In the spring of 1832, Right Reverend Philander Chase, an uncle of the eminent statesman of Ohio, in company with another gentleman, both on horseback, that being the most rapid way of traveling in those days, reached a place called Adams Mills, on Prairie River, west of Bronson's hotel. Mr. Chase had been Bishop of Ohio, President of Kenyon College, which positions he had resigned, and with the expectation of being appointed Bishop of Michigan, was seeking a location in this new country, where he might get a farm, and establish a college, having had promise of help from England. Mr. Adams piloted him through the woods in a southeast direction until they came to a tract of as beautiful land as the sun ever shone on. Here were groves of timber surrounding a charming lake. In this beautiful town (now Gilead) he purchased 640 acres of land, and at once commenced to erect buildings, such as his present needs required. Failing to get the Bishopric of Michigan he sold his possession in Branch, and went westward with the "Star of Empire.” As I passed over the same ground some three years after the bishop left, and before the hand of the axman had destroyed those beautiful parks, I wondered if the good bishop really thought he had found the veritable Elysian Fields. The pioneers hardly realized how near they came to having an educational institution established in this land of Gilead, that in time might have equaled a Harvard, a Yale, an Oxford, a Dublin, or a Heidelburg. The first newspaper ever published in Branch county was called The Michigan Star. This was in 1837. Its existence, however, like terrestrial happiness, was of short continuance. One or two other papers were started, but they had a short and feeble existence. In 1841 the first paper was established that continued for any length of time. This was called The Coldwater Sentinel, and the first number was dressed in mourning on account of the death of President Harrison. This paper was owned and edited by Albert Chandler, then young and active. He was editor, pressman, and typo. In fact, he "paddled his own canoe." His success was largely attributable to the following circumstance: That fall a senatorial convention was held at Albion, and young Chandler was a delegate. With a solid delegation, Branch could secure the nomination. The young democratic editor was selected, but he stoutly declared that he would' not vote for his own nomination, although he knew very well a nomination was equal to an election. So another man from Branch was put in nomination, and of course elected. Had railroads been as plenty then as now, and passes as liberally distributed, I am not sure but his Roman firmness might have been overcome, and he passed for nothing but an ordinary man. EARLY JUDICIAL AND LEGAL TRANSACTIONS Whatever may be thought of the judiciary of this age, there was in early days a court in Branch county that was above suspicion. In the very early settlement of the county, there came from the State of New York a colony of as honest and industrious people as ever crossed Lake Erie. Wishing to locate by themselves, they went back from the Chicago road, which was then the principal thoroughfare through the county, and settled in the midst of a dense forest. Here, by hard labor, they soon built themselves log houses, and soon were quite well sheltered. Then a schoolhouse must be built. So by volunteer labor a log house soon went up, suffi ciently large to accommodate their children in school, also to afford them a suitable place for religious meetings on the Sabbath; for, be it known, that when this Puritanic colony crossed lake Erie, which in those days was almost considered the grand Rubicon between civilization and barbarism, they left not their religious convictions behind them, but transplanted them in the dense forests of Branch county. For a time they enjoyed themselves in their primitive church, but after a while a young man was elected director of the district who possessed at least two attributes of that ancient "unjust judge," for he neither "feared God nor regarded man." This young hopeful locked the door, and would not permit religious meetings to be held in the house. You can imagine the feelings of this little colony of the descendants of the May Flower emigrants. In the little village of Coldwater, many miles away, there lived a young justice of the peace who did nearly, indeed, I may say all the judicial business in the county, and whose decisions were so manifestly just and honorable upon all occasions, that his court was often called the "court of equity." The voluminous works of Chitty and Blackstone had formed no part of his early readings, but he was a thorough student in the great volume of honor and justice. One of the deacons of this little band of christians made haste to the distant village to consult the young justice, and went back, as we sometimes say, with a "flea in his ear." Of course the Esquire refused to give advice, but said he, "Should such a thing occur in my neighborhood, I would go on Sunday morning next and kindly ask the director for