rian, the ethnologist, the anthropologist, the philosopher, the historian and the scientist traverse oceans and continents and perform herculean labors, suffer untold hardships and deprivations in search of faint, feeble and shadowy evidences of the life, customs and manners of nations and peoples which have, centuries ago, passed away and been buried in the wreck and debris of time. If a pebble from the path of Hannibal over the Alps, a few grains of sand from the pass of Thermopyla-a sliver from a stone in the Parthenon or the old Acropolis or the old Coliseum-a twig from the plains of Marathon -a piece of broken pottery or tablet from the ruins of Pompeii-a few ideographs and phonograms from the towering obelisks of Egypt, have a value and afford us bright visions and happy memories, shall not the noble lives, deeds and achievements of those who made us the favored people among the nations of the earth, have a greater value, and bring to us brighter visions and more sacred, happier and holier memories? In view of the present defective, I might say more correctly, in the absence of any, system for collecting and preserving, in anything like an authentic or reliable manner, historical material, the Pioneer and Historical Society of Michigan has been and is directing its attention to perfecting an effective system whereby the historical material daily produced by the state may be collected and preserved. When this shall transpire it will impose new duties and obligations upon the Society, for the efficient and faithful discharge of which the Society will require not only the sympathies but the active assistance and coöperation of every one who places a proper and true value on genuine history. The rounding out of another little cycle of a year has brought the pioneers together again. Many pioneers whom it was ever our pleasure and joy to meet upon the occasion of our annual gatherings, have the past year traveled the well beaten road to the tomb. When they took a last, lingering look on things of earth, it was with a consolation that they had fought the battle of life nobly-had rounded out life with all its work finished and finished well -and that they and their work will not be forgotten. The Pioneer Society is a source of real, solid solace to the pioneer. He knows that his life's work has a lasting, permanent place in the records of the deeds and achievements of mankind. Yes, it is a pleasure and joy beyond measure to him as he sits in life's gloaming waiting and watching for the curtain to drop in the last scene of life's drama, to know that those whom he leaves behind have not drank of the waters of Ardenne to hate him nor of the waters of the river Lethe to forget him, and that his lifeless body, once the lucky tenement of the soul, will be carefully and gently handed down to the tomb, the common storehouse of mankind, and the sod that covers it moistened with the tears of true friendship and affection. REPORT OF THE RECORDING SECRETARY. OFFICE OF THE PIONEER SOCIETY OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, In accordance with the provisions of the constitution of the "Pioneer Society of the State of Michigan," I herewith present my thirteenth annual report. ANNUAL MEETING, 1886. The twelfth annual meeting of the society was held in Representative Hall commencing Tuesday afternoon, June 8, 1886, at 2 o'clock. President-Henry Fralick. Officers Present. Vice Presidents-C. B. Stebbins, Hampton Rich, J. W. Begole, F. A. Dewey, Nelson B. Green, O. Poppleton, E. D. Fay, H. H. Holt, J. P. Shoemaker, J. M. Sterling. Recording Secretary-Harriet A. Tenney. Corresponding Secretary-George H. Greene. Committee of Historians-M. Shoemaker, O. C. Comstock, T. E. Wing, W. J. Baxter, M. H. Goodrich. Executive Committee-John C. Holmes, Albert Miller, Francis A. Dewey. The president, Henry Fralick, called the Society to order. The exercises of the first session were opened with prayer by Rev. E. H. E. Jameson. “Old Hundred" was sung by the audience, led by Rev. Mr. Jameson, Miss Addie Berridge acting as musical director. The reports of the Recording and Corresponding Secretaries and Treasurer were read and approved. A solo, "That Old Arm Chair," was sung by Rev. E. H. E. Jameson, with piano accompaniment by Gertrude Jameson. The report of the Committee of Historians was read by Col. M. Shoemaker, and, on motion of O. Poppleton, was adopted. Memorial reports were presented by Geo. H. Greene, Corresponding Secretary, and by the Vice Presidents and others from the following counties: Allegan, by D. C. Henderson; Berrien, by A. B. Leeds; Branch, by C. D. Randall; Clinton, by S. S. Walker; Crawford, by M. D. Osband; Eaton, by D. B. Hale; Genesee, by J. W. Begole; Hillsdale, by E. O. Grosvenor; Ingham, by C. B. Stebbins; Ionia, by H. Rich; Jackson, by C. Taylor; Kent, by the Old Residents' Association of the Grand River Valley; Lenawee, by F. A. Dewey; Marquette, by Peter White; Oakland, by O. Poppleton; Saginaw, by C. W. Grant; St. Joseph, by H. H. Riley; Tuscola, by J. Baker; Van Buren, by Eaton Branch; Washtenaw, by E. D. Lay; Wayne, by Philo Parsons. J. M. Sterling promised to send a report from Monroe county. Many interesting remarks were made by the pioneers about many of the respected deceased pioneers of the state. Fine tributes were paid to the memory of Geo. C. Bates, a member of the Society at the time of his death, by E. S. Woodman, O. Poppleton and others. A sketch of the life of Dr. Geo. M. Fish was read by G. Townsend, of Davison. Mr. E. Longyear