scheme of Belial, who is supposed to be that mythical gentleman with the forked tail and clubfoot. But the battle "waxed loud and long," and although it did not come to downright blows, it stirred the community. Mr. Dunbar and his "big fiddle" had to "vamoose the ranch," and play in another arena. "At another time the old court-house was the scene of some excited religious meetings. A sensational preacher who rejoiced in the name of Weed, was the leading man. On the occasion to which I refer a number of outsiders had been listening to him and he was very enthusiastic on the subject of Hell, which has attracted the attention of great and small lights of the present day. He closed his discourse by stating "that there would be an anxious meeting after the benediction was pronounced and all were invited to attend; but those who crossed that threshold might find hell gaping for them. These might not have been the exact words, but they were substantially the beautiful and Christian sentiment of the man. Myself and a few other sinners who were sitting together and who did not believe in the authority of any human bipedalthough he might be crammed with theology, dressed in a swallow-tailed coat and a stove-pipe hat-to limit, even by supposition, the prerogatives of the Almighty, concluded to venture over the threshold and see what kind of a prophet he was and if we saw any kind of a "gape" we would return and join the insiders. There was nothing startling occurred at this after meeting except the incident of a pugnacious individual considerably under "the influence" who offered to "thrash" the speaker then and there. The offer was declined and the fierce combatant ejected. "It is a well established fact that there never was a place, in the memory of any person who has resided here for the last fifty years, so prolific in men of education, or of practical talent, intellectual strength and so great in political power as many of those who have flourished during that period. Hence it was the "independent state," and it governed the state politically for several years. Of course that assertion applies more particularly to the years from about 1840 to 1855. During the best days we had such men as Austin E. Wing, Col. Anderson, Chas. Noble, Col. Johnson, Dr. Robert Clark, Col. Lamson, Major Bulkley, Judge Lawrence, General Humphrey, Daniel S. Bacon, P. P. Ferry, Dan B. Miller, T. G. Cole, D. A. Noble, and I might enumerate twenty more. I assert without fear of contradiction that no such practical, intellectual and superior men were ever gathered together in a new country. He was a His "General Humphrey was a man of marked character. native of Vermont, and settled in this city when a young man. education was limited but he had the happy faculty of concealing the want of it. His perspicacity was strongly developed, being an acute judge of men and character; had great power of political combination as well as acquisitiveness; a man of strong prepossessions and kind hearted; physically a splendid specimen of a man, he stood over six feet, was of great strength, lithe as an Indian and quick as a tiger, and was not subject to anger or excitement. On one morning when he and Charles Humphrey kept the Mansion House, three loafers who had been drinking and were very boisterous and ugly in the bar-room were ordered out by the clerk. But they would not go and he called General Humphrey. He came in and ordered them out, but they only replied with blackguardism. As quick as lightning he picked up the three in rotation and piled them in the corner of the room with such velocity and force that I thought every bone in their bodies would have been broken. He then placed his foot upon the top man and asked them 'if they were ready to go now?' To which they all replied in the affirmative. And they went about as quick as they could get out of that corner. He did not seem excited but smiled, and remarked, 'men must be quiet in this house.' On another occasion he had a dispute with Chapman in reference to a bag of flour. Chapman fled into the street and General Humphrey pursued him and caught him, in the center of Front street. He collared him with one hand, a grip not to be trifled with, then he held the flour over his head, shook the bag thoroughly and Chapman emerged from that shower a whiter and a sadder man. One anecdote of a political character which can hurt nobody, as the parties and politics have all passed away. During the Tyler administration he was United States marshal of this state, and one day he called on the postmaster, who, with himself, were supposed to constitute the Tyler party, and informed him confidentially, 'that something must be done and a meeting held, or the party was gone to the dickens.' So the party immediately proceeded to hold a meeting.' MONROE COUNTY FARM AND INFIRMARY The county farm has always proved a good asset to the taxpayer, and the infirmary, or "poorhouse, a beneficent institution to the dependent poor and the other unfortunates of the county's care. Previous to 1878 the buildings were of wood, built many years before, enlarged and altered from time to time, to meet increasing necessities, but they were constructed simply for the requirements of housing and protecting those who were involuntary recipients of charity. But the accommodations gradually became inadequate and the sanitary provisions wholly out of character for an institution of this kind, in a community like Monroe county. Finally in 