ington county, New York, and the father of Robert Clark died when his son was but thirteen years old. His early days were passed as most pioneers, having little ease or luxury. He was wont to relate "how he studied lying on the floor in front of the open fire, his student lamp a pine knot, and the table upon which the book rested being the floor in front of him." Probably the minister of the parish was his classical teacher, as his knowledge of Greek and Latin was most accurate and his scientific attainments quite level with results of college training. His professional studies were doubtless pursued in his brother's office. His only brother, Dr. Thomas Clark, was a skillful physician, and practiced in Washington county and other places in New York until he removed to Michigan.

Dr. Robert Clark was married to Catherine Reid when he was twenty-two years old and his bride was barely fifteen. He practiced medicine in Galway, Washington county, New York, aud although his mother-in-law made him an advantageous offer to settle in Canada, at LaChyne, his wife's former home, offering him a comfortable home and great inducements, he thanked her profoundly, at the same. time telling her he could never sacrifice his principles to his interests by establishing himself in the King's dominions (the spirit of Americans was greatly embittered at this time). Dr. Clark met with fair success and established himself in a comfortable home where two children were born, but one day while they were all abroad, the house mysteriously took fire and burned to the ground. Nothing was saved and they were in extremities. Neighbors were kind and a temporary shelter was supplied, and soon a third child was born. Dr. Clark moved soon afterward to Stanford, Delaware county, New York, where for a time he lived with the Kedzie family, and in the year 1823 he with William Kedzie came to Michigan. Dr. Clark bought a home eight miles from Delhi, where he practiced for some time with marked success. He abandoned his profession for the broader field of politics. He was twice elected to the New York Assembly and represented his district one or two terms in Congress. Through the influence of Colonel John Anderson he came to Monroe, where he secured the office from the Government of register of the land office. Mr. Charles Lanman, a lawyer

from Norwich, Connecticut, was associated with him.

Mrs. Clark, with eight children, the youngest but twenty months old, followed the doctor as soon as convenient. They came by hired teams as far as Utica, then by the Erie canal as far as Rochester, and finally by hired teams again as far as Buffalo, when they embarked on the steamer Superior - the second set afloat on Lake Erie. The voyage lasted five days, and was not altogether favorable as to storms, and they were glad to land in Detroit -- from which place the journey to Monroe was made in an open boat, which had a sort of cabin somewhere in the hold; the name of the boat was the Firefly; the captain was Luther Harvey. When the boat was made fast to the wharf the only one-horse wagon owned in the village met the family and conveyed the mother and daughters to the little village. The doctor secured the best accommodations to be had, which were poɔr enough; the house was on Monroe street, partially finished and unpainted, known as the Mulhollen house. There was not a church in the village, but about a mile or perhaps two up the river was a Catholic church. Meetings were held in the court-house, which served as a jail and residence for the family of the jailer. The summer after the family's arri val, some of the household were attacked with the prevalent disease of the country — ague and fever. Dr. Harry Conant, a young physician, was called, who understood the treatment necessary, and the family soon were restored to health. The friendship contracted in trouble endured to the end of their lives. Dr. Conant survived his friend Dr. Clark several years, and by request of the Medical Association delivered the memorial address, in which he paid a deserved tribute to his memory, “whom he revered as a Christian, trusted as a man, and honored as a physician."

About the year 1823 Dr. Clark purchased a beautiful farm just at the edge of the village. The place had been quite a business center for the French, and had once a distillery, a sawmill, a flouring mill and a bakery, with three or four houses besides. It had belonged to the Lasselle estate. There were flourishing orchards in various degrees of maturity, beside peach and cherry trees. Mrs. Clark, with her son Duncan, explored the place and determined to utilize the French village. They repaired

two or three of the houses and moved into them. Many distinguished guests were made welcome under these lowly roofs. When General Jackson was made President of the United States he called Governor Cass as a member of his cabinet, which was disastrous to his Michigan friends, for instead of having a friend at court and being allowed to still hold his position, the land office was moved to White Pigeon, thus making a place for two favorites of the President's. Dr. Clark returned to the practice of medicine with his accustomed skill but with abated enthusiasm. He found, however, pleasant occupation in cultivating hist narrow French farm-in experimenting with fruits and grasses and in draining the lands.

