| Notes |
- Things to do:
1. Newspapers in Houghton
2. border crossings
3. reread letters and info from Clayton Sherman
4. Letters from Matilda for her records
5. tombstone in Lot 31, Section 10, Forest Lawn Cemetary, Detroit, Michigan,
Timeline for James Milton Sherman:
1857 Nov 26, James Milton born in Houghton, Ontario, Canada
1861 Census, James living in Houghton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada, with parents Joseph & Matilda Sherman
1871 Canada Census, HoughtonNorfolk South, Ontario, Canada with parents
1879 Dec 24 James married Martha Madora Smith at Glenmyer, Ontario, Canada
1880 Nov 26, first son, Milton Kellum, born in Kingsmill, Cockran Dist., Ontario
1881 spring, moved to Lumberton, Michigan (may have missed 1880 US census & 1881 Canada census)
1882 Jul 15, daughter Alma Rolettie, born in Lumberton, Michigan
1883 bought 50 acres and old farm in Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
1883 Oct 28, son, Arthur Lewellyn born in Houghton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
1885 Jan 7, son Henry Clayton born in Houghton (James Milton was in Oscoda, Iosco, MI at the time)
1886 Apr 18, daughter, Mary Elizabeth born in Houghton
1887 May 1, son, Joseph Bernard born in Houghton
1888 May 29, son Frank Wesley born in Houghton\
1889 Sep 10, son Ira Hamilton born in Houghton
1891 Census of Canada, Houghton, Norfolk, Canada
1893 Jan 21, son William Austin born in Houghton
1894 Sep 14, son Lawrence Edmond born in Houghton
1895 Oct 20, son Earl Romain born in Houghton
1897 Jul 14, son Clarence Clifton born in Houghton
1899 Feb 5, daughter, Matilda Sepperal born in Houghton
1901 Census, living with family in Houghton
1910 Census, living with family in Oscoda, iosco, Michigan
1913 divorced Martha Madora.
1913 17 April, married Anna Reaume, in Harrisville, both of Greenbush, MI, both married 1 time before,
1916 moved to Detroit to work in car industry.
1921 quit working in Detroit
1930 Census living in Shelby, Macomb, Michigan with son, Milton K Sherman and Milton's family
1934 Sep 14, James Milton, age 76, died in Eloise, Michigan, poorhouse, buried in Detroit, Wayne, MI 1934. . Buried in Forrest Lawn Cemetery Detroit MI, arrangements were made by the widow of his son Henry Clayton Sherman
Joseph's grown son, James Milton, lived at Lumberton, Michigan, (1881-1883) then moved back to Fairground, Ontario, and lived there until he finally moved to Oscoda, Michigan (1900). It follows that family data for the period 1827-1900 may exist at either end of this Ontario-Michigan axis, particularly near the towns mentioned or along logical travel routes between them.
James Milton was the father of Milton Sherman who was the father of Bertha Sherman (Collis).
The following story was taken from the family genealogy by Vernon Sherman:
" James Milton was born November 26, 1857 at Houghton, Ontario, Canada. His wife was Martha Madora Smith whom he called "Dorie". She called him "Milt". They were married at Glenmyer, Ontario, Canada, Christmas Eve, 24 December 1879. Their first child was born eleven months later. Their thirteenth child was born twenty years later.
Martha's father was a Methodist minister for fifty years, and was sixty-one years old when Martha was born. He came from London, England and his wife from the vicinity of Glasgow, Scotland. He died at age 83. They lived on a farm east of Glenmyer at the time of Martha's marriage, having moved there from Walsingham Township.
During the period 1879-81, James Milton and Madora lived at Kingsmill, Ontario, 3 or4 miles northwest of Aylmer and about 30 miles northwest of Fairground. Their first child, Milton Kellum was born at Kingsmill. In the spring of 1881 they moved to Lumberton, Michigan, near Big Rapids, and here their second child, a daughter, Alma, was born. They moved back to Houghton, Ontario in the fall of 1883 and here the rest of their 13 children were born, none of them in the same house.
The town of Hemlock, Ontario consisted of three stores, a school, a church and a blacksmith shop. The gristmill was at Vienna, nine miles away. Fairground, Ontario, was the nearby location of the annual tounship fair and reunion. James Milton soon found need for additional money to support a growing family. He heard great talk of high wages in the Michigan woods and decided to work there during the winter months. About 1884, he left the winter management of the farm to his wife and children and went to the Michigan woods near Oscoda. He is known to have been in Oscoda during the winter of 1885, when his son, Henry Clayton, was born (7 January 1885).