read a letter of regret, received from Elijah Woodworth, a member of the Society then 95 years of age, a resident of Mason. Many kind remarks were made relative to the aged pioneers by Dr. H. B. Shank, S. D. Bingham, Wm. H. Brockway, M. H. Goodrich, O. Poppleton and others. A solo, "Dream Faces," was sung by Nora Towne. On motion the President appointed the following members as a committee to nominate officers for the ensuing year: J. C. Holmes, W. J. Baxter, S. D. Bingham, H. H. Riley and O. Poppleton. "Early Life in Detroit and Saginaw," by Joseph Busby, was read by W. J. Baxter. Impromptu speeches and social talks being called for, W. H. Brockway, Albert Miller, ex-Gov. J. W. Begole, Mrs. E. Pratt, Miss Sally Foster, Mr. S. D. Bingham, O. Poppleton, H. H. Smith, and Rev. S. R. Cook, responded with many happy remarks and anecdotes. A duet, "A Shelter in Time of Storm," was sung by Rev. E. H. E. Jameson and Gertrude Jameson. The Society then adjourned to meet at 7 o'clock in the evening. Tuesday Evening. The Society met according to adjournment, the president in the chair. The session was opened with prayer by Rev. Geo. Taylor. An anthem was sung by the Misses Brown, Messrs. Brown and Thompson. The president, Hon. Henry Fralick, read his address. A paper Miller. 66 on The Life and Times of L. L. Brent" was read by Judge Albert Music-a march, was rendered by the orchestra, consisting of six young gentlemen and six young ladies, conducted by Mrs. Ella Shank. "The Diocese of Detroit-What it was, What it is," was read by Rev. Frank A. O'Brien. A vocal solo, "Waiting," was sung by Mrs. Homer Thayer. The last letter of Col. T. Broadhead to his wife was presented to the Society by E. S. Williams and read by Elias S. Woodman. Music-a medley, was rendered by the orchestra, and, on motion, the Society adjourned to meet again at 9 o'clock in the morning. Wednesday Morning. The Society met according to adjournment, the president in the chair. The exercises were opened by the audience singing the hymn, "America," led by Mr. Charles Thompson. "A few Incidents of Early Days in Michigan," by E. S. Williams, was read by W. J. Baxter. Many anecdotes were related by ex-Gov. J. W. Begole and others, brought to mind by Mr. Williams' paper. Mr. Begole said that he was the first and the last person to run the logs down the Flint river to his saw mills. Mr. Enos Goodrich also related some pleasant reminiscences of those early days. A solo," Dreamland," was sung by Miss Lena Berridge. Rev. W. H. Brockway made a few interesting remarks on the paper previously read by Judge Miller. T. E. Wing also related some amusing anecdotes on the same subject. "History of the Town of Green, Branch County," by C. D. Randall, was read by F. H. Conant. "A Trip from Buffalo to Lenawee County in 1829," was read by F. A. Dewey. Impromptu speeches were made by Rev. R. C. Crawford, Rev. W. H. Brockway, and by ex-Gov. J. W. Begole. Mr. Crawford, being called on for a song, sang "Michigan, my Michigan." A vocal solo, "Remembrances of Home," was sung by Mr. L. A. Baker, and the Society adjourned till 2 o'clock in the afternoon. Wednesday Afternoon. The president called the Society to order according to adjournment Prayer was offered by Rev. R. C. Crawford. A solo was sung by L. A. Baker. A continuation of his "Recollections of the Early Ministers of Washtenaw County," by Rev. Lorenzo Davis, was read by Col. M. Shoemaker. The report of the committee on the nomination of officers for the ensuing year was presented by Prof. J. C. Holmes, chairman. On motion of O. Poppleton, the report was accepted, and on motion of W. J. Baxter, the secretary was directed to cast the ballot for the Society. The president declared the officers elected as reported by the committee. On motion of W. J. Baxter the executive committee was authorized to fill any vacancy that might occur during the year in the office of any vice president. The officers elected are as follows: President-M. H. Goodrich. Recording Secretary-Harriet A. Tenney. Executive Committee-J. C. Holmes, Albert Miller, F. A. Dewey, S. D. Bingham. Committee of Historians-M. Shoemaker, Harriet A. Tenney, T. E. Wing, W. J. Baxter, O. C. Comstock, T. M. Cooley. Vice presidents--Allegan county, D. C. Henderson; Barry, D. G. Robinson; Bay, Wm. R. McCormick; Berrien, A. B. Leeds; Branch, C. D. Randall; Calhoun, B. F. Hinman; Clare, H. Woodruff; Clinton, S. S. Walker; Crawford, M. D. Osband; Eaton, D. B. Hale; Emmet, I. D. Toll; Genesee, J. W. Begole; Grand Traverse, J. G. Ramsdell; Hillsdale, E. O. Grosvenor; Houghton, J. A. Hubbell; Ingham, C. B. Stebbins; Ionia, H. Rich; Jackson, H. H. Smith; Kalamazoo, Henry Bishop; Kent, W. L. Coffinbury; Lapeer, J. B. Wilson; Lenawee, F. A. Dewey; Livingston, I. W. Bush; Macomb, J. E. Day; Manistee, T. J. Ramsdell; Marquette, Peter White; Monroe, J. M. Sterling; Montcalm, J. P. Shoemaker; Menominee, J. A. Crozier; Muskegon, H. H. Holt; Oakland, O. Poppleton; Oceana, O. K. White; Ottawa, ; Saginaw, C. W. Grant; Shiawassee, A. H. Owens; St. Clair, W. T. Mitchell; St. Joseph, H. H. Riley; Tuscola, T. North; Van Buren, C. J. Monroe; Washtenaw, E. D. Lay; Wayne, Philo Parsons. "A Trip to Lake Superior Thirty five Years Ago" was read by Francis A. Stebbins. Music-trio, "Fantasie," Swiss air, was rendered by Mrs. Ella Shank, Misses Sipley and Berridge on the violin and piano. A paper on "The Goodrich Family in Michigan," was read by Enos. Goodrich. "Uncle Tom's Bond," a paper furnished by E. S. Williams, was read by J. C. Holmes. |