Here are some small tidbits of news or history about Lenawee County or the State of Michigan that Diane Oslund started collecting. If you have anything to add, please email it to: Mary Teeter

Please note that some items have been removed from this page and placed in the Lenawee County Archives. If you want to see those marriages, wills, etc. that were removed, go to the bottom of this page and click on archives.

The Inventions of the Age

Sewing Machine

Wonders will never cease-human inventions never come to an end-the progressive spirit of the age, with an unflinching purpose claims that most things, at least, are possible with man.-Time and space are annihilated with vapor and electricity, and even it is claimed that the spirits of the departed are "rapping at the door" for re-admission into this world of progressive wonders.

Among the curiosities of this age of inventors, one not the least interesting, is the Sewing Machine; invented by one J. M. Singer, and now in operation in many of the Shoe and Clothing Establishments in the Eastern States.

A table of iron, with a moveable brass ribbon running across it and cut open in the middle, beneath which the fairy shuttle which does the job flies daintly to and fro, receives the cloth-the edges, or wherever the seam is to be sewed, being held down by a little tin thumb nail pressed downward from above. Just outside this thumb the needle works (or scarcely be called work) horizontally, the eye being about one-third the distance from the point of the heel.-The length of the stitch is regulated to the most hair-breadth precision by simply turning a screw; and by a principle novel as it is beautiful, the loop is infallibly made, and the tension of the thread is adjusted in a moment to any sort of fabric or work. The machine sews leather as well as cloth.

The Machine makes with ease five hundred stitches a minute; performing the labor or a dozen seamstresses.

What is to be the effect which this Machine will ultimately produce upon that portion of community who in large numbers, in the cities especially, depend entirely upon the small pittance which they obtain by plain sewing, for a canty subsistence, we cannot safely predict; but when we consider that one of these Machines, at an expense of $125., will do the work of twelve seamstresses, it would seem that large numbers must be thrown out of employ, to beg or starve, or do worse.

It is a question, after all, in our own mind, whether some of these splendid inventions are really beneficial to the world. Whether in some instances they do not tend to give power and affluence into the hands of the few, rather than advance the prosperity of the many. For instance, one woman in New York, who can by her better fortune command the $125., can throw out of employ eleven other females, who must starve if their daily earnings are withheld. No one of these eleven, or all combined, can purchase a Machine, and the one who can, gets the pay of the eleven. We know it is considered behind the spirit of the age, to say aught against inventions, and our fears may be perhaps entirely unfounded; but we have at times thought that among the many highly important and useful inventions, there are some which will prove a curse instead of blessing to the world. And perhaps our sympathy for the half-paid seamstresses, may have led us to fear evil results from the "Sewing Machine", when there is no danger.

It is the maxim of the world, practically at least, "devil take the hindmost,"-every one for himself, is the order of the day. If one by his ability to invent or procure Machinery can break down a dozen competitors, and turn into his own pockets the dozen small sums which gave the others a subsistence, he gets rich; and is looked upon with admiration and esteem, while the others must suffer the to them ruinous effects of the operation, in obscurity and want. It this right? We say no. Talk as much as you will about a "Free Country" and "Free Trade", no man has a moral right to use his superior abilities to beggar his neighbor and competitor, to enrich himself. When will mankind learn the true end of life, and strive to harmonize society, and build up each one his neighbor, and brother, rather than as is now done, each man striving to get above his fellow in point of wealth and influence, that he may look down upon those whom he should take by the hand as friend, brother, and equal? How little is that glorious maxim of Jesus regarded "do unto others as ye would have others do unto you," even by those who make great pretensions as followers of the "meek and lovely One."

We have often heard this sentiment inculcated from the pulpit, "get all the money you can in your pocket, and all the grace you can in your heart," and when we have marked its practical operation in the lives of the hearers, we are always reminded of the old man's instruction to his son:-"My son, get money;-get it honestly if you can; -but be sure and get it!"

Truly, the inhabitants of the world have forgotten that they are brothers and sisters; children of the same great Infinite Father, and bound by every sense of honor, and by every pulsation of unperverted humanity, to strive to cherish and support and render each other happier and better.

