Linda Osborne Cynowa

Farming in Northern Macomb County

In December, I contracted with Arcadia Publications to write my third book for them. I was made aware that there were people, who had missed inclusion in the previous books I had written. Although many of the Northern Macomb County townships already had the ‘Images of America’ books highlighting them, there were at least four of these townships, Lenox, Ray, Bruce and Armada that didn’t. While the population, seems to move forward and going north that seems to be the direction for that growth. These townships population is considerably smaller that most of the others in this area. But large or small population, there are still stories to be told and to be documented.

I realized my best option, was to make a chapter for each of the nine townships. While the usual and past books have included information on the complete area, from schools, churches, governmental building, shoppes as well as the early settlers, I found researching the farming life of these areas fascinating, so that became my focus.

While I have been asked if I had grown up on a farm, I would reply that I was surely a “city girl”! Then I came across this image of me when my family was living in Canada during the mid to late 1950’s, and it looks like learning to drive a tractor was something I had already accomplished. After that, the closest I got to a farming life was as a 10 years old, using an old bunkbed ladder to climb a stockade fence and drop down on to a fifty gallon oil drum to visit my friend Jane. Were we would go in to her parents garden and pilfer their kohlrabi. Today when shopping for vegetables and I see the kohlrabi in season, I still remember those days. But when you realize how many kitchen ‘tools’ you need just to get passed the leaves and stocks and skin on kohlrabi just to make it edible, how did two young kids do it straight out of the garden?

As you do the research, you are always on the look out for the perfect image to use on the cover. Although Arcadia usually asked for as many as 10 images for them to find the best, that will fit the cover, and they like a human interest aspect to it. This time, I remembered this image from the ‘Macomb’ book, and talking to the gentleman who met me at the archives to see what he had for a submission into that book. That gentleman, is the little boy on the tractor.

I don’t think I could have found a better image to use than the one showing a father on his ‘brand new 1953 Ford tractor’ with his little son adding his ‘opinion’ to the situation.

I have been very lucky to be able to meet some really lovely farming families, and be taught all about this very hard working way of life, from planting techniques, to farm machinery and how its used. This is a way of life that should give everyone a deep pause when we put these fresh foods on our tables. It is with great excitement and pleasure that this week, this book goes off to my publisher. Looking for an early fall publication date 🙂

On that ‘wee note’, till next week

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Romeo, the County Seat of Macomb County ??

The earliest building in Romeo to serve as a community center was the Gray’s Block at 231 North Main Street. It was constructed in 1869 to house Gray’s Opera House. The $22,000. building was designed in the Italianate style by local architect Oscar S. Buell, and financed by brothers Hugh, James and Noah Gray. When finished, the three-story structure had stores on the ground floor, with offices, a ballroom and a Township Hall that seated 1,000 people on the upper levels. The building was at the time “the most costly and elegant building in Macomb County” according to the Romeo Observer- 1869.

At the turn of the twentieth century the Gray’s Opera House provided the spot for social activities, staging plays, vaudeville shows, and musicals. And for all its special entertainment, it was also known to have withstood five fires between 1876 and 1941. With varying degrees of damage necessitated rebuilding, and much repair and improving. The Masonic Temple would make a home there in later years, as did the Romeo Village town hall occupied space in the building in the 1950’s. But one of its more important meetings would soon come to light.

A citizens meeting was held at Gray’s Opera House in Romeo on January 11, 1879. The object of this meeting was ‘merely to get matters in shape for raising of the $30,000 promised for the erection of a new county building, should the county seat be moved too Romeo’. ‘ The Honorable A.B. Maynard, being present, addressed the meeting briefly to explain the object and purposes to the citizens of Romeo in the matter under consideration’. ‘He stated that the proposal had nothing to do with any unrest felt with Mt. Clemens, but Romeo was simple exercising its undoubted and unquestioned right, in a business point of view. Mr. Maynard spoke for about 10 minutes and his remarks seemed to be well received, by the end of the meeting they had amassed $6000. though subsequently, other citizens followed the example and within a short time the entire $30,000 was raised. In todays money, these men raised $784,746.00!