In a letter (dated 13 Oct 1946) to his nephew, Vernon Sherman, Milton Kellum Sherman wrote concerning his father, James Milton Sherman.
"In 1883 he bought the north 50 acres of the old farm in Houghton Township, and built a 3 room house on it. While the plaster was drying, we went down to Uncle Charles Mercer, and there Arthur was born. We were there for about two weeks. In 1884, J. M. Sherman bought the south 50 acres of the farm, making his 100 acres of land. He had 30 sheep, 10 milch cows, and a good team of mares, also hogs and chickens, and farm tools. The land was swampy, wet and uncleared. Father worked very hard to clear and ditch that land, 'til he got rheumatism and was laid up for three years and six months. After the doctors got his farm, stock, and tools, they cured him of his rheumatism. He tried hard to recover the farm by working out. But he had a large family to feed, a lot of sickness and five deaths. He worked for 50 cents a day around our neighborhood. It was in Cleveland's administration and times were hard. He finally lost the farm and moved off. After Matilda (the last child) was born, father went back to Oscoda to work. He had worked there some before. We had one old mare left to do our work with. Clayton, Arthur and myself worked hoeing corn for Charlie Beech. We got 25 cents a day. We moved from the Sprag house to a house on the third concession across the road from Moris Fultons. From there we moved to the Pridle house, on the third concession just north of the third side road. While there, we traded the old mare for a little gray mare. She was a good horse. Art and I came to Oscoda and a year and a half later the rest of the family came over and brought the little gray mare with them. From that mare, father raised a mare colt, from that colt he raised three colts, one for your father (Henry Clayton), one for Art, and one for myself.
J.M. Sherman bought 80 acres of timber land at Handy, Michigan, near Mikado, on Pine River. Father, Art, Clayton, and Frank, cut the cedar off the land and sold the land, and bought 180 acres on the west side of Cedar Lake, 5 miles south of Greenbush and 6 miles north of Oscoda. About 1907 he bought a barn of Vern Sharky, of the Woods estate. He tore it down and moved it up to Cedar Lake to build a home there for himself and mother. But there was too much interference from A and F, 'til father had no home in Oscoda. And finally mother was persuaded to move back to Canada in 1911, just before the Oscoda fire. She was there only a short time, and moved to Detroit with Clarence and Matilda. Also A and F.
In 1913 father applied for a divorce and got it. I think he married Widow Reeves in the spring of 1914. He was living on her farm when World War I started. Her farm was 4 miles north and 1 mile west of father's farm. In 1916 father went to Detroit to work. In late fall of 1917 we both went to work for the Fisher Co. at Detroit plant # 7. He was a sweeper. He worked till the strike in 1921. Then he went back to the farm and moved his (then) wife to Detroit, and with the lumber that he had bought from Sharky, he built the two family flat in Detroit.
His second wife made him sleep in the attic. He got up in sleep one night and fell down the stair well to the basement, about 25 feet, and broke his hip. Several days later the police found him laying a short distance from the sidewalk in the grass and tall weeds near Mack Avenue on Conners Creek Road. He was taken to the hospital and the rest I think you know. The doctor in the hospital told me that father was not crazy, but worn out in mind and body."
James Milton is believed to have applied for his first U. S. papers in 1884 at Tawas City, Michigan. The declaration of intention is on file but bears no date. However, the order admitting him to citizenship shows 17 November 1900 as the date of application for the final papers. Final citizenship papers were signed 19 September 1904 by Judge J. Kennine at Tawas City, Iosco County, Michigan.
Those Michigan days were of tarpaper, sawdust and forest fires. Lumber Barons came into being overnight by the simple expedient of stealing timber from the boundless state forests. Later, fires set in the "slashings" removed all evidence of theft. What a forest fire did to Oscoda in 1911 is part of the Henry Clayton chapter in this story. Oscoda was a lumbering town and one of the most active lake ports. Sandy streets were surfaced with Cedar and Tamrack bark. The fresh smell of tar paper and of rough sawed new boards filled the air.
