County Clerk, the citizens of liis county chose him as their Prosecuting Attorney, in which official position he remained three years, 94 QfiliERAL EtIStORY OF* THE STATES through the streets," says Marquette, " au orator was constantly haranguing, to oblige all to see us without being troublesome. We were everywhere presented with belts, garters, and other articles, made of the hair of the bear and wild cattle, dyed red, yellow and gray. These are their rarities, but, not being of con- sequence, we did not burden ourselves with them. We slept in the sachem's cabin, and the next day took leave of him, promising to pass back through his town in four moons. He escorted us to our canoes with nearly six hundred persons, who saw us embark, evincing in every possible way the pleasure our visit had given them." The following is a brief abstract from the account given by Father Marquette of the manners and customs of the Illinois Indians at the period of his visit. Haj^pily, the Jesuits were men of learning and observation, who felt the importance of their position, so that while faithfully discharging the duties of their religious profession, they carefully recorded the progress of events around them : " To say ' Illinois ' is, in their language, to say ' the men,' as if other Indians compared to them were beasts. They are divided into several villages, some of which are quite distant from each holding it one year by appointment. In 1842 he received the nomination of the Whig party for State Senator, but, with his party, was defeated at the election. In 1848, finding himself diftering in many essential points from the Whigs, he left that party and joined his fortunes with the Demo- crats, from whom he received the nomination for State Senator in 1856, and for Lieutenant-Governor in 1864. On the 7th of September, 1865, the Peninsular Railway Company waa organized in Mr. Brackett's office, in Bellevue, at which time he was elected a director, and secretary and attorney of the company. He has held these offices ever since, with the exception of the office of secretary, which was held by the Hon. Charles W. Clisbie from February, 1868, until March, 1869. Mr. Brackctt also held the office of Grand Worthy Chief of the Inde pendent Order of Good Templars of the State, for three years. As a man he has at all times contributed much towards the reformation of the evils by which his fellow man WaS surrounded, and has ever worked for the good of his town and State. HISTOHY OF MICHIGAN. 95 other, and which produces a diversity in their language, which in general has a great affinity for the Algonquin. They are mild and tractable in disposition, have many wives, of whom they are extremely jealous ; they watch them carefully, and cut off their HON. TIMOTHY JEROME. Timothy Jerome, of Saginaw City, was born in the vicinity of Tru- mansburg, N. Y., in 1820. His parents settled in Detroit in 1828, and, except from 1831 to 1884, he lias resided in the Territory and State of Michigan ever since — in St. Clair countj' until 1852, and from that time in Saginaw county. During the whole period of his residence in the latter county he has lived in the city of Saginaw, and there he has fixed his permanent abode. During his boyhood the opportunities for education in Michigan were limited, but he made the most of them. Though his attainments as a scholar were not such as to give any particular direction 96 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. noses and ears when they do not behave well ; I saw several who bore the marks of their infidelity. They are well formed, nimble and very adroit in using the bow and arrow. They use guns, also, which they buy of our Indian allies, who trade with the French ; they use them especially to terrify the nations against whom they go to war. These nations have no knowledge of Euro- peans, are unacquainted with the use of either iron or copper, and have nothing but stone knives." When the Illinois go to war, a loud cry is made at the door of each hut in the village, the morning and evening before the warriors set out. " The chiefs are distinguished from the soldiers by a scarf, ingeniously made of the hair of bears and wild oxen. The face is painted with red lead, or ochre, which is found in great quantities a few days' journey from the village. They live by game, which is abundant in this country, and on Indian corn. They also sow beans and melons. Their squashes they dry in the sun, to eat in the winter and spring. Their cabins are very large, and lined and floored with rush mats. They make all their dishes of wood, and their spoons of the bones of the buffalo. Their only clothes are skins ; their women are always dressed very modestly and decently, while the men do not take any pains to cover themselves. "It now only remains for me to speak of the calumet, than which there is nothing among them more mysterious or more esteemed. Men do not pay to the crowns and sceptres of kings to his labors in later life, they were sufBcieut, with the practical training of experience in his early manhood, to discipline his mind and develop his versatile talent. In business he has displayed a resolute courage and great fertility of mental resource. He has succeeded as a lumberman, in steamboating, and in important and delicate negotiations. As the fruit of his varied operations, he has acquired a goodly property, and is recognized as one of the solid men of the Saginaw Valley. He served one term in the Michigan Legislature, as member of the House for Saginaw county, in 185 T-8. With that exception, and though occasionally a zealous politician, he has udc held nor souglit office. Socially he is genial, attractive in manner and conver.satiou, surrounded with hosts of friends and admirers. He is warm in his friendships, and possesses an unusually long and grateful memory of little kindnesses. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 97 the honor they pay to it. It seems to be the god of peace and Avai", the arbiter of life and death. Carry it about you and show it, and you can march fearlessly amid enemies, who, even in the heat of battle, lay down their arms when it is shown. Hence the Illinois gave me one, to serve as a safeguard amid all the Indian nations that I had to pass on my voyage." Such is the account left by Marquette of the condition of the Illinois Indians, at the time of his visit, in 1673. Taking leave of these hospitable savages, our adventurous travelers once more launched forth on the broad waters of the Mississippi. As they floated down this noble river day after day, they gradually entered on the richer scenery of a southern climate. The sombre pines of the woods of Canada, the forests of oak and maple, were, by degrees, exchanged for the lofty Cottonwood, the fan-like palmetto, and the noble arborescent ferns of the tropics. They began to suffer from the increasing heat, and from legions of mosquitos, which haunt the swampy margin of the stream. At length they arrived at that part of the stream which, upwards of a century before, had been discovered by De Soto and his ill-fated compan- ions, in the country of the war-like Chickasaws. Here they were attacked by a fleet of canoes filled with Indians, armed with bows and arrows, clubs, and axes ; but when the old men got a fair view of the calumet, or peace-pipe, w^hich Marquette continually held up to view, their hearts were touched, and they restrained the In the ordinary routine and exigencies of business, he is prompt, diligent, and quietly executive — he works out his plans without display. He has ever been punctilious in the performance of his undertakings, and so moderate and just in his dealings, that he has seldom, if ever, been a party to any litigation. It is apparent, from many interesting episodes in his life, that he sel dom puts forth more than a minimum of his strength. When occasions arise of such interest or importance as to thoroughly arouse him, he dis- plays powers of argument, ridicule and irony, amounting to genius. None of these outbursts are the result of preparation ; they come from a sudden impulse, like an inspiration ; they are eloquence in words and action — quick, apropos and decisive. His antagonist is first astonished, then confounded, then overwhelmed ; without the opportunity or power of resistance, he is seized and subdued, as by a coup de main. 7 98 GENERAL HISTORY OP THE STATES. impetuosity of their young warriors by throwing their bows and arrows into the two canoes, as a token of peace and welcome. Having been hospitably entei'tained by these Indians, they were escorted the following day by a deputation in a canoe, which pre- ceded them as far as the village of Akamsea (Arkansas). Here they were received most kindly ; the natives continually bringing wooden dishes of sagamity — Indian corn — or pieces of dog flesh, which were, of course, respectfully declined. These Indians cooked in earthen pots, and served their food on earthenware dishes ; were very amiable and unceremonious, each man helping himself from the dish, and passing it on to his neighbor. It was here that the travelers wisely terminated their explora- tions. "M. Joliet and I," says Marquette, "held a council to deliberate on what we should do — whether we should push on, or rest satisfied with the discoveries we had made. After having attentively considered that we were not far from the Gulf of Mexico, the basin of which is 31° 40' north, and we at 33° 40', so that we could not be more than two or three days' journey off*; that the Mississippi undoubtedly had its mouth in Florida, or the Gulf of Mexico, and not on the east, in Virginia, whose seacoast is 34° north. Moreover, we considered that we risked losing the fruit of our voyage if we fell into the hands of the Spaniards, who would undoubtedly make us prisoners ; and that we were not in condition to resist the Indians who infested the lower parts of the river. All these considerations induced us to return. This Ave announced to the Indians, and, after a day's rest, prepared for it." On their return, they left the Mississippi at the thirty-eighth degree of latitude, and entered the Illinois River, which greatly shortened their voyage. The country through which this river flows was found to be full of fertile and beautiful prairies, abound- ing in wild ducks, swans, parrots, and turkeys. The tribe of Illinois living on its banks entreated Marquette and his compan- ions to come and live with them ; but as Marquette intimated his anxiety to continue his voyage, a chosen party conducted him by way of Chicago to Lake Michigan ; and before the end of Sep- tember all were once more safely landed at Green Bay. Joliet HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 99 returned to Quebec to announce the discoveries they had made, whilst Marquette remained to preach the gospel to the Miamis, near Chicago. Father James Marquette having promised the Illinois Indians THOMAS P. SHELDON, Thomas P. Sheldon, a leading banker of East Saginaw, Michigan, was born in White Pigeon, St. Josepli county, Michigan, in 1833. His parents removed to Detroit when he was but a child, where he remained until the spring of 1862, when he permanently located in East Saginaw, taking charge of the Saginaw Valley Bank. In 1867 he severed his con- nection with that institution, and organized a Savings Bank in that city, which he is still conducting with marked ability. Mr. Sheldon is an energetic business man, well qualified to manage the 100 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. to return among them to teach them the gospel, had great diffi- culty in keeping his word. The hardships of his first voyage had brought on a disease which deterred him from undertaking a second. His malady, however, abating, and having obtained the permission of his superiors, he set out for this purpose in the month of November, 1674, with two men, one of whom had already made his first voyage with him. During a month's navigation on the Illinois Lake — Lake Michigan — his health became partially restored ; but when winter set in, his old malady returned with increased violence, and he was forced to stop in the river which leads to the Illinois. Here he spent the winter in such want of every comfort, that his illness constantly increased. The ice breaking up on the approach of spring, and feeling somewhat bet- ter, he continued his voyage, and at length was enabled to fulfill his promise to the Illinois, arriving at their town on the 8th of April, where he was enthusiastically received. Being compelled to leave them by the return of his malady, he resumed his voyage, and soon after reached the Illinois Lake. His strength gradually failed as he sailed along the shores of the lake, and his men despaired of being able to carry him alive to the end of his jour- ney. Perceiving a little river, with an eminence on the bank not far from its mouth, at his request his companions sailed into it, and carried him ashore. Here they constructed a " wretched bark cabin, where they laid him as little uncomfortably as they could ; but they were so overcome by sadness that, as they afterward said, they did not know what they were doing." Perceiving his end approaching, he called his companions and embraced them for the last time, they melting in tears at his feet. He then directed that his crucifix, which he wore constantly around his neck, should be held before his eyes ; and after repeating the profession of his faith, he devoutly thanked God for his gracious kindness in allow- ing him to die as a humble missionary of Jesus Christ, and above all to die as he had always prayed that he might die — in a rude affairs of a banking institution, and the material success wliicli he has fairly earned is alike beneficial to himself and to the place in which he Uas labored. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 101 cabin in the forests, destitute of all human aid. He afterwards became silent, his whole appearance denoting that he was con- versing inwardly with God. His countenance then suddenly brightened with a smile, and he expii'ed without a struggle. His two poor broken-hearted companions, after shedding many tears over his inanimate body, carried it devoutly to the grave, and raised a large cross near it, to serve as a mark to passers by. Did the savages respect that cross ? They did. We can pro- nounce no higher enlogium on Father James Marquette, than the fact that the Kiskakon Indians, to whom he had preached the gospel, retui-niug from hunting on the banks of Lake Illinois, repaired to the missionary's grave, and, after mature deliberation, resolved to act with their father as they usually did with the best beloved of their own tribe. They reverently disinterred the remains, and putting them into a neatly constructed box of birch bark, removed them from the wilderness to the nearest Catholic church, where they were solemnly buried with appropriate cere- monies. CHAPTER VI. ROBEKT DE LA SaLLE — FiRST VESSEL ON LaKE ErIE — LoSS OF THE Griffin — Unfortunate Expedition in Search of the Missis- sippi — Mutinous Conduct op La Salle's Men — Death of La Salle — His Character — Fate of His Companions. About the time of the death of Father Marquette there dwelt, at the outlet of Lake Ontario, Robert Cavalier de la Salle, an adventurer of good family, who was educated by the Jesuits. He was engaged in the fur trade with the Indians, in the prosecu- tion of which he had explored Lakes Ontario and Erie. His energy and ability having attracted the attention of Frontenac, the French Governor, he repaired to France, and, aided by Fron- tenac, obtained a patent of nobility, a monopoly of the trade with the Iroquois, and an extensive tract of country in the neighbor- hood of Fort Frontenac, on the condition of his keeping the fort in an effective state. Around this stronghold soon clustered the huts of Indians and the dwellings of French traders. Their flocks and herds increased, pasture-land and corn-covered clear- ings opened up the forest; groups of Iroquois built their cabins in the environs; the missionaries commenced their labors; canoes multiplied upon the borders of the lake; and La Salle, but yes- terday a poor adventurer, suddenly found himself invested with all the power and opulence belonging to a feudal sovereign in the wilderness. But his ambitious spirit would not let him rest contented with what he had acquired. Having heard of the mighty river of the far West, and the discoveries of Marquette, his imagination became inflamed, and he was induced to undertake schemes of colonization and aggrandizement, which ended in disaster and death. In 1677 La Salle sailed to France and sought an interview with HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 103 Colbert, then prime minister. To him he proposed the union of New France with the valley of the Mississippi, and suggested their close connection l)y a line of military posts. He proposed also to open the commerce of Europe to them both. Colbert lis- HON. JONATHAN B. TUTTLE. Jonathan Browne Tuttle, the subject of this sketch, was born at Lodi, Medina County, Ohio, on the 15th day of August, 1841. His par- ents were New Enghmd people, who emigrated to Ohio at an early day. Mr. Tuttle's early life Avas spent in his native village, and his education obtained in the local schools and at Oberlin College. At the age of sev- enteen Mr. Tuttle began the study of law in the office of Wm. F. Moore, and afterwards pursued a regular course of study at the Ohio State and Union Law College, at Cleveland, Ohio, where he graduated in the early 104 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. tened with delight to the gigantic schemes of the young enthusiast, and a royal commission was soon procured, empowering him to explore the valley of the Mississippi, and giving him an exclusive monopoly in the trade of buffalo skins. On the 14th of July, 1678, La Salle sailed from France with all needful supplies for the voyage, and merchandise for the Indian trade, and in the month of September arrived again at Fort Frontenac. Having built " a wooden canoe " of ten tons burden, — the first that ever sailed on the Niagara River — he ascended that river to the vicinity of the great falls, and, above them, com- menced building a ship of 60 tons burden, which, in the summer of 1679, was launched on the waters of Lake Erie, amid a salvo from his artillery, and the chanting of the Te Deum. In this vessel, which was called the Grifiin, La Salle sailed across Lake Erie, and up the Detroit, or strait Avhich separates it from that limpid sheet of water, to which he gave the appropriate name of Lake St. Clair ; and having escaped from storms on Lake Huron, and constructed a trading-house at Mackinaw, on Lake Michigan, he cast anchor in Green Bay. In Green Bay La Salle bartered his goods with the natives for a rich cargo of furs, with which the Griffin Avas loaded and sent back to Niagara, that the peltry might be sold and a remittance made to his creditors. In the meantime La Salle and his com- panions, pending the return of the Grifiin with supplies, ascended Lake Michigan to the mouth of the St. Joseph, where the mission- ary Allouez had established a station, and to which he now added a fort, known as the Fort of the Miamis. His whole fortune depended on the return of the Griffin, and of her no tidings were part of the year 1862, being the youngest of a graduating class of forty- five. He began his practice the same year at Cleveland, in the office of General John Crowell. ♦ In the summer of the same year Mr. Tuttle entered the Union army as a private soldier, and, after passing througli various grades of promotion to that of ("iptain of infantry, was honorably discharged, by reason of pliysical disabilitj', in the summer of 18(54. Soon after leaving the army, Mr. Tuttle located at the city of Alpena, wliich then was a small liamlet, and entered upon tlie praetice of law. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 105 heard. Wearied with delay, he resolved to explore the Illinois territory ; and leaving ten men to guard his little fort, La Salle, with a chosen body of thirty followers, ascended the St. Joseph's River, and transporting his bark canoes across a short portage, entered the Kankakee, a branch of the Illinois River. Descend- ing its narrow stream, the travelers reached, by the end of Decem- ber, an Indian village on the Illinois, the natives of which were absent on a hunting expedition. Being in great want of provi- sions. La Salle took advantage of their absence to help himself to a sufficiency of maize, of which his followers found large quanti- ties hidden in holes under their wigwams. The corn having been shipped they again set sail, and on the 4th of January, 1680, entered Lake Peoria. The Illinois Indians on the banks of this lake were friendly, and here La Salle erected another fort. As no tidings had been received of his missing vessel, to proceed farther without supplies was impossible ; his followers became discouraged, and in great despondency he named his new fort " Crevecoeur " — broken-hearted — in memory of his trials and misfortunes. La Salle now perceived that he must go back himself to Fron- tenac for supplies ; and to prevent the entire stagnation of dis- covery during his absence, he requested the Jesuit missionary. Father Hennepin, Avho accompanied the expedition, to go to the Mississippi, and explore that stream to its source, whilst Tonti, a veteran Italian, w^as chosen to command in his absence, with instructions to endeavor to strengthen and extend his relations among the Indians. He then, in the month of March, 1680, with only three companions, set off on foot to travel a distance of at least 1,200 miles, through marshes and melting snows, through thickets and forests, with no supplies but what the gun affi)rded, a In 1865 lie was married to Miss Ross, a Canadian lady, by whom he lias one child — a daughter. He has since held the oflfices of judge of probate, circuit court commis- sioner, prosecuting attorney, city attorney, and various others, and con- tinues to practice his profession at Alpena, where he still resides, having been identified with the growth and development of that active and flourishing city. Mr. Tuttle is one of the leading lawyers in the northern part of the State. lUH GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. blanket and a few t?kins, with which to make moccasins, or Indian shoes. No record exists of what befell him on that long journey, which he, however, finally accomplished. La kSalle found, a.s he fully expected, that the Griffin had been wrecked ; that his agents had cheated him ; and that his creditors had seized his goods. His courage overcame every difficulty ; and by midsummer, in 1680, he returned once more to his little garri- son in Illinois, with a body of new adventurers, large supplies of merchandise, and stores for rigging a brigantine. But disasters had l)efallen his agents during his absence, and the post in Illinois was deserted. Having succeeded in finding Tonti, and collecting his scattered followers, he .constructed a capacious barge, and in the early part of January, 1682, La Salle and his company descended the Mississippi to the sea. They landed on the bank of the most western channel, about three leagues from its mouth. On the 7th, La Salle went to recon- noitre the shores of the neighboring sea, while Tonti examined the great middle channel. They found there two outlets, beauti- ful, large and deep. On the 8th they reaseended the river a little above its confluence with the sea, to find a dry place beyond the reach of inundations. Here they prepared a column and a crcjss, and to the said column they affixed the arms of France, M'ith this inscription : "Louis le Grand, Roi de France et de Navarre, regne neuvieme avril, 1682." The Te Deum was then sung, and after a salute of fire-arms, the column was erected by La Salle, who laid claim to the whole of the Mississippi valley for the French king, with the usual formali- ties. After erecting another fort, called St. Louis, and giving the title of Louisiana to the newly discovered territory. La Salle, in the autumn of 1683, returned in triumph to France. The account given by him of the extraordinary beauty of the Mississi])pi valley created the utmost enthusiasm among the Fi'ench peoj)le. Prej^arations were immediately commenced by the agents of the king, to provide an extensive outfit, and on the 24th of July, 1684, four vessels, having on board two hundred 108 GENERAL HISTORY OF THK STATES. and eighty persons, ecclesiastics, soldiers, mechanics and emigrants, left Roehelle full of ardor and expectation, for the far-famed country of Louisiana. The soldiers had for their commander, Joutel, a man of courage and truth, who afterwards became the historian of this disastrous expedition. Misfortunes overtook them from the very commencement of their voyage. Difficulties arose between La Salle and the naval commander, Avhich impeded the voyage ; and on the 10th of Jan- uary, 1685, they unfortunately passed the mouth of the Missis- sippi, La Salle soon perceived their error, and wished to return ; but this the commander of the fleet refused to do, and they con- tinued their course until they arrived at the Bay of Matagorda, in Texas. Completely tired of disputes with Beaujeau, the naval commander, and conjecturing that the numerous streams which had their outlet in the bay, might be branches of the Mississippi, or might lead to its discovery. La Salle resolved to disembark. 'As the vessels entered the harbor, the store-ship, on which the infant colony mainly depended, was completely Avrecked by the carelessness of the pilot. Calming the terrible energy of his grief. La Salle, by the aid of boats from the other vessels, suc- ceeded in recovering a part of the cargo, but night coming on, and with it a gale of wind, the store-ship was utterly dashed to pieces. To add to their distress, a party of Indians came down to the shore to plunder the wreck, and murdered two of the volun- teers. Several of the men who had now landed became discouraged, and returned to the fleet, which immediately set sail, leaving La Salle with a desponding company of two hundred and thirty souls, huddled together in a miserable fort, built with fragments of the wreck. Stimulated to extraordinary efforts by the energy and example of La Salle, a beautiful spot was selected, and a more substantial and comfortable fort constructed. La Salle was the architect, and marked the beams, mortises and tenons himself. This was the first settlement made in Texas. Desperate and des- titute as was the situation of the settlers, they still exceeded in numbers those who landed in Virginia, or those who embarked on board the Mayflower, and possessed " from the bounty of Louis HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 109 XIV, more than was contributed by all the English monarchs together, for the twelve united colonies on the Atlantic." The summer of 1685 was spent in the construction of this second fort, which was named Fort St. Louis, and La Salle, having finished its erection, set out with a selected party in canoes, in search of the Mississippi. After an absence of about four months, he returned in rags, having lost twelve or thirteen of his men, and completely failed in his object. His presence, however, as usual, inspired hope ; and in April, 1686, another exj^edition was attempted, which was lured into the interior by brilliant fictions of exhaustless mines on the borders of Mexico. This expedition returned without ejQTecting any other discovery than that of the great exuberance and fertility of the soil in the immediate neigh- borhood of the fort. La Salle had succeeded in obtaining a sup- ply of maize and beans, and five horses from the Indians, but had sufiered greatly ; and of the twenty men he had taken with him only eight returned, the remainder having either fallen sick, died, or deserted. Affairs had been equally unprosperous at Fort St. Louis, during his absence. The only remaining ship was a wreck, and the colony had been rapidly thinned by privation, misery and exposure, until there remained nothing but a mere handful of desperate, disappointed men. Amid the ruin of all his prospects, once so proud and flourish- ing. La Salle alone remained undaunted ; and, as a last resource, determined to visit the French settlements in Illinois, or, if neces- sary, his feudal domain in Frontenac, in order to bring aid to his perishing colony. On the 12th of January, 1687, La Salle set out on his last expedition, accompanied by Joutel, across the prairies and forests of Louisiana. In his company were two men, Duhaut and L'Archev^que, who had both embarked capital in this enterprise. Each regarded the other for immediate purposes as his friend ; and both were actuated by a spirit of bitterness and animosity against La Salle, whom they regarded as the author of all the calamities that had befiillen them. Morauget, a nephew of La Salle, was also one of the party following the tracks of buffaloes, who chose by instinct the best routes. La Salle marched through groves and plains of astonishing fertility and beauty ; 110 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. now fording the rapid torrents, and now building a bridge by throwing some monarch of the forest across the stream, until he had passed the Colorado, and came to a branch of the Trinity River. On the 17th of March, 1687, the whole party engaged in a buf- falo hunt. Duhaut and L'Archeveque, having been successful, sent their commander Avord, who immediately despatched his nephew Morauget to the camp. When Moranget came to the spot where Duhaut and the rest were stopping, he found they had reserved for themselves the very best parts of the buffaloes ; and hasty and passionate, not considering where he was, nor with whom he was dealing, he " took from them their choice pieces, threatened them, and spoke harsh words." This enraged the mutinous spirits of Duhaut and his companions, who secretly took counsel together how to effect the destruction of Moranget and his associates. Night came on apace, and Moranget and his party having supped, wearied with their day's travel, laid themselves down to sleep on the prairie. Liotot, the surgeon, now took an axe, and with a few strokes killed Moranget and his comrades. Having good reason to fear the resentment of La Salle, the murderers next resolved to kill him also. Surprised at his nephew's delay. La Salle went forth on the 20th to seek him. Perceiving at a distance birds of prey, hovering as if over carrion, and suspecting himself to be in the immediate neighborhood of his men. La Salle fired a gun, which was heard by the conspirators, who were thus made aware of his approach. Duhaut and his associate hastened secretly to meet their victim — the former skulking in the grass, the latter showing himself " Where," said La Salle to L'Archeveque, " is my nephew." Before an answer could be returned, Duhaut fired and La Salle fell dead on the prairie. The murderers then approached, and, with cruel taunts, stripped the corpse, leaving it naked and unburied, to be devoured by the wild beasts of the wilderness. Thus perished La Salle, and with him that colonial settlement which he had attempted to form. His fortitude and bravery must ever command admiration, while his cruel and undeserved death awakens feelings of pity and indignation. Although he was not HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. Ill the discoverer, yet he was certainly the first settler of the Mississippi valley, and the father of colonization in the "far West." As such his memory is imperishable, and will ever be honored. The Illinois settlements of Peoria, Kaskaskias, and Cahokia, are the fruit of La Salle's labors. It is true he did not found these places, yet he gave them their inhabitants, for it was by those whom he led into the West that they were peopled. Perseverance and courage, combined with a noble ambition to promote the interests of his country, led him into a gallant but unsuccessful career of enter- prise. He did what he could to benefit his country ; and if he had lived he might have achieved much more splendid results. CHAPTER VII. The Sault Ste. Mauie — Fort St. Joseph — Detroit Foxjnded — Its Early Condition — Attacked by the Ottawas — By the Foxes — Early French Travelers Through the Lake Region. No SETTLEMENT had at this time beeu made at Detroit, because the traders and Jesuit missiouaries had a more direct and safer route to the upper lakes, from Montreal to Michilimackinac, by the way of the Ottawa River. But this point had long been regarded an eligible position for a settlement, as it commanded a broad tract of country, and stood, as it were, at the gate of the ujDper lakes, in a direct route from these lakes to the English col- onies of New York, by the way of Lake Erie. The French and English both desired to obtain possession of this post. But while the English were looking to its acquisition, they were anticipated by their rivals. Taking counsel from the movements of their opponents, the French called a grand meeting of the Iroquois, or Five Nations, at Montreal. The chiefs of the different tribes from the St. Lawrence to the Mississii^pi, attended this meeting ; also the principal men and the Governor-General of Canada. Here the establishment of a post at that place was dis- cussed, and the grounds on which the two nations based their claims to it weighed. The Iroquois, however, said that, under- standing the French were about to make a settlement at that point, they were opposed to the measure, as they had already pro- hibited the English from doing the same. The Governor-General of Canada replied that the laud belonged neither to the Iroquois nor to to the English, but to the King of France, and that there was already an expedition on the march for the purpose of erect- ing a colonial establishment at that place. In accordance with this plan, Autoiue de la Motte Cadillac, lord of Bouaget, Mont Desert, having beeu granted a tract of fifteen acres square, by HISTORY OF MICEnOAN. 