Romeo Observer Wednesday January 15, 1879

A few years ago, when I first came across this story, I became aware there was a touch more to this story, and although Mt. Clemens was appreciative that Romeo was willing to burden themselves with becoming the county seat, (thank heavens they didn’t) their offer was declined, but the $30,000. raised, was kindly accepted to build the new jail, Mt Clemens very much needed at the time.

On that ‘wee note’ till next week.

Images and articles courtesy of the the Romeo Community Archives at the Kezar Library.

The Cottons of Chesterfield

Otis W Cotton an expert with an ax, came to Chesterfield in 1832-33 and started a new life in Michigan when it was still a territory. Cotton purchased 128 acres on the new road about where today’s Cotton Road touches Gratiot. One of his neighbors was Martha Fairchild, the daughter of early Chesterfield pioneers. Though clearing the land was arduous work there was still time for romance. In 1833 Otis Cotton and Martha Fairchild married. A ew months later the newlyweds built a log cabin on the Fort Gratiot Turnpike.

It was a hard struggle to keep them clothed and fed until the growth of timber could be cut and the soil made productive. Because of the limited resources even the loss of a cow, was a heavy misfortune in this primitive wilderness. Wolves brought additional hardships, as at one point the Cottons lost and entire flock of sheep to a pack of wolves. With the family dependent on wool for clothing and bedding, this would make for a serious loss. They would persevered and ‘the conditions of pioneer life gave way to an advance civilization, and they would enjoy a comfortable living before passing away, Otis 1884 and Martha in 1887.

The Cottons were the parents of nine children. Their three sons all fought in the Civil War. Son Jay, seen here in this image below, enlisted, and later became and officer in the First Michigan Cavalry. He was present at the surrender of General Robert E Lee at Appomattox, Virginia in 1865. Jay was born with his patriotic spirit found at an early age. Jay would sit spellbound listening to eyewitness accounts by his grandmother, Ruth Fairchild. Her father Jacob Hall, wad a minuteman in the Revolutionary War.

Jay often heard the story of the Revolutionary Wars biggest scandal, the betrayal and treason of Benedict Arnold. His grandmothers sister watch the execution of Major John Andre. John Andre, a British officer, played a key role in Benedict Arnolds attempted plot to turn the fortress of West Point over to the British. Andre was captured and hung as a spy in 1780.

After the Civil War Jay Cotton left with a wagon train for Nebraska were he farmed and ran a hardware. In 1876 Jay was called upon to mourn the death of his first wife, Jennie Ensminger, leaving him with four children. In 1878 at the request of his father, he returned to Michigan. There he purchased the old homestead and continued the family tradition of farming. Jay married a second time to a widow named Maria Tucker. With her two children from her first marriage, Jay and Maria would have a daughter together. The Chesterfield farm would continue to thrive.

Maria Cotton would die on the 3 November 1924 with Jay following on 10 June 1929.

With that ‘wee note’, till next week.

Image courtesy of Mick Sullivan of Lenox Township

124 Gates Street, Romeo

Linda’s Monday Morning Moaning’s

The Harvey Mellon Residence

Harvey Mellon was a native of Middlebury, New York April 3, 1822. Of the many occupations that he was involved in, he would discover the first iron ore in Northern Michigan, and would be an early investor in Michigan timberlands. Harvey served in the State House of Representatives and the Senate from 1889 until his death in 1895. His interest in breeding Kentucky Thoroughbred Racehorses on his estate and his ‘deer park’ were part of his passions. Public Surveying, Farming and Lumberman would round out his life skills.

Harvey wed Elizabeth Bowerman from Romeo in 1849. When the Mellons purchased the property on Gates Street in 1863 a home was built in the Italianate style. They had 3 daughters and one son passed away early in life.

Harvey’s wife Elizabeth, passed away in Romeo in 1889. By 1891 Harvey has taken a second wife in Ellen Proctor (1845-1926). Changes came quit suddenly on August 1 1895, when Harvey was heading out toward Imlay City in his phaeton. When two miles east of the village at Kilmurry Crossing, Harvey was struck by the west bound train. He was thrown about twenty feet, and with some bruises about the head and face, would other wise be quit shaken up. The train stopped and picked up the injured man and took him into Imlay City. The horse was uninjured, but the phaeton was splintered. At first there was high hopes for his recovery even at 73 years of age. In was not to be, for on August 8th 1895 Harvey passed away. Harvey and his first wife were buried in the Romeo Cemetery.