In the spring the Au Sable River ice broke and the "run" was on. The river was choked with logs. A system of river Bayous above the town stored the overflow of timber until the mills could handle it. Floating necklaces of chained logs, known as log-booms lashed timber shipments to river banks and lay in mill ponds. Other shipments of timber came down Lake Huron as huge rafts bound with chain were towed by tugs to mills at the lake shore. Still a third flow of timber arrived via the narrow-gage logging trains creaking and groaning out of the woods. The ringing whine of the great saws continued 24 hours a day. At 6 hour intervals the blasts of mill whistles told the change of shift.
Michigan was the Nation's lumber pile in those years. It was the country of Paul Bunyon, his famous "talking boots"; the Winter of the blue snow; and his mighty ox, Babe, whose eyes were as big as cartwheels and measured two ax-handles between centers.
In 1910, James milton Sherman took up farming on a place near Greenbush, Michigan, some 20 miles N.W. of Oscoda. His family remained by choice in Oscoda where Arthur and Frank headed it up. Most of the children were self supporting and when the family moved back to Fairground, Ontario, that same year, Henry Clayton and Milton Kellum remained in Michigan.
In 1914, James Milton married the widow Reeves. She was a small dark woman with eleven children, many of whom were at that time well grown boys. She was Catholic. They lived first on her farm but later moved to Detroit In 1934, when a Police Ambulance took James Milton to Detroit Receiving Hospital, all he would tell them was his name and that he was the father of 13 children. When advised that her husband was critically ill at the hospital, the ex-widow Reeves consulted with her sons (all now able to support themselves) and announced that they were not interested. She refused the hospital's repeated requests that she talk to them and so in a few days her husband was transferred to the County Poor House at Eloise, Michigan where he died 14 September 1934 in his 77th year.
When a person dies in the Poor House and the body is not claimed, the county's procedure is set by law. The cadaver is clothed in a suit of long underwear, put in a rough box, and buried in "Potter's Field" However, James Milton Sherman is buried in Lot 31, Section 10, Forest Lawn Cemetary, Detroit, Michigan, along with his son Henry Clayton. Arrangements were carried out by Henry Clayton's widow and son acting for Henry Clayton. James Milton's headstone reads, "Grandfather"
1861 Census of Canada <http://www.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1570&enc=1> about James M Sherman
Name: James M Sherman
Gender: Male
Age: 5
Birth Year: 1856
Birthplace: Canada West
Marital Status: Single
Home in 1861: Houghton, Norfolk, Canada West
Religion: Methodist
Film Number: C-1052
Page Number: 7
Household Members: Name Age
Joseph Sherman 34 farmer, born Canada
Matilda J Sherman 30 born Canada
William L Sherman 10 born Canada
James M Sherman 5 born Canada
Sarah E Sherman 2 born Canada
1871 Census of Canada
Name: James Sherman
Gender: Male
Age: 14
Birth Year: abt 1857
Birth Place: Ontario
Religion: Baptist
Origin: German
Province: Ontario
District: Norfolk South
District Number: 11
Division: 02
Subdistrict: Houghton
Subdistrict Number: a
Neighbors:
Household Members: Name Age
Joseph Sherman 43
Matilda Sherman 39
William Sherman 19
James Sherman 14
Sarah Sherman 12
Mary Sherman 9
Louisa Sherman 7
Lambert Sherman 3
Ontario, Canada Voter Lists, 1867-1900 about James M Sherman
Name: James M Sherman
Year: 1885
Locality: Houghton Township
Province: Ontario
Country: Canada
1891 Census of Canada
Name: James M Sherman
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Age: 34
Birth Year: abt 1857
Birthplace: Ontario
Relation to Head of House: Head
Religion: Baptist
French Canadian: No
Spouse's Name: Martha M Sherman
Father's Birth Place: Ontario
Mother's Birth Place: Ontario
Province: Ontario
District Number: 97
District: Norfolk South
Subdistrict: Houghton
Neighbors:
Household Members: Name Age
James M Sherman 34
Martha M Sherman 30
Millon K Sherman 10
angelell L Sherman 8
Aurthur L Sherman 7
Henry C Sherman 6
Mary E Sherman 5
Frank W Sherman 3
1901 Census of Canada
Name: Milton Sherman
