MICHIGAN

PIONEER AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY

ANNUAL MEETING JUNE 26 AND 27, 1907.

The annual meeting of this society prescribed by law occurring at about the same date as the visit of President Roosevelt at the Semi-Centennial of the Michigan Agricultural College, the thirty-third session was formally postponed until June 26 and 27. Mr. L. D. Watkins presided in the absence of C. M. Burton, president. Rev. Wm. Putnam offered prayer. A chorus from the Industrial School for Boys was enthusiastically received and they responded with another song.

The reports of the Secretary and Treasurer were given. Joseph Greusel read a biography of Major George H. Hopkins. The paper of George H. Cannon on "Old Forts of Macomb County" will appear in the next book of miscellaneous records. Edward W. Barber delivered a paper on "Features of Our Indebtedness to the Pioneers." This subject was very ably discussed by Prof. A. R. Sawyer of the Michigan Agricultural College.

Quite a number of curios and relics were on exhibition.

Prof. A. J. Patten of the Michigan Agricultural College opened the vening meeting with a vocal solo. Dr. A. C. Lane furnished a memoir of the late Dr. Carl Ludwig Rominger of the University of Michigan. Mrs. Mary A. Emerson of Waltham, Mass., gave a biography of her father, Hon. John D. Pierce. Miss Helena Rogers Smith sang a solo and responded to an encore. Judge John C. Patterson of Marshall presented in the name of Mrs. Crary a fine oil portrait framed, of Gen. Isaac E. Crary and accompanied it by a paper proving the valuable work of Mr. Crary for the public schools of the State in connection with John D. Pierce. By request Miss Smith sang "Annie Laurie." Mrs. Mary Stillman of Mason

gave a portrait of her sister Mrs. Hannah Miller May who was one of the first select school teachers in Lansing, and who died at the age of eighty in 1905.

Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock J. P. Sanderson, Jr., gave a violin. solo, "Home Sweet Home." Mrs. T. D. Gilbert of Grand Rapids took the place of Peter White detained by accidental injury, and gave a very interesting talk on the work of the Indians, illustrating it by relics and souvenirs. She and her sister Mrs. J. C. Buchanan sang several songs in the Indian language. A vote of thanks was tendered Mrs. Gilbert for her instructive and valuable address. Miss Lucy Ball gave a paper on "Early Days in Grand Rapids" which included a sketch of her father, John Ball, who was a pioneer benefactor of the city. Mr. C. M. Burton very vividly portrayed Cadillac's home in France, as he had but just returned from visiting his birthplace where he traced incidents and history of his early life.

The new constitution and by-laws were drawn up and read by Judge Cahill, chairman of the committee on revision and voted and adopted in sections by the society. Mr. William Lavin of Detroit delighted the audience by three fine vocal solos.

Thursday evening John P. Sanderson opened the meeting with a violin solo, followed by John E. Day who gave a paper on the solar compass invented by William A. Burt and presented to the society in the name of Mr. Burt's son, W. A. Burt of Detroit and grandchildren, an oil painting of this inventor. Through the efforts of George H. Cannon who accompanied Mr. Burt in many of these early surveys, the original compass itself was given to the society's museum. By request Mr. Lavin sang "Oft in the Stilly Night" accompanied on the piano by Mrs. Kate Marvin Kedzie. Mrs. Jane M. Kinney of Port Huron read a paper on "Old Baldoon." She exhibited several souvenirs connected with the Earl of Selkirk who was well known by her family. Mr. Lavin after his solo responded to repeated calls by singing "Sing Me to Sleep." Hon. William A. Norton of St. Johns delivered the last address of the session which was characteristically humerous. Mr. Lavin sang "The Last Rose of Summer." By request Mrs. Gilbert wearing an Indian blanket and holding in her arms the Indian cradle and doll, accompanied by her sister, sang "Sleep Baby Sleep" in the Indian tongue. She was presented by F. M. Cowles with a large bouquet of flowers. Remarks were made by E. G. Tucker of Three Rivers, John 'N. Bush, William Foster and others. The committee on nomination Col. L. H. Ives, Mason, Ex-Mayor Geo. W. Thayer, Grand Rapids and Mrs. M. B. Ferrey, Lansing, reported the following officers who were unanimously elected:

C. M. Burton, Detroit, President.

Daniel McCoy, Grand Rapids, Vice-President.