the key; if he refused to give it me, I would get a good heavy oak rail, and all hands taking hold, I would knock the door into atoms." Now as the good deacon was of the Cromwell stock, he put implicit confidence in the God of battles, and at the same time had taken the precaution to keep his powder dry. On the following bright and beautiful Sabbath morn, when all nature had donned her beautiful attire, and the birds in the surrounding trees were chanting their sweetest carols, the whole band of christians assembled at the school-house, thoroughly armed with the christian's panoply, to take part in the religious exercises. The director continued stubborn; a huge rail was procured, when all hands were ready, the shout echoed through the forest; "if the Lord be for us who can stand against us;" and with one grand blow, down went the door, in far less time than it took the walls of Jericho to tumble at the blast of trumpets at the command of the great Joshua. When all had assembled, that majestic old tune Iddo, was brought into requisition using the words, How sweet, how heavenly is the sight, In one another's peace delight, When each can feel another's sigh, And with him bear a part, When sorrow flows from eye to eye, Not having heard of the conference of the deacon with the Esquire, the director hastened at early dawn the next morning to the distant village to have them all arrested. The Esquire had anticipated such a call, and was fully prepared for the emergency. A conference ensued, when something like the following lecture was delivered by the court of equity: "Yes, Mr. Director, I told the good deacon what I would do, were I in his situation. You know this nation is called the land of the free, as well as the home of the brave. It is too late in the world's history to talk of shutting up our little school-houses, or of trying to prevent men and women from worshiping the great God in a quiet and peaceful way, according to the dictates of their own consciences. Being a firm believer in the great principle of moral gravitation, I am surprised that any body should try to prevent that noble little colony from carrying out their own convictions of duty. Let us all remember 'What conscience dictates to be done, Or warns us not to do, This, teach us more than Hell to shun, Only remember the condition of poor Lot, because he pitched his tent nigh unto Sodom. Let us all earnestly desire that the great flambeau of civil and religious liberty may continue to blaze over the length and breadth of this broad and beautiful land; for where liberty dwells, there is my country." That ended the controversy; and so well pleased were the people of the county with their chancellor, that after a few years they said to Esq. Warner, "since thou hast been faithful over a few things, we will make thee ruler over many," and elected him judge of probate for the county; which position he held for eight years, to the entire satisfaction of an intelligent constituency. I deem it but just to say that when the litigious director visited the Esquire's office, he was accompanied by the late Lieut. Gov. George A. Coe who was prosecuting attorney at the time, and who fully concurred in all that was said by the Esquire, and enjoyed it exceedingly; and as he left the office exclaimed: "Well done good and faithful servant!" The first lawyer that ever settled in the county was Esbon G. Fuller, who in May, 1837, was on his way from western New York to Chicago, or Milwaukee, with a view of locating in one of those western cities. Stopping over the Sabbath in the little village of Coldwater and being pleased with the people and country, and learning that there was no lawyer in the county, he concluded to pitch his tent with us. Circuit court in those days was held about twice each year, and each term usually continued from one to two days. At the following June term, the young attorney made application for admission to the bar. Not the bar in the hotel-for he was a genuine disciple of Neal Dow-but to that other bar in the little log court-house. Hon. William A. Fletcher, of Ann Arbor, was the presiding judge. His honor appointed three of the ablest attorneys in the circuit to examine the applicant. The weather being extremely warm, this trio of legal gentleman seated themselves on the ground under the wide-spreading branches of the surrounding trees, while the young applicant took quarters on a large oak stump standing near by. As the loquacious judge was passing from the court-house to the hotel to get his dinner, and perhaps other refreshments, he quaintly said: "Gentlemen, I have given you no authority to tree that man." However, as they were a very grave trio, and doubtless felt that great responsibility rested upon them, they commenced by asking the young man as to his politics. Nothing daunted, he exclaimed, with great emphasis, that he was a democrat, a Jackson democrat. This answer was entirely satisfactory, at least to two of the gentlemen of legal lore, for to be a Jackson democrat, in those days, was the sine qua non of admission into good legal society. The