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Age: 44
Birth Date: 28 Nov 1856
Birthplace: Ontario
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's Name: Martha M
Racial or Tribal Origin: English
Nationality: Canadain
Religion: Methodist
Occupation: W E
Province: Ontario
District: Norfolk (South/Sud)
District Number: 94
Sub-District: Houghton
Sub-District Number: B-2
Family Number: 53
Page: 6
Household Members: Name Age
Milton Sherman 44
Martha M Sherman 40
Milton K Sherman 20
Alma R Sherman 18
Arther L Sherman 17
Claryton Sherman 16
Mary E Sherman 14
Frank W Sherman 12
Clarance C Sherman 3
Matilda S Sherman 2
*1910 United States Federal Census
Name: James M Sherman
Age in 1910: 52
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1858
Birthplace: Canada English
Relation to Head of House: Head
Father's Birth Place: Canada English
Mother's Birth Place: Canada English
Spouse's name: Martha M
Home in 1910: Oscoda, Iosco, Michigan
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Year of Immigration: 1902
Household Members: Name Age
James M Sherman 52
Martha M Sherman 49
Frank Sherman 21
Clarence Sherman 12
Matilda Sherman 11
1920 United States Federal Census
Name: James M Sherman
Age: 63
Birth Year: abt 1857
Birthplace: Canada
Home in 1920: Greenbush, Alcona, Michigan
Race: White
Gender: Male
Immigration Year: 1881
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Anna Sherman
Father's Birthplace: Canada
Mother's Birthplace: Canada
Home Owned: Own, farm
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Neighbors:
Household Members: Name Age
James M Sherman 63 [43] immigrated 1881, naturalized 1900
Anna Sherman 45 [43]
Vernice A Reaume 15
Marie Reaume 14
Dennis H Reaume 12
Aloysious C Reaume 10
Elbert Reaume 8
1930 United States Federal Census
Name: James M Sherman
Home in 1930: Shelby, Macomb, Michigan
Age: 73
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1857
Relation to Head of House: Father
Occupation: Education: Military service: Rent/home value: Age at first marriage: Parents' birthplace:
Household Members: Name Age
Milton K Sherman 49
Zoey Sherman 39
Joseph Sherman 17
Henry C Sherman 14
Basil B Sherman 12
James M Sherman 73 father, came to US 1883, naturalized
Ontario, Canada Voter Lists, 1867-1900 about James M Sherman
Name: James M Sherman
Year: 1885
#484, Juror, yes lot W 1/2 5 conc 1 owner PO7
Locality: Houghton Township
Province: Ontario
Country: Canada
Ontario, Canada Voter Lists, 1867-1900 about James M Sherman
Name: James M Sherman
Year: 1886
#489, Juror, yes lot W 1/2 conc 1 owner PO7
Locality: Houghton Township
Province: Ontario
Country: Canada
Forest Lawn Cem. He died in Eloise
History of Eloise Westland, Michigan
http://www.sherman-roots.com/sherman/pioneers/sp'ott.doc
3. James Milton8 Sherman born Nov 28 1857 in Houghton [Twp] Norfolk Co Ontario Canada (mc/mp; GVWS p0). (Gen Refs: not in DPS, NES, SD, LDS/AF, LDS/IGI).
1871.
1879. James married at Glenmyer Ontario Canada to Martha Madora "Dorie" Smith, who was born c1860 [born 1861] (mc/mp), she and parents born in Canada (1910 Census; GVWS p1).
1879/81. James lived in Kingsmill Ontario (mc/mp).
1881/83. James lived at Lubmerton MI, near Grand Rapids MI (mc/mp).
1883/84. James moved to Fairground Ontario, and purchased 50 acres of land. He added another 50 acres in 1884 and built a 3 room house. He had 30 sheep, 10 milch cows, a good team of mares, hogs, chickens and farm tools. The land was swampy and uncleared; he worked hard to clear and drain the land. He got rheumatism and was laid up for 3 year and half years; the doctors took the farm for medical bills.
1884/85. James a farmer, left his family in Houghton Center Ontario, and worked the winter in the lumber mills in Oscoda MI Iosco Co (GVWS p1).
1893. James' son Henry, was kicked by a horse. James was so angry with the horse that he rushed into the house, got his Yankee musket, and shot the horse dead. He tanned "old Charlie's" hide and it was a rug on the floor in front of his bed all the rest of his life (GHCS p1).
1900. James move to Oscoda MI Iosco Co (mc/mp).
1901. James and family immigrated to Oscoda MI Iosco Co (GVWS p2).
1904. September 19th, James became a citizen at Tawas City MI Iosco Co (mc/mp).
xxxx. James purchased 80 acres on the Pine River at Handy MI Alcona Co, and cut the cedar and then sold the land (mc/mp).