Henry R. Pattengill, Lansing, Secretary.

Benjamin F. Davis, Lansing, Treasurer.

Board of Trustees, Lawton T. Hemans, Mason; Mary C. Spencer, Lansing; Joseph Greusel, Detroit.

Committee of Historians, L. D. Watkins, Manchester; Judge Edward Cahill, Lansing; E. W. Barber, Jackson; Peter White, Marquette; Junius E. Beal, Ann Arbor.

After a solo by Mr. Lavin and the hymn "God Be With You" sung by society, the benediction was pronounced by Rev. William H. Haze of Lansing.

REPORT OF SECRETARY.

Lansing, June 26, 1907.

To the Officers and Members of the Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society:

The membership of this society will not be increased very rapidly if we cannot change the records of the past year wherein we welcomed twelve new members and added to the death roll thirteen. sorrow we have to record the deaths of Clement E. Weaver of Adrian, To our deep who was one of the oldest attorneys in the State. Thomas Mars of Berrien was quite prominent in pioneer, political and grange work throughout Michigan. He was a man who bore his years remarkably well and was familiar with early history of his State. Judge Albert E. Cowles met death by accident in Los Angeles, California. Just before his removal from the State he assisted in getting out a history of Ingham county. Judge George P. Wanty of Grand Rapids, prominent in legal circles, died in London, England, in July, 1906. Judge C. C. Fuller, pioneer newspaper man and lawyer of Big Rapids; Hon. Wm. C. McMillan, candidate for the position of United States Senator, so ably filled by hist father; Dr. H. R. Mills, a genial physician at the Soldiers' Home; Henry Chamberlain the Octogenarian of Three Oaks gave us an autobiography published in Vol. XXXV and soon after joined the pioneers on the other shore. Gov. Aaron T. Bliss died at Milwaukee, Sept. 16, 1906. A memorial by his private Secretary Maj. Johnson will be embodied in a forthcoming volume. Mr. Charles E. Dewey of Cambridge, one of Lenawee's

oldest pioneers and very much interested in this society died Jan. 15, 1907. J. B. Wilson of Lapeer died at Washington, June 18, 1907. Mrs. O. Poppleton, whose husband's name appears frequently in our early books, died at Birmingham June 3, 1907. A memorial of Russell A. Alger, former Governor of Michigan and United States Senator, will have a place in Vol. XXXVI.

The new members added are: Arthur Hill, Saginaw; Mrs. Nellie A. Hammond, Williamston; Clarence A. Black, Detroit; Lucy Ball, Grand Rapids; Harry D. Hinckley, Fairgrove; Samuel H. Ranck, Grand Rapids; John N. Bagley, Detroit; Emeline E. Daniels, Lansing; George H. Saxton, Lansing; Mrs. Mary Saxton, Lansing; C. E. King, Ypsilanti; J. O. Woolson, Bay City.

Six of these were secured by the solicitation of Mrs. Florence S. Babbitt.

A mid-winter meeting was very successfully carried out at Grand Rapids. The Board of the Ryerson Library placed its pleasant and convenient auditorium at our disposal and Mr. Ranck, Librarian, spared no pains to assist in making it a success. Visits were paid to the Van Buren, St. Clair, Clinton, Ingham, and Washtenaw county pioneer meetings, and more complete and better co-operation urged. The Women's Clubs of the State have sent many interesting clippings and papers on historical matters. Pioneer Day was observed in many of the schools but more effort should be directed to making this custom general and universal. The Superintendent of Public Instruction announced over two hundred dollars raised towards a bust of John D. Pierce, first Superintendent of Public Instruction. It is hoped to secure this by each teacher in the State contributing ten cents.

The Museum has attracted more attention than ever and advertised our society and its aims as never accomplished before. The volumes were never in such demand and greater use is made of them educationally. HENRY R. PATTENGILL,

Secretary.

REPORT OF THE TREASURER.

Annual report of the Treasurer of the Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society from June 1st, 1906, to the close of business, May 31st, 1907: