The Chesaning Argus, October 31, 1877

“Righteous Progression Leads to Independence.”

We begin with the very first issue of The Chesaning Argus, brought to us courtesy of its two young publishers, Dewitt Clinton Ashmun (born 1852) and George La Munyon (1860-1927).

The village had benefited from having its own locally produced news in the past, but had been without a regular paper ever since The Chesaning Times had ceased publication back in 1874.

Our first appearance is not as we would like to have it, but as soon as we get ourselves in shape, and learn the lay of the land, we will improve our appearance.

But whether good or bad, each individual expects, and has a right to know, our intentions. As a country newspaper is an enterprise of local improvement, each individual becomes more interested in their paper, than those who do not read it. Therefore the understanding between the publisher and subscriber should be perfect, and each should work for the interest of the other.

If the people work for the interest of their paper, and the publisher works for the interest of the vicinity, in which he is, both will be greatly benefited.

The two men had originally partnered together to produce The St. Charles Times, but that paper had only a very brief run before it ceased publication and the pair relocated to greener pastures.

As our editors indicate in their introduction, this new enterprise was starting from very humble beginnings.

..the first issue of the paper was sent to the public on Oct. 31, 1877, the heading having been whittled out of a board with a knife, as was also some of the display type in the advertising columns. The press used was a crude affair of home construction...

Chesaning Illustrated, Ische & Ingalls (1903), pg. 61.

The results were quite impressive considering the circumstances, although you might notice some typographical peculiarities in a few of the advertisements.

The big story for the week is an incident that took place in the vicinity of Wildwood cemetery, a few miles north of the village, and that resulted in considerable pandemonium.

"THAT WILD MAN."

It has been currently reported during the last week that a nude person was seen in the vicinity of the Chesaning cemetery. One had conversed with him, another had seen him with a man digging roots, another had seen him wading the edge of the Shiawassee river picking grapes, and a thousand and one stories were afloat when some of our excitable citizens, with others set with guns, revolvers and other munitions of war to give chase to that “wild man."

After traveling through fields crawling over logs, pushing through brush, and just as they were about to give up the chase through exhaustion, when a cry of there he is was heard from one of the crowd, when lo! and behold, sure enough there was the “wild man.”

“See what big eyes. Heavens, he is a wild man sure” says Charley. “Where is my revolver,” cried Will. “Don’t shoot,” says H. And such an excitement was never seen before. “Let’s catch him,” and away through the brush they go.

Ed. falls down and ploughs his nose through the leaves and brush, gets up and runs back into the arms of the crowd. When he found breath he remarked to the boys: “I thought I knew something in my old age, but I guess I don’t.”

The “wild man” frightened such a noise and so large a crowd run with lightning speed through the brush and out of sight, when the crowd gave up the chase. One finding himself minus his false teeth, and the rest more or less damaged, when they all stopped to take a breath a while.

Some one asked where is W. R. A.? He was nowhere to be seen. Imagine their surprise and chagrin to see him come up laughing with his clothes in his arms. There was some tall cursing for a while, then all joined in a good hearty laugh and returned home to have fun poked at them the villagers.

W. R. A with a confederate, had managed to get away from the crowd and stripped, when the confederate hallowed “there he goes,” and the result was as above stated, while it is presumed that the “wild man” floats upon the waters of the beautiful Shiawassee, listening to the whisperings of the spirits great Shako and Ponto devoting his time playing with Helldivers and Pollywogs.

My initial reaction was to view this as some kind of prank, but other sources published around the same time indicate that these events may have been only one part of a larger story.

Our Chesaning correspondent, M. N. C., writes that on Sunday a young man, living with Judge Smith, whose farm is situated about a mile from Chesaning, came across a man entirely naked upon the river bank. He was without any appearance of beard, and though he stood long enough for the other to try to talk with him, gave no sign of understanding and disappeared in the woods. A party of fifteen men went searching for him and others joined, but at last accounts no further of him had been discovered. It is thought by some that he may be the mute, Joseph Ackles, who disappeared from the institution at Flint some time ago and becoming insane took to the woods.

The Saginaw Weekly Courier, November 1, 1877.

Joseph Ackles (1861-1877) was the son of Sheldon Ackles (1836-1918), a farmer who was living near the Bad River settlement over in Gratiot County, while the “institution in Flint” must have been the Michigan Asylum for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind, which had opened back in 1854.

It was reported that Joseph was soon found and returned to the institute. There were no details given on where he was when apprehended, so its uncertain if Joseph was indeed our “wild man”.

Joseph may have passed through Chesaning while traveling north along the railroad tracks, or he may have been following the river. Perhaps he knew that the Bad River was a tributary of the Shiawassee and he was using the river to sneak back home.