Dr. Clark was a man of positive convictions and never lacked the courage to express them plain-spoken almost to bluntness. He began life as a Democrat. Of his party affiliations he used to say, "That he had never changed his principles, but found himself a member of the Whig party without needing to change." In New York he was a Free and Accepted Mason, but was not in harmony or fellowship with the lodge of Monroe, because men were admitted of loose principles and impure lives. He was a Presbyterian, and when living in New York a member and ruling elder in the Scotch church, and always retained an aversion to instrumental music in church. He objected to the introduction of a flute and bass viol in the Presbyterian church, but being out voted he submitted very reluctantly, and when the congregation rose to praise God with the sound of the flute and viol he would not rise. At the time of the division of the church, his sympathies were with the old school but as his church and presbytery were new school, he united with them and was afterward satisfied

to be so. On the subject of missions, he was in advance of his age. A draft of an address delivered before the County Bible Society fifty years ago, contains a plea for the nations in darkness which would still be powerful if made before the General Assembly or the American Board of Foreign Missions. Dr. Clark was a man of fine literary taste, an casy conversationalist, possessed of a keen sense of humor. His society was always prized. After a long and painful illness, he expressed himself thus in regard to the hour of his death: "It would seem a joyful privilege to begin to praise God

in heaven at the hour that he had been accustomed to worship Him on earth.” On a Sabbath morning, just as the church bells were calling the worshipers, he entered into the church of the First Born written in heaven, October 1, 1837.

Mrs. Clark survived her husband twentytwo years. She was a woman noted for sound judgment and intelligence, and was greatly beloved by the community. She was the mother of thirteen children, ten of whom grew to maturity.

The second child was Duncan Reid Clark, born August 16, 1802, married Miss Sophie, Downing, daughter of Captain Downing, of Monroe, June 12, 1829. He acted as crier at one of the public land sales and the effort brought on hemorrhage of the lungs, from which he never recovered. He died at his father's house in Monroe, February 16, 1835; was respected as a Christian and a man of much promise. He left promise. He left one son, son, who is now a banker in Reed City, Michigan.

The fourth child born to Dr. Clark, Maria Reid Clark, born February 21, 1807, was a peculiarly bright and interesting child and her father's pride. She was married January 31, 1826, and soon removed to White Pigeon, where she died August 17, 1839, leaving three sons and an infant daughter. The oldest son died when quite young. The youngest son, Robert Clark Knaggs, was adopted by his aunt, Mrs. A. E. Kellogg, distinguished himself in the Rebellion, was a prisoner at Libby Prison, is a respected citizen of Chicago.

Thomas Clark, son of Dr. Robert Clark, was born February 13, 1809; was married to Miss Lavonia Hopkins October 24, 1833. He was a quiet, careful man, much respected in the city, was an elder in the Presbyterian church, and a firm and devoted friend to every good cause. His devoted wife was a bright and shining light to all about her, and her patient, unselfish life was a great encouragement to many of her sisters in the church and city. Her memory is revered and tenderly cherished by those who are left. Three children were born to Thomas Clark and grew to maturity: Helen, who was married to Mr. J. H. Ainsworth and became a resident of Toledo, Ohio. Edward G. Clark left college and responded to the call of his country was with Sherman in his March to the Sea and participated in many a memorable

struggle. After the war he settled in Chicago and is one of the firm of Hibbard & Spencer, extensive hardware merchants. The younger son of Thomas Clark entered the service of his country as a member of the Seventh Regiment of Michigan Volunteers, Colonel Grosvenor commanding officer. He was not twenty-one when he enlisted, but was mature in firmness and Christian principles. He was the favorite of his superior officers, and as soon as his age would permit, and a vacancy occurred, he was promoted to a lieutenancy. He was attacked with severe illness in the swamp of the Chickahominy, and suffered much in the retreat from Richmond to Fortress Monroe. He returned home on a furlough after being some time in the hospital. He rejoined his regiment just in time for the terrible march to the field of Antietam, where he laid down his short but eventful and noble life. His father, Thomas Clark, died August 28, 1879, and his wife died the following February at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Ainsworth, in Toledo.

Jane Stuart Clark, daughter of Dr. Clark, was born April 18, 1811; was married to John Anderson, jr., when she was fifteen years old. They moved soon to White Pigcon, where John W. Anderson became the first judge of probate of St. Joseph county. He afterward returned to Monroe and received the appointment of light-house keeper, which he held four years. He again returned to the city, and died soon afterward with typhoid fever, leaving eight children: Edwin R.; Catherine Elizabeth, who was for some time a teacher among the freedmen, and was married to Mr. Tayre, of South Lyon, Michigan; Lester T., who lives. in Washington Territory; Jane Estell was maried to William Mitchell, of Freeport. John C. Anderson, the third son, entered the service of his country as a member of the Seventh Regiment; he was promoted to a lieutenancy; was wounded at Antietam and suffered much for want of care until he could be taken to the hospital, where he remained six months and left to participate in the battle of Gettysburg; he was made prisoner three days before the surrender; he returned home after the war with his constitution broken and gradually declined; was gifted with a fine literary taste and promised to be a useful Christian man. Willie, the fourth son, entered the service as clerk to a captain in the Fifteenth Regiment, but his

health failed under continued exposure, and he returned home to die of quick consumption. John A., the fourth son of Dr. and Mrs. Clark, was born February 20, 1814. He was a surveyor for some time and afterward read law and practiced in Illinois. He received the appointment of Surveyor-General of New Mexico, and a few years after the same office for Utah. At the expiration of his official term he removed to Fort Scott, Kansas, where he was Land Commissioner and interested in the Fort Scott and Gulf Railroad. From this city he removed to Kansas City, where he died August 5, 1881.

