script notes of the late Judge Warner Wing, together with a number of pamphlets and a mass of newspaper cuttings.

Access has also been had to the letters and papers of General Levi S. Humphrey for the period during which, as Commissioner of Internal Improvements, he constructed the Michigan Southern road.

The writer would specially acknowledge his great obligations to the courtesy of C. P. Leland, the auditor of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway. Mr. Leland was connected with the old Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana as its general ticket agent, and after 1869 with the consolidated lines as auditor. From a connection with the line, extending through about a quarter of a century, his own knowledge of the affairs of the Michigan Southern is phenomenal and accurate. For ten years he has employed his leisure in collecting documents and reports connected with the early history of the various roads which became merged in the present trunk line. The result has been published in the shape of historical addenda, issued in connection with the annual reports of the company. These publications, extending through a series of years, together with a large amount of unpub. lished manuscript, covering in detail the earlier financial transactions of the companies, both under State and corporate management, have been freely placed at the command of the writer; and a liberal use of this material has been made: As it has been interwoven with the writer's own researches through that portion of the history of the Erie and Kalamazoo,

Michigan Southern and Detroit, Monroe and Toledo, it is impossible to point out the particular portions of the chapter for which the writer is indebted to Mr. Leland; but it may well be said that had it not been for his researches and courtesy that portion of the history would be fragmentary and imperfect.

Farmer's admirable "History of Detroit and Michigan" has been of great service as a means of verifying dates and particulars. The painstaking accuracy of Mr. Farmer's work is beyond all praise.

In addition to the publications above mentioned, the writer has availed himself of the memories of such of the actors in the long ago scenes as yet survive. The writer himself was connected with the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern in the competitive struggle which followed the opening of the Canada Southern, and for a decade and a half felt the antagonism subsisting between Monroe and the Michigan Southern. From J. M. Sterling, one of the midnight band who rescued the iron from the machinations of Van Fossen, the particulars of that memorable night were obtained.

Joseph H. Cleveland, the first superintendent of the Southern, and who was the only superintendent it had during the years it was operated by the State, has furnished from the rich storehouse of his memory many of the facts and circumstances connected with the primitive railroading of those carly days. It is well to rescue these memories from oblivion, since the actors in the scenes described must very soon pass away.

A. B. BRAGDON.

WA

HON. WOLCOTT LAWRENCE

JAS born in one of the towns adjoining Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on the first day of November, in the year 1786. He was married to Caroline Stebbins, of Springfield, in the same State, November 26, 1816. In early life he availed himself of the advantages of education afforded in the rural district where he was born, and, without the advantages of a college education, became eventually, by close application to study, an exceptionally well-informed and indeed a well-educated man. He applied himself to the study of the law in the office of one of the most eminent of the profession in Pittsfield, and for a time practiced his profession in that place. In the meantime the new country of the Northwest had begun to attract the attention of the enterprising young men of the New England States, and many were preparing to seek their fortunes in the new land of promise. Mr. Lawrence was one of these; and in accordance with a previous understanding between himself and his affianced, almost immediately after their marriage they came to Michigan and established their home on the River Raisin at Monroe. Here in December, 1817, their first child, Lucretia Wil liams, afterwards the wife of Alpheus Felch, was born. The inhabitants on the River Raisin at that time were chiefly French, and the daughter above mentioned was the first child of American parents born among them. The old French settlers were accustomed to tell of the enthusiasm with which the newcomer was received by them. The warm-hearted French mothers and daughters greeted her with gushing tokens of the most ardent love and affection. Tradition tells that they were accustomed to borrow the "Yankee child" from house to house, that they might in turn welcome her with their caresses and love.

Nine children were the issue of this marriage, five of whom are now (1889) living, Mrs.

Lawrence and one of the children died with the cholera at Monroe in August, 1834. In March, 1836, Mr. Lawrence was married to Mrs. Ophelia B. Hopkins. By the second marriage he had two children, both of whom are dead. Judge Lawrence died at Monroe April 29, 1843.

