romantic interest attaches to this old tree-having been known in the days of the Pottawatamies as the "Council Tree." It has now faded away like the aborigines who gathered here. PRIVATE SCHOOLS A history of the schools of Monroe would be incomplete without an allusion at least, to private juvenile schools, at which most of the ambitious youth of the city in the "forties," both male and female, were started on their "pursuit of knowledge," and there are many of the same who today look back on those more or less halcyon days, with fond recollection. First was the well known and loved institution kept by Mrs. Ann Keizer, in her own residence, which stood upon the present site of the beautiful home of ex-Mayor Boyez Dansard on Elm avenue. It flourished from 1842 until about 1857. Mrs. Keizer was a native of Ireland and a sister of William Gilmore, an old and highly esteemed resident of Monroe who held many political offices, and in no case were his fellow citizens led to regret their choice. The benevolence of Mrs. Keizer was proverbial—and her consideration for the poor well known— In one case she taught the child of poor parents for a compensation of twenty-five cents per month. Another school at which many of the boys of Monroe received their first instruction was one conducted by a Mr. MacNab in the basement of the old Episcopal church, which stood at the northwest corner of the public square, having for its neighbor on the east, the River Raisin Bank building and on the northwest the historic Protection No. 1 Engine Companies' home. Another well known instructor of Monroe youth was John Davis, who for many years taught a parochial school in the parish of St. Mary's in a brick building on Anderson street, which is now occupied by the Detroit, Monroe & Toledo Electric Railway Company as train dispatcher's office. Mr. Davis was a painstaking and conscientious teacher, and his school was under the care and supervision of St. Mary's church. The first "high school" established was one opened in 1856 by Willitts & Ingersoll as a private enterprise-and was quite liberally patronized. This was previous to the state system of public schools taking in the course of higher branches of education. Still another was "Rose Cottage Home School" conducted for a few years by Miss M. A. Griswold, which stood on the site of B. Fredinburg's fine home, corner of Scott and First street. It was a picturesque old building, completely embowered in the beautiful climbing roses which abounded in Monroe, which suggested its name. school was devoted to the education of young girls and was patronized by the best families. This The original beneficent scheme of the government of devoting a certain proportion of public lands to educational purposes was devised in the early days of the republic. In 1785, the 16th section in each township of six miles square was pledged to this purpose, and the "little red school house" became an important factor in western life. BOYS' AND YOUNG MEN'S ACADEMY But the most creditable and important of any of the educational institutions of Monroe in the earlier years was the "Boys' and Young Men's Academy." This was organized in 1851 or 1852 by a number of the leading men of Monroe and incorporated. Some of the principal men en gaged in this movement were Hon. T. G. Cole, Charles Noble, Daniel S. Bacon, David A. Noble, Dr. George Landon, G. T. Bulkley, Wm. H. Boyd and others. The building known as the Macomb Street House, originally built for, and for a long time used as a hotel was secured by the board of managers, refitted and adapted to the uses of a boarding school. Prof. Alfred Stebbins, an accomplished instructor from the eastern states, was engaged as principal with a corps of teachers; the school was extensively advertised through circulars mailed quite generally through the middle and eastern states as a "school for boys, exclusively, where they could enjoy all the comforts and privileges of home, and at the same time be fitted for any of the colleges and universities of the United States. This school took high rank, and a large number of students were enrolled from Chicago, Buffalo, Detroit and Monroe. A fine gymnasium, fully equipped with all the apparatus then in vogue for physical exercise and development was installed and this department of the institution placed under the direction of Prof. Carl C. Zens, then recently arrived in Monroe from Germany, a man of cultivation and an athlete of commanding presence. In the school were some of the brightest young men of the day, and their names were found among the makers of history in the nation and honored in all the walks of civil life and military renown. It was here that General George A. Custer was a student and was educated for the U. S. West Point Military academy. Eminent lawyers, judges, doctors, merchants and teachers received much of the training which afterwards enabled them to occupy positions with credit to themselves and to the old academy, which is now but a memory. MONROE YOUNG LADIES' SEMINARY Contemporary with this school was the Monroe Young Ladies' Seminary, also the result of the enterprising and high minded men of Monroe, realizing the necessity of affording the girls of Monroe and of the state and of the country generally all the advantages of a school of the very highest grade, where they might be fitted and qualified to hold positions in the scientific, musical, literary or social sphere in the world. Such schools were not, at that day, very numerous, and it was not long before a large membership was found under the instruction of able teachers and their moral and social training in the careful and competent hands of Professor Erasmus J. Boyd and wife. It was, as it should have been, a most important factor in the education of the young women of Michigan and other states of the union. This school was housed in the historic mansion, formerly owned by Stalham Wing, and stood in the block facing on Cass street, where now the building of the new Monroe High school rears its stately front. No school for young ladies of that period ever gained so strong a hold upon the affections and respect of its pupils as this seminary under the management of Prof. and Mrs. Boyd and their successors. A numerous alumni are scattered through the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific, who, in 1883, took measures to erect in the Woodlawn Cemetery at Monroe, where the mortal remains of the beloved teacher rest, a suitable monument to commemorate his good deeds and useful life and their appreciation and love. This was accomplished quickly, and an appropriate granite monument erected, bearing this inscription: "Reverend Erasmus J. Boyd was born No- After the retirement of Prof. and Mrs. Boyd, the school continued its career under different managers and principals. Prof. Hanna and Prof. Richards, being of the number, but competition from eastern schools, and other causes led to the final closing of the doors, greatly to the regret of the people of Monroe. 