third man, however, had one question to ask. Whether because he was a less ardent worshiper of the hero of New Orleans, or because he wished to make an exhibit of his legal attainments, I know not, but one question he insisted on asking. It was this. Did he ever expect to run for the legislature? and if so, did he expect to be elected? The question was answered in the negative. Although the young man possessed all the qualifications necessary to make a useful member of the legislature, yet his inclinations led him not in that direction. The above were the only questions asked, and they were answered in such a way as to give unbounded satisfaction, and entitled the young man to practice in all the august courts of Branch county. I have mentioned these early judicial proceedings to show that in primitive times we had less law, but more justice than is thought to exist in more modern times. SONG TO OUR PIONEERS BY MRS. EMMA TUTTLE TUNE: Tramp, Tramp, Tramp. From the labors of to-day Let us turn awhile away To the memories of the consecrated past. With a ringing rythmic tone, Let each heart call back its own From the shadows death and time have o'er them cast. CHORUS On, on, on. the world is marching! On to regions grand and vast, But we offer up a song, As she wheels her souls along. To the brave and valiant heroes of the past. Where we live in ease to-day Doing battle with privation, want, and toil, Leaving acres such as these, Where the gold lies, almost shining, in the soil. CHORUS Now those hands which labored best One whose head is white with sleet, CHORUS Let us keep their memories green Sad good-byes and glad good-mornings Over there; Let us tell their noble deeds, Writ on pages to their memories white and fair. CHORUS 1833 QUINCY 1883 October 3d It was a great day in the history of Quincy. And why not? Never another Semi-Centennial of her existence. Fourth of July, Christmas, and like holidays may do for small towns like Detroit and Chicago, but it takes a bigger thing to wake up Luke and his log cabin, or Milo and his greased pole and pig, and bring together 20,000 people in Quincy. There are sixteen towns in Branch county, besides a full fledged city, with its corporation filled with people who know themselves as living in a city. All of the people who live in these towns and in the city, except a few that were left at home to look after the eows or pigs, undertook to take a peep at Quincy in her Semi-Centennial dress. And they all had a chance. They found the smartest, most beautiful and business-like town in southern Michigan ready to receive them, and fully up in all the parts in carrying on a grand celebration. But before entering upon a description of the day's doings, the incidents, etc., it may be well to briefly state how the day came to be celebrated. On the 22d day of August, Rev. J. Emory Fisher, of the Presbyterian church, called at the Herald office, and stated that this was the fiftieth year since the first shanty was put up and the first wheat sown in Quincy village. The gentleman suggested the propriety of celebrating the anniversary, and upon meeting encouragement left it for the Herald to work up. A brief announcement in the editorial columns of the fact, called out from the citizens a letter addressed to the editor suggesting a public meeting, which was called for Friday evening, August 31st. At this meeting, which was largely attended, it was voted to celebrate, and the day was named to be September 19. An executive committee was appointed consisting of Messrs. J. H. Jones, J. B. Sutton, C. McKay, O. S. Williamson, J. J. Badgley, F. E. Marsh, Jr., C. W. Bennett, M. D. Campbell, Luke Joseph, C. V. R. Pond, R. K. Twadell, Ed. Finn, Hiram Bennett, M. M. Brown, with power to prepare for the celebration. At the first meeting of the executive committee it was urged that the day named should be changed, as not sufficient time elapsed to make proper preparation, and the date was changed to Wednesday, October 3d. No committee ever appointed, labored more faithfully to make a celebration what this one was, a grand success. Day and night either on sub-committees or in committee of the whole, some of the members gave their almost entire time and attention, forsaking private interests for the good of their town. But all the honor, if there is any to be bestowed, must be given to Rev. J. E. Fisher, for thinking of the opportunity to thus celebrate. The continued dry weather caused many an anxious mind, lest the 3d of October should be a rainy day. Extensive preparations were being made by the citizens to take a part in the parade. A rain would interfere with their desire. The days passed and Monday night brought a heavy rain. Tuesday morning the streets showed the beneficent effects of the rain, the dust had been laid, the clouds were passing away, but would it rain to-morrow? Some said "yes" others said, "well, we will prepare for the celebration any way," and at it they went. Tuesday night Chicago street in its business portion presented a gala appearance ready for the morrow. Semi-Centennial day was |