But the world is, after all, improving-if there are evils increasing, combinations and associations for the remedy of these evils are also increasing. The doctrine of man's brotherhood is being received and incuicated, and events which in past ages created wars and bloodshed, now scarcely ruffle the surface of the Sea of Peace. And if the Nations are improving, may we not hope it springs from improvement in the hearts and feelings of individual man? Let us also hope, that this improvement may reach all hearts, that we may not be accessary to the evils and wrongs in society.

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Charles M. Croswell born Newburg, New York October 31, 1825. Orphaned at the age of 7 years, came to Adrian with uncle in 1837. In 1852 he married Lucy M. Eddy, they had 5 children, including, Hattie. Hattie studied at Vassar College and later became a missionary to India with her sister Lucy. The mother Lucy M. died March 19, 1868 in Lenawee County. Charles M. was elected governor of Michigan in 1876 and served from 1877 to 1881. Charles died suddenly in Adrian December 12, 1886.

I believe that the daughter Hattie is our editress:

See Governor Croswell's Page for additional information on Hattie's father.

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A two-ton grave stone, was last week unloaded, from a car upon a wagon at Blissfield. The men who engineered the monument, forgot to remove the rollers from under it, and when the team started the stone shot forward upon one of the horses, which was knocked down and so severely injured that it may die. The stone should be erected as a monument to the imbecility of the men in charge of the stone.

From The Adrian Weekly Press, February 20, 1891

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ANOTHER HAUL--

The morning train yesterday brought in six other persons, who had been arrested as a part of the Railroad conspirators in Jackson County. Their names were as follows:

Jerome Gould of Jackson County
Benj. Gleeson of Jackson County
Miles Barker of Jackson County
John W. Walch of Mich. Center
Abner Grant of Mich. Center
David Lock of Napoleon

They were arrested Friday morning by a posse of officers from this city, consisting of under sherriff Watkins, Isaac Warren, deputy, Kin S. Sygert, US Deputy Marshall and constables Tuttle, D. Cicotte & Jno. Dumas.

One of the parties arrest was taken with a musket upon his shoulder, while acting as a sentry at the door of the State Prison.

Apparently these fellows had been involved in some destruction of Central Railroad track, firing depots, tearing up of rails, and discharging of fire arms at passing trains.

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From the Lenawee County researchers newsletter, Vol 2, No 6,. Printed here with their permission.

AN INVITATION:

Wednesday--January 15
Britton

Osgood Brothers say that when the parties who took the chickens Tuesday night wish to get a fresh supply, they will have to come over to the store for the key, as their hen house is locked.

(Originally appeared in the Times & Expositor, Friday, January 17, 1890.)

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On Nov. 16, 1987, the Jonathan Hall Memorial Library turned 100. The library was named in memory of Jonathan Hall, by Rufus T. Bush, son-in-law of Hall, who donated the library to the inhabitants of Ridgeway Township.

The building was made of red bricks and limestone foundation with a Greek Cross Architectural style. It has a roof of Vermont blue slate.

Inside the library was divided into a reading room and shelves of books with portraits of Jonathan Hall and Rufus T. Bush.

To override the expenses and of buying new books, the association decided in order for one to use the library, one must become a member of the association at $3.00 membership and $1.00 dues per year.

The following were members at the opening of the library:

