Volume 38, number 7
April 2017
Grand River Times The Newsletter of the Grand Rapids Historical Society Inside this issue: Cover Story: April program Letter from our President page 2
The Murder of Major General William Nelson PRESENTED BY: Robert Girardi
Early Grand Rapids Band page 4
Thursday, April 13, 2017, 7:00 p.m. Ryerson Auditorium, Grand Rapids Public Library
West Michigan and RMS Titanic page 5 Happening in History page 6 Photo Sleuth page 7
Search: Grand Rapids Historical Society
Next program: After the April program, the Grand Rapids Historical Society’s next program will be on May 11, 2017. Mark Thomson will be speaking about the history of St. John’s Home and it’s founders.
In the summer of 1862, the Union was in dire peril. The second year of the Civil War brought changes to the nature of the war and the fabric of the country. Confederate forces were seemingly unstoppable, having won a string of unanswered victories. Now Confederate armies were invading Maryland and Kentucky. Anti-war sentiment grew in response to President Abraham Lincoln's issuance of the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. The two pronged invasion of Kentucky threatened to bring Confederate forces all the way from Middle Tennessee to the Ohio River. The fall of Louisville and or Cincinnati seemed imminent. In response to this emergency, Lincoln called for 600,000 volunteers. Raw recruits from Illinois, Indiana and Ohio were rushed to the front to protect the Ohio River line. Major General Horatio Wright, the Department commander, was organizing the defenses of Cincinnati. Major General William Nelson was given the task of defending Louisville.
Continued page 3 Grand River Times
1
GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY Dear GRHS Members, I am writing this article as I sit on the third floor of the Grand Rapids Public Museum tending the ticket station for the Lacks Gallery exhibit Whales: Giants of the Deep. The “crud� that has been going around this winter has taken a toll on the customer service staff. So here I am, sitting in for one of them. Right next to me is the V is for Veterans exhibit, curated by Manuel Gentile, a Navy The Grand River Times is the Veteran, who was a supervisor of mine when I newsletter of the Grand Rapids worked in education/public programs. Not only was Mannie, as he is called Historical Society, published six times annually. Established in 1894, by friends and family, a veteran, he is a huge Civil War buff. It was a labor the Grand Rapids Historical Society of love when he worked on the letter V for the Collecting A to Z exhibit. is dedicated to exploring the history This month we will hear the story of the murder of General Nelson of West Michigan; to discover its in Louisville Kentucky. Although there are no artifacts on display that romance and tragedy, its heroes and scoundrels, its leaders and its would enhance that story, we do have a number of objects on display at the ordinary citizens. The Society Museum that came from Civil War veterans, or the families of Civil War collects and preserves our heritage, veterans. There is a photograph of Stephen Gardner Champlin, a uniform passing it on to new generations through books, lectures, and worn by General Champlin, and a sword that belonged to him, all donated education projects. by Mrs. GA Champlin. There is a Union officer sword donated by Mrs. Hinsdell, a hat that has the insignia of Company B, 1st Regiment of Executive Committee: Michigan Engineers and Mechanics, a gift of Robert McCrath, and a US Gina Bivins, president belt plate marked with WH Smith, given by Charlotte Calkins Rea. Mrs. Arthur H. Vandenberg donated a stamped hat device for Union enlisted men Matthew Daley, vice-president ca. 1862. Many, if not most of those names will sound familiar. John Gelderloos, treasurer Nan Schichtel, secretary Board members: Alan Bennett Charles Bocskey Thomas Dilley Marilyn Hamill Chris Kaupa Gordon Olson, emeritus Wilhelm Seeger, emeritus Jeff Sytsma Jim Winslow Tony Wright Kurt Yost Jessica Riley, editor Grand Rapids Historical Society c/o Grand Rapids Public Library 111 Library St. NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Grand River Times
I come to Historical Society programs for because I am curious. Often the program make me more curious so I read more, research more, because I needed to know more. Being able to see an object from an era, or a topic I am learning about makes me feel more connected to the topic. Continued on page 4 About the Grand Rapids Historical Society. The Grand Rapids Historical Society sponsors eight programs each year, beginning in September and running through May, including lectures, audio/video presentations, demonstrations, collections, or special tours. Membership. Membership is open to all interested persons with annual dues of $30 per family, $20 for seniors and students, or $400 for a lifetime membership. The membership year runs from May to the following May. Members of the Grand Rapids Historical Society receive eight newsletters each year and a subscription to our annual magazine, Grand River Valley History. Members also receive a 20% discount on books published by the society as well as books published by the Grand Rapids Historical Commission. Change of Address. If you will be permanently or temporarily moving to a new address, please notify GRHS before your change occurs. Let us know your new address and the date you plan to leave and plan to return. Email to grhs.local@gmail.com, or mail to Grand Rapids Historical Society, c/o Grand Rapids Public Library, 111 Library Street NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 2
GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY Continued from front page Nelson was a native Kentuckian and a career navy officer who was commissioned a general in the U.S. Army as a reward for his role in keeping Kentucky in the Union. He was a large man, with a fierce temper, which he was quick to unleash on anyone who ran afoul of him. As a general, he had won a number of small victories. His division was first to occupy Nashville after the fall of Fort Donelson, and his troops were first on the field to support U.S. Grant on the first day of the battle of Shiloh. Nelson was trying to organize the raw recruits into something resembling an army. Brigadier General Jefferson C. Davis was a native Indianan, and also a career army man. He won distinction in the Mexican War and was commissioned directly into the army after that conflict. He was small in stature, but had an ego and a temper that matched Nelson's. He was appointed to assist Nelson at Louisville and tasked with organizing the new forces into regiments and brigades, a job he felt was beneath him. When Nelson confronted Davis about his lack of progress, he lost his temper and the two men engaged in a shouting match. Nelson ordered Davis to leave the city. A week later, Davis returned, provoked a confrontation and shot Nelson to death. Although he was arrested and indicted, he was never brought to trial. A number of factors contributed to this astonishing result, including political intrigue, cronyism and the exigencies of war. About the Presenter: Robert earned his M.A. in Public History at Loyola University of Chicago in 1991. He is a past president of the Civil War Round Table of Chicago, a fellow of the Company of Military Historians and is an associate member of the Sons of Union Veterans. He is on the Board of Directors of the Illinois State Historical Society as well as the editorial review board of the Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society. He has consulted for the Chicago Historical Society and the Bureau County Historical Society on their Civil War exhibits. In 2013 he joined the Board of Directors for the Camp Douglas Restoration Foundation, and was awarded a research grant by the Friends of Andersonville. He was the 2010 recipient of the Chicago CWRT’s Nevins -Freeman Award for service and scholarship. In 2014 he was awarded the Iron Brigade Association Award for Civil War Scholarship by the Milwaukee CWRT. Robert has a lifelong interest in the Civil War and has studied all facets of the conflict. He speaks to groups of all ages and levels of expertise on multiple aspects of the Civil War, especially the experience of the common soldier, and the role of Illinois in the war. He has written numerous essays and book reviews and was the guest editor for the 20112014 Sesquicentennial of the Civil War issues of the Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society. His most recent essay appeared in the Winter 2015 issue of Chicago History magazine. In his spare time, he is employed as a homicide (violent crimes) detective by the Chicago Police Department. He has been a policeman since 1986, and a detective since 1992, on the South Side of Chicago. Robert I. Girardi has authored or edited ten books: The Soldiers’ General: Major General Gouverneur K. Warren and the Civil War (2016) The Civil War Generals: Comrades, Peers, Rivals, in Their Own Words (2013) Gettysburg in Art and Artifacts (2010) The Civil War Art of Keith Rocco (2009) Campaigning with Uncle Billy: The Civil War Memoirs of Sgt. Lyman S. Widney, 34th Illinois Volunteer Infantry (2008) The Soldier’s View: The Civil War Art of Keith Rocco (2004) The New Annals of the Civil War (2004) The Memoirs of Brigadier General William Passmore Carlin, U.S.A. (1999) The Military Memoirs of General John Pope (1998) Grand River Times
3
GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Continued from page 2 I especially like the case titled “All the Trimmings�. Shown are a variety of trims that are placed on shoulders of uniforms that indicate rank. From the Civil War era are shoulder straps for a U.S. 1st Lieutenant, a U.S. Army Captain, a U.S. Army Major and a U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel. There is a shoulder strap worn by Brigadier General George Armstrong Custer ca. 1865, donated by E. B. Custer. Also on display is a letter dated July 5, 1917, sent by Mrs. E. B. Custer to Rebecca Richmond of Grand Rapids, a cousin, containing a fragment of the covering from the table upon which General Lee signed the surrender at Appomattox Courthouse, ending the Civil War. Donated by E. C. Munger is a shoulder scale that was worn by him during his time in the military during the Civil War. I like this case because each artifact carries with it a story, even if it is not written down. Often it is a story of who owned the artifact, but also a story of who donated the artifact. It is not the whole story, but enough to make me curious. I come to Historical Society programs because I am curious. Often the program make me more curious so I read more, research more, because I needed to know more. Being able to see an object from an era, or a topic I am learning about makes me feel more connected to the topic.