'ROSE COTTAGE" HOME SCHOOL I am confident that there are very few reminiscences of the old school days of Monroe, which are reviewed by the mothers and grandmothers of Monroe, today, which are so fondly cherished as the associations connected with that well loved "Rose Cottage Home School," the foster mother of half the girls in Monroe. Such engrossing events as those which occur in the girls' school life are never forgotten-they should not be forgotten-they are the tender links which bind together the past and present-Therefore the reprint of an account of a "May Day" festival must bring to many a former pupil a happy memory. The following is from a local print: "CROWNING OF THE MAY QUEEN" (1858) "The revival of this interesting and time-honored custom took place on Tuesday last among the scholars of this school, on the beautiful grounds surrounding Mrs. Manning's pleasant residence, she having most kindly tendered the use of the same. This little juvenile exhibition was to have taken place at the proper period in the month of May, but has necessarily been postponed until the present time, in consequence of the unusual severity of the weather, and lateness of the season. The day chosen proved to be one of the most propitious, and every incident connected with it was equally satisfactory. A May-pole tastefully decorated with choicest flowers was erected, and upon this hung the garland of roses, composing the 'Queenly Diadem. All the arrangements were admirably adapted and well chosen. The election to the 'Throne of Flora'-by right of merit-fell upon Miss Florence Consor, she standing pre-eminent, for accuracy in all the lessons of her various studies, during a given time, embraced within the present term; in fact, being perfect in the whole of them. All the scholars acquitted themselves to perfection and evinced most conclusively the admirable tact, perfect system and judicious and thorough training of their esteemed principal. It would be difficult to determine who among the throng was most delighted, scholars or teachers, friends or neighbors! It is not too much to say that it was one of the most entertaining, satisfactory and happy gatherings, ever witnessed in this our well-beloved city. CHAPTER XXXIV RELIGIOUS HISTORY THE CATHOLIC PRIESTS OF NEW FRANCE-FIRST PROTESTANT PREACHERS -COMING OF THE JESUITS-CATHOLIC MISSION, THE FIRST CHURCHCENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED-ST. MARY'S CHURCH DEDICATED—GABRIEL RICHARD, PRIEST AND CONGRESSMAN-HISTORY OF ST. MARY'S CHURCH-ST. JOHN'S CHURCH-ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH ST. MICHAEL'S COMMANDERY KNIGHTS OF ST. JOHN-ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH OF EXETER TOWNSHIP ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH, ERIEPROTESTANT CHURCHES OF MONROE COUNTY-FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF MONROE SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH-CHURCH RE-UNITED CHURCH OF 1846 BUILT-FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF LA SALLE--RAISINVILLE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH DISBANDED— ST. PAUL'S METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH-TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH-TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH-THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF MONROE EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION OF MONROE COUNTY-YOUNG PEOPLE'S ALLIANCE MEMORIAL (EVANGELICAL) CHURCH OF MONROE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH-THE MONROE COUNTY BIBLE SOCIETY THE ALTENHEIM (OLD FOLKS' HOME)-MONROE HOME FOR BLIND BABIES AND GENERAL HOSPITAL. The history of any city or commonwealth cannot be written in its entirety independent of, and separate from, the religious interests of such community; the work of its founders and of its representative men and of the religious current of their lives cannot be eliminated from the annals of that community without destroying the structure. The growth and development of sound religious sentiment certainly presents the most striking and interesting elements of the general solidity of the institutions which mark its successful career; the absence of it indicates instability and inevitable decadence. We need not seek further for confirmation of this than in the history of our own state and city. Contemporaneous with the settlements in the wilderness of the northwest were the establishment of societies for the founding and promotion of the Christian religion. The exact number and names of churches in Monroe, including those already individually noted, are as follows: First Presbyterian church, St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal, Trinity Episcopal, First Baptist, First Evangelical, St. Mary's, St. Michael's, St. John's, Trinity Lutheran, Zion Lutheran, Christian Science hall, Chamber of Commerce building. THE CATHOLIC PRIESTS OF NEW FRANCE We have seen, in our own pursuit of historical facts that the first settlements upon the River Raisin were nearly contemporaneous with those upon the great lakes and around Detroit, but that not earlier than 1784, is there any record of a church being permanently founded in |