113 Louis XIV, left Montreal, accompanied by a Jesuit missionary and one hundred men, and arrived at the point of the wilderness which is now the site of Detroit, in the month of July, 1701, where they commenced the foundation of the first permanent settlement GEN. JOSEPH O. HUDNUT. Joseph Opdyke Hudkut, son of Edward and Susan (Opdyke) Hudnut, was born at West Sparta, Livingston county, New York, June BO, 1824. He prepared for college at Genesee Academy, New York, under Prof. Robinson, author of liobinson's series of mathematics. Since gradua- tion he has been engaged mostly in civil engineering, with the exception of two years and a half in the army during the war of secession. In the fall of 1849 he entered on his engineering profession, being engaged on the State canals of New York. He remained on the canals during 1849, 114 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. in Micliigan. Before, it had only been known by the French missionaries as a trading post, and in 1620 it was occupied by an Indian vilhige, which was called Teuchsa Grondie. The Sault Ste. Marie, as we have seen, had at that time been founded, and a rude j)ost was also erected at Fort Gratiot, which was a resting- point for the fur trade. This chain of fortifications was all the defense which was con- structed upon the lake shores for nearly a century and a half, and it comprised a part of that line of forts that was projected by La Salle, extending from the St. Lawrence down the Mississippi to New Orleans. Their object was to furnish outposts by which the territory of Canada on the borders of the lakes could be held, the English settlements hemmed in, the Jesuit missionaries and set- tlers protected against the numerous and capricious tribes of sav- ages in this quarter, and by which the fur trade might circulate, with full success, along the lakes and streams of the Northwest. The forts of Detroit, Michilimackinac, St. Joseph and Green Bay, were of rude construction, and the chapels erected by their sides were used for the religious assemblies of the French settlers, who were from that time collected around the po-sts, and also for the Indians who were under the special guardianship of the Jesuit missionaries. These structures, minute points on the borders of the forest, were either roofed with bark or thatched with straw, and on their top was generally erected the cross. Tribes of friendly Indians that could be induced to settle near them, had 1850 and 1851. In the spring of 1853 he went to Memphis, Tenn., and run the first survey of the railroad from Memphis to Clarksville, Tenn. In 1853, 1854 and 1855, he was on the Louisville & Nashville and Louis- ville & Covington Railroads, in Kentucky. In 1855 he removed to Wavcrly, Iowa, and in that year and in 1856 he was on the Iowa Central R. R. In 1858 he taught mathematics in the Genesee Academy, and in 1859 he taught in the Chicago High School. In the spring of 1860 he returned to Iowa, and was engaged as civil engineer on the Hannibal & St. Joseph R. R. In the winter of 1861-2 he was a member of the Iowa Legislature, and in May, 1862, he entered the army as Major of the 38th Regiment of Iowa Volunteers. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, Colonel and Brigadier-General. While in the army he was much on detached service as military engineer, most of the time on the fortifica- HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 115 their villages or wigwams ai'Oiind these posts, and also their plant- ing grounds, in which they cultivated Indian corn, not only for the French settlers, but also for the persons connected with the fur trade. They derive their principal importance from the fact that they were the only outposts of the French government in this country before the English conquest, and, consequently, the thea- tres of the most interesting frontier operations. About three years after Detroit was founded, the Ottawa Indians in that vicinity were invited to Albany, in New York, upon what was supposed to be a friendly visit. As St. Joseph was surrounded by villages of the Hurons, Pottawatomies, and Miamis, so also was Detroit, at that time, guarded by parts of the friendly tribes of the Hurons and Pottawatomies near the settlements, and an Ottawa village had been erected on the opposite bank of the river. It would appear that while the Ottawas were in Albany, they had been persuaded by the English, who even then wished to obtain possession of the post of their rivals, that it was the design of the French to wrest the dominion of the country from their hands ; and they accordingly set fire to the town, but without success, as the fire was soon extinguished. At this time, also, groups of sav- ages of the same tribe, having miide a successful expedition against their enemies the Iroquois, and warm with victory, were seen parading in hostile array in front of the fort ; but M. Tonti, who was the commandant of the post, despatching the Sieur de Vin- tions at Vicksburg, Miss., and afterwards in building a military railroad from Brazos Harbor to Brownsville, Texas, with a shell bridge across the Boca Chica. At the close of the war he was elected Professor of Civil Engineering in the University of Chicago, which position he still retains, with occasional leave of absence for engineering purposes. In 1866 he made a survey and the estimates for a ship canal from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi river. In 1867 he was on the location of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific R. R., and the location of the bridge at Omaha, Nebraska. In February, 1868, he went on the Union Pacific R. R., and located nearly all that part of it from the North Platte river to the Humboldt Wells, and in the winter and spring of 1868 and 1869 he ran the preliminary surveys for a railroad from the north end of Salt Lake, through Idaho and Oregon, to Portland, Oregon, and Puget Sound. Afterwards he was engaged as civil engineer on the St. Paul & Chicago 116 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. cennes against them, he dispersed their bands, and rescued the Iroquois prisoners whom they left behind them in their flight. The progress of operation on the lake shores Avas not at this period marked with any very great interest, as the settlements were few ; but they reflect, nevertheless, the spirit which prevailed in France during their continuance. The lands lay sleeping in their original silence and solitude, undisturbed by the plow. Occasionally the settlers may have been surprised by their ancient enemies the Iroquois, but the appearance of parts of these nations excited only a surprise which soon settled down into peace. But in 1712, the Ottagamies or Foxes, who had been before but little known, but who were probably in secret alliance with the Iroquois, projected a plan for the destruction of Detroit. They made their arrangements in secret, and sent their bauds to collect around the new French settlement, which was then garrisoned by a force of twenty soldiers, of whom M. Du Buisson was the commandant. The occupants of the three French villages of Indians, the Otta- was, Pottawatomies, and Hurons, were then absent on a hunting excursion. A converted Indian, however, under the influence of a Jesuit missionary, disclosed their plot before it was ripe for exe- cution, and Du Buisson immediately sent dispatches through the forest to call in the aid of the friendly Indians, and prepare for an efiective defense. On the 13th of May of that year, the Foxes made their onset upon Detroit with fiendish yells. No sooner, however, was the R. R., with headquarters at Minneapolis, Minnesota. Later he was Chief Engineer of the Grand Rapids & Indiana R. R., in the employ of the Continental Improvement Company. In 1871 he went to the South in the employ of a company of wliich Gen. George W. Cass was president, and has been engaged in various railroad projects in that section ever since. His present headquarters are at Greenville, S. C, but his perma- nent residence is at Big Rapids, Michigan. Gen. Hudnut is a very eminent locating engineer, having within the last twenty years located thousands of miles of railroad most skillfully. He married Miss Marcia Webster, at Lima, N. Y., October 23, 1851. He has had two children, viz: Edward Webster Hudnut, born December 15, 1852, and Byron Murray Hudnut, born March 21, 1858 ; died June 21, 1860. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 117 attack commenced, than portions of the friendly Indians were seen through the wilderness, painted for battle as is their custom, and the gates of the fort were opened to receive them, A consultation was now held at the council house, and they renewed their league HON. J. W. BEGOLE. JosiAH W. Begole, the present Representative in Congress from the Sixth District of Micliigan, was born in tlie town of Groveland, Livings- ton county, New York, on the 20th of January, 1815. His younger days were spent on a farm, where he received that physical training and cul- ture which contributed largely to his health and prosperity in after years. Mr. Begole received a common school and academic education in his native State, and emigrated to Michigan in 1836, settling in the then town of Flint, where he still resides. 118 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. with Du Buisson, and expressed their determination, if necessary, to die in the defense of the post. On the arrival of the friendly Indians, the Foxes retreated to the forest which now adjoins the eastern boundary of Detroit, and intrenched themselves in their camp. The French then sallied out from the fort, and, backed by their savage allies, erected a block-house in front of their camp, in order to force the enemy from their position. Here the latter were closely besieged ; being cut off from their supply of water, and driven to desperation by thirst and famine, they in turn rushed out from their strongholds upon the French and the friendly Indians, and succeeded in getting possession of a house near the village. This house they fortified, but they were here attacked by the French cannon, and di'iven back to their former intrenchmeut. Finding that their attack was likely to prove uusuccessful, the Foxes now sent despatches to the French commandant asking for peace, which was denied them. Upon this they considered them- selves insulted, and, burning with revenge, they discharged showers of blazing arrows upon the fort. The lighted matches they had affixed to their arrows coming in contact with the dry roofs of the houses, kindled them into flame, when the precaution was taken to cover the rest with wet skins, and by this means they were pre- served. The desperation of the Foxes almost discoui-aged the French commandant, and he had nearly determined to evacuate Mr. Begole's first official position was that of school inspector for the township of Genesee, which office he held from 1842 to 1844 inclusive. He was promoted to the office of township clerk in 1845. From 1846 to 1853 he was an active justice of the peace, doing most of the business for his own and three or four adjoining towns, never trying a case where he could prevail upon the parties to settle it. In 1854 and 1855 he held the office of supervisor in the same town. Performing the duties of these minor offices in a thorough and systematic manner, his townsmen saw fit to reward his services, in 1856, by electing him county treasurer of Genesee county, to which position he was reelected three times, holding the office eight consecutive j-ears. He, although constantly engaged in other business, has ever been a practical and successful farmer, devoting considerable time to bringing HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 119 Detroit, and to retire to Michilimackinac, when his Indian allies promised to redouble their efforts for his defense ; and the war- songs and dances of their bands, heard through the solitude of the forest, assured him that a more desperate effort was about to be made in his behalf. The preparations having been finished, the French and Indians advanced upon the Foxes with more deter- mined courage, and, pouring upon their intrenchments a deadly fire, they were soon filled with the dying and the dead. Once more the Foxes demanded peace. Before any capitulation, how- ever, was completed, the enemy retreated towards Lake St. Clair, during a storm at midnight, on the nineteenth day of the siege. The French and their Indian allies, as soon as they discovered their flight, prepared for a pursuit, and soon came upon their camps. An action began, which at the outset was in favor of the Foxes, the French and Indians being repulsed. But a different plan of operation was soon after adopted, and with better success. At the end of three days a field battery was completed, and the intrenchment of the Foxes fell before the French cannon. The Foxes may l)e considered the Ishmaelites of the wilderness, for they were at enmity with all the tribes on the lakes. They collected their forces on the Fox River of Green Bay, where they commanded the territory between the lakes and the Mississippi, so that it was dangerous for travelers to pass through that region except in large bodies, and armed, while their warriors were sent out to seek objects of plunder and devastation. So great was the that great branch of our industry as near perfection as possible. In 1865 he commenced his career as a lumberman in the vast pine forests of our State, and has ever met an enviable success in this occupation, in whicli he is still heavily engaged. In 1869 he was again called upon to fill an important political position, being elected State Senator from his Senatorial District, the duties of which office he performed much to the satisfaction of his constituents. He was chosen a delegate to the National Republican Convention, which met in Philadelphia during the summer of 1873, and nominated General Grant for President the second time. In the fall of the same year he was nominated by his party for Representative in Congress from the Sixth District of this State, to which position he was elected bj a large majority. 120 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. danger apprehended by the missionaries and traders in passing through that territory, as well as by the French settlers, and so great the injury already done by those tribes, that an expedition was fitted out against them by the French, backed by their Indian allies, who were rankling under a sense of repeated wrongs. This warlike nation had stationed itself on the banks of the Fox River, at a place then and now called by the French Butte des Morts, or the Hill of the Dead, defending their position by a ditch and three courses of palisades. Here they collected their women and chil- dren, and prepared for a desperate resistance. M. de Louvigny, the commandant of the expedition, perceiving the strength of their works, determined not to expose his men by a direct attack, but entered upon a regular siege, and was preparing for the final crisis when the Foxes proposed a capitulation. This was accepted ; and the pride of the Foxes being thus humbled, they sank into obscurity during the remainder of the French war. Thus it is seen that, although the few French forts upon the lakes were rudely constructed, and but poorly adapted to make a serious and effective defense, they were nevertheless competent, with their small garrisons, to protect the emigrants against the disaffected tribes which were from time to time arrayed against them. The pickets which surrounded them, composed of upright stakes, furnished a line of concealment rather than strong bul- warks, and, together with the light cannon with which they were mounted, enabled the French to suppress the disturbances that occasionally sprang up around their posts. The early missionaries and French travelers who journeyed through the region of the lakes exhibit a peculiar form of char- acter. Tinctured with the spirit which prevailed in France at the period of their immigration, the novel scenes around them impressed them with those sentiments of romance so peculiar to the French. They show the spirit under which the missionaries and soldiers traveled, and the eloquence with which the scenes around them tended to inspire their minds. The forests amid which their lot was cast were calculated to fill them with wonder and admiration. A vast chain of inland seas, which appeared to them like oceans, stretched a watery horizon HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 121 along the borders of the wilderness. Flocks of water fowl of varied plumage streamed along the shores of the lakes, and the waters swarmed with fish. The face of nature, fresh in the luxu- riance of a virgin soil, was everywhere clothed with magnificent vegetation. Did they travel through the Indian trails or bridle paths which wound through the forest, extensive tracts of oak- lauds, that seemed like cultivated parks, met their eye, studded with little crystal lakes and streams, and covered with flowers. Herds of buffaloes wandered over the prairies, trampling down the flowers which blushed in their track as they rushed on in clumsy motion. Great numbers of moose and elk, which in the size of their horns almost rivaled the branches of the trees, bounded through the thickets. Deer were here and there seen feeding upon the margin of the water courses. Flocks of wild turkeys and other game filled the woods ; the jDrairies were alive with grouse, and pigeons swept along like clouds above the forests, in numbers which sometimes almost obscured the sky. Beyond this, they beheld in the luxuriance of the soil the source of inexhaustible wealth. Rich clusters of grapes hung from the trees, which reminded them of the champagne districts of France, from which they had emigrated, and apples and plums abounded in thrifty groves. CHAPTER VIII. Colonial Emigkakts— Merchants — The Peasantry — French Sol- diers — Legal Administration — Policy op the French Govern- ment — Mode of Land Distribution. Owing to the frequent changes in the government of the west- ern outposts of Canada, as well as to the fact that, at various periods in its early history, it was entirely withdrawn, consequent either upon some freak of colonial policy in France, or resulting from difficulties with the savages, it is quite as impracticable to attem})t a connected history of these settlements as it is impossible to detail- all the trials and hai'dships endured or overcome by the colonists. The history of the French settlements in Michigan, during that period in which France held possession of the terri- tory, is a record of constant changes, authenticated only by the " Jesuit relations," and this being rather a diary of church mat- ters than a journal of political events, throws but a faint light upon tliose greater circumstances which the modern world calls histfu-y. Yet, after all, we are not left without a general history of the first settlements of Michigan. The })osts were inhabited by a hardy race of people, who had emigrated principally from Brittany and Normandy, provinces of France. They were mostly working men, drawn from the more dense settlements round Montreal and Quebec, and were sent out by the government for the purpose of building up the posts, and of protecting the fur trade carried on through the chain of the great lakes. The population of the posts consisted of the military by which they were garrisoned, Jesuits, priests, merchants, traders and peasants. These, however, were moved from place to place, as the interests of the government seemed to require. The French commandants were the most prominent individuals of the posts, and, with their garrisons, constituted a little mon- HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 123 archy. Their power was arbitrary, extending to the right of doing whatever they might deem expedient for the welfare of the settle- ment, whether in making laws or punishing crime. The oldest merchants were reverenced as the head men of their colony. HON. JAMES WATSON. James Watson, of Bay City, was born in Detroit, September 2, 1814. He removed to his present place of residence, then called Lower Saginaw, in 1850. He carried on a mercantile business successfully for several years; then he turned his attention, with even greater protit, to lumber- ing, and continued in that business until 1870. He has been, and now is, one of the solid men of Bay City. He has contributed largely to its rapid growth by investing liberally in local improvements. He erected and now owns a model brick block, known as the "Watson Block," 124 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. They were careful and frugal in their habits, and exercised an influence among the settlers calculated to secure a willing obedience. Mr. Lanman, in his history of Michigan, states that the early French settlers were wanting in virtue, and " often fostered a large number of half-breed children around their posts, who were the offspring of their licentiousness." To a careful reader of our early history this statement, or charge, seems to be entirely unsupported by truth. It would have appeared more reasonable, and less at variance with the facts, had Mr, Lanman attributed the existence of this race of half-breeds to the want of rigid virtue among the soldiers and the rangers of the woods. This peculiar class, no doubt engendered by the manner in which the fur trade was conducted, were properly called bush- rangers, or coureurs des hois, half-civilized vagrants, whose chief vocation was conducting the canoe of the traders along the lakes and rivers of the interior. Many of them, however, shaking loose every tie of blood and kindred, identified themselves with the Indians, and sank into utter barbarism. " In many a squalid camp," says Parkman, " among the plains and forests of the West, the traveler would have encountered men owning the blood and speaking the language of France, yet, in their swarthy vis- ages and barbarous costume, seeming more akin to those with whom they had cast their lot. The renegade of civilization caught the habits and imbibed the prejudices of his chosen asso- ciates. He loved to decorate his long hair with eagle feathers, to make his face hideous with vermilion, ochre and soot, and to adorn his greasy hunting frock with horse-hair fringe." His dwelling, if he had one, was a wigwam. He lounged on a bear skin while his squaw boiled his venison and lighted his pipe. In hunting, in dancing, in singing, in taking a scalp, he rivaled the genuine Indian. His mind was tinctured with the supersti- tions of the forest. He had faith in the magic drum of the con- which is an ornament to the city. He has reared a large family, and is a gentleman of fine presence, kind and affable, and wields a large influence socially and politically. He has been twice elected county treasurer, twice mayor of Bay City, has held the office of president of the Board of Education, and served as president of the Bay City Temperance Society. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 125 juror. He was not sure that a thunder cloud could not be frightened away by whistling at it through the wing-bone of an eagle ; he carried the tail of a rattlesnake in his bullet-pouch, by way of amulet, and he placed implicit trust in his dreams. HON. PETER DESNOYERS. Peter Desnoyers, one of the most prominent men of Michigan during its early history, was born in Detroit, Michigan, April 2lst, 1800. His father, Peter J. Desnoyers, was born in tlie city of Paris, France, in 1772, came to America in 1790, and married Miss Marie Gobiel, of Detroit, Mich. He lived in Galliopolis a number of years, and afterwards in Pitts- burg, from which place he removed to Detroit with the army of "Mad Anthony" Wayne, in August, 1796, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1846. He was one of the leading mei'chants and citi- 126 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. Tlie peasants, or that class of lake settlers who subsisted by agricultural pursuits, within the narrow circle of their picket fences, were not numerous. Their dress was peculiar, and even wild. They wore surtouts of coarse blue cloth, fastened at the middle with a red sash, a scarlet woolen cap, containing a scalping knife, and moccasins made of deer-skin. Civilization was here strangely mingled. Groups of Indians from the remotest shores of the lakes, wild in their garb, would occasionally make their appearance at the settlements with numerous canoes laden with beaver skins, which they had brought down to these places of deposit. Among them were intermixed the French soldiers of the garrisou, with their blue coats turned up with white facings, and the Jesuits, with their long gowns and black bands, from which were suspended by silver chains the rosary and crucifix, who, " with the priests, had their stations round the forts and ministered in the chapels." Agriculture was not extensively encouraged by the policy of the fur trade or the character of the population. It was confined to a few 2:)atches of Indian corn and wheat, which they rudely culti- vated. They ground their grain in wind-mills, which were scat- tered along the banks of the Detroit river and the 8t. Clair lake. The recreations of the French colonists consisted in attending the religious services held in the rude chapels on the borders of the zens of Detroit during his day, and his death was mourned by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Desnoyers, the subject of this sketch, was in Detroit attending school when the great fire of 1805 broke out, which entirely destroyed the town, leaving the inhabitants houseless, and in a very destitute con- dition. He commenced business as a merchant in 1831, having just attained his majority, and was eminent)}' successful in this occupation. He was the first county treasurer of Wayne county elected by the popular vote, which occurred in 182(5. At the next election he was reelected to the same office. In 1827 he was chosen one of the aldermen of the city of Detroit, and he also served some time in this position after the division of the city into wards, representing the fourth ward in the council. In 1831 Mr. Desnoj^ers was appointed United States Marshal by Presi- dent Jackson, which position he held until the organization of the HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 127 wilderness, in adorning their altars with wild flowers, in dancing to the sound of the violin at each other's houses, in hunting the deer, and in paddling their light canoes across the clear and silent streams. The women employed themselves iu making coarse cot- ton and woollen cloths for the Indian trade. In their cottages were hung rude pictures of saints, the Madonna and child, and the leaden crucifix supplied the place of one of silver. Abundance of game roamed in the woods, and the waters were alive with fish. The Jesuits, who were the most active agents of the government in the exploration of these regions, were, as a class, men of high intelligence. The narratives of their wanderings through the wilderness throw a coloring of I'omance around the prairies, and forests and lakes, which amounts almost to a classic spirit. Yet they have left upon the lake shores but few monuments either of their enterprise or Christian zeal. Their success in Christianizing the Indians was limited when compared with the extent of their labors. By the savages these Catholic missionaries were regarded as medicine men and jugglers, on whom the destiny of life and death depended; and although they were greatly feared, they succeeded in making but few converts to their religious faith, excepting young children, or Indians just about to die. The administration of the law iu the western outposts was founded, as far as possible, on the contume de Paris, which was Territory into a State in 1837. He was appointed city treasurer of Detroit in 1838, and promoted to State treasurer in 1839 by Governor Stevens T. Mason. He served in the latter position until the commence- ment of Governor Woodbridge's term, bringing great credit to himself as a shrewd tinancier, and guarding tlie State moneys in an honorable and trustworthy manner. In 1843 he was again elected county treasurer of Wayne county, and again in 1851. Mr. Desuoyers removed from Detroit to Hamtramck in 1849, and still resides in the latter place. In 1850 he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention, which met in Lansing during that year and framed our present State Constitution. He was also a member of the State Constitutional Con- vention of 1867, which closed his public career. At present he is living at Hamtramck in a very retired and quiet manner, enjoying the comforts of an active and prosperous life. 128 GENERAL HISTORY OP THE STATES. the law of all Canada. This code, although received and prac- ticed upon in the older and more populous settlements of the lower province, was not adopted with any degree of uniformity among these distant colonists. The commandants or governors of the posts had the principal cognizance of the population around them, and exercised their authority in an arbitrary manner. There was at this time no system of education like that which prevailed in New England, and all the knowledge acquired by the children of the colonists was obtained from the priests. The jDlan of distributing the land was calculated to prevent the settlement of the country. A law was passed recj^uiring the houses of the inhabitants to be placed upon ground with a front of only one acre and a half, and running forty acres back. This kept the settlements in a close line along the banks of the streams. A feudal and aristocratic spirit also controlled the grants of land. The commandants of the forts had the power to convey lands, with the permission of the Governor-General of Canada, subject to the confirmation of the King of France, special rights being reserved to the grantor. I As early as 1749, the post of Detroit and the others upon the northwestern lakes, Michilimackinac, Ste. Marie, and St. Joseph, received an accession of immigrants. The last two were called after the saints of those names in the Catholic calendar. Michili- mackinac derives its name from the Indian words Michi-mackinac, meaning a great turtle, from its supposed resemblance to that animal, or from the Chippewa words Michine-maukinouk, signif\'- ing the place of giant fairies, who were supposed by Indian superstition to hover over the waters around that beautiful island. The origin of the word Detroit is the French word Detroit, signify- ing a strait, because the post was situated on the strait connecting Lake Erie with Lake St. Clair. During the whole period of the French domination, extending from the first settlement of the country down to the year 1760, the trafiic of Michigan was confined principally to the trade in furs. This interesting traflac upon the great lakes was carried on by the French under peculiar circumstances. As the forests of the lake region abounded with furs which were of great value in HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 129 the mother country, it became an important object with the Cana- dian government to prosecute that trade with all the energy in its power. The rich furs of the beaver and otter were particularly valuable, from the [great demand for them in Europe. Large CAPT. JOHN CLARKE. John Clarke, of St. Clair, one of the pioneers of Michigan, was born at Bath, Maine, July 29, 1797. In 1812 he went to Augusta, Maine, and accepted a situation in the mercantile establishment of T. Sargent, Esq. , but he, through ill health, was soon compelled to give up this position and return to his home. Peace being declared between Great Britain and the United States, his physicians advised him to make a trip to Europe, and in April, 1815, he sailed for Bremen. After traveling through Germany, England and Scotland, and witnessing the great 9 130 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. canoes made of bark, and strongly constructed, were despatched annually to the lakes laden with packs of European merchandise, consisting of blankets, printed calicoes, ribbons, cutlery, and trinkets of various kinds, which the Indians used; and Detroit, Michilimackinac and Ste. Marie, were their principal places of deposit. To secure the interests of the large companies, licenses for this trade were granted by the Governor-General of Canada to the mer- chants, who sometimes sold them to the coureurs des hois. The possessor of one of these licenses was entitled to load two large canoes, each of which was manned by six men. The cargo of one of these canoes was valued at about a thousand crowns. This merchandise was sold to the traders on credit, and at about fifteen per cent advance on the price it would command in ready money. But the voyages were very profitable, and there was generally a gain of about one hundred per cent on the sum invested in the I'ejoiciugs iu those countries over the defeat and capture of Napoleon Bonaparte at Waterloo, he embafked from Liverpool with his uncle, Capt. F. Clarke, in the ship Ellington, for Boston. When about in mid-ocean, and during a severe gale, the vessel foundered, and the passengers and crew were obliged to take to the small boats. After remaining in these for three daj^s, they were picked up by a dismasted brig from Scotland. At the expiration of three more days, the " James Madison," from Phila- delphia, came to their relief, and putting them on a short allowance of food, in order to make it last, brought them in safety to Philadelphia, after a lapse of thirty -two days. Upon arriving in the latter city, Mr. Clarke was unable to find his uncle (who, to gain time, had taken a steamer as soon as they entered the river), and having no money, wan- dered around for three days without food. His condition becoming known, he was assisted by the kind hearted citizens, and his uncle, who had preceded him by steamer, finding him, gave him money with which to reach his home. Arriving there, he received a clerkship in a store, and after serving in this position for a short time, he accepted of a similar one in the whole- sale house of Page & Gitchell, iu Hallowell, in 1817, receiving the highest salary paid for similar labors, which was only seventy-five dollars per year. Mr. Clarke here united with the Baptist Church, of which he is still a^ member, and at once took a deep interest in Sabbath schools. He still HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 131 enterprise. The traders endured most of the fatigue, and the mer- chants received most of the profit. On the return of one of these expeditions, six hundred crowns were taken by the merchant for his license, and as he had sold the thousand crowns' worth of goods at their prime cost, from this sum he also deducted forty per cent for bottomry; the remainder was then divided among the six coureurs des hois, who were thus left with but a small compensation for all their perils and hardships. The coureurs des hois were the native agents of the fur trade. Thoroughly acquainted Avith the navigation of the lakes, they fearlessly swept along the waters of these inland seas, encamping at night upon their shores. Of mixed white and Indian blood, they formed the connecting link between civilization and barbarism. Their dress was also demi-savage. Lively and sanguine, they were at all times ready to join the Indians in the dance, or pay respect to their ceremonies. Their French fathers had familiarly retains his activity in this class of labors, although he has reached the advanced age of seventy-six years. In 1818 he removed to Belfast, and engaged in the mercantile business, with more than average prosperity. He married Miss Mary Sherbun, of Hallowell, in December, 1819. Upon attaining his majority he espoused the principles of the Jefferson republican party, and gave his support to the administrations of Madison and Monroe, and worked faithfully for the election of General Jackson during the following presidential campaign, which resulted in the elec- tion of John Quincy Adams by the House of Representatives. Although he resolutely refused to accept any political position, he undertook many difficult tasks for his party, and performed his work in a manner to elicit the highest praise from the then Governor of Maine, and other prominent officials. His health again failing him, he closed his business in Belfast, with the intention of coming to Michigan, but his friends prevailed upon him to return to Hallowell, where he took an active part in all political issues. In 1829 Mr. Clarke was called to Washington on business, and while there was received by President Jackson in the kindest manner, and an intimate friendship soon sprung up between them. He came to Michigan in 1830, arriving at Detroit in October of that year, and in the following December opened a mercantile establishment on Woodward avenue, two doors from Jefferson avenue, in a building 132 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. associated with the native tribes, and their mothers and wives were the inmates of Indian camps. In many respects their char- acter resembled that of mariners upon the ocean, for the same general cause might be said to operate upon both. Instead of navigating the high seas in ships tossed by storms, and ploughing the waves from port to port, it was their lot to propel their light canoes over the fresh water seas of the forest, where, hurried from one Indian village to another, like the mariner on the ocean, they acquired all those habits which belong to an unsettled and wan- dering life. Advancing to the remote shores of Lake Superior or Lake Michigan, and following the courses of the rivers which flow into them, as soon as they reached the points where the Indians were in the habit of resorting, they at once encamped. Here they opened their packages of goods, exhibited them to their savage customers and exchanged them for furs ; and having disposed of owned by Robert Smart, Esq. In the fall of 1833 lie purchased a large tract of land on the St. Clair river, where he now resides, and in the fol- lowing spring removed to where the city of Port Huron now stands, and at which place there were then only three frame buildings. He took charge of the steamer Gen. Gratiot about this time, and sailed her on the route from Port Huron to Toledo. In 1835 he removed to his present residence, in the town of China, a few miles below the city of St. Clair, on the river of that name. He was one of the delegates chosen from St. Clair county to the State convention for the framing of a State Constitution, which met in Detroit on the 11th of May, 1835. As a member of this important body he per- formed much good work, and his actions won him many influential friends. Pending the admission of Michigan into the Union, at the request of a number of the influential men of the Territory he visited Washington, and upon arriving there found the objectionable bill had passed the very day he had started. He presented the facts in the case to President Jackson, and that official expressed his regrets that Mr. Clarke had not arrived sooner, as he would not have signed the bill had the matter been fully explained to him before. During his stay at the capitol, the Gov- ernor of his Territory and other prominent men arrived in Washington. These gentlemen called upon the President, in the presence of the Secre- tary of State, and after some discussion upon the admission of the HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 133 all their merchandise, and loaded their canoes with the peltries it had jDrocured, they bade adieu to their Indian friends, and started on their voyage back, with feathers stuck in their hats, keeping time with their paddles to the Canadian boat songs. La Hontan, in his Journal, which was published in France, and a translation of which was afterwards published in this country, gives an interesting account of the fur trade, showing the general course of that traffic while the Canadas were under the French. The author resided at Montreal. At this time (1688) Michili- mackinac was the principal stopping place for the traders on their way fi'om Montreal and Detroit to the forests bordering on Lake Superior. Here their goods were deposited, and here the furs were collected for their return freight. Sometimes, however, the traders, accompanied by numerous canoes of the Ottawas, would proceed directly to the older settlements on the St. Lawrence, Territory, President Jackson made this statement to them : "You have no influence with the Cabinet. We look to Mr. Clarlie for all the infor- mation we desire. We know him, and have the fullest confidence in him." The Secretary of State, meeting Mr. Clarke afterwards, informed him that he had but to mention what he desired in the gift of the Presi- dent, and he should receive it. Mr. Clarke, however, declined accepting any oflBce. At the first election under the State Constitution, he having received the nomination of both parties, was elected State Senator for the Fifth Senatorial District without an opposing vote, and to which position he was reelected at the following election. Every effort was made by his friends at this time for permission to place his name before the Legisla- ture as a candidate for the United States Senate, but he would not consent. In 1837, President Jackson appointed him one of two commission- ers to acquire the title of the Indians to the lands they claimed in Michigan, which duty he performed in a very satisfactory manner. Afterwards he received the appointment of Receiver of the Land Office at Ionia, from President Van Buren, with whom he had been acquainted from 1829. Mr. Clarke declined to accept this position. He was a member of the State Convention of 1850, for the revision of the State Constitution, and took a prominent part in the deliberations of tliat body. With the nomination of James Buchanan for the presidency by the 134 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. where they supposed they might be able to dispose of their car- goes to greater advantage than at the interior posts. The following is La Hontan's account of the fur trade at the period referred to : " Much about the same day," says he, " there arrived twenty- five or thirty canoes, being homeward bound from the great lakes, and laden with beaver skins. The cargo of each canoe amounted to forty packs, each of which weighs fifty pounds, and will fetch fifty crowns at the farmer's office. These canoes were followed by fifty more of the Ottawas and Hurons, who come down every year to the colony in order to make a better market than they can do in their own country of Michilimackinac, which lies on the banks of the Lake of Hurons, at the mouth of tlie Lake of Illinese (Michigan). Their way of trading is as follows: " Upon their arrival they encamp at a distance of five or six hundred paces from the town. The first day is spent in ranging Democrats, Mr. Clarke left that party, and gave his support to General Fremont, whom he claimed represented the true principles of Jefferson and his associates. In 1857 Mr. Clarke was again elected to the State Legislature, and dur- ing its session exerted great influence in securing the passage of good laws, and the defeat of those he considered would be injurious to the State. At this session he used his entire influence, and no doubt aided materially in the election of the Hon. Zachariah Chandler to the United States Senate. Mr. Clarke is a very prominent and influential Free Mason, having united with this order at Belfast, Maine, as early as 1820. Upon being admitted he strove to advance and learn its great principles, and traveled a distance of over fifty miles to receive the Chapter degrees. Upon its revival after the Morgan aflair, he took an active part in perpetuating its existence and principles. He was elected E. C. of the John Clarke Com- mandery, of St. Clair, and was afterwards elected to the same position in the Port Huron Commandery. From their establishment until the pres- ent time, over sixteen years, he has not been absent from a meeting of either of these bodies. Mr. Clarke has conferred more knightly orders than any other E. C. in the State. He was elected R. E. G. C. of Michi- gan, and appointed V. E. 6. C. G. by the Hon. B. B. French, M. E. G. M. of the G. G. E. of the United States. He is known throughout the Union as a prominent Free Mason, and has received a number of valu- able presents from the fraternity. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 135 their canoes, unloading their goods, and pitching their tents, which are made of birch bark. The next day they demand audience of the Governor-General, which is granted them that same day, in a public place. HON. JOHN R. KELLOG. John R. Kellog, a prominent man in Michigan during the time of Lewis Cass, was born at New Hartford, Oneida county, New York, in 1793. His fatlier was one of the hardy pioneers of the New England States, the farm upon which he resided in New Hartford, being pur- cliased from George Washington and George Clinton. The original con- tract of this purchase is still in existence and is now in the possession of A. J. Kellog, the youngest son of the subject of this sketch, who resides in Allegan, Michigan. When he was six years of age, the parents of Mr. John R. Kellog 136 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. " Upon this occasion each nation makes a ring foi' itself. The savages sit upon the ground, with pipes in their mouths, and the governor is seated in an arm-chair ; after which there starts up an orator or speaker from one of these nations, w^ho makes a harangue, importing that his brethren are come to visit the Gov- ernor-General, to renew with him their wonted friendship ; that their chief view is to promote the interest of the French, some of w^hom, being unacquainted with the way of traffic, and being too weak for the transporting of goods from the lakes, would be una- ble to deal in beaver-skins if his brethren did not come in person to deal with them in their own colonies. That they knew very well how acceptable their arrival is to the inhabitants of Mon- treal, in regard to the advantage they reap from it ; that, in regard to the beavei'-skins, they W(;re much valued in France, and the French goods given in exchange w'ere of an inconsiderable value ; and that they mean to give the French sufficient proof of their readiness to furnish them with what they desire so earnestly. " That, by way of preparation of another year's cargo, they are come to take in exchange fusees, and powder and ball, in order to hunt great numbers of beavers, or to gall the Iroquois in case they offered to disturb the French settlements; and, in fine, in removed from New Hartford to Skaneateles, New York, taking him along with them. At tlie age of thirteen he went to Lowville, New York, as a clerk for Messrs. Leonard, in which occupation he remained until he was twenty-two years of age. From here he went to New York city as a clerk for John Glover, Esq. While in this city he united with the Presbyterian Church, Dr. John M. Mason, pastor, and lived an earnest and faithful christian tlie remainder of his life. In 1817 he married Miss Mary Otterson, of New York, a young lady highly respected for her many good qualities, who still survives him. From this city with his wife and two children he returned to New Hartford in 1817, remaining one year, when lie again removed and set- tled in Marcellus, Onondaga county. New York. Here he retained his residence until 1836, being engaged in mercantile pursuits. In this year he emigrated to Michigan and served in the Legislature of the State dur- ing the winter of 1837-38. In the latter year lie settled in Allegan, Alle- gan county, Michigan, wliere he resided until his deatli, wliich occurred in 1868. Mr. Kellog was a member of the State Board of Education for six HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 137 confirmation of their words, that they throw a porcelain collar (belt of wampum), with some beaver-skins, to the kitchi-okima (so they call the Governor-General), whose protection they laid claim to in case of any robbery or abuse committed upon them in the town. The spokesman having made an end of his speech, returns to his place and takes up his pipe, and the interpreter explains the substance of the harangue to the Governor, who commonly gives a very civil answer, especially if the presents be valuable, in consideration of which he likewise makes them a present of some trifling things. This done, the savages rise up and return to their huts, to make suitable preparation for the ensuing truck. " The next day the savages make their slaves carry the skins to the houses of the merchants, who bargain with them for such clothes as they want. All the inhabitants of Montreal are allowed to trafiic with them in any commodity but rum and brandy, these two being excepted upon the account that, when the savages have got what they want, and have any skins left, they drink to excess, and then kill their slaves ; for, when they are in drink, they quarrel and fight, and, if they were not held by those who are sober, would certainly make havoc one of another. years, and while in this position he did much for the advancement of education, and to him in a great measure are we indebted for the liigh position wliicli Michigan occupies to-day when compared with lier sister States in an educational point of view. He was associate judge of Allegan county two years, during the judi- cial term of .Judge Ransom, and performed the responsible duties of that position in a manner that elicited the highest praise from that distin- guished gentleman. He was one of the main movers in his section of the State in organiz- ing the association and raising the necessary funds for the erection of the Soldiers and Sailors' monument which now beautifies the Campus Martius in the City of Detroit. Mr. Kellog's public history is well known throughout the State, as he occupied an enviable position during his life in all matters of importance concerning the government of the State and its welfare and prosperity. He was an intimate friend of Secretary Seward and General Cass, and maintained a friendly correspondence with them until separated by death. 138 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. " However, you must observe that none of them will touch either gold or silver. As soon as the savages have made an end of their truck, they take leave of the Governor, and return home by the River Ottawa. To conclude, they do a great deal of good, both to the poor and rich, for you will readily apprehend that everybody turns merchant upon such occasions." To the question Avhat was the condition of the Northwestern Territory when it was claimed and occupied by France, we can furnish a ready answer. It was a vast ranging ground for the numerous Indian tribes, who roamed over it in all the listless indo- lence of their savage independence ; of the Jesuit missionaries, who, under the garb of their religious orders, strove to gain the influence of the red men in behalf of their government as well as their church, by their conversion to the Catholic faith ; the theatre of the most important military operations of the French soldiers at the West ; and the grand mart where the furs, which were deemed the most valuable products of this region, were collected for shipment to France, under a commercial system which was originally projected by the Cardinal de Richelieu. The condition of a country, although often in some measure modified by the natui-e of the climate and the soil, is more gener- ally founded upon the character of the people and that of its laws. This is clearly exhibited in the case of the Northwest ; for, while that domain was rich in all the natural advantages that could be furnished by the soil, it was entirely barren of all those moral and intellectual fruits springing from bold and energetic character, directed by a free, enlightened, and wholesome system of juris- prudence. CHAPTER IX. War Between the French and English Colonies — Braddock's March — His Defeat — Acadia, Niagara and Crown Point- Battle OF LAiiE George — Condition of Canada. Scarcely had the French established themselves in Canada, when a chain of circumstances occurred that resulted in their overthrow. The people of the northern English colonies had learned to regard their Canadian neighbors with the bitterest enmity. With them, the very name of Canada called up horrible recollections and ghastly images ; the midnight massacre of Sche- nectady, and the desolation of many a Ncav England hamlet ; blazing dwellings and reeking scalps, and children snatched from their mothers' arms, to be immured in convents, and trained up in the abominations of Popery. To the sons of the Puritans, their enemy was doubly odious. They hated him as a Frenchman, and they hated him as a Papist. Hitherto, he had waged his murderous warfare from a distance, wasting their settlements with rapid onsets, fierce and transient as a summer storm ; but now, with enterprising audacity, he was intrenching himself on their very borders. The English hunter, in the lonely wilderness of Vermont, as by the warm glow of sun- set he piled the spruce boughs for his woodland bed, started, as a deep, low sound struck faintly on his ears — the evening gun of Fort Frederic, booming over lake and forest. The erection of this fort, better known among the English as Crown Point, was a piece of daring encroachment, which justly kindled resentment in the northern colonies. But it was not here that the immediate occa- sion of a final rupture was to arise. By an article of the treaty of Utrecht, confirmed by that of Aix la Chapelle, Acadia had been ceded to England ; but, scarcely was the latter treaty signed, when debates sprang up touching the limits of the ceded province. 140 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. Commissioners were named on either side, to adjust the disputed boundary ; but the claims of the rival powers proved utterly irrec- oncilable, and all negotiation was fruitless. Meantime, the French and English forces in Acadia began to assume a belligerent atti- tude, and indulge their ill blood in mutual aggression and reprisal. But, Avhile this game was played on the coasts of the Atlantic, interests of far greater moment were at stake in the West. The people of the middle colonies, placed by their local posi- tion beyond reach of the French, had heard with great composure of the sufferings of their New England brethren, and felt little concern at a danger so doubtful and remote. There were those among them, however, who, with greater foresight had been quick to perceive the ambitious project of the rival nation ; and, as early as 1716, Spotswood, Governor of Virginia, had urged the expedi- ency of securing the valley of the Ohio by a series of forts and settlements. His proposal was coldly received, and his plan fell to the ground. The time at length was come when the danger was approaching too near to be slighted longer. In 1748, an association, called the Ohio Company, was formed, with the view of making settlements in the region beyond the Alleghanies ; and, two years later. Gist, the company's surveyor, to the great disgust of the Indians, carried chain and compass down the Ohio as far as the falls at Louisville. But, so dilatory were the English, that, before any effectual steps Avere taken, their agile enemies appeared upon the scene. In the spring of 1753, the middle provinces were startled at the tidings that French troops had crossed Lake Erie, fortified themselves at the point of Presque Isle, and pushed for- ward to the northern branches of the Ohio. Upon this. Governor Dinwiddle, of Virginia, resolved to despatch a message requiring their removal from territory which he had claimed as belonging to the British crown ; and, looking about him for the person best qualified to act as messenger, he made choice of George Washing- ton, a young man twenty-one years of age, Adjutant-General of the Virginia militia. Washington departed on his mission, crossed the mountains, descended to the bleak and leafless valley of the Ohio, and thence HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 141 continued his journey up the banks of the Alleghany, until the fourth of December. On that day he reached Venango, an Indian town on the Alleghany, at the mouth of French Creek. Here was the advanced post of the French, and here, among the Indian HON. CHARLES W. GRANT. Charles Wesley Gkant, of East Saginaw, was born March 15, 1817, at Smithville, Chenango county, New York. He came to Michigan at the age of twenty years, and settled in Saginaw county in the spring of 1849. At that time there being no railroad nor plank road, and scarcely any other leading to that county, he came in a skiff down Flint river from the then village of Flint with the late George R. Cummings, Esq. , who had just received a commission from Governor Ransom as prosecuting attorney for Saginaw county. 