Rev. C. M. Cobern To Go To Denver

ANN ARBOR'S NAME.

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The Death of Mrs. Mary E. Lathrop at Stockbridge

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RECALLS EARLY HISTORY ABOUT HERE.

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The Lady Never Heard the Dorrmer Story and Often Told the Real Facts of Ann Arbor's Christening—Rev. C. M. Cobern Called to a Fine Charge at Denver.

Mrs. Mary E. Lathrop died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. John Gibbins, at Stockbridge, December 29th, in her 89th year. The deceased was an old resident of this city. Upon her marriage to George L. Lathrop in 1828, she accompanied him to the then territory of Michigan, the couple locating on eighty acres of land two and a half miles east of the city, on the Dixboro road. They hewed out their home in the wilderness. Wagons brought their goods from their former home near Batavia, N.Y., to Buffalo, and there they took the boat for Detroit On the voyage they were robbed of $500. At Detroit they paid $40 for a team and proceeded on with their household goods packed away in a lumber wagon, until they reached this city. There was no city then of learning. Instead the wolves howled where the university now stands and there was nothing in the university portion of the city. Where Ypasilanti [sic] is there stood but four houses then. In connection with her death it might be mentioned here that Mrs. Lathrop never mentioned the Dorrmer family, nor did she know—or at least never mentioned—Ann Allen, who Dorrmer claims was confined in a natural arbor from which fact this city was called "Ann Arbor" or "Hann's Arbor,
 as Dorrmer claims the original name was. Mrs. Lathrop's daughters believe that had any such fact been connected with the early history of Ann Arbor that their mother would have spoken about it, as she talked much of the early days and Feb. 9, 1893, had printed in the Stockbridge Sun an extended recollection of the pioneer times in which this was not mentioned. She remembered, however, Ann, wife of Judge Rumsey, and concerning Ann ARbor's name she, in her paper mentioned above, said: "That city derived its name on account of the noble aspects of the original site of the village, which was a burr oak opening resembling an arbor, laid out and cultivated by the hand of nature. For the prefix 'Ann' it was indebted according to the undeniable tradition to the first white woman that cooked the first meal there, Ann Sprague, then Mrs. Rumsey of our town, East Bethany. She took me down to a little brook or run, as they called it, where some stones were piled together; here, she did her cooking. Thought it has been some 60 years it seems as though I could locate it now were there."

Mrs. Lathrop claimed to be the pioneer teacher in the Ann Arbor vicinity, having opened a school in her home soon after settling here. Further on in the paper Mr. Lathrop gave the following interesting history:

'The first celebration ever held in Ann Arbor was so different in many respects. The seasons being earlier, they had new wheat, corn and in fact all garden produce. A Virginia man by the name of Allen, an experimental gardener furnished them. His garden was on the ground where the university now stands. I forgot to say that previous to the whites coming here, it was the Indian's dancing ground. So you see it was in a fine condition, being well cleared.

"The Indians were not troublesome at that time, yet occasionally when they found women alone, and they had been using fire water (whiskey) too freely, they would trouble them. I remember once instance. They had been to Detroit for their presents and were on their way home. Near Plymouth, and the chief's son went into a settler's house and demanded bread. The woman told him she had none, he still insisted, they had none, and he killed her. The news spread, they raised a company in Detroit, having Dr. Nicholas for captain. They overtook them on the pains near Plymouth. They gave the chief to understand that if he would deliver up his son, they would not molest them, but if not, they would shoot him. He made motion for them to do so, and they did so. It was called Togu Plains, after the chief and there was no more trouble at that time. Dr. Nichols afterwards located in Dexter, and was leading physician there for years."

Mrs. Lathrop survived her husband four years, after sixty years of wedded life.  She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Stockbridge and the funeral was held from it New Years day, and interment was made in Dansville cemetery. 

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Rev. C. M. Cobern to go to Denver. 

The Trinity M. E. church of Denver, celebrated recent years for having as its pastor Rev. Robert McIntyre whose position in Colorado politics and whose sensational speeches from the pulpit have gained for him a national notoriety, has issued a call to Rev. C. M. Cobern, of the M. E. church of this city, and the call has been accepted. Mr. Cobern will not take his Denver charge until October nxt. The Denver church is one of the finest edifices the Methodists have in the world. It cost over a quarter of a million dollars and its organ alone cost $30,000. The parsonage is worth $17,000, and its furnishings $3,000. 