Dr. and Mrs. Clark's fourth daughter, Ann Eliza, was born February 2, 1816; was married to Mr. Hosmer Kellogg, of White Pigeon, a prosperous merchant from Sheffield, Massa chusetts. She resided in White Pigeon for twenty-five years. Two sons and two daughters came to her home. Five years after the death of Mr. Kellogg his wife removed to Ann Arbor in order to secure better advantages for the education of her two sons. Mrs. Kellogg, owing to her thorough education and earnest Christian character, was very influential as a member of society in Ann Arbor. With one or two others she originated a Ladies' Library Association, which celebrated its twentieth anniversary April 9, 1886. Mrs. Kellogg's elder daughter married Governor Hunt, of Colorado, and her younger daughter was married to C. T. McClure, of Denver. The sons are settled in Colorado also. Mrs. Kellogg calls Denver her home, though much of her time is spent in the East. For many years she has devoted much time to the study of teaching of the Bible in select classes also to the interest of foreign missions. Through her instrumentality a Sunday school was established in a destitute part of the city and a brick chapel erected, in part as a memorial to her daughter, Mrs. Hunt.

The twelfth child that came to the home of Dr. and Mrs. Clark was Catherine. She was married to Colonel James Mitchell, who was a successful banker of Freeport, Illinois.

Charles A. Clark, the child of his parents' old age, was the most brilliant of all the brothers and sisters. At his birth his parents solemnly dedicated him to God for the Christian ministry. He seemed to possess in an eminent degree the requisite qualifications for the work,

but by overstudy he lost his health while in college, although he graduated with high honors and gave the valedictory address. He waited some time in the hope of returning strength, but was disappointed. He read law in his brother's office, was admitted to the bar and entered upon that profession. He died aged twenty-nine, July, 1854.

Up to the present date (1888) there have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Clark one hundred and eight descendants, of whom sixty-six are still living.

OLIVER JOHNSON,

One of the early settlers on the River Raisin, was born in the State of Connecticut, February 29, 1784. His ancestry is readily traced back to Isaac Johnson, who was one of the fifty-two original proprietors of Middletown, Connecti

cut

Robert Johnson, the grandfather of Colonel Oliver Johnson, died at Harrington, Connecticut, in 1792. His mother's name was Sarah Blake, of Middletown; she was the mother of eleven children, one of whom, Samuel Johnson, Esq., by profession a lawyer, resided on the south side of First street, corner of First and Scott streets, the site of the present residence of Louis Freidenberg, where he died in the year 1836.

Another brother, Elisha, spent several years. in Europe during the eventful years of the general war a gentleman of literary tastes, one of the American correspondents of that time who contributed numerous letters to the Spring field papers.

Another brother, Royal Johnson, was engaged in business as a merchant in Detroit, where he died in 1819, a copartner with Colonel Oliver Johnson.

In the year 1818 Colonel Johnson purchased the lot corner of Front and Washington streets from the original proprietor, Joseph Loranger, erected the first brick residence on the street and occupied it as such until the year 1834, when he erected the residence on the public square east of the court-house, where he resided until the time of his death. It is now the residence of his son, Charles G. Johnson. In 1819 he was married to Eliza, the daughter of Henry Disbrow (sister of Mrs. Thomas G. Cole, who survives her), by the Rev. John Monteith, bishop of Michigan so called, being prob

ably the first Presbyterian minister of Michigan Territory. There were four children born of this marriage, two of whom died in early childhood. Charles G. Johnson still survives, probably one of the very few of his age who are natives of Monroe. The daughter, Elizabeth Phillips, was married in 1844 to Talcott E. Wing, Esq., of Monroe; died in the year 1857, leaving four children: Talcott Johnson Wing, now a resident of Westfield, Massachusetts; Charles R. Wing, a lawyer of Monroe; Austin E. Wing, United States Bank Examiner for the State of Michigan; Harriet Armitage, who was married to James G. Little, a merchant of Monroe, deceased, now residing in Monroe, Michigan.

For many years after Colonel Johnson settled on the River Raisin, money was very scarce, and merchandising was carried on by barter and exchange of grain and furs, which were disposed of at Detroit or Buffalo. Colonel Johnson was at an early day judge of probate of the county of Monroe, appointed by the governor of the Territory, which was the only office ever held by him, though always prominent in politics and an active member of the Whig party. Being a prominent anti-slavery man, he was one of the original promoters of the Republican party, which originated in Michigan. Was elected as presidential elector, and voted for General Fremont. About that time great bitterness of feeling was manifested on all sides. Many large business houses and leading newspapers catered more or less to the slavery element. The Presbyterian general assembly passed some resolutions which were so strong in sympathy with slavery that they were reported adversely upon by the synod of Michigan through their committee, one of whom was Colonel Johnson. He was for many years and until his death one of the ruling elders of the First Presbyterian church of Monroc. The New York Observer, for which he had subscribed for twenty-four years, was repudiated and declined on account of its proslavery sentiments.

Mrs. Eliza Johnson, nee Disbrow, wife of Oliver Johnson, was born in Dayton, Ohio, and rode from Dayton to the River Raisin on horseback, fording rivers, streams and marshes, arriving at the River Raisin in 1817, and resided with her father on the Menard or Stewart farm until her marriage to Colonel Johnson in

1819. She was She was an active member of the Presbyterian church from the time of its organization in 1820. Her home was the resort and house of entertainment for the ministry at an early day, when the Rev. John Monteith, Rev. Noah Wells and Rev. Frontis ministered to this people. Mrs. Johnson survived her husband, dying at her house in Monroe, where she had resided for fifty years, aged eighty-seven.

DANIEL S. BACON

Was among the earliest emigrants from the State of New York to the Territory of Michigan, and was a resident of Monroe for nearly half a century. He was born in Onondaga, New York, in 1798. He began his career in the new country as a teacher of a private school; subsequently he was engaged in developing various farming lands. He was also associated with Levi S. Humphrey in several business projects, and purchased lands in the northern part of the State which eventually showed his wisdom and foresight, as they proved quite valuable. He was at an early date made a member of the legislative council of the Territory, and soon afterwards appointed associate judge. He served as judge of probate for the county of Monroe for three terms, and held a number of other local positions in which he acquitted himself with ability. was an elder in the Presbyterian church. His dignified bearing, pure and unaffected character, commended him to the esteem of all who

He

knew him. He died in Monroe, May, 1866, leaving one daughter, the widow of General George A. Custer.

PETER BENSON

Came to Monroe in the employ of Musgrove Evans, a Quaker, who was in 1824 engaged in surveying in the northern part of New York. It appears that Austin E. Wing visited Watertown, New York, in that year, and represented Michigan as the garden of the world, contradicting the statements we find in the old Morse history then generally used in schools, which represented the Territory as "good for nothing; that government agents pronounced it a swamp; that one hundred acres could

be found in the Territory worth cultivating." Musgrove Evans and wife, Peter Benson and wife, Mr. Blood, Joseph W. Brown and Mr. Stetson were induced to emigrate from Jefferson county; arrived after a tedious journey of a month, at Detroit, from thence to Monroe in a small sail vessel, requiring four days to travel the distance that is now accomplished in one hour and twelve minutes. On the 2d of June, after remaining in Monroe four days, the party purchased two yoke of oxen and journeyed on to the site of the present village of Tecumseh, camping out at the Macon the first night-the land having previously been entered by Austin E. Wing, by whom it was platted and laid out. He also purchased the adjoining eighty-acre tract; Evans and Brown chopped the logs for a house, sent fifteen and twenty miles for neighbors to help roll them up, and split up the

shakes to cover it.

The hardships and privations they were compelled to endure, the difficulties they had to encounter, can only be understood by those of experience in pioneer life -- without mills, without boards, even the roughest, to cover and protect from storms. The next year (1825), by obtaining help from Monroe, thirty miles distant, raised a saw and grist-mill, obtaining the stone on the opening near for the gristmill. The following year the dam was carried off by a freshet, and with the endorsement of Mr. Wing and Shubal Conant, obtained the pecuniary aid they needed to rebuild.

Peter Benson, after remaining with the party at Tecumseh a few years, returned to Monroe, purchased and settled upon the farm on the

north side of the River Raisin known as the Gabriel Godfroy tract. Mr. Benson was the agent in northern Michigan of a railroad company in 1887 at the time of his death.

His sister married Medard Couture, one of the pioneers, and after his death married James Knaggs, to whom great prominence was given in the War of 1812, as a successful Indian fighter and spy.

As the pioneers of Tecumseh obtained in early days all of their goods and supplies from Monroe, the attachment between the citizens became very strong; and until the year 1845, when the railroads were completed, the interchange of social visits was of very frequent occurrence.