1906. James's father Joseph died in Ontario, James lived in Oscoda MI (mc/mp).
1910. Census of Oscoda MI Iosco Co indicated: James age 52, carpenter working at odd jobs; Martha M Sherman, age 49 born 1861, married 31 years, 13 children 8 alive; children Frank, Clarence, Matilda; they lived on Lake Street (p278/d139/f140; nb/7.46).
1910. James purchased 180 acres, located on the West side of Cedar Lake about 5 miles South of Greenbush MI and about 6 miles North of Oscoda [this would be near the Alcona and Iosco county line (mc/mp, from GVMS).
1911. James and family experienced the great fire of 1911 (GVWS p5), Martha had moved back just before the fire (mc/mp from GVWS).
1913. James divorced Martha (mc/mp).
1913. James M age 56, a farmer of Greenbush MI Alcona Co, born in Canada; married in Harrisville MI Alcona Co to widow Anna Reeves/Reemes (uc) age 40 born 1873; 2d marriage for both; his parents Joseph Sherman and Jane Fick (ALC/MR 2-68).
xxxx. James was living on Anna's farm when WW-1 started, located 4 miles North and 1 mile West of his farm.
1914/16. James worked for the Fisher Co Plant #7 in Detroit MI as a sweeper, until the 1921 strike (mc/mp; GVWS).
1917. James built a two family flat in Detroit, and brought his wife there to live.
1920. Census of Alcona Co indicated: James M age 63, immigrated 1881 and naturalized in 1900; Anna Sherman age 45 born 1875 in MI, wife; five step-children named Resume (Soundex e3/p8).
1920. Census of Flint MI Genesee Co indicated: Martha age 59 born 1861 in Canada, mother-in-law, immigrated 1901; enumerated with Earnest Rathburn (Soundex e38/p14).
1921. James move to Detroit MI (mc/mp).
xxxx. Martha Sherman died in Dearborn MI Wayne Co (GVWS p0).
1934. Anna made him sleep in the attic, one night he fell down the stairway 25 feet to the basement and broke his hip and was taken to Detroit Receiving Hospital. Anna refused to accept James from the hospital, so he was transferred to the County Poor Farm at Eloise MI (mc/mp).
1934. Sep 13th, James Sherman died at the poor house at Eloise MI Wayne Co (GVWS p0; mc/mp; mc/tb). Buried in Forrest Lawn Cemetery Detroit MI, arrangements were made by the widow of his son Henry Clayton Sherman (mc/mp).
The history of Eloise actually begins in Detroit were a vote of the people on March 8, 1832, under the name of Wayne County Poor House, named the institution County House Infirmary, it was then located on Gratiot and Mt Elliott Avenues. After the county purchased The Black Horse Tavern, a Detroit-Chicago Stagecoach stop, in 1839 this became the location of the second County Poor House. Of the 146 people living in the original Poor House, only 35 transferred to the new location. The other 111, refused to go into what was than mostly wilderness. Eloise is often referred to as Eloise Sanatorium, Eloise Hospital or even, The Crazy Hospital. The Sanatorium was applied when the hospital opened a out-door treatment center for tubercular patients. The name, Eloise Hospital was adopted by the Board of Superintendents of the Poor on August 18, 1911. It would later become, again The Wayne County Asylum. The term, Eloise, was originally used, because the United States Government, set the Post Office located here in the general office building, it was named Eloise. Later the name, Eloise was applied to the Michigan Central Railroad depot here, the American Express Company located here, and the Detroit, Ypsilanti & Ann Arbor road, all became known with the name Eloise attached.
But why Eloise ?
Prior to the year 1894, there were no post offices, express offices, or railroad offices, located at any institutions. This slowed deliveries in the Wayne, Westland and Detroit areas and the Superintendent motioned for a post office located at the County House May 1, 1894. The Postmaster General at that time, approved for the location, however to avoid any annoyance to his Department, he established the order that all newly established post offices, would have only short names, or names of one word, and none, could resemble closely to any other within the State. Freeman B. Dickerson, recent postmaster of Detroit, was then President of the Board. He was largely responsible for getting the new County House Center, built, and was very interested in the establishment of the post office. His only living child, a daughter, who was four years old, was called, Eloise. Members of the Board, submitted the name, Eloise, which was than sent to Washington, and approved. On July 20, 1894, the post office was established, under the name Eloise. (Eloise Dickerson, later married and became the wife of Harlow N. Davock, of Detroit. She died in 1982 at the age of 93.) Eloise evolved over time, and expanded and by the 1930's there were 78 building on almost 1,000 acres of land. It was a self-sufficent community, within Westland Township. It had it's own dairy farm, piggery (or pig farm), greenhouses, a fire department, power plants, bakeries, and its own Post Office. The main building, called "N Building" was over 380,000 square feet and housed 7,000 indigent persons. Over 3,000 of them, working throughout the large complex.