Although a lawyer by profession, the sparse population and meager business affairs of the settlement on the Raisin afforded him at first little opportunity for professional practice. American settlers, however, rapidly flowed in, and they brought with them the means and the enterprise which soon changed the business character of the place, and filled the region with an active, intelligent and prosperous population. Courts were established and clients were not wanting. He continued to practice law for many years, but he gradually withdrew from it, devoting his time and attention to mercantile and lumber business and to the care o his real estate.

His settlement here was in the days of territorial government of Michigan, and when by act of Congress the Legislative Council of the Territory of Michigan was established, whose members were chosen by popular vote, he was elected a member, and he took his scat in that body June 7, 1824; and by the repeated suf frages of his constituents he continued a member of the council until 1831. During all this time he was chairman of the judiciary committec, and one of the most active and influential members of that branch of the local government. In 1836, after the organization of the State government, he was elected one of the associate justices of the circuit court for the county of Monroe, and he continued to occupy that position until 1839, when, by a change in the judiciary system of the State the office was abolished.

Judge Lawrence was an active and energetic business man, and no one was more efficient or

more successful than he in the work of building up the new settlements on the River Raisin, or in promoting the general interest and pros. perity both of the Territory and State of Michigan. He was, moreover, a kind, generous, affectionate and religious man, whose influence, always most salutary, never ceased to surround him with hosts of ardent friends. Was an elder in the First Presbyterian church from its organization until his death.

JAMES Q. ADAMS

Was born at Keene, New Hampshire, February 16, 1798. He graduated at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, and afterwards studied law with Michael Sterling. In 1835 he emigrated to Monroe, was admitted to practice, and became the law partner of the Hon. Robert McClelland; was elected prosecuting attorney of Monroe county. For years he held the office of postmaster of the city of Monroe. He was president of the corporation that constructed and equipped the railroad from Monroe to LaPlaisance, and was also president of the River Raisin and LaPlaisance Bay Railf road Bank. He was a shrewd and successful practitioner. He died in New York City, aged sixty-seven.

ROBERT MCCLELLAND

Was born at Green Castle, Pennsylvania, August 1, 1807. He was the son of an eminent physician of that place. He graduated at Dickinson College (Carlisle, Pennsylvania) in 1829; was admitted to the bar at Chambersburg in 1831, and after practicing there a short time went to Pittsburgh and practiced his profession there for about a year, and then removed to Monroe, Michigan, in the summer or fall of 1833. He went into partnership for about two years with James Q. Adams, then in 1835 opened an office and practiced alone and with great success.

He was a member of the constitutional convention of Michigan in 1835; a member of the State legislature in 1838, 1840 and 1843, and Speaker of the House in the latter year (and the Michigan legislature never had a more accomplished Speaker); a member of Congress for three successive terms (Twenty-Eighth, Twenty-Ninth and Thirtieth Congresses), from 1843 to 1849; member of the constitutional

convention of 1850; the first Governor for the short term under the new constitution for 1852, elected in 1852 for the term of two years, and went into office as Governor January 1, 1853. On the inauguration of Franklin Pierce as President, March 4, 1853, McClelland was appointed Secretary of the Interior, in which he continued till the end of Pierce's administration, March 4, 1857. This was his last public office.

This list shows of itself that he must have been above the average of men in ability and fidelity to the public interests. And when it is further stated that he performed the duties of these various offices with credit to himself and a high reputation among all parties for ability and integrity, little more need to be

said of him in this direction.

In 1836 he married Miss Elizabeth Sabin, a beautiful and excellent lady, who survived him, but died at Detroit in 1884. He had removed to Detroit prior to his election as Governor, and resided there afterwards till his death, August 30, 1880.

As a politician, he was eminently cautious. and conservative, and when he thought his party was going to extremes in any direction, he used his best efforts to restrain them; but like a true politician, if, in spite of his efforts, they persisted, he did not denounce them or leave them, but went with them, though against his better judgment, probably believing that by so doing he could have a more salutary influence in restraining them from dangerous extremes than by coming out in open and direct opposition, by which that influence would be lost Doubtless many other patriotic men of all parties have honestly acted. upon the like principle.