Mr. Cobern will ask for a leave of absence of three months in 1897 to visit the British museum, to complete his commentary on Ezekiel and Daniel, to be published in the Whedon series of lectures. The church Monday night elected the following committee to find a successor for Mr. Cobern: Dr. Breakey, W. W. Whedon, Prof. Trueblood, J. E. Beal and Prof. Carhart. Mr Cobern has preached at Monroe, Saginaw, and Cass Avenue, Detroit. His reputation as an Egyptologist has attained great dimensions and now doubt was a feature in the securing for him of this valuable charge. The minister was born in Uniontown, Pa, in April, 1855, graduated at Alleghany college and at the Boston Theological school. He is a man of deep information and hs made his reputation in Ann Arbor by a fearless and aggressive policy which has won him the admiration and staunch support of his large congregation. The Argus voices the sentiment of the community when it says that his leave taking here will be a loss to a city of scholars, among whom he was a bright and shining light. 

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County Criminal Report. 

Prosecuting Attorney Seth C. Randall this week furnished the attorney general with his report upon the amount of criminal business done in the county during the past six months. The total number of persons prosecuted during this time was 236, of whom 164 were convicted, three acquitted, 52 dismissed on payment of costs, three nolle prossed, 11 discharged on examination, and three settled.

Of the cases, three were of arson, 42 of assault and battery, one of adultery, three of assault with intent to do great bodily harm, three of cruelty of animals, three of breaking into a freight car, seven of boarding trains while in motion, five of disturbing religious meeting, 68 of drunkenness, three of juvenile disorderly, four of prostitution, eight of violation of game laws, one of forgery, two of false pretenses, 12 of violation of liquor law, six of grand larceny, one of seduction. For the six months preceding the whole number of arrests had been 187 (making a total of 423 for the year). Of these 155 were convicted, one acquitted, 17 discharged on payment of costs, five nolle prossed, nine discharged on examination.

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Death of a Retired Minister.

Rev. George Wood, a retired Methodist minister, died Monday morning of old age, at his home in this city, in the 81st year of his age. The deceased was born in Lincolnshire, England, and cam to Toledo, O., in 1835. In 1840 he remove toTadmor (now Delta, O.,) returning to Toledo in 1871. In 1894 Mr. Wood accompanied his daughter, Dr. Mary Wood-Allen, to this city,and his home has been here since that time. In Toledo at one time Mr. Wood was assistant pastor of the Broadway Methodist church, but he had been incapacitated by deafness late years and was unable to occupy the pulpit on account of the infirmity. Since residing here he had taken a deep interest in the Methodist Episcopal church. 

Funeral services at the home Tuesday afternoon preceded the taking of the remains to Toledo for burial.

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Prof. Pease's Entertainment. 

On Saturday evening, Jan. 11th, at the Church of Christ, on S. University Ave., occurs the second entertainment in the Inland League series. It will consist of a concert under the direction of Prof. F. H. Pease, director of the Normal Conservatory, Ypsilanti. Mr. Pease will be assisted by the Conservatory Ladies' Quartette, by Miss Marie Dickinson, pianist, Miss Abba Owen, violinst, and Misses Stella White and Marie Gareissen, vocalists The program is as follows:

1. Quartette. The Cuckoo, Fittig.

2. Piano Solo. a. Shadow Dance, Op. 39, McDowell; b. Polka from le Bal Reubenstein.

3. Song. Summer, Chamnaed, Miss White.

4. Quartette. Last Rose of Summer, arr. F. H. Pease.

5. Violin Solo. Andante from Concerto in E minor, Mendelssohn.

6. Piano Solo. a. Etude G flat major, Op. 25, Chopin; b. Walse in A, Moszkowski.

7. English Glee. Hark, the Curfew, Attwood.

8. Song. Vainka's Song. Von Stutzmann, Miss Gareissen.

9. Violin Solo. Two Mazurkas, Wieniawski.

10. Quartette. Lead! Kindly Light, arr. by F. H. Pease.

For many years Mr. Pease has been foremost in the development of musical appreciation in Washtenaw county. He has always evinced great interest in the musical doings in our city. The fact that this concert is under his direction assures a most pleasant evening. The Conservatory Ladies' Quartette was heard in the Congregational church a few weeks since, when their singing was much enjoyed. Mr. Pease is deserving of a good audience, not only that our citizens may show their appreciation of his good work in the past, but because the concert will be well worth attending. Admission is only 25c.