S.W. Anderson, Wm. Andrews Jr., J. D. Arner, Geo. D. Arner, M. P. Brown, Miss Leona Beeowers, W. I. Bush, J. P. Bush, Miss Belle Barrow, Mrs. M. A. Barrett, Rev. W. H. Benton, Richard Cadmus, Mr. & Mrs. David Coryell, Lennie Coryell, Kellie Clark, Salomie Clark, Mrs. & Mrs. S. W. Clark, Mrs. Jas. Clarkson, Richard Clarkson, Mrs. R. P. Clarkson, Mr. & Mrs. W. P. Cadmus, C. W. Culberton, Mrs. Catherin Cox, Mrs. F. Clark, B. J. DeDoy, Go. Davidson, Guy Davidson, Lena Davidson, Alex Easlick, M. M. Florence, Mrs. Charles Foote, Fanny Foote, G.M. Grove, L.E. House, Mrs. Lydia Hall, Miss Ella Hall, Mrs. J. D. Huston, Mr. & Mrs. Robert Houseman, Georgie Houseman, John Houseman, Miss Aara Hayden, Darius W. Loree & wife, Justus Lowe, Coonrol L. Lowe, Samuel Pappyele, Morris Osgood, Ella Jackson, W. L. Jones & wife, Morris Kelly, Ada Linn, Wallce Lin, Mrs. David McNair, L. V. Miller, Emma Miller, S. U. Miller, S.H. Montgomery, M. C. Miller & wife, James L. McIntyre, B. R. Nicols & wife, A. G. Sutton, Will Smith, Louise Smith, Nathan Spencer, J. S. Osborn, Lester Osgood, Mary Osgood, F.E. Pocklington, Wm Pilbeam, Jess Pottier, C.A. Pocklington, A. E. Pilbeam, J. B. Patterson, W. J. Raymond, Lula Rappleue~~hard to read??~~, S. C. Stacy, Rev. Peter Sharp, Mrs. C. V. Skinner, Enoch Tandall, F. J. Temple, Clare Temple, S.H. Temple, C. J. Underwood, Jno. VanValkett, C. A. Wright, H. C. Wilson, G. P. Warning, Ruth Warning, Harry Wood, Franis Wiggins, and Matthew Yates.

The library was opened and dedicated Nov. 17, 1887.

By 1950 there were only 12 members left in the association: Mrs. Geo. Watson, Gail Hull, Julia & Lulu Gilmore, Mrs. Thelma Frayer, Mrs. Ida Wilcox, Marica Baker, Charles Fackelman, Rev. Carter, Elmer Linn & Billy Deen.

In 1958 the library became part of the Lenawee County Library System.

The library has been in serious need of repairs for many years. In 1988 it was considered the oldest continuously operated library east of the Mississippi.

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For research purposes at this time (1988) it was said that the holdings were:

1880 census for Macon & Ridgeway, the old minutes for the Library Association from 1887- 1950, scap book of this history of the library and a book reportedly by Mrs. Foote called History of Ridgeway.

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Tidbits found in Adrian Daily Telegram

November 10, 1899, page 2, Mrs. R. A. Heesen, of Tecumseh, went to Toledo from here this morning to visit a few days.

Adrian Daily Telegram, Lenawee County, Michigan, November 7, 1899:

Fred Hansen, whose bloated remains were fished out of Portage Lake near Houghton, had been fully identified by his employer, and wept over by his family, emerged from the county jail Sunday after serving ten days for drunkedness, and was so overjoyed to find himself alive after being declared dead by a coroner's jury that he immediately filled up on corn juice and is back in jail again serving a thirty days sentence. Identity of the body is again a mystery.

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Article from Lenawee County Researchers newsletter Feb. 1986, Vol 3 No 5. Editor: Sheranlynn Nichols

"Fence Capitol of the World". It was here that the first successful wire fence was invented and manufactured.

J. Wallace Page, an Union solider and son of the Lenawee settler in Rollin Township, had a dream of finding a substitute for the old rail and hedge fences. By experimenting with wire, he constructed a crude loom, which as it turned out constructed the first usable wire fence that the world had ever known. He was ridiculed for his new -------fangled------- contraption, but he never stopped improving it until he believed he was ready to go into production.

He started a small factory in Rollin which later was moved to Adrian in 1889 to the site of the present American Chain and Cable Company on Michigan Street. Page had some assistance from some capable men, such as C.H. Lamb, who showed him how his loom could be power-driven.

Page went to every expense to advertise his wire fence. To prove the strength and uses of his fence, he kept a large number of animals at Deer Park, the area between North Scott and Budlong Streets and north of Maple. He kept twelve carloads of buffalo, deer, antelopes, wolves, prairie dogs, wild turkeys, eagles, wild ducks and many other animals.

During fair season, the animals were transported by train to fairs in Illinois, Indiana and other parts of the country. The animals were transported and exhibited inside Page fence cages on the train. Page received contracts from zoos such as New York City, Berlin, Chicago and many others. He also received orders for animal cages to be sent to Africa and Asia.