Few, if any, knew him more intimately than I did, having been a student in his office for two years (from 1836 to 1838), when I was admitted to the bar, having, in 1845, taken and closed up the business of Wing & McClel . land, and been a law partner with him in 1849 and 1850.

As a man and a citizen he was strictly just and fair, and while exacting what was his due he was careful to exact nothing more. He was of a cheerful and social disposition, of pleasant address and popular manners, never morose or fretful, and if ever melancholy or despondent he would successfully conceal it. Though seldom indulging in witticisms or story

telling, yet he enjoyed these qualities in others, and in all circumstances was ready to indulge in a pleasant laugh, so much so that his opponents asserted that he laughed himself into office.

As a practicing lawyer he was systematic and orderly in his habits, strictly and conscientiously faithful to the interests of his clients. His industry and care in the prepara tion of his cases were persistent and indefatigable. No decision bearing upon his case escaped his search, and all efforts were made to ascertain what the evidence was likely to be, and if he failed of success it was no fault of his. But he was a lawyer of the old school, and adopted A. D. Frazer, of Detroit, as his model. This school of lawyers was strong so far as they could find decisions sustaining their positions, and these decisions were treated as texts of revelation, and commented upon much as the old Scotch divines commented upon texts of Scripture. But they were very timid, and therefore not very strong in reasoning upon the fundamental principles of the law and demonstrating what the law must be in the absence of any authority upon a particular point. They did not lack the power of reasoning upon such principles, but they did not often venture to exercise it.

He was ambitious as a lawyer for honorable success in his profession. As a politician he was also ambitious for success, but though after 1848 I was opposed to him in politics, I never doubted his patriotism and do not now. I remember him as I do Judge Warner Wing and Hon. Alpheus Felch and many others with whom I differed in politics, as excellent men, who would be deserving of a high standing as true patriots in any country. I believe they all honestly strove for what they sincerely believed best for the welfare and prosperity of our whole country. I think they were in some things mistaken as to the best means of accomplishing the result they thought I was; Omnipotence alone can finally decide which was right. I. P. CHRISTIANCY.

HON. ISAAC P. CHRISTIANCY

Was born March 12, 1812, at Johnstown, State of New York. His father, Thomas, was of Holland descent, though a native of Schenectady, New York. His mother was a Peckham

of Rhode Island (hence P. in his name). Isaac P. was the second of a family of eight children, all of whom lived to manhood and womanhood, the last (William Perry) dying in 1861.

His father was a poor, hard-working man, who, until Isaac was eight years old, was a blacksmith and edge-tool maker; from that time engaged in clearing and cultivating a new farm. When about twelve years of age, Isaac P.'s father, in clearing a piece of new land, met with an accident by which seven of his ribs and his collar-bone were broken. He recovered after some months, was enabled to do the lighter kinds of work, but with slight overexertion would be laid aside a month or two. This threw upon Isaac P. at the age of twelve, a large part of the support of the family; but he was large and strong of his age, having his full growth before sixteen. He could attend school but about three months in winter, at a distance of two miles from home. His mother was a woman of fair education, and more more than average intellectual activity and ability, and to a considerable extent supplied the place of a teacher during his childhood, taking great pains to inspire him with the love of knowledge, and furnishing him with the best kind of books to read. His leisure moments were utilized by reading and study, generally by firelight. His habits. of study and reading were thus early formed.

At the age of eighteen he was qualified for and began teaching a district school; was occupied thus about three-quarters of three years, the balance of the time attending the academies at Johnstown and Kingsborough. The following two years and a half he taught school winters and attended the Ovid academy in the summer. In the fall of 1834 he commenced the study of law with the Hon. John Maynard at Ovid, New York, and continued with him until May, 1836, when he removed to Monroe, Michigan, where he entered as clerk of the United States land office under Major Gershom T. Bulkley, registrar, and continued therein until the removal of the office to Detroit.

He entered the law office of Hon. Robert McClelland in May, 1836, and was admitted to the bar in 1838; practiced law with John E. Seeley as a co-partner about one year, and was associated with Franklin Johnson a short time. In 1849 and 1850 was a law partner of the Hon. Robert McClelland. With these excep