Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1882-04-29

President Day, of Yale college, and of
like eminent character. He was cordial
ly received by these men. What Michi
gan had already done was matter of
great surprise, and much sOlicitude was
felt for the success of the plan marked
out. He also attended the American in
stitute of instruction, held at Worcester,
Mass, and the college of professional
teachers held at Cicinnati. .~s 81.
His plan was adopted by the legisla-
tqre, with hardly q dissenting vote.
When the matter of devising a plan for
a university was committed to Mr..
Pierce's hands, it caused him great anx-
iety, for it was said that no state in
stitutiOn of the kind had eyer succeeded.
1t proposed by some to name the several
private. colleges that then existed on
paper 1.-THE university of Michigan" and
distribute the income of the fund for the
support of a university to them in pro-
portion to the number of students. Mr..
Pierce opposed this scheme with all the
influence he could bring to bear. The
measure passed the senate but was de-
feated by one vote in the house. Mr..
Pierce was bitterly denounced by the
friends of the measure as being instru-
mental in its defeat. The effect of that
one vote on the future is now known
and read by all men. IL was reserved to
Michigan to rear up within 3S years
from its inception an institution rival
ing not only Yale and Harvard, but out
stripping both of them in some great
features.
AS an illustration of Mr.. Pierce's sound
judgment and keen foresight we give the
following: About the year 1910 New
Haven architect was employed to draft
a design for a university building. The
plans were to be approved by the govern
or and superintendent Of public instruc-
ton. The design was for magnificent
building which would have cost $780,
GOO at that time. The regents accepted
the plans. the governor gave his apprO-
val, but Mr.. Pierce refused his assent,
and assigned as reason that it would
absorb so much of the University fund
as to cripple it for all time to come. This
refusal on the part of Mr.. Pierce created
the greatest excitement, and an indig-
nation meeting was talked of at Ann
Arb0r. The result was that the regents
receded and the present plan was adopt
ed.
Five of the best years of his life Mr..
Pierce gave to school work. In that
on one occasion five whole nights out of
eight,-not in railroad palace car but in
lumber wagons and stage coaches,
through rain and mud, frost and storms.
PROFESSIONALLY to this man more than
to anyone else does Michigan owe her
present school system. of which every
citizen of the state is justly proud =
In 1912 he resumed his work in the
ministry and continued it until 1S47,
when he was elected to the state legisla-
ture. As chairman of the committee on
federal relations in the house he intro
duced and carried resolution instruct
ing the Michigan delegation in Congress
to oppose the introduction of slavery in
the territories. At this session too, he
proposed and carried the homestead ex-
emptiOn law,-the first law of the kind
ever enacted in the United States, but
which afterwards found a place on the
statute books of nearly all the states of
the union. He was member of the con-
stitutiOnal convention of 1850, and Sc
cured the incorporation in the cOnstitu-
tiOn OF the homestead exemption meas
ures, and the provisions for free public
sheOOls. He removed to Ypsilanti in
1852, where he resided for many years.
He was thrice married His first wife
was Millicent EstabrOOk of Holden Mass,
who became his wife Feb 1, 1925, and
lived two years.l0n Oct. %, 1S29,he mar
ried Mary Ann, daughter of Gen. Eras-
tus Cleveland of Madison, N. Y, and she
died of cholera. which scOurged Marshall
in 1892 His third wife was Harriet B.
Read, by whom he had two daughters.
now living.
The remains of "Father" Pierce were
brought to Ypsilantifor interment. - Z