1878 the board of supervisors, believing that they were fully justified in taking steps to provide much needed improvements and better accommodations in many ways, issued an address in pamphlet form to the qualified voters of the county, explaining the existing conditions, and lack of proper arrangements for the decent care of the inmates of County House, and presenting a plan for remedying the existing evils and shortcomings, viz: the building of an entirely new infirmary, at the same time submitting estimates of the cost of same. An extract from this address of the board of supervisors will explain the proposed action: "It is proposed to build a plain, substantial brick edifice at a cost not to exceed ten thousand dollars. For that sum, with the facilities which the farm affords in furnishing timber and other materials, a good, suitable and permanent building can be erected. The supervisors wish the people to understand this as an assurance that the cost is to be kept within those figures. The proposition met with favor and at the polls the vote was largely in support of the movement, authorizing the appropriation of $10,000 for the purpose stated. The building operations were promptly begun and the work completed before the close of the year. The contractors were Monroe men, honest and interested in the work, and the result was a creditable institution more in accordance with the importance of the county. Though built nearly forty years ago it stands a creditable and substantial monument to its builders and the conscientious efforts of the contractors, and has met all the requirements of an institution of this character. It has accommodations and cares for about forty to fifty inmates, as an average for the year, and, as a rule, the keepers have proved well qualified to fill this responsible and trying position. The present steward, or keeper, is Mr. Jacob Lambert, who has been in charge about three years. The term of service of this official is optional with the board of supervisors and rests somewhat directly with the com mittee on infirmary and the "poor farm"-which was constituted in 1912 of the following: Fred C. Nadeau, city; J. S. Knapp, Ida; C. C. Maxwell, Carleton. The county farm is situated on the River Raisin in the township of Raisinville, about three and one-half miles west of Monroe, and comprises about three hundred and fifty acres of very productive land, yielding diversified crops common to this locality. The stock raised in the farm, of all classes, is of the most approved breeds, and the beef especially, marketed with local dealers during the holiday season, is of superior quality, and the dressed carcasses when exhibited at the holiday season never fail to attract marked attention. The infirmary was equipped for electric lighting in May, 1912, at a cost of $1,770.75, and arrangements made with the city for the necessary current which will be supplied by the municipal lighting plant. CHAPTER XX BENCH AND BAR THE TERRITORIAL PERIOD AND BEYOND-LEGAL NOTIS-EARLY MEM- THE TERRITORIAL PERIOD AND BEYOND The bench and bar became prominent in the affairs of Monroe at an early day, and grew rapidly in importance, as events developed the necessity for able and honest men to properly construe the law, and to protect the interests of the common people against injustice and hardships in the conduct of their affairs, and to guide them in safety through litigation which might work wrong and loss to them. This being a portion of the experience in the history of every new community. The bar of Monroe has always been recognized as a peculiarly strong one; from its numbers men have been called to occupy elevated positions in the state and nation, whose responsible duties they discharged in such satisfactory manner as to command the approval and hearty commendation of their fellow citizens. The bar of Monroe county has furnished able and learned men to the Supreme Court of the state, to the United States senate, the cabinets of presidents, and other exalted positions, including important boards and commissions in the service of the general government and of the commonwealth. The early history of legal practice in the territory is largely embodied in the biographies of the judges and lawyers of the times, and in the interesting narratives which they have left covering their experiences in the stirring events of that period. Unfortunately, but few of the greater men felt an interest in preserving records like these, but those which have been handed down to us, and by men of the higher type and of scrupulous honesty and integrity, which adds value to their writings. There was something to be deplored in the manner of administration of justice. in the primitive times, when there was so much need of ability and rectitude-in the formation of laws and in the administration of them. The procedure in many cases savored too much of ignorance, prejudice and cupidity; of laxity in moral perception; while the element of broad humor was not lacking to lighten the often sombre and tedious court trials. The earliest court of record established in the county was on May 8, 1807, when the Court of Common Pleas was organized by the authority of the governor and judges. This court differed from the present Circuit Court, and other forms of judicial organizations as then known or as they are at present constituted. It consisted of a chief justice, and two associate justices, appointed by the governor and judges. These |