142 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. log cabins and huts of bark, he saw their flag flying above the house of an English trader, whom the military intruders had unceremoniously ejected. They gave the young envoy a hospita- ble reception, and referred him to the commanding oflicer, whose headquarters were at Le Boeuf, a fort which they had just built on French Creek, some distance above Venango. Thither Washing- ton repaired, and on his arrival was received with stately courtesy by the officer, Legarduer de St. Pierre, whom he describes as an elderly gentleman of very soldier-like appearance. To the mes- sage of Dinwiddle St. Pierre replied that he would forward it to the Governor-General of Canada ; but that, in the meantime, his orders wei-e to hold possession of the country, and this he should do to the best of his ability. With this answer, Washington, through all the rigors of the midwinter forest, retraced his steps, with one attendant, to the English borders. While the rival nations were beginning to quarrel for a prize which belonged to neither of them, the unhappy Indians saw, with alarm and amazement, their lands becoming a bone of contention between rapacious strangers. The first appearance of the French on the Ohio excited the wildest fears in the tribes of that quarter, among whom were those who, disgusted by the encroachments of the Pennsylvanians, had fled to those remote retreats to escape the intrusion of the white men. Scarcely was their fancied asylum gained, when they saw themselves invaded by a host of armed men from Canada. Thus, j^laced between two fires, they knew not which way to turn. There was no union in their counsels, and they seemed like a mob of bewildered children. Their native jeal- In 1850, as a partner of A. M. Hoyt, the proprietor of the incipient city of East Saginaw, he built tlie first mill erected there, and for himself, the first dwelling house. He was one of the five voters who organized the township of Buena Vista in 1851. At that election he was elected town- ship clerk, commissioner of highways, justice of the peace, school inspec- tor, etc. In. 1856 he was elected sheriff of Saginaw county, and held that office for the four following years. During President Buchanan's administration, and for two j^ears after- wards, he served as deputy United States marshal under Col. Rice, Col. Davis and John S. Bagg. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 143 ousy was roused to its utmost pitch. Many of them thought that the two white nations had conspired to destroy them, and then divide their lands. " You and the French," said one of them, a few years afterwards, to an English emissary, " are like the two edges of a pair of shears, and we are the cloth which is cut to pieces between them." The French labored hard to conciliate them, plying them with gifts and flatteries, and proclaiming themselves their champions against the English. At first, these arts seemed in vain, but their effect soon began to declare itself; and this effect was greatly increased by a singular piece of infatuation on the part of the pro- prietors of Pennsylvania. During the summer of 1754, delegates of the several provinces met at Albany, to concert measures of defense in the war which now seemed inevitable. It was at this meeting that the memor- able plan of a union of the colonies was brought forward ; a plan, the fate of which was curious and significant, for the crown rejected it as giving too much power to the people, and the people as giving too much power to the crown. A council was also held with the Iroquois, and though they were found but lukewarm in their attachment to the English, a treaty of friendship and alliance was concluded with their deputies. It would have been well if the matter had ended here, but, with ill-timed rapacity, the proprie- tary agents of Pennsylvania took advantage of this great assem- blage of sachems to procure from them the grant of extensive tracts, including the lauds inhabited by the very tribes whom the French were at that moment striving to seduce. When they heard Mr. Grant came to Baginaw poor in purse, but rich in energy and cour- age. Having satisfied his taste for public office, he turned his attention to himbering, which he has diligently and successfully pursued ever since. By the exercise of his business talent, which is of a high order, he has built up an enviable credit and amassed an ample fortune. He is an exam- ple of that steady advance in wealth and social standing that is invariably achieved by a young man of good habits and persevering industry, who has the good sense to husband his income and make it productive by judicious investment. He resides on the "James Riley Reservation," where he has erected a palatial residence. Here he enjoys his well earned wealth, and dispenses an elegant hospitality. 144 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. that, without their consent, their conquerors and tyrants, the Iro- quois, had sold the soil from beneath their feet, their indignation was extreme ; and, convinced that there was no limit to English encroachment, many of them from that hour became fast allies of the French. The courts of London and Versailles still maintained a diplo- matic intercourse, both protesting their earnest wish that their conflicting claims might be adjusted by friendly negotiation ; but, while each disclaimed the intention of hostility, both were hasten- ing to prepare for war. Early in 1755, an English fleet sailed from Cork, having on board two regiments destined for Virginia, and commanded by General Braddock ; and, soon after, a French fleet put to sea from the port of Brest, freighted with munitions of war and a strong body of troops, under Baron Dieskau, an officer who had distinguished himself in the campaigns of Marshal Saxe. The English fleet gained its destination, and landed its troops in safety. The French were less fortunate. Two of their ships, the Lys and the Alcide, became involved in the fogs of the banks of Newfoundland ; and, when the weather cleared, they found themselves under the guns of a superior British force, belonging to the squadron of Admiral Boscowen, sent out for the express purpose of intercepting them. " Are we at peace or at war ?" demanded the French commander. A broad- side from the Englishman soon solved his doubts, and, after a stout resistance, the French struck their colors. News of the cap- ture caused great excitement in England, but the conduct of the aggressors was generally approved ; and, under pretence that the French had begun the war by their alleged encroachments in America, orders were issued for a general attack upon their marine. So successful were the British cruisers, that, before the end of the year, three hundred French vessels and nearly eight thousand sailors were captured and brought into port. The French, unable to retort in kind, raised an outcry of indignation, and Mirepoix, their ambassador, withdrew from the Court of London. Thus began that memorable war, which, kindling among the forests of America, scattered its fires over the kingdoms of Euroj^e and the sultry empire of the Great Mogul ; the war made glorious HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 145 by the heroic death of Wolfe, the victories of Frederic, and the exploits of Clive ; the war which controlled the destinies of America, and was first in the chain of events which led on to her Revolution, with all its vast and undeveloped consequences. On PROF. DUANE DOTY. DuANE DoTY, the present Superintendent of Public Instruction for the city of Detroit, was born in the State of Ohio. He, with his parents, came to Micliigan during his early cliildhood, and iu this State received a thorough education, graduating from the literary department of the Michigan University, in 1856. With the exception of five years devoted to travel, army and editorial life, his whole time since his graduation has been occupied by educa- tional work. In 1865 he was appointed Superintendent of Public 10 146 • GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. the old battle-ground of Europe the contest bore the same familiar features of violence and horror which had marked the strife of former generations — fields j^lot^^gbed by the cannon ball, and walls shattered by the exploding mine, sacked towns and blazing sub- urbs, the lamentation of Avomen, and the license of a maddened soldiery. But in America, war assumed a new and striking aspect. A wilderness was its sublime arena. Army met army under the shadows of primeval woods ; their cannon resounded over wastes unknown to civilized man. And, before the hostile powers could join in battle, endless forests must be traversed, and morasses passed, and everywhere the axe of the pioneer must hew a path for the bayonet of the soldier. Before the declaration of war, and before the breaking oflf of negotiations between the courts of France and England, the English ministry formed the j)lan of assailing the French in America on all sides at once, and repelling them, by one bold push, from all their encroachments. A provincial army w\as to advance upon Acadia, a second was to attack Crown Point, and a third Niagara ; while the two regiments which had lately arrived in Virginia, under General Braddock, aided by a strong body of provincials, were to dislodge the French from their neAvly-built fort of Du Quesne. To Braddock was assigned the chief command of all the British forces in America ; and a person worse fitted for the office could scarcely have been found. His experience had been ample, and none could doubt his courage ; but he was profligate, Instruction for the city of Detroit, which difficult and laborious position he has acceptably filled for eight years. During his term of office many important improvements have been made ; the school work and school business have all been thoroughly systematized, and the city supplied with good school buildings. Mr. Doty's organizing and administrative ability is conceded to be of a very high order, and he belongs emphatically to the class of workers who richly merit the honors conferred upon them. His work and efforts in the cause of popular education have secured him an enviable reputation, and, besides this, he is well known for his knowledge of the vast and increasing resources of his country, and for availing himself of every opportunity for adding to his abundant fund of information on all sub- jects. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 147 arrogant, perverse, and a bigot to military rules. On his first arrival in Virginia, he called together the Governors of the sev- eral provinces, in order to explain his instructions and adjust the details of the projected operations. These arrangements complete, Braddock advanced to the borders of Virginia, and formed his camp at Fort Cumberland, where he spent several weeks in train- ing the raw backwoodsmen who joined him into such discipline as they seemed capable of; in collecting horses and wagons, which could only be had with the utmost difficulty ; in railing at the contractors, who scandalously cheated him ; and in venting his spleen by copious abuse of the country and the people. All at length was ready, and early in June, 1755, the army left civiliza- tion behind, and struck into the broad wilderness as a squadron puts out to sea. It was no easy task to force their way over that rugged ground, covered with an unbroken growth of forest ; and the difficulty was increased by the needless load of baggage which encumbered their march. The crash of falling trees resounded in the front, where a hundred axemen labored with ceaseless toil to hew a passage for the army. The horses strained their utmost strength to drag the ponderous wagons over roots and stumps, through gullies and quag- mires ; and the regular troops were daunted by the depth and gloom of the forest which hedged them in on either hand, and closed its leafy arch above their heads. So tedious was their pro- gress, that, by the advice of Washington, twelve hundred chosen men moved on in advance, with the lighter baggage and artillery, leaving the rest of the army to follow, by slower stages, with the heavy wagons. On the eighth of July, the advanced body reached the Monongahela, at a point not far distant from Fort du Quesne. The rocky and impracticable ground on the eastern side debarred their passage, and the General resolved to cross the river in search of a smoother path, and re-cross it a few miles lower dowm, in order to gain the fort. The first passage was easily made, and the troops moved, in glittering array, down the western margin of the water, rejoicing that their goal was well nigh reached, and the hour of their expected triumph close at hand. Scouts and Indian runners had brought the tidings of Braddock's 148 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. approach to the Freuch at Fort du Quesue. Their dismay was great, and Contrecour, the commauder, thought only of retreat, Avhen Beaujeu, a captain in the garrison, made the bold proposal of leading out a party of French and Indians to waylay the Eng- lish in the woods, and harass or interrupt their march. The offer was accepted, and Beaujeu hastened to the Indian camp. Around the fort and beneath the adjacent forest were the bark lodges of savage hordes, whom the French had mustered from far and near: Ojibwas and Ottawas, Hurons and Caughnawagas, Abenakis and Delawares. Beaujeu called the warriors together, flung a hatchet on the ground before them, and invited them to follow him out to battle ; but the boldest stood aghast at the peril, and none would accept the challenge. A second interview took place, with no better success ; but the Frenchman was resolved to carry his point. " I am determined to go," he exclaimed. " What, will you suffer your father to go alone ?" His daring proved con- tagious. The warriors hesitated no longer ; and when, on the morning of the ninth of July, a scout ran in Avith the news that the English army was but a few miles distant, the Indian camps were at once astir with the turmoil of preparation. Chiefs harangued their yelling followers, braves bedaubed themselves with war-paiut, smeared themselves with grease, hung feathers in their scalp-locks, and whooped and stamped till they had wrought themselves into a delirium of valor. Tliat morning, James Smith, an English prisoner, recently cap- tured on the frontier of Pennsylvania, stood on the rampart, and saw the half-frenzied multitude thronging about the gateway, where kegs of bullets and gunpowder were broken open, that each might help himself at will. Then band after band hastened away towards the forest, followed and supported by nearly two hundred and fifty French and Canadians, commanded by Beaujeu. There were the Ottawas, led on, it is said, by the remarkable man whose name stands so prominently on the pages of this history ; there were the Hurons, of Lorette, under their chief, whom the French called Athanose, and many more, all keen as hounds on the scent of blood. At about nine miles from the fort they reached a spot where the narrow road descended to the river through deep and HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 149 gloomy woods, and where two ravines, concealed by trees and bushes, seemed formed by nature for an ambuscade. Beaujeu well knew the ground ; and it was here that he had resolved to fight ; but he and his followers were well nigh too late ; for, as HON. J. G. SUTHERLAND, Jabez G. Sutherland was born October 6, 1825, in Onondaga county, New York; removed with his lather to Michigan in 1836, and has ever since resided in the counties of Genesee and Saginaw. He commenced the study of law in 1844, and came to the bar in 1848. In 1849 he settled in Saginaw county, and was appointed by the Governor prosecuting attorney of tliat county. He served as delegate in the Constitutional Convention of 1850, and in 1853 as a member of the lower branch of the Legislatui'e. In 1858 he was the unsuccessful Democratic candidate for 150 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. they neared the ravines, the woods were resounding with the roll of the British drums. It was past noon of a day brightened with the clear sunlight of an American midsummer, when the forces of Braddock began, for a second time, to cross the Mouongahela, at the fording-place, which, to this day, bears the name of their ill-fated leader. The scarlet columns of the British regulars, complete in martial appoint- ment, the rude backwoodsmen, with shouldered rifles, the trains of artillery and the white-topped wagons, moved on in long proces- sion through the shallow current, and slowly mounted the opj^osing bank. Men were there whose names have become historic : Gage, who, twenty-one years later, saw his routed battalions recoil in disorder from before the breastworks on Bunker Hill ; Gates, the future conqueror of Burgoyne ; and one destined to a higher fame, George Washington, a boy in years, a man in calm thought and self-ruling wisdom. With steady and well-ordered march the troops advanced into the great labyrinth of woods which shadowed the eastern borders of the river. Rank after rank vanished from sight. The forest swallowed them up, and the silence of the wilderness sank down once more on the shores and waters of the Monongahela. Several engineers and guides and six light horsemen led the way ; a body of grenadiers under Gage was close behind, and the army followed, in such order as the rough ground would permit, along a narrow road, twelve feet wide, tunneled through the dense and matted foliage. There were flanking parties on either side, *but no scouts to scour the woods in front, and, with an insane con- fidence, Braddock pressed on to meet his fate. The van had passed the low grounds that bordered the river, and were now ascending a gently rising ground, where, on either hand, hidden by thick trees, by tangled undergrowth and rank grasses, lay the two fatal ravines. Suddenly, Gorden, an engineer in advance, saw the French and Indians bounding forward through the forest and Attorney-General; in 1863 was elected circuit judge of the tenth circuit, and reelected in 1869 without opposition. In 1870 he was elected to Congress, and thereupon resigned his judgeship. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 151 along the narrow track, Beaujeu leading them on, dressed in a fringed hunting-shirt, and wearing a silver gorget on his breast. He stopped, turned and waved his hat, and his French followers, crowding across the road, opened a murderous fire upon the head of the British column ; while, screeching their war cries, the Indians thronged into the ravines, or crouched behind rocks and trees on both flanks of the advancing troops. The astonished grenadiers returned the fire, and returned it with good effect ; for a random shot struck down the brave Beaujeu, and the courage of the assailants was staggered by his fall. Dumas, second in command, rallied them to the attack ; and while he, with the French and Canadians, made good the pass in front, the Indians from their lurking places opened a deadly fire on the right and left. In a few moments all was confusion. The advance guard fell back on the main body, and every trace of subordination vanished. The fire soon extended along the whole length of the army, from front to rear. Scarce an enemy could be seen, though the forests resounded with their yells ; though every bush and tree was alive with incessant flashes ; though the lead flew like a hail-storm, and the men went down by scores. The regular troops seemed bereft of their senses. They huddled together in the road like flocks of sheep ; and happy did he think himself who could wedge his way into the midst of the crowd, and place a barrier of human flesh between his life and the shot of the ambushed marksmen. Many were seen eagerly loading their muskets, and then firing them into the air, or shooting their own comrades, in the insanity of their terror. The officers, for the most part, displayed a conspicuous- gallantry ; but threats and commands were wasted alike on the panic-stricken multitude. It is said that, at the outset, Braddock showed signs of fear ; but he soon recovered his wonted intrepid- ity. Five horses were shot under him, and five times he mounted afresh. He stormed and shouted, and, while the Virginians were fighting to good purpose, each man behind a tree, like the Indians themselves, he ordered them, with furious menace, to form in pla- toons, where the fire of the enemy mowed them down like grass. At length, a mortal shot silenced him, and two provincials bore him off the field. Washington rode through the tumult, calm and 152 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. undaunted. Two horses were killed under him, and four bullets pierced his clothes ; but his hour was not come, and he escaped without a wound. Gates was shot through the body, and Gage, also, was severely wounded. Of eighty-six officers only twenty- three remained unhurt ; and of twelve hundred soldiers, who crossed the Monongahela, more than seven hundred were killed and wounded. None suffered more severely than the Virginians, who had displayed throughout a degree of courage and steadiness which put the cowardice of the regulars to shame. The havoc among them was terrible, for, of their whole number, scarcely one- fifth left the field alive. The slaughter lasted three hours, when, at length, the survivors, as if impelled by a general impulse, rushed tumultuously from the place of carnage, and, with dastardly precipitation, fled across the Monongahela. The enemy did not pursue beyond the river, flock- ing to the field to collect the plunder, and gather a rich harvest of scalps. The routed troops pursued their flight until they met the rear division of the army, under Colonel Dunbar ; and then their senseless terrors did not abate. Dunbar's soldiers caught the infection. Common baggage, provisions and wagons were destroyed, and all fled together, eager to escape from the shadows of those awful woods, whose horrors haunted their imagination. They passed the defenseless settlements of the border, and hurried on to Philadelphia, leaving the unhappy people to defend them- selves as they might against the tomahawk and scalping-knife. The calamities of this disgraceful rout did not cease with the loss of a few hundred soldiers on the field of battle ; for it brought upon the province all the miseries of an Indian war. Those among the tribes who had thus far stood neutral, wavering between the French and English, now hesitated no longer. Many of them had been disgusted by the contemptuous behavior of Braddock. All had learned to despise the courage of the English, and to regard their own prowess with unbounded complacency. It is not in Indian nature to stand quiet in the midst of war ; and the defeat of Braddock was a signal for the western savages to snatch their tomahawks and assail the English settlements with one accord, murdering and pillaging with ruthless fury, and turning the fron- HISTORY OF MICHIGAN, 153 tier of Pennsylvania and Virginia into one wide scene of havoc and desolation. The three remaining expeditions which the British ministry had planned for that year's campaign were attended with various HON. JOHN N. MELLEN. John N. Mellen, the present State Senator from the twenty first sena- torial district of this State, was born in tlie town of Garry, Cliautauqua county. New Yorli, September 30, 1831. His father, Leander Mellen, was born at Shaftsbury, Bennington county, Vt., February 17, 1797. Mr. Mellen emigrated to Michigan in 1837, and settled in the town of Washington, Macomb county. He received a thorough common school education in the schools of that county, and removed to the town of Lenox, in the same county, in 1841. In 1869 he again changed his place of residence, and settled in the village of Romeo, where he still resides. 154 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. results. Acadia was quickly reduced by the forces of Colonel Monkton ; but the glories of this easy victory were tarnished by an act of cruelty. Seven thousand of the unfortunate people, refusing to take the prescribed oath of allegiance, were seized by the conquerors, torn from their homes, placed on shipboard, like cargoes of negro slaves, and transported to the British provinces. The expedition against Niagara was a total failure, for the troops did not even reach their destination. The movement against CroAvn Point met with no better success, as regards the main object of the enterprise. Owing to the lateness of the season, and other causes, the troops proceeded no farther than Lake George ; but the attempt was marked by a feat of arms, which, in that day of failures, was greeted, both in England and America, as a signal victory. General Johnson, afterwards Sir William Johnson, had been charged with the conduct of the Crown Point expedition ; and his little army, a rude assemblage of hunters and farmers from New York and New England, officers and men alike ignorant of war, lay encamped at the southern extremity of Lake George. Here, while they languidly pursued their preparations, their active enemy anticipated them. Baron Dieskau, who, with a body of troops, had reached Quebec in the squadron which sailed from Brest in the spring, had intended to take forcible possession of the English fort of Oswego, erected upon ground claimed by the French as a part of Canada. Learning Johnson's movement, he changed his plan, crossed Lake Champlain, made a circuit by way of Wood From 1847 until 1853 Mr. Mellen was actively engaged in the govern- ment surveys of the Upper Peninsula, and explored the wild and pic- turesque scenery of the Lake Superior region. During the winter of 1853-54 he made a trip to the Pacific coast, and remained two years among the gold mines, becoming thoroughly conversant with the man- ners and customs of those bold adventurers who, in search of wealth, had forsaken their comfortable homes in the East, and exposed them- selves to the dangers and hardships of this new country, peopled with hostile Indians. He was with Lieutenant Richardson on a topographical survey of Northern California, Oregon and Washington Territoiy, in 1856, and while on this expedition learned a considerable of the habits of the diflerent tribes of Indians dwelling in those regions. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 155 Creek, and gained the rear of the English army, with a force of about two thousand French and Indians. At midnight, on the seventh of September, the tidings reached Johnson that the army of the French baron was but a few miles distant from his camp. A council of war was called, and the resolution formed of detach- ing a thousand men to reconnoitre. If they are to be killed, said Hendrick, the Mohawk chief, they are too many ; if they are to fight, they ai'e too few. His remonstrance was unheeded ; and the brave old savage, unable from age and corpulence to fight on foot, mounted his horse and joined the English detachment, with two hundred of his warriors. At sunrise, the party defiled from the camp, and, entering the forest, disappeared from the eyes of their comrades. Those who remained behind labored with all the energy of alarm to fortify their unprotected camp. An hour elapsed, when, from the distance, was heard a sudden explosion of musketry. The excited soldiers suspended their work to listen. A rattling fire succeeded, deadened among the woods, but growing louder and nearer, till none could doubt that their comrades had met the French, and were defeated. This was indeed the case. Marching through thick woods, by the narrow and newly-cut road which led along the valley south- ward from Lake George, Williams, the English commander, had led his men full into an ambuscade, where all Dieskau's army lay in wait to receive them. From the woods on both sides rose an appalling shout, followed by a storm of bullets. Williams was soon shot down ; Hendrick shared his fate ; many officers fell, and lu 1857 he returned to "the States," and was engaged iu government surveys at the head of the Red River of the North, in the State of Min- nesota. Here he acquired much valuable information of the soil, climate and products of that region, and also increased his knowledge of the peculiar traits of the red man. In 1860 he was occupied on survej^s in the northern portion of Wisconsin, with Alfred Millard, Esq., and Har- vey Mellen. He was employed in the early surveys of Dacota Territory in 1861-2-3, under the supervision of G. D. Hill, surveyor-general. Since that time Mr. Mellen has been engaged in exploring the unsettled por- tions of the States of Wisconsin and Michigan, in search of pine lands and minerals, in which he is an extensive dealer. 