Another promotional stunt was the Page Giants, a negro baseball club sponsored by the company. They traveled throughout the United States and Canada. The team was extremely good, but they couldn't compete on the major league teams because of their color. Owners for the Baltimore Orioles and New York Giants scouted them, but couldn't hire them

Page was also a man of principle. When the American Steel and Wire Company tried to force him to buy materials from them, he refused and began buying scrap materials from rural areas. At certain times, you could see as many as 300 wagons filled with scrap iron lined up in front of the plant. According to a local story, Page was against drinking alcohol and he paid a Mr. Jones, an old civil war veteran, $25.00 a week to do the drinking for the Page employees.

Other wire fence companies around Adrian included, The Adrian Wire Fence Company, Peerless Fence Company and the Lamb Fence Company.

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NOTE: Newsletter at this time was called Raisin Researching.

Note: Dr. Lindquist (noted historian at the Lenawee County Historical Society Museum) says that they have no samples of the fence made by Page and it is one of his most "wanted" historical items on his wish list for the Lenawee County Historical Society---any one have a sample???????

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Found in an Issue of Lenawee County Researchers, Vol 7, Issue 1: Printed here with their permission.

According to Rejected or Suspended Applications for Revolutionary War Pensions, the following 2 men residing in Lenawee County, applied for pensions under the act of June 7, 1832, their claims being suspended; the list was prepared in conformity with the resolution of the Senate of the United States, September 6, 1850:

Michall Keyser, of Tecumseh, Lenawee Couty, application suspended because "under age-rejected thrice, once by Congress, twice by this department".

Jonathan Willard, of Adrian, Lenawee County, application suspended because "Service at too youthful an age for military standard."

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Published in the Adrian Daily Times & Expositor, Feb. 1893, printed in the newsletter for the Lenawee County Family Researchers, Jan./Feb. 1993, Vol 5, issue 4:

Harold Hunt, Dennis Street; Guy Treat, Allis Street; Clifford Marvin, N. Main Street; Alma and Norbert Burns, Front Street (all of Adrian) are reported to the City Clerk as having the measles.

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Found at the Lenawee County Historical Society Museum Archives. NOTE: Nothing more is known about this list.

The following is a list of subscribers (members), 1892, of the German Roman Catholic church, St. Joseph's Benevolent Association. There were other lists, prior to this one, written in old script German. The last list available was 1896.

1.)  Rev. Father Car. Rohowsky
2.)  Paul Vogel
3.)  Hironimus Fischer
4.)  Johann Seile
5.)  Jacob Hartmann
6.)  Constantin Haar
7.)  Alvis Erlacher
8.)  Philip Maurer
9.)  Carl Fischer
10.) Johann Heinz
11.) Anton Wehle
12.) Fredrich Burkart
13.) Florian Weiss
14.) Valentin Vogt
15.) Friedrich Schäper
16.) Remiguis Reck
17.) Johann Bauer
18.) Carl Bauer
19.) Clemens Vogel
20.) Michael Keip
21.) Joseph Steg
22.) Gustav Sauter
23.) Robert Kraut
24.) Lorenz Dörr
25.) Vinzens Sippel
26.) Mathias Erlacher
27.) Joseph Ehrlich
28.) Heinrich Riesterer
29.) Johann Pfeffer
30.) Henrich Zimmerman
31.) Joseph Baÿer
32.) Reinhold Kaiser
33.) Franz Ulrich
34.) Clemens Erhart
35.) Theodor Meÿer
36.) Julius Ulirch
37.) Georg Ulrich
38.) Paul Clauda
39.) Wilhelm Sach
40.) Peter Haag
41.) Stanislaus Koslofsky
42.) Wilhelm Diroff
43.) Joh. Georg Fischer
44.) Carl Arnold
45.) Joseph Biskupski
46.) Adolf Kaiser
47.) Carl Märx
48.) Georg Nufer
49.) Pius Ulrich
50.) Franz Schwarz
51.) Georg W. Fischer
52.) Peter Müller
53.) Hipolitus Trischler
54.) Ludwig Vogt
55.) Johann Strauch
56.) August Sauter
57.) Albert Habrick
58.) Martin Stegmüller
59.) Wilhelm Michael
60.) Georg Ulrich
61.) Heinrich Gutzwiller
62.) Edward Fischer
63.) Johann Stark
64.) Johann Sack
65.) Joseph Reinhart
66.) Joseph Seethaler
67.) Leonhard Steg
68.) Joseph A. Reck
69.) Christoph Zimmermann
70.) Franz Steg
71.) Rev. Father Tern (name was crossed off)
72.) Leonhard Ulrich
73.) Franz Schmidt
74.) Heinrich Muntz