What Else did Eloise Have ?
Eloise was not only a General Hospital, and housing unit for the poor of Wayne County, but it is commonly referred to as the "Crazy Hospital." Eloise was a facility for mentally disturbed patients. In the small Eloise Museum located inside of the Kay Beard Building still standing on Michigan Avenue, are artifacts including leather arm restraints. Eloise also had a section for a morgue. There is said to be 7,145 former Eloise residents buried in the old Eloise Cemetery, which is located on the South side of Michigan Avenue, just across from the Kay Beard Building. The last burial is said to have occured in January 1948. ( SEE BELOW for VIEW of Eloise Cemetery and Markers) The Keeper's residence had originally been located in the west end of the main building, however in 1865, it was approved a new structure be built, for the keeper and his family. The building was drawn up by James Anderson, and built by Henry Metz, by contract. The building had a frontage of 46 feet and was 37 feet wide, and also two stories high. The first keeper to live here was A.L. Chase. This building was also used by the Board for meetings and office space, located on the second floor. The previous portion of the main building, that had been used by the keeper and his family, was turned into bedrooms, a dispensary, and nursery. By 1876, there were buildings for the Insane Asylum. The name used for these buildings was the Third County House. In 1839, there was also a school district with a school house located on the property. There were several children in the County House at the time it was first opened in Detroit, who's parents had died from cholera, and the County House was their only home. In Section 52 of Chapter 2 of the Laws of 1838, it stated that the Superintendent of the Poor, in every county, were obligated to look after the education of all children between the ages of five and sixteen. Therefore a room was set aside and apart where the children would assemble for school. In 1859, an old building, that had been used during a small pox epidemic, was made into a schoolhouse. The next year the Board erected a schoolhoues along Plank Road. Legislature later passed a bill stating that the Wayne County Farm, used for the benefit of the poor, would be named a school district, and should be numbered by the School Inspector of Nankin. This would later be named, School District No 10 of Nankin, and entitled to the school money provided to all the other school districts. The first teacher here was Chloe Walker, she was replaced in October of 1862 by Harriet Chase. The building however was destroyed in a fire, and the school had to be run , again from the main building. The Board elected to not erect a new schoolhouse located on the property, as another was being built in the area. The children on Eloise property began to attend the State Public School in May of 1874. The number of children inside the community here, outnumbered the limit to be excepted by the Public School, and by 1880, they had to erect a separate school building . The last recorded money recieved for school purposed was in 1887. There were at times, after 1887, that the State School could not take in the extra number of children from Eloise, and the Superintendent was in charge of educating those children that could not be placed, or adopted out. The Board approved a $5,000 appropration for a seperate "cottage" to be used for the children. They were to be completely seperated from any of the inhabitants of the main hospital area. The cottage was never built, because , massive and quick steps were taken to place every child in other institutions. The State Public School and State Institutions were from then, established to take care of these existing children and those that would become orphaned, or outcast. The schoolhouse built in 1880, was later used for special cases of male patients in the County House, and later as a laundry for the Asylum. The building was located on the north side of Michigan Aveaue, at Merriman Road. In 1825, the grounds in and around the Wayne County Poor House (or Eloise) were almost completely covered by trees of all types. Many of the older white oak trees stood over 130 feet high. These woods of course housed many wild animals such as fox, lynx, deer, bear, and wolves, as well as other smaller animals and birds. Joseph Moss surveyed this property for the Government, for the laying of Military Road. It would extent from Detroit to Chicago, and was then an old Indian trail. The Torbert family built a log house along this "road", cleared the land, and cultivated a small farm. In 1839, the County purchased the Torbert cabin, which Torbert had named and used as the Black Horse Tavern. They also purchased the 280 acres, four cows, a yoke of oxen, and vegetables seeds from Torbert, to run a farm for the County. In June of 1840, 2 horses and a harness were added, and that August, 3 plows, a fanning mill, and other farm tools were purchased. The first farm report to the County Commissioners produced the following:
600 bushels of corn, 35 bushels of beets, 180 bushels of rutabagas, 28 bushels of peas, 55 bushels of oats, 14 bushels of onions, and 2 bushels of pickles.