Romeo Observer article on John Mellon accident 1 August 1895

In 1895 shortly after her fathers death, his daughter Mrs. Henry Stephens ll had ideas for a renovation of the Mellon home after seeing exhibits from the Chicago Worlds Fair from 1893 that focused on the latest architectural innovations. Soon the Colonial Revival was a cleaner, simpler design with a full width porch, Tuscanny columns, leaded glass windows along with bay windows. an addition was added and the pitch of the roof was raised by three feet.

In 1927, the residence became the exclusive Pennington School for Girls, also named Patton Hall. The school would close a few years later and go on to be used in a variety of other uses, such as a sanitarium and a rehabilitation center. Today it is used an office building and mental health facility.

Mellon Home, more recently made into an office complex

On that ‘wee’ note, till next week.

Articles courtesy of the Community Archives at the Romeo Kezar Library. House image authors collection.

The 1929 Washington Savings Bank Robbery

Linda’ Monday Morning Moaning’s

Washington Township:

An article in the Romeo Observer from the 9th of January 1929 it would read:

“On the 7th of January 1929, two neatly dressed young men walked into the Washington Savings Bank, soon after the bank had opened that Monday morning, and as described later, one of the men was short in stature and about 18 years old and his companion would be much taller and approximately 25 years of age. The young men would engage Mrs. Cora Thurston in conversation, relative to the negotiation of a loan in the amount of $2500.00. Mrs Thurston would call Mr. J.H. McCutcheon the head cashier and once again told of their apparent object of the visit. Mr. McCutcheon, would refer them to Utica, Romeo and Rochester banks as the Washington bank was not going to be prepared to make that loan. It was then that the taller of the two assured Mr McCutcheon that he was in possession of some gilt-edged security, and would reach into his pocket and produce a revolver, which later Mr McCutcheon would say ‘appeared as big as a cannon’. Mr. McCutcheon and Mrs. Thurston were then invited to proceed into the cellar, which they would do without much hesitancy. While their handkerchiefs were used to gag the couple, they were assured they would not be harmed.

Returning to the banking offices the men would very quickly gathered up the packages of currency of the large denominations and $228.00 in gold, from the safe, bring their take to a total of $5,400. Before taking their departure they would use the cashiers keys to lock the bank, before one of the robbers would drive away in Mr McCutcheon’s car which was parked out front and the other taking their own car from where it was parked in front of the Community church. Mrs. Thurston was the first to free herself, but 20 minutes would pass before the alarm could be sounded. Mrs. Thurston and Mr. McCutcheon would visit the rogues gallery at the police headquarters in Detroit to try and identify the men, who would now be referred to as ‘the thugs’. The bank would be closed Monday afternoon, as it was a conservative estimate that 2000 people from the countryside would visit the bank on that Monday afternoon, with at least 50% of that number, knowing how the robbers could have been stopped and caught.”

A second article printed in the Romeo Observer on 23rd January 1929 would state “Thomas Sissions of Flint, better known a the police in the city as “Dapper Dan” was arrested, last Wednesday, after being positively identified as the man that robbed the Washington Saving Bank. When taken into custody he was exquisitely gowned but without a penny in his pocket. The second robber would never be identified.

Mrs. Cora Thurston would soon become known as the ‘women who speaks up to bandits’, as when the bandits ordered her to lay down on a pile of coal, in the basement, she refused, as she didn’t want to soil her dress; she was then given some papers to sit on while they proceed to rob the bank. She felt there was nothing she could do about them robbing the bank, but she would object strongly to any unnecessary untidiness.” Mrs. Thurston should be awarded a membership in the ‘Society of Women Who Speak Up to Bandits’.

On that ‘wee’ note, till next week.

Washington Saving Bank, where the robbery took place. Image courtesy of GWAHS

GWAHS – Great Washington Area Historical Society.