Whatever the case may have been, he was clearly unhappy with conditions at the asylum and no sooner was he returned there then he escaped for a second time.

This time he decided to follow the railroad south, and had managed to cover a considerable distance before his journey came to a tragic end.

A deaf and dumb man, while walking on the track, one mile east of Dowagiac, was struck down and instantly killed by the engine of an extra freight train west, conductor Richfield, last Saturday at 4 p.m. The body was taken to Dowagiac and left at the depot, in charge of the agent. No one was found who could identify him.

Niles Weekly Mirror, October 31, 1877.

Sheldon Ackles had been offering a reward for the return of his son, and word of what had happened eventually reached him.

Found at Last.

Mr Sheldon Ackles, a resident of Hamilton Township, Gratiot county, arrived in town last Friday and claimed the body of the mute killed on the railroad last October.

He stated the boy's name was Joseph Ackles, that he had taken him to the Flint school from which he escaped the next day, but that the officers had not informed him of the fact until three weeks had elapsed, and since that time he has been hunting for him in every direction, and was in Paw Paw the day boy was buried. The body was exhumed, and though considerably decayed, was still recognizable, and the father left for home with his charge the same evening. He stated to Mr Bigelow that all expenses attending the inquest and funeral would be met by him, and to Mr. C. H. Bigelow and the newspapers, he owes the fact of learning his son's sad fate.

Cast County Weekly, December 20, 1877.

Happenings

Chesaning has the neatest engine house and cooler hall in the county outside of Saginaw, but has no occasion to use the cooler, and no engine.

A.P. Trefry has completed an ice house and wood room. It is a neat building and is well painted. He has also enlarged his store, all of which improvements indicate a prosperous business.

P. Post is moving into the Waverly, and will commence business soon.

Mr. P. Gould has the work for his new store building well under way. The building is to be 22 x 80 feet, two stories high, and one of the best business buildings in the village. He is making a great improvement in the street by filling up the low place near his new building.

I Guess You Had to Be There

The informal tone of these early small town newspapers offers a refreshing change of pace from later, more “professional” styles of journalism. It can lead to some head-scratching moments, however, as certain details are left unexplained.

Messrs. Porter and Son commenced business on Monday, and all can rest assured that they will receive prompt attention to all work entrusted in their care. All necessary to constitute a successful business, is to join issues with that widow. Eh, Porter.

Orton Williams of St. Charles and Occassional of the Saginawian are one. It is not necessary to make any comments.

Arriving

Lodbell & Card has opened a new meat market, one door west of J.W. Manning’s store.

Dr. S. E. Baker, Dentist of Saginaw city, is now stopping at the Chesaning House and will soon locate permanently here. The Drs. reputation for first-class work for the last three years is well known. Any one in need of his services will do well to call on him.

Crime

The shiveree rioters who were brought before Esquire Post for assaulting and battering Oliver Anderson, were convicted and fined $2 each and costs, the whole thing amounting to $32. The following persons were the ones proved guilty: Fred Wells, Ed Cowling, Henry and Hiram Weeden, Clarence Proper. The case gave the attorneys on both sides a chance to display their legal abilities which they proceeded to do in a way that interested all who were in attendance and it will be some time before the legal lights will get a chance to express their views of each other and the parties concerned in the case. Being Esquire Post’s maiden case we will say he acquitted himself nobly.

A shiveree (or shivaree) was a hazing ritual that was inflicted on newlyweds in many rural
communities. They were typically organized by friends and family of the bride and groom, and mostly consisted of good-natured pranks, although sometimes these could go too far and lead to ill will between parties.

It was also possible for a shivaree to be organized by neighbors as a sign that they disapproved of the union, although this was less common.

The victim, Oliver Anderson (1852-1932), was a Swedish immigrant who settled on a farm in the northwest corner of Chesaning Township sometime during the 1870s. His marriage to Jennie McKinstry (1862-1940) took place on January 20, 1877.

The perpetrators were all farmers from the northeast corner of Brady Township, very near to where Anderson lived.

Was this a friendly prank that got out of hand and caused tempers to flair? Was it the result of over celebration leading to drunkenness? Could it have been the result of previous bad blood between neighbors?

Misfortune

W. Kettler while threshing at R.P. Mason on Tuesday last, had his arm broken. Drs. Mash and Eldred were called and reduced the fracture.

Mr. James Fall, of Maple Grove, met with an exciting if not serious accident on Monday last, resulting in the injury of an arm, and a bruised head, and it all came having a fractious yoke of steers.

Mr. Lobdell after mature deliberation, has decided that his horse trade was a sad failure, as that "sound" horse has a chronic disease. Result: a lawsuit.

The Chesaning Argonaut