GRAND RAPIDS EARLY BAND
This picture is of an early Grand Rapids musical group. Only two of the men in this photo have been identified. From left to right: Number (2): Zobseph Vielkind and Number (5): Anton Siegel. The original copy of this photo is owned by Tracy Hedberg. Anton Siegel was the first orchestra leader in Grand Rapids. He was born in 1829 in Germany and died in Grand Rapids on July 18, 1913. He was a resident of Grand Rapids since 1856. If anyone knows the names of any of the other members of this group featured here or has any information about them, please email the Grand Rapids Historical Society at: grhs.local@gmail.com.
Grand River Times
4
GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
West Michigan RMS Titanic Ties The passenger ship, RMS Titanic, sank on April 12, 1912, in the Atlantic Ocean killing approximately 1500 of about 2200 passengers. West Michigan has some interesting ties to this tragedy.
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
Senator William Alden Smith
William Eerdmans and Brent Sevensma started Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company in 1911. Eerdmans had no link to Titanic, but like most Americans, followed the news of the disaster closely. Eerdmans was a student at Calvin College and found a way to share the dramatic story with the Dutch-speaking community. In 1912, he wrote and published his own book, “De Ramp van de Titanic” (“The Disaster of the Titanic”) a month after the sinking. The success of the book helped propel the publishing company, which became a respected publisher of religious books and still is in business.
U.S. Senator William Alden Smith, from Grand Rapids, was instrumental in preventing future passenger ship disasters. Smith chaired Senate hearings that began in New York City the day after the survivors landed. Senators and spectators heard riveting testimony from the surviving passengers and crew. Smith subpoenaed all surviving British passengers and crew while they were still on American soil, which prevented them from returning to the UK before the inquiry was completed in May of 1912. The British press condemned Smith as an opportunist and implied that he forced the inquiry to gain political prestige and international notoriety. These criticisms were unfair as Smith already had an established reputation as a campaigner for safety on US railroads. The investigations led to requirements that life jackets and life boats for all passengers be kept on every ship and created the International Ice Patrol, which tracks the movement of glaciers.
Dickinson and Helen Bishop Dickinson Bishop was twenty five and a first class passenger traveling aboard RMS Titanic with his newlywed wife, Helen. They were returning from their honeymoon to Europe and North Africa. The couple boarded in France. Dickinson and Helen Walton married on November 7, 1911 in Sturgis, Michigan. They traveled to Europe aboard the RMS Adriatic. They decided to return to their home to Dowagiac, Michigan, by joining the first voyage of White Star Lines new RMS Titanic. By the time she boarded, Helen was pregnant. At the time of the collision with the iceberg, Dickinson was reading in his cabin. He woke Helen up and they went up on deck. After being reassured by one of the ships stewards, they returned to their cabin. Shortly thereafter, a fellow passenger knocked on their door to advise them to leave the cabin. They joined other passengers who were congregating on A deck. Dickinson again returned to his cabin to collect some clothes for Helen. While still there Helen returned to the cabin to say that they had been told to put on their life belts, which they did before making their way to the boat deck. After waiting on the starboard side for around five minutes, Both Dickinson and Helen were told to board lifeboat 7, which was the first lifeboat to leave the sinking ship. Their lifeboat was safely rescued by the Carpathia shortly after 5:00 a.m. Tragedy followed the Bishops. Helen gave birth to their baby son in December of 1912 and he died two days later. While the couple was driving in a car in November 1914, the car hit a tree and Helen was thrown 25 feet in the air, fracturing her skull. Fortunately Helen did not die, not immediately at least. She had a steel plate placed in her skull and recovered. It was believed the accident changed her mentally, and in January 1916, Dickinson and Helen divorced. She died after a fall just three months later. It appeared that her death was a result of her previous accident. Dickinson married his third wife, Sydney Boyce, in March of 1916. He had three children with her and served during World War I. Dickinson Bishop died in 1961 in Illinois. Grand River Times
5
GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
HAPPENING IN HISTORY: APRIL 2017 Western Michigan Genealogical Society Saturday, April 1, 2017, 1:30 p.m. Main Library-Ryerson Auditorium 111 Library St. NE
West Michigan Post Card Club Monday, April 10, 7:00 p.m. Faith United Methodist Church 2600 7th Street NW