156 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATEH. the road was strewed with dead and wounded soldiers. The Eng- lish gave Avay at once. Had they been regular troops, the result would have been worse ; but every man was a woodsman and a hunter. Some retired in bodies along the road ; while the greater part spread themselves through the forest, opposing a wide front to the enemy, fighting stubbornly as they retreated, and shooting back at the French from behind every tree or bush that could afford a cover. The Canadians and Indians pressed them closely, darting, with shrill cries, from tree to tree, while Dieskau's regu- lars, with steadier advance, bore all before them. Far and wide through the forest rang shout and shriek and Indian whoop, min- gled with the deadly rattle of guns. Retreating and pursuing, the combatants passed northward towards the English camp, leaving the ground behind them strewn with dead and dying. A fresh detachment from the camp came in aid of the English, and the pursuit was checked. Yet the retreating men were not the less rejoiced when they could discern between the brown columns of the woods, the mountains and waters of Lake George, with the tents of their encampments on its shores. The French followed no farther. The blast of their trumpets was heard recalling their scattered men for a final attack. During the absence of Williams' detachment, the main body of the army had covered the front of their camp with a breastwork — if the name can be applied to a row of logs — behind which the marksmen lay flat on their faces. This preparation was not yet complete, when the defeated troops appeared issuing from the woods. Breathless and perturbed, they entered the camp, and lay down with the rest ; and the army waited the attack in a frame of mind which boded ill for the result. Soon, at the edge of the woods which bordered the open space in front, painted Indians were seen, and bayonets glittered among the foliage, shining, in the homely comparison of a New England soldier, like a row of icicles on a January morning. The French regulars marched in column to the edge of the clearing, and formed in line, confronting the English at the distance of a hundred and fifty yards. Their complete order, their white uniforms and bristling bayonets, were a new and startling sight to the eyes of Johnson's rustic soldiers, HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 157 who raised but a feeble cheer in answer to the shouts of their ene- mies. Happily, Dieskau made no assault. The regulars opened a distant fire of musketry, throwing volley after volley against the English, while the Canadians and Indians, dispersing through the E. B. WARD. Eber B. Ward was born in Canada in 1811, his parents having fled into that conntry from Vermont, to escape the ravages consequent upon "the war of eighteen hundred and twelve." But he was not destined to remain long in the enemy's country. As soon as the smoke had died away from the last battle-field, the family returned to their pleasant home in Rutland county, Vermont, where they remained until Mr. Ward was about six years old. At this period, the future of the American States being fixed, civilization again resumed its westward march. Vermont, among other New England States, contributed to the movement, and in 1817 many of the best families of the Green Mountain State were seeking 158 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. morasses on each flauk of the camp, fired sharply, under cover of the trees and bushes. In the rear, the English were protected by the lake, but on the three remaining sides they were hedged in by the flash and smoke of musketry. The fire of the French had little efiect. The English recovered from their first surprise, and every moment their confidence rose higher and their shouts grew louder. Leveling their long hunting guns with cool precision, they returned a fire which thinned the ranks of the French, and galled them beyond endurance. Two cannon were soon brought to bear upon the morasses which shel- tered the Canadians and Indians; and, though the pieces were served with little skill, the assailants were soon terrified by the crashing of the balls among the trunks and branches, that they gave way at once. Dieskau still persisted in the attack. From noon until past four o'clock, the firing was scarcely abated, when, at length, the French, who had sufiered extremely, showed signs of wavering. At this, with a general shout, the English broke from their camp and rushed upon their enemies, striking them down with the butts of their guns, and driving them through the woods like deer. Dieskau was taken j^risoner, dangerously wounded, and leaning for support against the stump of a tree. The slaughter would have been great, had not the English gen- eral recalled the pursuers, and suflfered the French to continue their flight unmolested. Fresh disasters still awaited the fugitives ; a more lucrative inheritance in tlie boundless West and South. Mr. Ward's parents were among the travelers. They had set out for Ken- tucky, but being delayed at Waterford, Pennsylvania, for some time, owing to a disarrangement in their plans for transportation, a sad dispen- sation of Providence interrupted their journey. Mr. Ward's mother, after a severe illness, died, and was buried at this place. Changing their course, the father and son went into Ohio. Subsequently events led them westward until they were permanently located in Michigan. Mr. Ward first landed in Detroit in 1821, when he was onlj^ nine years old. Then he was a poor boy, without even the prospect of fortune and success; but, observe the course he pursued, and the results that attended his efforts. Nature seems to have qualified him to battle the perils of pioneer life; and, as if to increase the hardships that apparent ill fortune had already visited upon him, at the age of twelve years he secured the HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 159 for, as they approached the scene of that morning's ambuscade, they were greeted by a volley of musketry. Two companies of New York and New Hampshire rangers, who had come out from Fort Edward as a scouting party, had lain in wait to receive them. Favored by the darkness of the woods — for night was now approaching — they made so sudden and vigorous an attack, that the French thought them far superior in numbers, were totally routed and dispersed. This memorable conflict has cast its dark associations over one of the most beautiful spots in America. Near the scene of the evening fight, a pool, half overgrown by weeds and water lilies, and darkened by the surrounding forest, as pointed out to the tourist, and he is told that beneath its stagnant waters lie the bones of three hundred Frenchmen deep buried in mud and slime. . The war thus began was pros'^cuted for five succeeding years with the full energy of both nations. The period was one of suf- fering and anxiety to the colonists, who, knowing the full extent of their danger, spared no exertion to avert it. In the year 1758, Lord Abercrombie, who then commanded in America, had at his disposal a force amounting to fifty thousand men, of whom the greater part were provincials. The operations of the war embraced a wide extent of country, from Cape Breton and Nova Scotia to the sources of the Ohio ; but nowhere was the contest so actively carried on as in the neighborhood of Lake George, the waters of which, joined with those of Lake Champlain, formed humble position of cabin boy on a small schooner on the lakes. Thus was modestly inaugurated Captain Ward's marine life. It is inexpedient to tax the reader with all the changing scenes that came over his life since this dedication of boyhood to the interests of navigation. It is enough to say that from these humble beginnings, by hard industry and timely enterprise, he has won success for lake navigation, and wealth for himself. His accumulations are said to exceed five millions, and may be summed up as follows: $1,000,000 in Chicago EoUing Mills stock, $500,000 in Milwaukee Rolling Mills stock, $500,000 in Wyandotte Roll- ing Mills stock, $500,000 in floating property, and over $3,000,000 in real estate. Mr. E. B. Ward is now about sixty -two years of age, but is prosecuting his enormous business with all the vigor and exactness of his youth. 160 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. the main avenue of communication between Canada and the Brit- ish provinces. Lake George is more than thirty miles long, but of width so slight that it seems like some broad and placid river, enclosed between ranges of lofty mountains ; now contracting into narrows, dotted with islands and shadowed by cliffs and crags, now spreading into a clear and open expanse. It had long been known to the French. The Jesuit, Isaac Jogues, bound on a fatal mis- sion to the ferocious Mohawks, had reached its banks on the eve of Corpus Christi Day, and named it Lac St. Sacremeut. Its soli- tude was now rudely invaded. Armies passed and re-passed upon its tranquil bosom. At its northern point the French planted their stronghold of Ticonderoga ; at its south stood the English fort, William Henry ; while the mountains and waters between were a scene of ceaseless ambuscades, surprises, and forest skir- mishing. Through summer and winter, the crack of rifles and the cries of men gave no rest to their echoes ; and at this day, on the field of many a forgotten fight, are dug up rusty tomahawks, corroded bullets, and human bones, to attest the struggles of the past. The earliest years of the war were unpropitious to the English, whose commanders displayed no great degree of vigor or ability. In the summer of 1756, the French general, Montcalm, advanced upon Oswego, took it, and leveled it to the ground. In August of the following year, he struck a heavier blow. Passing Lake George with a force of eight thousand men, including about two thousand Indians, gathered from the farthest parts of Canada, he laid siege to Fort William Henry, close to the spot where Dieskau had been defeated two years before. Planting his batteries against it, he beat down its ramparts and dismounted its guns, until the garrison, after a brave defense, were forced to capitulate. They marched out with the honors of war ; but, scarcely had they done so, when Montcalm's Indians assailed them, cutting down and scalping them without mercy. Those who escaped came into Fort Edward with exaggerated accounts of the horrors from which they fled, and a general terror was spread through the country. The inhabitants were mustered from all parts to repel the advance of Montcalm ; but the French general, satisfied with what he had HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 161 done, re-passed Lake George, and retired behind the walls of Ticonderoga. In the year 1758, the war began to assume a different aspect, for Pitt was at the head of the government. Sir Jeffrey Amherst HON. CHARLES M. GARRISON. Charles M. Garrison, a leading citizen of Detroit, Michigan, was born near Mt. Vernon, Oliio, on the 17th of March, 1837. His father, Jolin J. Garrison, commenced business in Detroit in 1829 as a wholesale grocer. After being burned out and losing his entire stock on two differ- ent occasions, he established himself a third time, and, in the midst of unbounded success, he retired in 1863, being succeeded by his son, the subject of this sketch. Charles M. Garrison spent his youthful days, as he has his entire life, 11 162 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. laid siege to the etrong fortress of Louisburg, and at length reduced it ; while in the South, General Forbes marched against Fort du Quesne, and, more fortunate than his predecessor, Braddock, drove the French from that important point. Another successful stroke was the destruction of Fort Frontenac, which was taken by a pro- vincial army, under Colonel Bradstreet. These achievements Avere counterbalanced by a great disaster. Lord Abercrombie, with an army of sixteen thousand men, advanced to the head of Lake George, the place made memorable by Dieskau's defeat and the loss of Fort William Henry. On a brilliant July morning, he embarked his whole force for an attack on Ticonderoga. Many of those present have recorded with admiration the beauty of the spectacle — the lines of boats, filled with troops, stretching far down the lake, the flashing of oars, the glittering of weapons, and the music ringing back from crags and rocks, or dying, in mel- lowed strains, among the distant mountains. At night, the army landed, and, driving in the French outposts, marched through the woods towards Ticonderoga. One of their columns, losing its way in the forest, fell in Avith a body of the retreating French ; and, in the conflict that ensued, Lord Howe, the favorite of the army, was shot dead. On the eighth of July, they prepared to storm the lines which Montcalm had drawn across the peninsula, in front of the fortress. Advancing to the attack, they saw before them a breastwork of uncommon height and thickness. The French were drawn up behind it, their heads alone visible, as they leveled their muskets against the assailants ; while, for a in the city of Detroit, receiving a thorough education in her common scliools. At the age of sixteen he entered his father's store, and lias been con- stantly engaged in the wholesale grocery trade ever since, building up one of the most extensive and important establishments in Michigan. Mr. Garrison has filled a number of positions of importance and trust, and has ever been known to perform his duties faithfully and well. In 1871 he was elected president of the Board of Trade without opposition, • and his performance of the duties of that responsible position was such as to secure his unanimous reelection to the same office in 1872. When the disastrous fires of the fall of 1871 swept over the northern and western portions of our State, laying whole towns in ashes, and HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 163 hundred yards in front of the work, the ground was covered with felled trees, with sharpened branches, pointing outwards. The signal of assault was given. In vain, the Highlanders, screaming with rage, hewed with their broadswords among the branches, struggling to get at the enemy. In vain the English, with their deep-toned shout, rushed on in heavy columns. A tempest of musket balls met them, and Montcalm's cannon swept the whole ground with terrible carnage. A few officers and men forced their way through the branches, passed the ditch, climbed the breast- work, and, leaping among the enemy, were instantly bayonetted. The English fought four hours with determined valor, but the position of the French was impregnable ; and at length, having lost two thousand of their number, the army drew off, leaving many of their dead scattered upon the field. A sudden panic seized the defeated troops. They rushed in haste to their boats, and, though no pursuit was attempted, they did not regain their composure until Lake George was between them and the enemy. The fatal lines of Ticonderoga were not soon forgotten in the provinces ; and marbles in Westminster Abbey preserve the mem- ory of those who fell on that disastrous day. This repulse, far from depressing the energies of the British commanders, seemed to stimulate them to new exertion ; and the campaign of the next year, 1759, had for its object the immediate and total reduction of Canada. This unhappy country was full of misery and disorder. Peculation and every kind of corruption prevailed among its civil and military chiefs, a reckless licentious- doing incalculable damage to our pine forests and farming interests, and rendering hundreds of families houseless and destitute, Mr. Garrison did his utmost to render assistance, and contributed largely to that end. He was appointed chairman of the State relief committee, by Governor Baldwin, and in this position he did a work that prevented a large amount of suffering, and brought happiness to many an unfortunate family throughout the desolate region traversed by the fires. In the autumn of 1872 he was chosen to represent the fourth ward of Detroit in her Common Council, and in the proceedings of that body he exerts considerable influence, and is ever found on the side of economy and honesty. 164 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES, ness was increasing among the people, and a general famine seemed impending ; for the population had of late years been drawn away for military service, and the fields were left untilled. In spite of their sufferings, the Canadians, strong in rooted antipathy to the English, and highly excited by their priests, resolved on fighting to the last. Prayers were offered up in the churches, masses said, and penance enjoined, to avert the wrath of God from the colony, while everything was done for its defense which the energies of a great and patriotic leader could effect. The details of the fall of Quebec, and the death of Montcalm and Wolfe, having been given in another chapter, we will now follow the English army to Western Canada, Detroit, and other western outposts. CHAPTER X. The English take Possession of the Western Outposts op Canada — March op Major Rogers and the Provincial Rangers — Appearance op Pontiac — Sltirender of Detroit and Michili- MACKINAC TO THE ENGLISH — EnD OF FRENCH RuLE IN MICHIGAN. Canada had fallen ! Montcalm, her bold defender, had also fallen, and now the plains around Montreal were dotted with three victorious English armies. The work of conquest was com- plete. Canada, with all her dependencies, had yielded to the British Crown. It remained only for the English to take posses- sion of those western outposts, where the lilies of France were still flying from the flag staff. The execution of this very dangerous task was assigned to Major Robert Rogers, a provincial officer, and a native of New Hampshire. Rogers commanded a body of provincial rangers. Putnam and Stark were his associates ; and it was in this woodland warfare that the former achieved many of those startling adventures which have made his name familiar at every New England fire- side. On the twelfth of September, 1760, Rogers, then at the height of his reputation, received orders from Sir Jeffrey Amherst to ascend the lakes with a detachment of rangers, and take posses- sion, in the name of his Britannic Majesty, of Detroit, Michili- mackinac, and other western posts included in the capitulation of Montreal. He left the latter place on the following day with two hundred rangers in fifteen whale boats. They gained Lake Ontario, skirted its northern shore, amid rough and boisterous weather, and, crossing at its western extrem- ity, reached Fort Niagara on the first of October. Carrying their boats over the portage, they launched them once more above the cataract and slowly pursued their voyage ; while Rogers and 166 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. a few attendants hastened on in advance to Fort Pitt, to deliver dispatches, with which he was charged, to General Monkton. This accomplished, he re-joined his army at Presque Isle, about the end of the month, and the whole proceeded together along the southern margin of Lake Erie. " The season was far advanced," says Parkman, " the wind was chill, the lake was stormy, and the woods on shore were tinged with the fading hues of autumn." On the seventh of November they reached the mouth of a river, called by Rogers, the Chogage. No body of troops under the ■ British flag had ever penetrated so far before. The day was dull and rainy, and, resolving to rest until the weather should improve, Rogers ordered his men to prepare their encampment in the neighboring forest. Soon after the arrival of the rangers, a party of Indian chiefs and warriors entered the camp. They proclaimed themselves an embassy from Pontiac, ruler of all that country, and directed, in his name, that the English should advance no further until they had had an interview with the great chief, who was already close at hand. In truth, before the day closed, Pontiac himself appeared ; and it is here, for the first time, that this remarkable man stands forth on the pages of the History of Michigan. He greeted Rogers with the haughty demand, what was his business in that country, and how dared he enter it without his permission. Rogers informed him that the French were defeated, that Canada had surrendered, and that he was on his way to take possession of Detroit, and restore a general peace to white men and Indians alike. Pontiac listened with attention, but only replied that he should stand in the path of the English until morning. Having inquired if the strangers were in need of anything which his country could afford, he withdrew, with his chiefs, at nightfall, to his own encampment ; while the English, ill at ease, and sus- pecting treachery, stood well on their guard throughout the night. In the morning, Pontiac returned to the camp, with his attend- ant chiefs, and made his reply to Rogers' speech of the i:)revious day. He was willing, he said, to live at peace with the English, and suffer them to remain in his country, as long as they treated him with due respect and deference. The Indian chiefs and HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 167 provincial officers smoked the calumet together, and perfect har- mony seemed established between them. Up to this time, Pontiac had been the fast ally of the French, but it is easy to see the motive that impelled him to renounce his old allegiance. The HON. LYSANDER WOODWARD. Ltsandek Woodward, one of the most prominent men in Oakland county, was born in the town of Columbia, Tolland, county, Connecticut, November 19, 1817. His parents, Asahel Woodward and Harriet House, were natives of that State. In 1825, with his parents, he removed to the town of Chili, Monroe county, N. Y. From here he emigrated to Michigan in the fall of 1838. He married Miss Peninah A. Simpson on the 11th of May, 1843, and settled near the village of Rochester, Oakland county, where he still resides. 168 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. American forests never produced a man more shrewd and ambi- tious. Ignorant as he was of what was passing in the world, he could clearly see that the French power was on the wane, and he knew his own interest too well to prop a falling cause. A cold storm of rain set in, and the rangers were detained sev- eral days in their encampment. During this time Rogers had several interviews with Pontiac, and was constrained to admire the native vigor of his intellect, no less than the singular control which he exercised over those around him. On the twelfth of November the detachment Avas again in motion, and within a few days they had reached the western end of Lake Erie. Here they heard that the Indians of Detroit were in arms against them, and that four hundred warriors lay in ambush at the entrance of the river to cut them off. The powerful influence of Pontiac being exerted in favor of his new friends, the warriors abandoned their design, and the rangers continued their march toward Detroit, now near at hand. Lieutenant Brehm was sent forward by Rogers to inform Cap- tain Beletre, the commandant at Detroit, that Canada had capitu- lated, that his garrison was included in the capitulation, and that an English detachment was approaching to relieve it. Captain Beletre, in great wrath at these tidings, disregarded the message Mr. Woodward's chief occupation is that of a farmer, but he has held many important offices in liis township. In ISttO he was elected Repre- sentative from the first district of Oakland county to the State Legislature, and served witli considerable distinction during one regular and two extra sessions. He was county treasurer of Oakland county two terms, from 18GG to 1870, and performed his duties in a thoroughly satisfactory manner. Mr. Woodward was also president of the Oakland County Agricultural Society for three years, and in this position did great service in advancing the agricultural interests of his county. He was among the first to conceive and advocate the building of the Detroit & Bay City Railroad, and has been instrumental in canvassing for and promoting its construction. He was chosen the first president of this company in 1871, which important office he held up to May 15, 1873, and he still remains one of the directors of the company. Mr. Woodward owns one of the largest and best cultivated farms in Oakland county. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN 169 as an informal communication, and resolved to keep a hostile atti- tude to the last. He did his best to rouse the fury of the Indians, but his faithless allies showed symptoms of defection in his hour of need. HON. PETER C. ANDRE. Peter Charles Andre, of Saginaw, was born in Detroit, Micliigan, October 25, 1817. His grandfather, Joseph Andre, was tlie founder and proprietor of Vincennes, Indiana, whence Joseph Clark Andre, the father of Peter C, removed in 1801 to Detroit, where, on July 29, 1813, he married Clemelia, daughter of Capt. John Pearson, of Boston, Mass. , who is known as among the earliest navigators of the upper lakes. Of the issue of this marriage there are still surviving, besides the subject of this sketch, Julia, wife of Major Placedus Ord, U. S. A., Elias C. and Alexander Andre, Josephine Schick and Louisa Calnon. 170 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. Rogers had now entered the mouth of the Detroit River, whence he sent forward Captain Campbell with a copy of the capitulation and a letter from the Marquis de Vaudreuil, directing that the place should be given up, in accordance with the terms agreed upon between him and General Amherst. Beletre was forced to yield, and with a very ill grace, declared himself and his garrison at the disposal of the English commander. The whale boats of the rangers moved slowly upwards between the low banks of the Detroit, until at length they came in sight of the little town. Before them, on the right side, they could see the village of the Wyandots, and on the left, the clustered lodges of the Pottawattomies, while a little beyond, the flag of France was flying for the last time above the bark roofs and weather-beaten palisades of the little fortified settlement. The rangers landed on the opposite bank, and pitched their tents upon a meadow, while two officers, with a small detachment, went across the river to take possession of the place. In obedience to their summons, the French garrison defiled upon the plain, and Mr. Andre's family consists of liis wife (formerly Miss Clarissa M. Stark), two daughters and himself. At a very early age he entered the dry goods store of S. P. Fletcher, then in the "John R. Williams Block," Detroit, as a clerk. After spend- ing a few years in that capacity, and before reaching his majority, he went into the mercantile, forwarding and commission business, on his own account, at Grand Haven, Michigan, and in 1843 established five trading posts in the northern portion of the Lower Peninsula. These he conducted until 1846, when he removed to Sagina-.v and opened a mer- cantile house, which he continued until 18G3. Since then he has been, and still is, engaged largely in the real estate business. Mr. Andre's fortune is among the largest in Saginaw; and it is pei'haps due him to say that his tact, sagacity and energy, have carried him suc- cessfully through the great financial troubles of the last forty years. He has been mayor of Saginaw and register of deeds for Saginaw county, and has held responsible positions under the general government. He has always taken a lively interest in all matters pertaining to the development and growth of his city and county. His advice and opin- ions are much sought in the councils of both, and he contributes freely and generously to every enterprise tending to their prosperity and wel- fare. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN, 171 laid down their arms. The fleur de lis was lowered froni the flag- staff, and the cross of St. George rose aloft in its place, while seven hundred Indian warriors, lately the active allies of the French, greeted the sight with a burst of triumphant yells. The Canadian militia were next called together, and disarmed. The Indians beheld these actions with amazement, being quite at a loss to understand why so many men should bow before so few. " Nothing," says Parkman, " is more effective in gaining the respect or even attachment of Indians, than a display of power." The savage spectators conceived the loftiest ideas of English prowess, and were astonished at the forbearance of the conquerors in not killing their vanquished enemies on the spot. Thus, on the 29th of November, 1760, Detroit fell into the hands of the English. The garrison were sent as prisoners down the lake, but the Canadian inhabitants were allowed to retain their farms and houses, on condition of swearing allegiance to the British crown. An officer was sent southward to take possession of the forts Miami and Ouatanon, which guarded the communica- tion between Lake Erie and the Ohio ; while Rogers himself, Avith a small party, proceeded northward, to relieve the French garri- son of Michilimackinac. The storms and gathering ice of Lake Huron forced him back, without accomplishing his object, and Michilimackinac, with the three remoter posts of Ste. Marie, Green Bay, and St. Joseph, remained for a time in the hands of the French. During the next season, however, a detachment of the Sixtieth Regiment, then called the Royal Americans, took pos- session of them, a full account of which will be found farther on. Nothing now remained within the power of the French, except the few posts and settlements on the Mississippi and the Wabash, not included in the capitulation of Montreal. The fertile wilder- ness beyond the Alleghanies, over which France had claimed sovereignty — that boundless forest, with its tracery of interlacing streams, which, like veins and arteries, gave it life and nourish- ment — had passed into the hands of England. The French in America were completely subdued, and, to the English mind, there was little to be feared from the red man. The lapse of two years, however, sufficed to show how complete and fatal was the mistake. CHAPTER XI. HosTiiJTY Between the Northern Indians and the English — Experience of the First English Traders who Visited Mich- ILIMACKINAC — ThEIR PERSECUTIONS — ThE ENGLISH SOLDIERS TAKE Possession of Michilimackinac. With the change of jurisdiction narrated in the preceding chap- ter a new scene opens before us. The victory on the Heights of Abraham gave to England the possession of a wide extent of terri- tory ; but that territory was vast forest, broken only here and there by a prairie, a lake, or an Indian clearing. The emblems of power in these illimitable wastes were the log forts which had been, here and there, erected by the French for trading posts. The English took possession of these, garrisoned them with a few men, seemingly oblivious of the dangers by which they were sur- rounded, dependent, as they were, upon the Indians for supplies, and weakened by the long distances which separated them from each other. But, weak as they were, their presence alarmed the Indians. The untutored mind of the savage could not comprehend by what right the British flag was unfurled over their dominions, or why the English should claim any right to their lands because of a victory over the French. Hence, from the first, they were filled with suspicion and dislike ; and the conduct of the English was such as to foster, rather than allay, the feeling. The French had always treated the red man as a brother. " They called us children," said a Chippewa chief, " and we found them fathers." But the English were cold and harsh. The French had made them liberal presents ; but the English spurned them from their doors. The French traders had dealt honestly by them ; but the English had cheated them and outraged their families. Another source of discontent was the advent of English set- tlers. Their choicest lauds were invaded, and the graves of their HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 173 ancestors desecrated. These things aroused some of the tribes to the highest pitch of excitement. In the meantime, the French were not idle. Every advantage was taken of the conduct of the English and the natural fears of HON. CHARLES S. MAY. Charles Sedgwick May was bom at Sandisfield, Berkshire county, Mass., March 33, 1830. In the year 1834, his father's family removed to Richland, Kalamazoo county, Michigan, being among the earliest settlers of the town. Until his fifteenth year he worked upon his father's farm, attending district school during the winter months. He then entered as a student the Kalamazoo branch of the Michigan University, and was in attendance with more or less regularity for four years, acquiring some knowledge, of Latin and Greek, and laying the foundations of the rhetorical and oratorical excellence for which he has since been so well known. At the age of twenty he had acquired a command of both 174 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. the Indians. They told the Indians that the English were deter- mined to exterminate them, or drive them from their homes and their hunting grounds ; that the King of France had been asleep, but was now awake, and hastening with a vast army to the assist- ance of his red children. Another cause which tended to increase their excitement, and hasten an outbreak, Avas the appearance of a prophet among the Delawares. He taught them to lay aside everything which they had received from the white man, and thus strengthen and purify their natures, and make themselves acceptable to the Great Spirit. He told them that by so doing the favor of the Great Spirit would be conciliated, and the white man would be foreyer driven from their dominions. This excitement soon led them to action. In the spring of 1761, Captain Campbell, then commanding at Detroit, learned that a deputation of Senecas had come to the neighboring village of the Wyandots, for the purpose of instigating the latter to destroy him and his garrison. Upon examination, the plot was found to be general, and other posts were to share the fate of his own ; but his promptness in sending information to the other commanders extemporaneous and written oratory rarely met with in so young a man. This naturally led him to the choice of law as a profession. After read- ing at home for some time such elementary law books as he could obtain, he pursued his legal studies more regularly at Bennington, Vermont, and at Battle Creek, Michigan, while at the same time he was a frequent contributor to the anti-slavery journals of the State. He was duly admit- ted to the bar of Michigan in 1854. From November, 1855, to October, 1856, he was associate i)olitical editor of the Detroit Daily Tribune^ acting a considerable portion of that time as its editorial correspondent in Washington. Finding this employment too confining, he returned to the practice of law at Battle Creek, and in September, 1857, removed to Kalamazoo, where he has since resided, practicing his profession. In November, 1860, Mr. May was elected Prosecuting Attorney for Kalamazoo county. Immediately after the bombardment of Sumter, in April, 1861, he resigned his office to raise a company for the Second Regiment of Michigan infantry, and, with his men, started at once for the seat of war. After serving through the first campaign of the Army of the Potomac, participating with honor in the battles of Blackburn's HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 175 nipped the conspiracy in the bud. During the following year, a similar design was detected and suppressed. But these proved to be only warnings of what was to come. In the spring of 1763, a scheme was matured, " greater in extent, deeper, and more com- prehensive in design — such a one as was never, before or since, conceived or executed by a North American Indian." It contem- plated, first, a sudden and contemporaneous assault upon all the English forts around the lakes ; and, second, the garrisons having been destroyed, the turning of a savage avalanche of destruction upon the defenseless frontier settlements, until, as many fondly believed, the English should be driven into the Atlantic Ocean, and the Indians reinstated in their primitive possessions. But, before we proceed further with the narration of the events of this consjairacy, let us turn our attention to the condition of Michilimackinac, and note the events which were there transpir- ing. The Indians of that locality as deeply regretted the change which had taken place as their more southern neighbors, and for the same causes. This post, it will be remembered, did not fall into the hands of the English until about one year after the surrender of Detroit. Ford and Bull Run, lie was compelled by ill health to resign his commis- sion, and return to his home and profession. In the fall of 1863, he was elected Lieutenant-Governor of Michigan; as such, presiding over the State Senate during its sessions, though the youngest member of that body, with signal ability and general approval. He was universally conceded to have been one of the ablest presiding officers that had ever occupied the chair of the Senate chamber. On the 9tli of February, 1863, he addressed the Senate, in a carefully prepared speech, urging the Legislature to sustain the government in putting down the rebellion. The speech was widely circulated by his Republican friends, and was admitted, even by his political opponents, to be an eflFort of great power. On the 35th of January, 1864, during the extra session, at the unani- mous request of the Republican members of both branches of the Legislature, Mr. May made a speech in the Hall of Representatives, enti- tled " Union, Victory and Freedom," of such clearness of statement and force of argument, that it was published as a pamphlet and very widely circulated, and copied into many of the leading Republican journals 176 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. Our purpose is now to narrate some of the important events which transpired during the last year of French occupation of this ancient Indian metropolis. The English flag floated over every post in the lake region save this. Here, alone, the fleur de lis still waved in the breeze ; and here were collected those savages who were most hostile to the English. The French constantly goaded their Indian allies to greater hostility to the English — determined to harass the enemy they could not conquer. The feeling Avhich animated these Indians cannot be better described than by nar- rating some of the adventures of Alexander Henry, the first Eng- lish trader who ventured among them. No treaty having been made, it was with difficulty that Henry secured permission to trade. But consent was at last given, and,' on the third of August, 1761, he began his perilous journey. Reaching Michilimackinac, he secured a house, but was immediately warned by the inhabit- ants that his position was far from safe. They advised him to lose no time in returning to Detroit ; but he disregarded their admo- nitions, and concluded to take his chances, his friend Campion having declared his belief that the Canadian settlers were more hostile than the Indians, and that their admonitions were prompted by jealousy of English traders. throughout the West. Since the close of his term as Lieutenant- Governor, lie has held no public office. In the national and State campaigns from 18ot> to 1870, he was actively engaged as a political orator on the Republican side. During the cam- paign of 1873, he supported Horace Greeley for President, running as elector at large on the Liberal State ticket. Although prevented by a severe and protracted illness from participating in the campaign to any extent that season, yet on the 27th of September, while still much enfee- bled, and suffering from disease, he made a notable and powerful speech at Union Hall, in Kalamazoo, in vindication of the Liberal movement, which was widely read and circulated throughout the State. In conclusion, the subject of this sketch is well known as a man of uncompromising integrity, and of indomitable and undaunted moral courage in his advocacy of the great principles of justice, temperance, morality and equal rights, and both for his own high character and his unquestioned ability, he commands the respect and confidence of his fellow men. ' HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 177 Fort Michilimackinac was built by order of the Governor-Gen- eral of Canada, and garrisoned with a small number of militia, who, having families, soon became less soldiers than settlers. The fort and settlement stood on the south side of the strait connecting HON. B. W. HUSTON. Benjamfn W. Huston, of Vassar, Tuscola county, was born near the city of Rochester, New York, March 5, 1831. His father, B. W. Huston, Sr., removed from the State of New York in the spring of 1836, and set- tled upon a farm in the township of Canton, Wayne county, Michigan, where he is still living. Mr. Huston, Jr., the subject of this sketch, when very young, evinced a strong desire for an education, but the moderate means of his parents prevented them from gratifying this desire only in a limited manner. At 12 178 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. The settlement had an area of two acres, and was inclosed with pickets of cedar wood, and was so near the water's edge, that when the wind was from the west, the waves broke against the stockade. On the bastions were two small pieces of English brass cannon. Within the stockade Avere thirty houses, neat in their appearance, and tolei-ably commodious, and a church, in which mass was celebrated by a Jesuit priest. The number of families was nearly equal to that of the houses, and their subsistence was derived from the Indian traders, who assembled there on their voyages to and from Montreal. Michili- mackinac was the place of deposit, and point of departure between the upper countries and the lower. Here the outfits were prepared for the countries of Lake Michigan and the Mississippi, Lake Superior and the Northwest ; and here the return, in furs, was collected and embarked for Montreal. Henry was not released from the visits and admonitions of the inhabitants of the fort before he received the equivocal intelli- gence that the whole band of Chippewas, from the Island of Mich- ilimackinac, was arrived, with the intention of paying him a visit. There was in the fort a Mr. Farley, an interpreter, lately in the eight years of age he was taken from the district school and placed at work on his father's farm, and from that time until he was nineteen years of age he seldom received over a month or six weeks' schooling during the year, and that in the winter season, when his services could not be made available on the farm. At the age of nineteen his health failed him to such an extent that he could not perform the laborious duties of a farmer, and, consequently, he enjoyed the benefits of an eleven weeks' term at the seminary, in Ypsilanti. He taught school the follow- ing winter, and worked on the farm the two succeeding summers, attending the Ypsilanti seminary during the fall terms of those years. In the spring of 1853, Mr. Huston entered the office of Hon. C. Joslin, of Ypsilanti, as a law student. At this time he was destitute of all pecu- niary assistance, and had to rely entirely upon his own resources to acquire the desired knowledge. He, however, pushed his legal studies diligently, and was admitted to the bar at Ann Arbor in September, 1854. At the time he was reading law he married Miss Nancy J. Vought, of Superior township, Washtenaw county, Mich. In the spring of 1855 he removed from Ypsilanti to Tuscola county, HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 179 employ of the French commandant. He had married a Chippewa woman, and was said to possess great influence over the nation to which his wife belonged. Doubtful as to the kind of visit which he was about to receive, Henry sent for this interpreter, and requested, first, that he would have the kindness to be present at the interview ; and, secondly, that he would inform him of the intention of the band. Mr. Farley agreed to be present ; and, as to the object of the visit, replied, that it was consistent with a uni- form custom, that a stranger, on his arrival, should be waited upon and welcomed by the chiefs of the nation, who, on their part, always gave a small present, and always expected a large one; but as to the rest, declared himself unable to answer for the particular views of the Chippewas on this occasion, he being an Englishman, and the Indians having made no treaty with the English. He thought there might be danger, the Indians having protested that they would not suffer an Englishman to remain in their part of the country. This information was far from agreeable ; but there was no resource except in fortitude and patience. At two o'clock in the afternoon, the Chippewas visited Mr. Henry, at his house, about sixty in number, and headed by Mina- and settled ia the town of Vassar, where he still resides. When he reached Vassar he found himself in a county that was almost an unbroken wilderness, having only two thousand inhabitants inside its boundaries. His possessions consisted of ninety dollars worth of law books, a loving wife, and several hundred dollars of debts. This was rather a discour- aging start in life, but Mr. Huston showed himself equal to the heavy task before him. He received the appointment of prosecuting attorney for his county, at a salary of $150 a year, and with this, and what he earned by hard work at his profession, succeeded in maintaining himself for several years, until his county grew, and his practice with it. From the time of attaining his majority until the breaking out of the rebellion, Mr. Huston acted with the Democratic party. In 1856 he received the nomination of prosecuting attorney of his county from that party, but the county being strongly Republican, he was defeated. In 1858 he was elected prosecuting attorney and circuit court commissioner on the Democratic ticket, although that party was still in the minority. At the following election he was defeated for the same office by only 180 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. vavana, their chief. They walked in single file, each with his tomahawk in one hand and scalping-knife in the other. Their bodies were naked from the waist upward, except in a few instances, where blankets were thrown loosely over their shoulders. Their faces were painted with charcoal, worked up with grease ; their bodies with white clay, in patterns of various fancies. Some had feathers thrust through their noses, and their heads decorated with the same. It is not proper to dwell here on the sensations with which Henry beheld the approach of this uncouth, if not frightful assemblage. The chief entered first, and the rest followed, without noise. On receiving a sign from the former, the latter seated themselves on the floor. Minavavana appeared to be about fifty years of age. He was six feet in height, and had in his countenance an inde- scribable mixture of good and evil. Looking steadfastly at Henry, where he sat — with an interpreter on either side, and several Canadians behind him — he entered at the same time into conversa- tion with Campion, Henry's friend, inquiring how long it was since Mr. Henry left Montreal, and observing that the English, as it would seem, were brave men, and not afraid of death, since they dared to come, as Henry had done, fearlessly among their enemies. twenty-one votes. At this election lie supported Stephen A. Douglass for the presidency, but has not acted with the Democratic party since. In 18G2, at the request of the war committee of his county, he raised and organized Co. " D," of the 28d Michigan Infantry Volunteers, and went out with it as captain. He started for the seat of war on the 18th of September, 1862, and remained with the regiment until the winter of 1865. Capt. Huston was in active service in many of the most important engagements during the war, among which were Morgan's raid, the battle of Campbell's Station, and the siege of Knoxville. He was engaged in the whole campaign in East Tennessee, and was with Gen. Sherman in the campaign against Atlanta. Being previously promoted to major, and owing to the sickness of Col. Spaulding, he was in command of the regiment during the greater portion of this canipaign. Major Huston took an active part in the engagements around Lost Mountain and at Resaca. At the latter place he displayed great courage, remaining on the field after all the men and oflBcers had retreated to the cover of the woods. With the exception of two short leaves of absence of twenty days each. HISTORY OP MICHIGAN. 181 The Indians now gravely smoked their pipes, while Henry inwardly endured 'the torture of suspense. At length, the pipes being finished, as well as a long pause by which they were suc- ceeded, Minavavana, taking a few strings of wampum in his hand, began the following speech : " Englishman, it is to you that I speak, and I demand your attention. Englishman, you know that the French king is our father. He promised to be such, and we, in return, promised to be his children. This promise we have kept. Englishman, it is you that have made war with this our father. You are his enemies, and how, then, could you have the boldness to venture among us, his children ? You know that his enemies are ours. Englishman, we are informed that our father, the King of France, is old and infirm, and that, being fatigued with making war with your nation, he has fallen asleep. During his sleep, you have taken advantage of him, and possessed yourselves of Canada. But his nap is almost at an end. I think I hear him already stirring and inquiring for his children, the Indians ; and when he does awake, what must become of you? He will destroy you utterly. Englishman, although you have conquered the French, you have not yet con- quered us ! We are not your slaves ! These lakes, these woods and mountains, were left to us by our ancestors. They are our one of which was on account of injuries, Mr. Huston was not absent from duty a single day from the time he entered the service until he left the same, in January, 1865. In the spring of 1865, he returned to Vassar, and again renewed the practice of his profession. In 1866 he was elected circuit court commis- sioner of his county, which position he soon after resigned. He was elected a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention in 1867, without opposition. In this convention he succeeded in winning the confidence and esteem of his associates. In the fall of 1868 he was elected as a Representative to the State Legislature by a large majority, and served as chairman of the committee on public lands, being also a member of the judiciary committee. Mr. Huston was reelected to the House in 1870, and was a prominent candidate for the speakership before the Republican caucus, being defeated by only one ballot, and that in the absence of a number of his friends. He served as speaker pro tern of the House during the sessions of 1869 and 1871-3, and was chairman of the judiciary com- mittee during the latter session. As a member of the Constitutional 182 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. inheritance, and we will part with them to none. Your nation supposes that we, like the white people, cannot live without bread, and pork, and beef. But you ought to know that He, the Great Spirit and Master of Life, has provided food for us in these spacious lakes, and on these woody mountains. " Englishman, our father, the King of France, has employed our young men to make war upon your nation. In this warfare many of them have been killed, and it is our custom to retaliate, until such time as the spirits of the slain are satisfied. But the spirits of the slain are to be satisfied in either of two ways : the first is by the spilling of the blood of the nation by Avhich they fell ; the other, by covering the bodies of the dead, and thus allaying the resentment of their relations. This is done by making presents. " Englishman, your king has never sent us any presents, nor entered into any treaty with us, wherefore he and we are still at war ; and until be does these things, we must consider that we have no other father or friend among the white men but the King of France. But, for you, we have taken into consideration that you have ventured your life among us in the expectation that we should not molest you. You do not come armed, with an inten- tion to make war ; you come in peace, to trade with us, and supply Convention and the Legislature, Mr. Huston was one of the most untir- ing and faithful workers in those bodies, never being absent from roll call of either of them during their entire sessions. He was one of the managers in the impeachment trial of Commissioner Edmonds, and he is said to have made the most convincing speech, from the facts that were proven, that was made on the part of the prosecution. He was one of the delegates to the Republican National Convention, which met in Philadelphia, in 1873, and nominated General Grant for a second term of the presidency. As a lawyer, he has been remarkably successful, and although he started in a new country, and under very discouraging circumstances, he has, through the dint of hard labor, built up a large and lucrative prac- tice. As a man, he is social and pleasant in his intercourse with his fellow men. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and superin- tendent of their Sunday school. He contributes freely to all charitable and religious purposes, and lias the entire confidence of the community in which he resides. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 183 US with necessaries, of whicli we are much in want. We shall regard you, therefore, as a brother ; and you may sleep tranquilly, without fear of the Chippewas. As a token of our friendship, we present you this pipe to smoke." RAY HADDOCK. Ray Haddock, county clerk of Wayne county, was born in Herkimer county. New York, in the year 1815. He early manifested a strong pre- dilection for tlie "art preservative of all arts," and commenced liis appren- ticeship in a printing office, in Little Falls, in 1880, closing it in Columbus, Ohio, whither he went with his parents, in 1832. He worked as a journeyman printer in Columbus, Cincinnati, Louisville, St. Louis, New Orleans, Natchez, Jackson and Clinton, Mississippi ; established the Republican at Brandon, in the same State, in 1837; returned north in 1839, and was connected successfully with the Cincinnati Message, Ohio States- man, Cleveland Times, and Sandusky Mirror; came to Detroit in April, 1857, and accepted the position of commercial editor of the Detroit Tri- bune, continuing in the same capacity upon the Advertiser and Tribune, after the consolidation of the two journals, a position which lie resigned in 1866, to accept a situation upon the Detroit Post. Mr. Haddock was appointed secretary of the Detroit Board of Trade in 1860, which appointment he held for nearly 13 years, tendering his resignation in the 184 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. As the chief uttered these words, an Indian presented Henry with a pipe, which, after he had drawn the smoke three times, was carried to the chief, and after him to every person in the room. This ceremony ended, the chief arose, and gave Henry his hand, in which he was followed by all the rest. Being again seated, the chief requested that his young men might be allowed to taste what he called Henry's English milk (meaning rum), observing that it was long since they had tasted any, and that they were very desi- rous to know whether or not there was any difi'erence between the English milk and the French. Henry's former adventures with Indians had left an impression on his mind which made him tremble when Indians asked for rum, and he would, therefore, have willingly excused himself in this particular ; but, being informed that it was customary to comply with the request, and, withal, satisfied with the friendly declara- tions which he had received, he promised to give them a small cask at parting. After this, Henry, by the aid of an interpreter, made a reply to the speech of the chief, declaring that it was the good character, which had been reported to him, of the Indians, that had emboldened him to go among them ; that their late father, the King of France, had surrendered Canada to the King of Eng- land, whom they ought to regard now as their father, and who would be as careful of them as the other had been. Henry continued his speech at some length, and, at the parting, distributed a small quantity of rum among the Indians. Henry now imagined himself free from cause for anxiety, as to the treatment which he was to receive from the Indians. He assorted his goods which he had taken with him, and hired Cana- dian interpreters and clerks, in whose care he was to send them into various parts of the country. Everything was ready for their departure, when new dangers sprang up and threatened to over- whelm him. This new danger came from a village of the Otta- was. Nearly everything was in readiness for the departure of the goods, when accounts of the approach of two hundred warriors fall of 1872, having been nominated as the Republican candidate for county clerk, to which office he was elected in November of the same year. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN, 185 was received. They assembled in the house which had been built for the commandant, and ordered Henry's attendance, and also that of the other merchants who had already joined him from Montreal, viz : Stanley Godderd and Ezekiel Solomons. HON. GEORGE H. DURAND. The subject of this sketch is one of the prominent and well known young men of Michigan, and is properly classed among those who, Avith large natural gifts, that have been utilized and strengthened by con- tinued and well rewarded labor, have done so much to give character to our beautiful peninsula, and whose sterling qualities have demanded and received esteem, respect and acknowledgment. Mr. Durand was born at Cobleskill, Schoharie county, New York, in 1838. His educa- tion was acquired through his own exertions entirely, his vacations being 186 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. After these men had entered the council room and taken their seats, one of the chiefs commenced an address, which he concluded as follows : " Englishmen, we see your canoes ready to depart, and find your men engaged for the Mississij^pi, and other distant regions. Under these circumstances, we have considered the affair, and you are now sent for that you may hear our determination, which is, that you shall give to each of our men, young and old, merchandise and ammunition to the amount of fifty beaver skins, on credit, and for which I have no doubt of their paying you in the summer, on their return from the wintering." A compliance with this demand would have stripped them of nearly all their resources. They, therefore, tried to lessen the employed in earning the necessary means to enable him to prosecute his studies. He removed to Michigan in 1856, and like many of our promi- nent citizens, Mr. Durand, at the time of his arrival in this State, possessed neither friends, influence or wealth. His future was an enigma to be solved only by passing years — to be solved, not by impotent resolve nor errant purpose, but by that strong and indefatigable will, which overcomes difficulties and dangers, and which is certain to bring to the man of intel- lect that meed of success which is the test of merit. Very soon after his arrival here he commenced the study of the law, and after pursuing his studies with great diligence, he was admitted to to the bar in 1858, when he immediately located in the enterprising city of Flint, where he has ever since resided. A young lawyer, under the most favorable auspices, has much to contend with, but j^oung Durand, with no capital and no friends or influence at Flint, had still more than is usual to combat. He was brought in professional contact with such men as the late Hon. Wm. M. Fenton, Hon. Wm. Newton, the late Hon. Levi Walker and other distinguished lawyers, whose names are well known in the best legal circles of the State, and who had grown gi'ay in the arduous labors of the courts ; but he persisted, and by his courteous and gentlemanly manners, his clear perception and great good judg- ment, he gained not only the respect of his brothers in the profession but also the confidence of the community, and his future as a lawyer was thus assured. For fifteen j^ears Mr. Durand has followed his profession, devoting himself to it with much earnestness and industry, and has acquired a large and lucrative practice. With politics he has had as little to do as is possible for a man of his ardent nature and his clear ideas of right and wrong. His sentiments, perhaps, more nearly affiliate with the Democracy of the conservative HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 187 demand ; but was informed that all had been said that would be said, and were given till the next day for reflection. The assur- ance was also offered them that if the demand was not complied with, their goods would be taken by force. They then retired for consultation. In the evening, Farley, the interpreter, informed them that their massacre had been determined upon, and advised them to accede to the demand. But this they determined not to do, as they suspected the interpreter of a design to prey upon their fears, and drive them from the post. They then barricaded their house, armed about thirty of their followers, and slept upon their arms. They were not molested, however, but the next morning were summoned to another council, which they refused to attend. There were none without in whom they had school than with any other party; still, he may not be reckoned as a party man in the strictest sense. He was an ardent advocate of the war for the suppression of the rebellion, and has always been eminently patriotic in his views. Although preferring to remain in private life, attending to the ordinary duties of his profession, his ability and counsel have been sought after in other capacities, and, as a consequence, he has for years taken an active and leading part in public matters, political and otherwise, in his section of the State. He has often been nominated and frequently elected to office, always running largely ahead of his ticket, and at the municipal election held in Flint, in April, 1873, although run- ning on the Democratic ticket, and against a worthy competitor, he was elected mayor of that strongly republican city by a majority greater than was ever given to any public officer in that place. This responsible office he now holds, as well as that of D. D. G. M. , in the Masonic fraternity, for the eighth Masonic district of Michigan. In all of his official posi- tions he invariably conducts himself with moderation and.good judgment, while his advice is peculiarly winning and convincing, and his personal character admirable. Mr. Durand, although but thii ty-five years of age, has made for himself a record which is indeed an enviable one, and what- ever of prominence or success, whether in his profession or the more liberal pursuits, whether in the political field or the world of letters, shall attend him in the future, it will be, as in the past, the result of a steady determination on his part to do whatever he undertakes in a careful, painstaking and intelligent manner, united with a special gift of unusual ability, whether as writer, orator or counselor. The lesson of his life may be easily gathered from a knowledge of its character, a study of its purposes, and a familiarity with its accomplishments. 