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Found in Hundred Years-A Country Town, the Village of Tecumseh, Michigan 1824-1924, by Clara Waldron:

~~~~~~~~~~(follows is a direct quote from the book)

Franklin, on the west, was for years practically an extension of Tecumseh. Settlers took up its land as early as 1825 and some of the names associated with its beginning were those of Horace Case, Henry Tripp, Joseph Camburn, James Wells, John Keeney, and John Whelan.

The terrain was rolling. Part had heavy timber, like Macon, and it was very productive. In fact, Franklin Township brought so much prosperity to some of its farmers that in later years one of its principal roads, Tipton Highway, was nicknamed "Wall Street".

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State of Michigan
County of Lenawee
Be it known that on the 9th day of August, A.D., 1897 before me a notary public in and for said county, personally appeared:

A.L. Millard, C. E. Weaver, Seth Bean, Lester H. Salisbury, John L. OMealey, Dayton B. Morgan, Walter S. Westerman, J. N. Sampson, B. F. Graves, F. E. Priddy, H. L. Larwell, Henty R. Jewett, Henry C. Smith, Herbert R. Clark, Wallace Westerman, James W. Helme, Jr., John B. Ayers, V. H. Lane, Willard Stearns, Leslie B. Robertson, Geo. W. Ayers, R. A. Watts, John E. Bird, A. Bennett, and R. B. Robbins. Each and all of them being known to me, to be the persons who subscribed the foregoing articles of agreement and sever ally acknowledged that they executed the same freely, and for the uses and purposes therein mentioned.

Ray B. Morgan (signature)
Notary Public

I hereby certify that the above is a true copy of articles of incorporation of the Lenawee County Bar Association Dated Jany 13th, 1899. Walter S. Westerman, Secretary of The Lenawee County Bar Association.

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Dr. H. H. Hammel returned Wednesday from a twenty-one thousand mile trip to the South Seas and New Zealand.

"New Zealand is struggling along with a Labor (Socialist type) government," Dr. Hammel said today, "and everything that is brought into New Zealand has such a high import duty that prices are almost prohibitive. Every New Zealander seems hungry for anything made in America. The delivery price of a Chevrolet coupe in New Zealand is more than the delivery price of a Packard couple in Tecumseh. The Ford and Chevrolet are the two most popular cars in New Zealand. Considering the fact that the whole country has only 1,6000,000 inhabitants, it is the opinion of many New Zealanders that the country has attempted to progress too far. Those who favor government ownership should live in New Zealand. There the government owns the railroads, (narrow gauge and such trains) telephone, most of the auto bus lines, etc. They are even in the life insurance business."

Dr. Hammel hunted in the Southern Alps, 12, 850 feet high in the Mt. Cook area, where he obtained fine specimens of chamois and Himalayan goat. The progenitors of the chamois were presented to New Zealand by Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria in 1884.

The doctor obtained some very fine movies of the glaciers and mountains of Mt. Cook range.

Probably the most interesting movies that he brought back, are those taken in Fiji, Samoa, and Oahu. He shows the inhabitants of these exotic places in their native huts, spearing fish, the Fiji dances and the real Hawaiian Hula in native dress. The pictures of the palm, breadfruit trees and the native village, are of real educational value.

For sheer beauty, color and thrills, the natural color movies taken by the doctor, himself, beggars description. The deep sapphire blue of the tropic seas, the foaming surf of the famous Waikiki Beach through which the bronzed Hawaiian comes speeding on his surfboard, the delicate shades of pink, red, yellow and purple flowers of the tropic, the cocoanut palms waving gently in the soft trade winds silhouetted against the blue Hawaiian skies are gems of natural color that will be long remembered by all those who are fortunate enough to see them.

The doctor has only half the color movies he has taken here, and the remainder of them are now being developed in Hollywood.

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