At the time the County purchased this property there is said to have been 2 log buildings, located north of the log house (or Black Horse Tavern). One was a barn and stable, and the other was a shed for teams of animals. There is some indication that the shed would later become mental health institution, and the barn remained standing until 1886, then was sold for its lumber and hay. In 1875 a grain barn was built south of the Michigan Central RailRoad, which was 56 feet long and 46 feet wide. Another barn was built in 1886 for hay, grain, stock, and other tools, it also had a horse and cow stable, and a wagon shed. This structure was 144 feet long and 36 feel wide. In 1886 an addition was added for a dairy, and a solo was added in 1904. In 1896, the County built another barn northwest of the County House originally intended for use by the Asylum farm. In 1884, a new root cellar was constructed and was built between the bakery building, and the gas house. It was 52 feet long and 20 feet wide and divided into seperate bins for vegetables and fruit. Another root cellar was built to house tubers in 1895, it stood on a small hill. It was tore down in 1922, to make room for a small street. In 1935, an underground root cellar was completed east of the farmhouse , and South of Michigan Avenue. This was 40 feet wide and 100 feet long, housing almost 5,000 bushels of produce. A second underground root cellar was built in 1942. At the beginning of the County House's existence, the farmers were the keepers. In 1842 T.T. Lyon was offered the position as keeper and farmer, but claimed he would starve to death on the salary of $300 a year. An investigative committee was form during the Civil War period, to establish the need, and importance of the County House. The farm embraced 280 acres of land, of which 180 were good for cultivation. Another 60 acres were cleared , well-fenced, and useful for pasturage, and 40 acres in timber land. They reported it to be a good arrangement for farming with a house, and out buildings situated in the center, on the south side of the Rouge River. The River was reported to be a valuable supply of water to the stock and water to the house and washrooms. They also found, however, that the population of the paupers was not sufficent to run the entire farm, and that renting or leasing out work on shares of the land, would be adventageous. In short, the committee felt to take away any of the farm would injure the value of the surrounded community. In 1872, they purchased 157 acres adjacent to the land, which was owned by the Cady family, for use of the Asylum. There were at this time, two seperate keepers, one was the Keeper of the Asylum, and one was the Keeper of the County House. There was a competitive feeling between the two Institutions and the Keeper of the Asylum felt there would be a more leveling of administration if this farm was placed under their direction. In 1893, Dr. E.O. Bennett, took charge of the Asylum and the Cady Farmland was placed under his jurisdiciton. In 1897 a new wire fence was built around both farms and all fields, and a deep well was sunk as well as a windmill and large tank. The two farms remained seperate and distinct from one another for several years. It wasn't until 1908 when they discontinued this, and both became a single unit, and remained so until the function of farmkeeper was discontinued in 1955. Other additions and enlargements were made after the purchase of the Cady farmland. 2 henneries were constructed; a blacksmith shop was installed in 1915; and several piggeries were built. In 1889 a County piggery was built north of the County House barn , but had to be removed in 1913, to make room for a railroad trestle. In 1895 an Asylum piggery was built north of the Keepers residence, but was dismantled in 1917. Cement piggeries with also constructed in 1917, a half of a mile south of Michigan Avenue.