Topic: Pinpoint dating of your photos between 1842 - 1920
Topic: Promoting Michigan for 100 Years: A History of the West MI Tourist Association
Presenter: Randy Gladstone
You'll learn how to date and care for your family photographs and learn how to date the production of studio photographers who were active in Michigan from 1842 1920. For 37 years, Randy Gladstone of Hastings, Michigan, has operated Gladstone Photo/Art of Light studio. He is a founding member of Ingham County Genealogical Society and Stockbridge Michigan Historical Society, and is past president of the Barry County Historical Society. Randy has also served as commissioner for Ingham County, Mason Historic District, and Curator/ Director of the Mason Historical Museum. Reading the Great Lakes Thursday, April 6, 2017, 7:00 p.m. Main Library—111 Library St. NE Come explore the Lakes with the Grand Rapids Public Library! They are reading a range of titles including mystery, history, fiction, and nonfiction all taking place in the Great Lakes region— from Chicago to Cleveland. This book club will be lead by librarians and will take place the first Thursday of every month. Additional copies of the book are available to be checked out on Level 4 of the Main Library. For a complete list of books, visit www.grpl.org/rtgl. April’s selection is Song of the Owashtanong: Grand Rapids Poetry in the 21st Century edited by David Cope. Grand River Times
Presenter: M. Christine Byron
The West Michigan Tourist Association (WMTA) was founded in Grand Rapids in 1917. Established as a nonprofit organization based on membership, it was the first grass-roots tourist association in the country. At the time, the tourist industry was in its infancy. Although railroad lines, steamship companies and various hotels and resorts promoted the region they served, there was no concerted effort to boost the tourism advantages of the state. With strong leadership and committed members of WMTA, tourism has grown into one of Michigan’s leading industries. Byron will feature some of the noteworthy efforts to advertise and promote our state over the last 100 years. M. Christine Byron retired from her position as the local history librarian for the Grand Rapids Public Library. Byron and her husband, Thomas R. Wilson, have written five books focusing on the history of Michigan tourism. She has been collecting postcards and Michigan tourist and travel ephemera for over 30 years.
6
GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY JOIN THE GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY OR GIVE A MEMBERSHIP AS A GIFT The Grand Rapids Historical Society sponsors eight lectures each year. Members of the society enjoy these benefits:
The Grand River Times is the newsletter of the Grand Rapids Historical Society. Published and mailed to members eight times a year, it includes current items of historical interest, details of upcoming lectures, historically relevant activities, and short articles.
The Grand River Valley History is the society’s annual magazine. Featured are illustrated articles by local history researchers and contributions from the Grand Rapids Public Museum, the City Archivist, the Grand Rapids Public Library, and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum.
20% Discount on all books and other items published by the society.
Please enroll me as a member of the Grand Rapids Historical Society: ____ New ___Renewal ____Gift _____Lifetime:
$400.00 one-time fee
_____Individual/Family Membership
$30.00 per year
_____Senior Citizen or Student
$20.00 per year
Name: Address: City/State/Zip:
Please make check payable to the Grand Rapids Historical Society and mail it with this form to: Grand Rapids Historical Society, c/o Grand Rapids Public Library, 111 Library Street NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC LIBRARY PHOTO SLEUTH This month's Photo Sleuth selection comes from the Robinson Studio Collection's negatives. In this November 1945 photo, a group of unidentified men pause to pose for the camera at the Rapids Standard Company. If you know who any of these employees are, please email the Grand Rapids Public Library's Local History department at localhis@grpl.org.
Grand River Times
7
Non-Profit Org. U.S. postage PAID Grand Rapids, MI Permit No. 234
Grand Rapids Historical Society, Inc. c/o Grand Rapids Public Library 111 Library St. NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503
GRAND RAPIDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY The Murder of Major General William Nelson PRESENTED BY: Robert Girardi Thursday, April 13, 2017, 7:00 p.m. Ryerson Auditorium, Grand Rapids Public Library
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Cover Story: April program Letter from our President page 2 Early Grand Rapids Band page 4 West Michigan and RMS Titanic page 5 Happening in History page 6 Photo Sleuth page 7
For more information on Historical Society programs, please visit www.grhistory.org Grand River Times
8