188 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. any confidence, save Campion. From him they learned, from time to time, whatever was rumored among the Canadian inhabitants as to the designs of the Ottawas, and from him, toward sunset, they received the gratifying intelligence that a detachment of British soldiers, sent to garrison Miehilimackinac, was distant only five miles, and would enter the fort early the next morning. Near at hand, however, as relief was reported to be, their anxiety could not but be great, for a long night was to be passed, and their fate might be decided before the next morning. To increase their apprehension, about midnight they were informed that the Ottawas were holding a council, at which no white man was permitted to be present, Farley alone excepted ; and him they suspected, and afterwards knew to be their greatest enemy. The Englishmen, on their part, remained all night upon the alert ; but at daybreak, to their surprise and joy, t}iey saw the Ottawas preparing to depart. By sunrise, not a man of them was left in the fort. The inhabit- ants, who, while the Ottawas were present, had avoided all con- nection with these Englishmen, now came with congratulations. They related that the Ottawas had proposed to them that, if joined by the Canadians, they would march and attack the troops, which were known to be advancing on the fort ; and they added that it was their refusal which had determined the Ottawas to depart. At noou, three hundred troops of the Sixtieth Regiment, under command of Lieutenant Leslie, marched into the fort. This arrival dissipated all the fears the Englishmen had, and somewhat reversed their position in regard to the French. After a few days, detachments were sent into the Bay des Puans, by which was the route to the Mississippi, and at the mouth of St. Joseph, which led to the Illinois. The Indians from all quarters were eager to pay their respects to the commandant ; and the three English mer- chants dispatched their canoes, though it was late in the season. We will now leave Miehilimackinac to notice events elsewhere, but will return at the proper point, and resume our account of the adventures of Mr. Henry and his associates, of which the most thrilling part is yet to come. Interwoven with this narrative will also be found a true account of the massacres and barbaric wars in and around this northern fort. CHAPTER XII. Hostility Between the Indians and the English — Its Cause Explained — The Indians Rising to Drive the English from THE Country — Pontiac's Message — The Council and Speech in WHICH THE Conspiracy is Matured — The War. It must not be supposed that the hostility between the Indians and the English was confined to Michilimackinac. France had scarcely yielded up her claim to the country, when smothered murmurs of discontent began to be audible among the Indian tribes throughout the entire Northwest. In every wigwam and hamlet of the forest a deep-rooted hatred of the English increased with rapid growth. Nor is this to be wondered at. " We have seen with what sagacious policy," says Parkman, " the French had labored to ingratiate themselves with the Indians ; and the slaughter of the Monongahela, with the horrible devastation of the Western frontier, the outrages perpetrated at Oswego, and the massacre at Fort William Henry, bore witness to the success of their efforts. Even the DelaAvares and Shawanoes, the faithful allies of William Penn, had at length been seduced by their blan- dishments ; and the Iroquois, the ancient enemies of Canada, had half forgotten their former hostility, and well nigh taken part against the British colonists. The remote nations of the West had also joined in the war, descending in their canoes for hundreds of miles to fight against the enemies of France. All these tribes entertained towards the English that rancorous enmity which an Indian always feels against them to whom he has been opposed in war." It would seem that, under these circumstances, the English would have used the utmost care in their conduct towards the Indians. But, even when the conflict with the French was impend- ing, and the alliance with the Indian tribes was of the greatest 190 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. importance, they treated them with careless indifference and neglect. They were not likely to adopt a different course now that their friendship seemed a matter of no consequence. In truth, the intentions of the English were soon apparent. The fol- lowing paragraphs, from Parkmau's Conspiracy of Pontiac, car- ries us to the point I desire to reach so admirably, that I will take the liberty to use them : " In the zeal for retrenchment which prevailed after the close of hostilities, the presents which it had always been customary to give the Indians, at stated intervals, were either withheld alto- gether, or doled out with a niggardly hand ; while, to make the matter worse, the agents and officers of the government often appropriated the presents to themselves, and afterwards sold them at an exorbitant price to the Indians. When the French had pos- session of these remote forts, they were accustomed, with a wise lib- erality, to supply the surrounding Indians with guns, ammunition and clothing, until the latter had forgotten the weapons and gar- ments of their forefathers, and depended on the white man for support. The sudden withholding of these supplies was, there- fore, a grievous calamity. Want, suffering and death were the consequences ; and this cause alone would have been enough to produce general discontent. But, unhappily, other grievances were added. The English fur trade had never been well regu- lated, and it was now in a worse condition than ever. Many of the traders and those in their employ were ruffians of the coarsest stamp, who vied with each other in rapacity, violence and profli- gacy. They cheated, cursed and plundered the Indians, and out- raged their families ; offering, when compared with the French traders, who were under better regulation, a most unfavorable example of the character of their nation. The officers and sol- diers of the garrison did their full part in exciting the general resentment. Formerly, when the warriors came to the forts, they had been welcomed by the French with attention and respect. The inconvenience which their presence occasioned had been dis- regarded, and their peculiarities overlooked, but now they were received with cold looks and harsh words by the officers ; and, as we have already noticed, at Michilimackinac, which, as we now 192 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. observe, was no exception to the general rule of the whole western country, with oaths and ofttimes blows from the more reckless of the garrison. When, after their troublesome and intrusive fash- ion, they were lounging everywhere about the fort, or lazily reclin- ing in the shadow of the walls, they were met with muttered ejac- ulations of impatience, or abrupt orders to be gone, enforced, perhaps, by a touch from the butt of a sentinel's musket. These marks of contempt were unspeakably galling to their haughty spirit." But what most contributed to the growing discontent of the tribes was the intrusion of settlers upon their lands, which was at all times a fruitful source of Indian hostility. Its effects, it is true, could only be felt by those whose country bordered upon the English settlements ; but among these were the most powerful and influential of the tribes. The discontent of the Indians gave great satisfaction to the French, who saw in it an assurance of safe and bloody vengeance on their conquerors. Canada, it is true, was gone beyond the hope of recovery ; but they still might hope to revenge its loss. Interest, moreover, as well as passion, prompted them to inflame the resentment of the Indians ; for most of the inhabitants of the French settlements upon the lakes and the Mississippi were engaged in the fur trade, and, fearing the English as formidable rivals, they would gladly have seen them driven from the country. Traders and all classes of this singular population accordingly dispersed themselves among the villages of the Indians, or held councils with them in the secret places of the woods, urging them to take up arms against the English . They exhibited the conduct of the latter in its worst light, and spared neither misrepresentation nor falsehood. It is difficult to determine which tribe was the first to raise the cry of war. There were many who might have done so, for all the savages in the backwoods were ripe for an outbreak, and the movement seemed almost simultaneous. The Delawares and Sene- cas were the most incensed, and Kiashuta, chief of the latter, was, perhaps, forcunost. It, however, required a greater chief than he to give method and order to what would else have been a wild burst of fury. But for Pontiac, the whole might have ended in a HISTORY OP MICHIGAN. 193 few troublesome inroads upon the frontier, and a little whooping and yelling under the walls of Fort Pitt. There has been some dispute as to the nationality of Pontiac. Some hold that he was a member of the tribe of the Sacs or Loa- F. G. RUSSELL. Frank G. Russell, the present city attorney of Detroit, was born in Green Oak, Livingston county, Micliigan, in- April, 1837. His father was a farmer, and Mr. Russell spent his youth at home, assisting in agricul- tural pursuits. He had all the advantages of a common school, and was at an early age sent to the State Normal School, at which institution he graduated in the spring of 1858. He was principal of the Lansing Union School from the autumn of 1858 to the spring of 1861, when he resigned the position to accept a situation in the Interior Department at Washing- 13 194 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. kies, but by far the greater number have placed him among the Ottawas. His home was about eight miles above Detroit, on Peehee Island, which looks out upon the waters of Lake St. Clair. His form was cast in the finest mould of savage grace and strength, and his eye seemed capable of penetrating, at a glance, the secret motives that actuated the savage tribes around him. His rare personal qualities, his courage, resolution, wisdom, address and eloquence, together with the hereditary claim to authority which, according to Indian custom, he possessed, secured for him the esteem of both the French and the English, and gave him an influence among the lake tribes greater than that of any other individual. Early in life he distinguished himself as a chieftain of no ordinary ability. In 1746 he commanded a powerful body of Indians, mostly Ottawas, who gallantly defended the i^eople of Detroit against the formidable attack of several combined north- ern tribes, and it is supposed that he was present at the disastrous defeat of Braddock, in which several hundred of his warriors were engaged. He had always, at least up to the time when Major Rogers came into the country, been a firm friend of the French, and received many marks of esteem from the French officer. Mar- quis de Montcalm. How could he, then, the bravest chief of the great West, do ] ton, D. C. He was engaged in the last mentioned capacity, principally as examiner of pension claims, from the spring of 18G1 to the summer of 1864, when he resigned and came to Detroit. He was successfully engaged at the latter place for two years in the prosecution of war claims, and in 1866 returned to his home in Green Oak, and assumed .charge of his father's farm, remaining there until the autumn of 1867, when he returned to Detroit, and commenced the study of law. He was admitted to the bar in the Supreme Court in October, 1868, and commenced the practice of law in the following spring. In the practice of law, Mr. Russell has met with substantial success. Being favorably known in tlie whole State, both for ability and integrity, he immediately came into public favor, and has found unceasing demand for his professional labors. In tiie spring of 1869 he was appointed pri- vate secretary to Governor H P. Baldwin, holding this position till the inauguration of Governor Bagley, January 1, 187:}. He was elected city attorney of Detroit in 1871. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 195 otherwise than dispute the English claim to his country ? How could he endure the sight of this people driving the game from his hunting grounds, and his friends and allies from the lands they had so long possessed? When he heard that Rogers was advancing along the lakes to take possession of his country, his indignation knew no bounds, and he at once sent deputies, request- ing him to halt until such time as he could see him. Flattering words and fair promises induced him, at length, to extend the hand of friendship to Rogers. He was inclined to live peaceably with the English, and to encourage their settling in the country, as long as they treated him as he deserved ; but if they treated him with neglect, he would shut up the way and exclude them from it. He did not consider himself a conquered prince, but he expected to be treated with the respect and honor due to a king. While a system of good management might have allayed every suspicion, and engendered peace and good-will, a want of cordiality increased the discontent, and Pontiac soon saw that the fair promises which had been made him were but idle words. The Indians were becoming more and more dissatisfied, and he began seriously to apprehend danger from the new government and peo- ple. He saw in the English a boundless ambition to possess them- selves of every military position on the northern waters, an ambition which plainly indicated to his far-reaching sagacity that soon, nothing less than undisputed possession of all his vast domain would satisfy them. He saw in them a people superior in arms, but utterly destitute of that ostensible cordiality, personally, to which his people had been accustomed during the golden age of French dominion, and which they were apt to regard as neces- sary indications of good faith. There seemed no disposition for national courtesy, individual intercourse, or beneficial commerce of any kind. All those circumstances which made the neighbor- hood of the French agreeable, and which might have made their own at least tolerable, they neglected. Their conduct never gave rest to suspicion, while that of the French never gave rise to it. Hence, the Indians felt that they had " no father among the white men but the King of France," and Pontiac resolved, as he had threatened, to " shut up the way." His plan was to make a con- 196 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. temporaueous assault upon all the British posts, and thus effec- tually extinguish the English power at a single blow. This was a stroke of policy that evinced an extraordinary genius, and demanded for its successful execution an energy and courage of the highest order. But Pontiac was fully equal to the task. He was as skillful in executing as he was bold in planning. He knew that success would multii^ly friends and allies, but friends and allies were necessary to insure success. First, then, a council must be called, and, for this purpose, at the close of 1762, he sent out his ambassadors to all the different nations. With the war-belt of wampum, and the tomahawk, stained red in token of war, these swift-footed messengers went from camp to camp, and from village to village, throughout the north, south, east and west, and in whatever tribe they appeared, the sachems assembled to hear the words of Pontiac. The mes- sage was everywhere heard with approbation, the war-belt accepted, and the hatchet seized, as an indication that the assembled chiefs stood pledged to take part in the war. The Grand Council assembled on the twenty-seventh day of April, 1763, on the banks of the little river Ecorse, not far from Detroit. The pipe went round, and Pontiac stepped forth, plumed and painted in the full costume of war. He called into requisi- tion all the eloquence and cunning of which he was master. He appealed to their fears, their hopes, their ambition, their cupidity, their hatred of the English, and their love for their old friends, the French. He displayed to them a belt, which he said the King of France had sent him, urging him to drive the English from the country, and open the way for the return of the French. He painted in glowing colors the common interests of their race, and called upon them to make a stand against a common foe. He told them of a dream, in which the Great Manitou had appeared to a chief of the Abenakis, saying : " I am the Maker of heaven and earth, the trees, lakes, rivers, and all things else. I am the Maker of mankind ; and because I love you, you must do my will. The land on which you live I have made for you, and not for others. Why do you suffer the white man to dwell among you ? My children, you have forgotten the customs and traditions of HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 197 your forefathers. Why do you not clothe yourselves in skins, as they did, and use the bows and arrows, and the stone-pointed lances which they used ? You have bought guns, knives, kettles, and blankets from the white men, until you can no longer do with- HON. A. F. R. BRALEY. Alfred F. R. Bralet, of Saginaw City, was born October 20, 1828, at Albion, Orleans county, N. Y. He received an academic education at his native place, and studied law four years with Church & Davis, who have a national reputation as jurists. He attended lectures at the Albany Law School, and at a general term of the Supreme Court at Albany, in 1852, was admitted to the bar. In the spring of the following year he commenced practice at Toledo, Ohio. Ill health induced him to spend the winter of 1853-4 in the South, and suspended his labors for a period of five years. He returned discouraged to Albion. He was justice of 198 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. out them ; and, what is worse, you have drunk the poison fire- water which turns you into fools. Fling all these things away ; live as your wise forefathers lived before you ; and, as for these English — these dogs dressed in red, who have come to rob you of your hunting grounds and drive away the game — you must lift the hatchet against them. Wipe them from the face of the earth, and then you will win my favor back again, and once more be happy and prosperous. The children of your great father, the King of France, are not like the English. Never forget that they are your brothers. They are very dear to me, for they love the red men, an'd understand the true mode of worshiping me." Such an appeal to the passions and prejudices of credulous and excited savages was well calculated to produce the desired efiect. If the Great Spirit was with them, it was impossible to fail. Other speeches were doubtless made, and, before the council broke up, the scheme was well matured. Thus was the crisis hastening on. While every principle of revenge, ambition and patriotism in the savage was thus being roused up to the ^highest pitch, and the tomahawk was already lifted for the blow, scarce a suspicion of the savage design found its way to the minds of the English. Occasionally, an English trader would see something in their behavior which caused him to suspect mischief, or some scoundrel half-breed would be heard the peace there from 1859 to the spring of 1862, when he came to the City of Saginaw. Here his healtli being reestablished, he engaged in the manufacture of salt until 1866. He then opened a private banking office in company with Harry and Wm. M. Miller, under the name of Miller, Braley & Co. They did a successful business until their concern was merged in tlie First National Bank of Saginaw, of which Mr. B. has since been the cashier. He has served two terms as recorder of the city of Saginaw, and three terms as mayor. He is a gentleman of excellent business qualifications; he is honest and universally recognized as honest. Socially he is popular and entertaining. He is a good listener and a good talker; he can tell a good story, and when he does relate an anecdote, the moral is apparent, and the listener knows where the "laugh comes in." No man in Saginaw has more friends. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 199 boasting that, before the next summer, he would have English hair to fringe his hunting frock ; but these things caused no alarm. Once, however, the plot was nearly discovered. A friendly Indian told the commander of Fort Miami that a war-belt had been sent to the warriors of a neighboring village, and that the destruction of himself and garrison had been resolved upon ; but, when information of this had been conveyed to Major Gladwyn, of Detroit, that officer wrote to General Amherst, stating that, in his opinion, there had been some irritation among the Indians, but that the affair would soon blow over ; and that, in the neighbor- hood of his own fort all was tranquil. Amherst thought that the acts of the Indians were unwarrantable, and hoped they would be too sensible to their own interests to conspire against the English ; he wished them to know that if they did, in his opinion, they would make a " contemptible figure." He asserted that they would be the sufferers, and, in the end, it would result in their destruction. But the English were deluded. Almost Avithin rifle-shot of Gladwyn's quarters was Pontiac, the arch-enemy of the English and the prime mover in the plot, and the sequel proved how " con- temptible " was the figure which the savages made. The work of extirpation soon began, and extended from north to south, and from east to west. Numbers of English traders, on their way from all quarters of the country to the different posts, were taken, and their goods made the prize of the conquerors. Large bodies of savages were seen collecting around the different forts ; yet, strange to say, without creating any serious alarm. When the blow was struck, nine out of twelve of the British posts were surprised and destroyed ! It will, doubtless, be interesting to notice in detail these surpri.jes, three of which properly come within the scope of the History of Michigan. CHAPTER XIIL MiCHILlMACKINAC— DeSCKIPTION OF THE PlACE IN 1703 — ASSEMBLING OF Hostile Indians Around Michilimackinac — Adventckes of AN English Trader — The Indians Preparing for the Massa- cre — The Game of Ball Commenced. Before entering upon an account of the massacre at Fort Michilimackinac, we may, perhaps, entertain the reader with a short description of the place as it appeared just before the war broke out, in the spring of 1763. Michilimackinac Avas the most northern English port in the lake region. It was located on the extreme northern point of the Southern Peninsula of Michigan, on the site of the present city of Mackinaw. The fort stood near the water's edge, and near by was a cluster of white Canadian houses, roofed with bark, and protected by fences of strong round pickets. As the visitor entered the gate of the fort he could see before him an extensive square area, surrounded by high palisades. Numerous houses, barracks, and other buildings, formed a smaller square within, and in the vacant space which they inclosed, appeared the red uniforms of British soldiers, the gray coats of Canadians, and the gaudy Indian blankets, mingled in picturesque confusion, while a multitude of squaws, with children of every hue, strolled rest- lessly about the place. Such was Fort Michilimackinac in 1763. Though buried in the wilderness, it was still of no recent origin. As early as 1671 the Jesuits had established a mission of the same name on the northern side of the strait, and a military force was not long in following, for, under the French dominion, the priest and the soldier went hand in hand. Neither toil, nor suffering, nor all the terrors of the wilderness, could damp the zeal of the undaunted missionary ; and the restless ambition of France was always on the alert to seize every point of advantage, and avail HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 201 itself of every means to gain ascendency over the forest tribes. Besides Miehilimackinac there were two other posts in the north- ern region, Green Bay and Sault Ste. Marie. Both were founded at an early period, and both presented the same characteristic DR. EDWARD W. JENKS. Edward W. Jenks, one of the leading medical professors of the State, was born in the town of Victor, Ontario county. New York, in 1833, where his father was a prominent business man at that time. In 1843, he, with his father, emigrated to Indiana, where tlie latter gentleman founded a town called Ontario, and endowed a collegiate institute called La Grange College. The principal part of Dr. Jenks' earlier years was passed in New York and Indiana, where he received his general education. His medical training was pursued at the Medical University of New York, until ill 202 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. features — a mission house, a fort, and a cluster of Canadian dwel- lings. They had been originally garrisoned by small parties of militia, who, bringing their families with them, settled on the spot, and were the founders of these little colonies. Michilimaclcinac, much the largest of the three, contained thirty families within the palisades of the fort, and about as many more without. Besides its military value, it was important as the center of the fur trade, for it was here that the traders engaged their men, and sent out their goods in canoes, under the charge of subordinates, to the more distant regions of the Mississippi and the Northwest. The Indians near Michilimackinac were the Ojibwas and Otta- was, the former of whom claimed the eastern section of Michigan, and the lattei" the western ; their respective portions being sepa- rated by a line drawn southward from the fort itself The princi- pal village of the Ojibwas contained about a hundred warriors, and stood on the island of Michilimackinac, now called Mack- inaw. There was another smaller village near the head of Thun- der Bay. The Ottawas, to the number of two hundred and fifty warriors, lived at the settlement of L'Arbre Croche, on the shores of Lake Michigan, some distance southward from the fort. This health compelled him to make a change, when he went to Ver- mont, graduating from Castleton Medical College in 1855. Dr. Jenks, however, was determined to be proficient in his profession, and after- wards took an additional degree of medicine at Bellevue Hospital Medical College. After receiving this last degree, Dr. Jenks practiced medicine very successfully in New York and Indiana, where he made numerous professional friends. About this time, his health again failed, and his sufferings were such as compelled him to constantly change climate in order to retain his already shattered health. He, however, practiced his profession wherever his health permitted him to remain long enough, until 18(54, when he came to Michigan and settled in Detroit. In that city he at once acquired an extensive practice, and he has ever since been known throughout this State and those adjoining, for his remarkable success in the treatment of difficult diseases. He was one of the founders, in 18G8, of the Detroit Medical College, and has occupied the presidency in that institution since its organization, and besides holds the honorable position of Professor of Medical and Surgical Diseases of Women and Clinical Gj^najcology. He has worked HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 203 place was then the seat of the old Jesuit mission of St. Ignace, originally placed by Father Marquette on the northern side of the straits. Many of the Ottawas were nominal Catholics. They were all somewhat improved from their original savage condition, living in log houses, and cultivating corn and vegetables, to such an extent as to supply the fort with provisions besides satisfying their own wants. The Ojibwas, on the other hand, were not in the least degree removed from their primitive barbarism. At this time both these tribes had received from Pontiac the war belt of black and purple wampum, and painted hatchet, and had pledged themselves to join in the contest. Before the end of May the Ojibwas, or Chippewas, received word that the blow had already been struck at Detroit, and, wrought up to the highest pitch of excitement and emulation, resolved that peace should last no longer. Eager to reap all the glory of the victory, or prompted by jealousy, this tribe neither communicated to the Ottawas the news which had come to them, nor their own resolu- tion to make an immediate assault upon Michilimackinac ; hence, the Ottawas, as we shall jaresently learn, had no part in that most bloody tragedy. There were other tribes, however, who, with DO ordinary amount of zeal to make the Detroit Medical College one of the leading institutions of that kind in the West, and the success of his efforts is shown in the very flattering report made by the committee appointed by tlie State Medical Society to examine into its condition. He was appointed surgeon of the department of diseases of women at St. Mary's Hospital in 1868. He was connected with Harper Hospital from its organization until 1872, when he resigned. Dr. Jenks ranks high as a surgeon in the Northwest, being called to practice this brancli of his profession over a large extent of territory. He is a prominent member of numerous medical societies, being Professor of Medical and Surgical Diseases of Women in Bowdoin College; a member of the Ameri- can Medical Association; corresponding member of the Gynaecological Society; President of the Detroit Academy of Medicine; an active mem- ber and President of the State Medical Society, and a member of a num- ber of other institutions. Dr. Jenks was one of the original publishers of the Detroit Review of Medicine and Pharmacy, filling the position of editor on that magazine for some time with marked ability. 204 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. attracted by rumors of impending war, had gathered at Michili- mackinac, and who took part in the struggle. We will now return to the Englishman, Mr. Henry, whom we left at Michilimackinac, at the close of the previous chapter, and relate his adventures simultaneously with an account of the mas- sacre. The British having taken possession of the fort, Henry's fears were entirely dispersed, and he spent the winter at Michilimack- inac, amusing himself as best he could by hunting and fishing. But few of the Indians, he tells us, came to the fort, excepting two families. These families lived on a river five leagues below, and came occasionally with beaver flesh for sale. Their chief was an exception to the rule, for instead of being hostile towards the English, he was warmly attached to them. But, in this case, the exception proved the rule to a demonstration. He had been taken prisoner by Sir William Johnson, at the siege of Fort Niagara ; and had received from that intelligent ofiicer, his liberty, the medal usually presented to a chief, and the British flag. Won by these acts of unexpected kindness, he had returned to Michili- mackinac, full of praise of the English, and hoisted his flag over his lodge. This latter demonstration of his partiality nearly cost him his life ; his lodge was broken down, and his flag torn to pieces. The pieces he carefully gathered up and preserved with pious care, and whenever he visited the fort he drew them out and exhibited them. On these occasions it grew into a custom to give him as much liquor as he said was necessary to make him cry over the misfortune of losing his flag. The commandant would have given him another, but he thought he could not accept it without danger. Upon the opening of navigation, Mr. Henry left Michilimack- inac to visit the Sault Ste. Marie. Here he made the acquaintance of M. Cadotte, an interpreter, whose wife was a Chippewa, and, desirous of learning that language, he decided to spend the suc- ceeding winter in the family of his new found friend. Here, also, there was a small fort, and during the summer, a small detach- ment of troops, under the command of Lieutenant Jamette, arrived to garrison it. Late in the fall, however, a destructive HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 205 fire, which consumed all the houses except Cadotte's, and all the fort supplies, made it necessary to send the garrison back to Michilimackinac. The few that were left at this place were now crowded into one small house, and compelled to gain a subsistence HON. SAMUEL D. PACE. Samuel D. Pace, of Port Huron, Mich., was born in the township of Yarmouth, Canada West, April 29, 1835. His father, a carpenter by trade, was a native of the State of New Jersey. His mother was a descendant of a New England family. During the winter months of his early boyhood, he attended the dis- trict school in the neighborhood where he was born, and in the summer season he was principally engaged with his father working as a carpenter. At the age of fifteen he removed with his father to Racine, Wisconsin, where he shipped as a sailor on the schooner Amelia. He followed a 206 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES by hunting and fishing. Thus inuring themselves to hard- ships, a very good opportunity was afforded them of becoming familiar with the Chippewa tongue. Here Henry passed the second winter of his sojourn in the wilderness of the upper lakes. Early in the succeeding spring, 1763, he was visited by Sir Robert Dover, an English gentleman, who was on a " voyage of curios- ity," and with whom Henry again returned to Michilimackinac. Here he intended to remain until his clerks should come from the interior, and then go back to the Sault. When Henry reached Michilimackinac he found several other traders who had arrived before him, from different parts of the country, and who, in general, declared the dispositions of the Indians to be hostile to the English, and even apprehended some attack. One M. Laurent Ducharme distinctly informed Major Ethrington that a plan was absolutely conceived for destroying him, his garrison, and all the English in the upper country ; but the commandant believing this and other reports to be without foundation, proceeding only from idle or ill-disposed persons, and of a tendency to do mischief, expressed much displeasure against M. Ducharme, and threatened to send the next person who should sailor's life for two years on the lakes, and in the month of November, 1852, while on board the sloop Ranger, was shipwrecked on Lake Michigan, a short distance south of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The vessel, after being tossed about three days and nights without rudder or sail, stranded and became a total loss. During this time lie suffered intensely from hunger and cold. His wardrobe, by no means extensive, was materially diminished by this misfortune, as most of his personal efiects shared the fate of the vessel, and he found himself on the streets of Mil- waukee without hat, boots or coat. His loss in this respect, however, was more than made good by a kind-hearted Jew, who look pity on the shivering sailor boy, and presented him with substitutes foj- the garments he had lost, making the characteristic remark," Dese cost jnni notting." It may be mentioned as a coincidence that at the time, Mr. Pace had just exactly nothing with which to pay for them. At school, he was invariably at the head of his class, and he also took the lead in most kinds of boyish mischief. As a school boy, he mani- fested a determination to succeed, which trait has never since left him. Although married at twenty-one years of age, he has never ceased to be HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 207 bring a story of the same kind a prisoner to Detroit. The garri- son consisted at this time of thirty-five men with their officers. The white inhabitants of the fort numbered about one hundred, and but few entertained anxiety concerning the Indians, who had no weapons but small arms. Meanwhile the Indians from every quarter, were daily assembling in unusual numbers, but with every appearance of friendship, frequenting the fort and dis- posing of their peltries, in such a manner as to dissipate almost any one's fears. It was reported that not less than four hundred warriors were encamped near the fort. As I have promised, I shall associate the account of Henry's adventures with a rehearsal of the horrible massacre at the fort. Shortly after his first arrival at Miehilimackiuac, in the preced- ing year, a Chippewa, named Wawatam, began to go often to his house, betraying in his demeanor strong marks of personal regard. After this had continued for some time, he went, on a certain day, taking with him his whole family, and at the same time a large I^resent, consisting of skins, sugar and dried meat. Having laid these in a heap, he commenced a speech, in which he informed Henry that some years before, he had observed a fast, devoting him- self, according to the custom of his nation, to solitude and mortifi- a student. Medicine was always a favorite study with him, but owing to the up-hill road which poverty compelled liim to travel, he did not reach the acme of his ambition in this respect until 1860, when he commenced the practice of his profession in Port Huron, Michigan. As a physician he was eminently successful. In politics, Dr. Pace is a radical Republican, his first vote being cast for Abraham Lincoln, in 1860. In 1864, he agreed with President Lincoln that it was dangerous "to trade horses whilst crossing a stream," and consequently took an active part in the campaign which ended in the defeat of Gen. McClellan. In 1868, Dr. Pace took the stump for Gen. Grant, and again in 1872 he took an active part in the presidential cam- paign. In the spring of 1869 he was by President Grant appointed United States Consul, at Port Sarnia, Canada, a position which he still occupies. In religion, Dr. Pace is also a radical. A reverence for the things and ideas of the past is not a leading trait with him, and he refuses to be tied to any article of faith. 208 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. cation of his body, in the hope to obtain from the Great Spirit protection through all his days ; that on this occasion he had dreamed of adopting an Englishman as his son, brother and friend ; that from the moment in Avhich he first beheld him he had recognized him as the person whom the Great Spirit had been pleased to point out as his brother ; that he hoped that Henry would not refuse his present, and that he should forever regard him as one of his family. Henry could not do otherwise than accept the present. He also declared his willingness to have so good a man for his friend and brother. Henry offered a present in return for the one he had received, which Wawatam accepted, and then, thanking Henry for the favor which he said he had rendered him, he left the house, and soon after set out on his winter's hunt. Twelve months had now elapsed since the occurrence of this incident, and Henry had almost forgotten the person of his brother, when, on the second day of June, Wawatam again visited his house, in a mood visibly melancholy and thoughtful. He said he had just returned from his wintering ground, and went on to say that he was very sorry to find his old friend returned from the Sault ; that he had intended to go to that place himself immedi- ately after his arrival at Michilimackinac ; and that he wished Henry and his family to go there with him the next morning. To all this Wawatam added an inquiry as to whether or not the com- mandant had heard bad news, adding that, during the winter, he had himself been frequently disturbed with the noise of evil winds ; and further suggesting that there were numerous Indians near the fort, many of whom had never shown themselves within it. Wawatam was about forty-five years of age, of an excellent char- acter among his nation, and a chief Referring much of what he had heard to the Indian character, Henry did not pay all the attention to the entreaties and remarks of his visitor which they were found to have deserved Henry said that he could not think of going to the Saiilt as soon as the next morning, but would follow him there after the arrival of his clerks. Finding himself unable to prevail, Wawatam withdrew for that day, but early the next morning he returned, bringing with him his HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 209 wife, and a present of dried meat. At this interview, after stating that he had several packs of beaver, which he intended to trade with Henry, he expressed a second time his apjirehensions from the numerous Indians who were around the fort, and earnestly HON. JOHN MOORE. John Mooke, the present circuit judge of the tenth judicial circuit of tliis State, was born in the city of London, England, July 7, 1826. When four years of age, he, with his family, removed to the State of New York, and four years afterwards he emigrated to this State, and resided upon a farm in Miiford, Oakland county, until the spring of 1846, when he commenced the study of law in the office of Hon. Augustus C. Baldwin, then of Miiford, but now residing in Pontiac. In the spring of 1848, he entered the law office of Lothrop & Duffield, of Detroit, and in October of that year was admitted an attorney of the Supreme Court, at 14 210 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. pressed his English friend to consent to an immediate departure for the Sault. As a reason for this particular request he assured Henry that all the Indians proposed to come in a body that day to the fort, to demand liquor of the commandant, and that he wished his friend to be away before they should grow intoxicated. This was as much as Wawatam dare reveal, but of course he had full knowledge of the plan for the awful massacre that followed. Henry had made, at the period to which I am now referring, so much progress in the language in which Wawatam addressed him as to be able to hold an ordinary conversation in it. Yet after all, Henry tells us, that the Indian manner of speech is so extrav- agantly figurative, that it is only a veiy perfect master that can follow and comprehend it entirely. " Had I been further advanced in this respect," says Henry, " I think that I should have gathered so much information from my friendly monitor, as would have put me 'into possession of the designs of the enemy, and enabled me to save others as well as myself; as it was, it unfortu- nately happened that I turned a deaf ear to everything, leaving Wawatam and his wife, after long and patient efforts, to depart alone, with dejected countenances, and not before they each let fall some tears." a session of that body held in Pontiac. Mr. Moore commenced the prac- tice of his profession soon afterwards in Fentonville, Genesee county, and remained tliere until the spring of 1851, when he removed to Sagi- naw, where he has ever since resided, engaged in professional business. Mr. Moore was prosecuting attorney of Saginaw county from 1855 to 1858, inclusive. He was also mayor of Saginaw City from 1861 to 1863, inclusive, and a member of the Board of Education for about fifteen years prior to June, 1870, when he declined to serve longer, his time being too much occupied with the business of his profession. In 1868, Mr. Moore was the Democratic candidate for Governor of the State, in opposition to Governor Baldwin, and received thirty thousand more votes than any Democratic candidate for that office had ever received prior to that date, and above thirteen thousand more than any candidate of that party has since received for that office. A vacanc}' occurred in the office of circuit judge of the tenth circuit, by the resignation of Judge Sutherland, January 1, 1871, and a meeting of the bar of that circuit was held shortly afterwards, and Mr. Moore HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 211 In the course of the same day, Henry observed that the Indians came in great numbers into the fort, purchasing tomahawks, and frequently desiring to see silver arm-bands, and other valuable ornaments. These ornaments, however, they in no instance pur- chased ; but after turning them over, left them, saying that they would call again the next day. Their motive, as it afterAvard appeared, was no other than the very artful one of discovering, by requesting to see them, the peculiar places of their deposit, so that they might lay their hands on them, in the moment of pillage, with greater certainty and despatch. At nightfall, Henry turned his mind to the visits of Wawatam ; but, although they excited uneasiness, nothing induced him to believe that serious mischief was at hand. The next day, being the fourth of June, was the King's birthday. The morning was sultry. A Chippewa visited Henry, and told him that his nation was going to play at boggattaway with the Sacks, another Indian nation, for a high wager. He invited Henry to witness the sport, adding that the commandant was to be there, and would bet on the side of the Chippewas. In conse- quence of this information, Henry went to the commandant, and expostulated with him a little, representing that the Indians might was requested, by an unanimous vote, to accept the office — a deserved compliment to his legal ability and standing in the profession. The members of the bar, and the leading; men of the circuit, united, irrespec- tive of party distinctions, in requesting; Governor Baldwin to appoint Mr. Moore to the office, on the ground of his eminent ability and fitness of the position. He was accordingly appointed on the first day of February, 1871, to fill the vacancj' until an election could be held. A special elec- tion was held the followhig spring, at which the Kepublican and Demo- cratic parties united in the nomination of Judge Moore, and he was elected without opposition. He has continued to discharge the duties of the office until the present time, and his work upon the bench has fully justified the expectations of his numerous friends, and has already given him an enviable reputation throughout the State. The business of his circuit, measured by the magnitude and variety of the interests involved, is second to none in the State, and has been administered by him, it is believed, with entire satisfaction to the profession and the public. When called to the bench he stood at the head of his profession in the circuit, 212 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. possibly have some sinister end in view ; but the commandant only smiled at his suspicions. The game of boggattaway, which the Indians played upon that memorable occasion, was the most exciting sport in which the red men could engage. It was played with bat and ball. The bat, so called, was about four feet in length, and one inch in diameter. It was made of the toughest material that could be found. At one end it was curved, and terminated in a sort of racket, or, per- haps, more properly, a ring, in which a net-work of cord was loosely woven. The players were not allowed to touch the ball with the hand, but caught it in this net-work at the end of the bat. At either end of the ground a tall post was planted. These posts marked the stations of the rival parties, and were sometimes a mile apart. The object of each party was to defend its own post, and carry the ball to that of the adversary. This is, undoubtedly, the same game which is now called Lacrosse, and which is very popular in Canada and some parts of the United States. At the beginning of the game the main body of the players assemble half-way between the two posts. Every eye sparkles, and every cheek is already aglow with excitement. The ball is tossed high into the air, and a general struggle ensues to secure it and was in the enjoyment of a lucrative practice. In the surrender of his handsome income from tliis source for the pitiful salary of his office, Mr. Moore displayed a public spirit as commendable as it is rare. As a judge, he is distinguished for his quick and clear discrimination, keen powers of analysis, thorough legal knowledge, and sound judgment in the application of the law, as well as promptness and impartiality in the discharge of his official duties. Mr. Moore commenced life with habits of industry, energy and good character, and from this beginning he has risen to his present high posi- tion, having occupied a place among the prominent men of his profession in the State for the past fifteen years, and been identified with nearly all the important litigation in his section. In politics he is known as a Democrat, and highly esteemed for his always moderate and independent course. During the war he did as much as any person in that portion of the State to unite popular senti- ment in support of President Lincoln's war policy, without regard to men or measures. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 213 as it descends. He who succeeds, starts for the goal of the adver- sary, holding it high above his head. The opposite party, with merry yells, are swift to pursue. His course is intercepted, and, rather than see the ball taken from him, he throws it, as a boy E. T. JUDD. E. T. JtTDD, of East Saginaw, Michigan, was born in Geneva, New York, in 1823. At an early age he commenced business for himself in his native town, and continued it for eight years, winning many friends and prospering copiously. Closing up this business, he removed to Ham- ilton, Canada West, where he remained until 1865, when he removed to East Saginaw, and has resided there ever since. On the 17th of .June, of the same year, the First National Bank of East Saginaw was opened, with Mr. Judd as president, which position he still occupies. Under the management of Mr. Judd, this bank has secured a wide patronage, and proved a good investment to its stockholders, becoming one of the per- manent institutions of the Saginaw Valley. 214 GENERAL niStORY OP TSE STATES. throws a stone from a sling, as far towards the goal of his adver- sary as he can. An adversary in the game catches it and sends it whizzing back in the opposite direction. Hither and thither it goes ; now far to the right, now as far to the left ; now near to one, now as near to the other goal ; the whole band crowding con- tinually after it in the wildest confusion ; until, finally, some agile figure, more fleet of foot than others, succeeds in bearing it to the goal of the opposite party. Persons still living at Michilimackinac, who, having seen this game played by the Indians, and themselves participated in it, say that often a whole day is insufficient to decide the contest. "When such is the case, the following day is taken, and the game begun anew. As many as six or seven hundred Indians sometimes engage in a single game, while it may be played by fifty. In the heat of the contest, when all are running at their greatest speed, if one stumbles and fall.'?, fifty or a hundred, who are in close pursuit, and unable to stop, pile over him, forming a mound of human bodies, and frequently players are so bruised as to be unable to proceed in the game. This game, with its attendant noise and violence, was well calcu- lated to divert the attention of officers and men, and thus j)ermit the Indians to take possession of the fort. To make their success more certain, they prevailed upon as many as they could to come out of the fort, while at the same time their squaws, wrapped in blankets, beneath which they concealed the murderous weapons, were placed inside the inclosure. The plot was so ingeniously laid that no one suspected danger. CHAPTER XIV. The Massacre at Fort Michilimackinac — Indians Drinkesg the Blood of Englishmen — Sufferings op English Prisoners — The Ottawas Espouse the Cause of the English and Take Posses- sion of the Fort — The Indian Council. The discipline of the garrison was relaxed, and the soldiers permitted to stroll about and view the sport without carrying weapons of defense ; and even when the ball, as if by chance, was lifted high in the air, to descend inside the pickets, and was fol- lowed by four hundred savage warriors, all eager, all struggling, all shouting, in the unrestrained pursuit of a rude, athletic exer- cise, no alarm Avas felt until the shrill war-whoop told the startled garrison that the work of slaughter had actually begun. Mr. Henry, of whom I have been speaking, did not attend the match which I have just described. There being a canoe prepared to depart on the following day for Montreal, he employed himself in writing letters to his friends. While thus engaged, he heard an Indian war cry and a noise of general confusion. Going instantly to his window, he saw a crowd of Indians, within the fort, furi- ously cutting down and scalping every Englishman they found. In particular, he witnessed the fate of Lieut. Jamette. He had in the room in which he was a fowling-piece, loaded with swan- shot. This he immediately seized, and held it for a few moments, waiting to hear the drum beat to arms. In that dreadful interval he witnessed the scene of several of his countrymen falling under the tomahawk, and more than one struggling between the knees of an Indian, who, holding him in this manner, scalped him while yet living. At length, disappointed in the hope of seeing resistance made to the enemy, and knowing that no effort of his own unas- sisted arm could avail against four hundred Indians, he thought only of seeking shelter. Amid the slaughter which was raging, he 216 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. observed many of the Canadian inhabitants of the fort calmly looking on, neither opposing the Indians, nor suffering injury, and, from this circumstance, he conceived a hope of finding security in their houses. Between the yard-door of his own house and that of M. Lang- lade, his next neighbor, there was only a low fence, over which he easily climbed. On entering, he found the whole family at the windows, gazing at the scene of blood before them. He addressed himself immediately to M. Langlade, begging that he would put him into some place of safety until the heat of the affair should be over, an act of charity by which he might, perhaps, be preserved from the general massacre. But, while he uttered his petition, M. Langlade, who had looked for a moment at him, turned again to the window, shrugging his shoulders, and intimat- ing that he could do nothing for him. With Henry this was a moment of despair ; but the next, a Pawnee woman, a slave of M. Langlade, beckoned him to follow her. She led him to a door, which she opened, desiring him to enter, and telling him that it led to the garret, where he must go and conceal himself Henry joyfully obeyed her directions ; and she, having followed him up to the garret door, locked it after him, and took away the key. This shelter obtained, Henry became anxious to know what might still be jaassing without. Through an aperture, which afforded him a view of the area of the fort, he beheld, in forms the foulest and most terrible, the fero- cious triumphs of barbarian conquerors. The dead were scalpyed and mangled ; the dying were writhing and shrieking under the unsatiated knife and tomakawk ; and, from the bodies of some, ripped open, their butchers were drinking the blood, scooped up in the hollow of joined hands, and quaffed amid shouts of rage and victory. Henry was shaken, not only with horror, but with fear. The suflferings which he witnessed, he seemed on the point of experiencing himself. Not long elapsed before, every one being destroyed who could be found, there was a general cry of, " All is finished !" At the same instant, Henry heard some of the Indians enter the house in which he had taken shelter. The garret was separated from the room below only by a layer of single boards. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 217 The prisoner could, therefore, hear everything that passed ; and the Indians no sooner came in than they inquired whether or not any Englishmen were in the house. M. Langlade replied that he could not say ; they might examine for themselves, and would DR. J. B. WHITE. John B. White was born January 13, 1826, in the town of Pompey, Onondaga county, New York. His father was a farmer, and he remained with him on the farm until about his eighteenth year, receiving such education as could be obtained at a country school and village academy. He studied medicine with Dr. H. B. Moore, of Manlius, New York, who was then the leading surgeon of that part of the country. He attended his first course of medical lectures at Geneva, New York, where he became clinical assistant to the professor of surgery. The following year he went to Philadelphia, and graduated at the Philadelphia College 218 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. soon be satisfied as to the object of their question. Saying this, he conducted them to the garret door. The state of Henry's mind at this juncture may be imagined. When they arrived at the door, some delay was occasioned, owing to the absence of the key, and a few moments were thus allowed Henry in which to look round for a hiding place. In one corner of the garret was a heap of those vessels of birch bark used in making maple sugar. The door was unlocked and opened, and the Indians ascended the stairs before Henry had completely crept into a small opening which presented itself at one end of the heap. An instant later, four Indians entered the room, all armed with tomahawks, and all besmeared with blood upon every part of their bodies. The die appeared to be cast. Henry could scarcely breathe, and he was sure that the throbbing of his heart occasioned a noise loud enough to betray him. The Indians walked in every direction about the garret, and one of them approached him so closely that, at a par- ticular moment, had he put forth his hand, he could have touched him. Still, he remained undiscovered, a circumstance to which the dark color of his clothes, and the want of light in the room, must have contributed. In short, after taking several turns in the room, during which they told Langlade how many they had killed and how many scalps they had taken, they returned down stairs ; and Henry, with sensations not easily expressed, heard the door locked lor the second time. of Medicine, and in the spring of 1860 received an ad eundem degree from the medical department of Pennsylvania College. Soon after his gradua- tion he returned to New York, and practiced his profession, with his old preceptor, for about two years, and while there received the appointment of demonstrator of aniitomy in the New York ('ollege of Dental Surgery, but on the earnest solicitation of his old friend and room mate of the village academy (now the Hon. J. G. Sutherland), who had located and was practicing law at Saginaw City, jVIichigan, he was induced to remove to that city, where he arrived July 1, 1854. He early succeeded in acquiring a large and extensive practice, which declining health has now compelled him to partially abandon. He now devotes his time chiefly to the practice of gynaecology, and is medical advisor and acting surgeon of the Jackson, Lansing