When Did This Become the Wayne County Psychiatric Hospital ? There was no distinction between the rational and the insane inmates in the County House until March 22, 1841. It was this date, that the first of five patients were registered as insane, her name was Bridget Hughes, an Irish immigrant, she remained a patient here until her death on March 8, 1895 it is likely that she is buired among the indigent in Eloise Cemetery. During these first years there was at least one and possibly two building located northeast of building "C". They were constructed to house the psychiatrically distrubed. The County House was at this time, the home of the criminally insane who were sent from the Detroit House of Corrections. For several years, the County House was the only place for an asylum in the State of Michigan. The only division of patients in the County House, was by sex. Other than that, babies, old men, the blind, as well as the insane, were all housed together. Finally with the assitance of the Wayne County Board of Supervisors, insistant on legislation regarding the insane, in 1848, an act was passed creating a State Asylum. The first asylum was planned on ten acres of land, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the County House never showed an interest in having a seperate psychiatric Asylum on the property. However, they did continue to care for the insane and house them as best they could. In 1859, the Michigan Asylum in Kalamazoo, was ready to receive a limited number of female patients, however, they indicated that only the "curable" patients would be housed here. Over the years the number of insane people housed at the County Poor Farm, increased, until it was so intolerable, that the Hospital Board, determined to make an effort to provide a seperate building for the insane patients, approved the establishment in 1867 of a seperate building. In 1868, a two-story brick building was erected which was 42 feet long, 35 feet deep, with 57 feet of frontage. It was located 290 feet west of the Main County House. East and West wings were added in 1876 and in 1881 the management of the Asylum was transferred to a professional physician. Dr. E.O. Bennett, and his wife were employed as Medical Superintendent and Matron. After serving 19 years Dr. Bennett retired, and was replaced by Dr. John J. Marker. Marker's first act, was to erect a second Asylum Building, it was the year 1900. In 1882, the population of the Asylum was 307 patients, 224 of them resident patients. In 1887, a special building was contructed which combined the insane wards, the adminstrative headquarters, and the chapel. In 1885, the State of Michigan, passed a law for the insane, which basically stated any insane person continuously housed by the county of two years or more, would became a State charged patients, thereafter. This law was amended in 1891, stating that any insane person committed by a judge could be commit directly to the Wayne County Asylym, however, none would be confined there, if there was room in the State Asylum, but the State Asylum, could return patients to the County, when their beds were full. There was a devasting fire in 1892 at the Eastern Michigan Asylum located in Ypsilanti, and a large number of patients were moved to Eloise. The following year was the purchase of the Cady farmland and a "Women's Building" was erected west of the first Asylum building. Over the years there were additions, undates, and more buildings added to the main Asylum area. By 1907, alcoholics and drug addicts were maintained in State and County Hospitals. The population in 1913 was 576, with an employment of 22 males and 44 female attendents. By 1923, the population had grown to 1,700 patients, and additional buildings were erected. The first in 1921, another in 1923 with a new dairy barn and enlargment of the power plant, one in 1925, one in 1928 and one in 1929. The last psychiatric patient to leave Eloise was in 1979. Inside of the Kay Beard Building, still standing on Eloise property is a small museum run by Frank Rembisz, the director of the Wayne County Office on Aging.
Eloise Cemetery in the News
An article published in the Observer in October 1999, located also in the historical reference file at the Public Library of Westland at 6123 Central City Parkway Westland, MI 48185, tells of Eloise's "ghostly activities." L. Keas who chases ghosts .. for fun, moved to Westland from Chicago in 1998, and now resides in Canton, where she works as a website builder, and also runs, The Michigan Ghost Hunters Society, founded by Keas. (http://www.tmghs.com) Keas seeks out locations throughout all of Michigan, that are known to have interesting histories, like the old Wayne County Infirmary, Psychiatric and General Hospital Complex, also known as Eloise. The complex itself, now houses the Wayne County Office on Aging, as well as some social programs such as "Meals on Wheels." It is located on Michigan Avenue, just east of Merriman Road. Keas is said to believe that she captured ghosts hovering over an Observer photographer while taking photos for the article done at Eloise. Below are two photos that I took this September (2000) of the area known as Eloise Cemetery. At the time, the grass had just been cut and volunteers from, The Friends of Eloise(734-727-7377 Frank Rembisz), had come in, and started uncovering the markers located here. There are apparently 593 markers in the cemetery itself, marked only by number. The Friends of Eloise is working on complying death records, Eloise records, and death indexes to try and determine who might be matched with these 593 stones.
Looking across the entire field where the Eloise Cemetery is located. You can not see that there are any markers here at all, unless you enter the field. There is no gate, and are no signs.
Here is a picture showing 3 of the 593 numbered markers. The area had recently been cut and cleared, or locating any of the stones may have been near impossible 1900 Census of Wayne County House & Insane Asylum <http://www.geocities.com/genealogymi/1900eloise.html> Elijah McCoy, resident of Eloise <http://www.geocities.com/histmich/mccoy.html> Inventor and Ex-slave. Return to Wayne County Cemetery List <http://www.geocities.com/histmich/waycem.html> Return to Wayne County MALHN <http://www.geocities.com/histmich/index.html>Main Page
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1857 - 1934 (76 years)
