The Nankin Township Historical Society

Plymouth Mail , November 3, 1899 If Schrader was the ambulatory mode of transport for the sick in the middle 20th century then the horse-driven hearse was the chariot that took one to the Great Beyond. This advert for Lewis & Lewis Funeral Directors of Plymouth almost makes one wish to time travel back for death. Their offices were above A. A. Tafft's Store in Plymouth.

Plymouth Mail , June 23, 1899 The life of the prominent people of our towns are much the same as ours except that their trevails are given greater attention. If you recall, during the building of Henry Sustedt's [sic] factory at Romulus a tornado knocked it to the pilings. In this case it was spooked horses that knocked him down from his carriage to the iron bridge crossing the Rouge in Wayne causing a broken shoulder, two ribs, thigh and a thumb.

Detroit Free Press , February 9, 1899 I'm sure that Thomas Evans's troubles began long before a stint at the Detroit House of Corrections but as he was about to be released in February of 1899 his wife filed suit against him for non-support of his family. Detroit Free Press , February 14, 1899 Adding to the charges were accusations of taking liberties with his stepdaughters Nellie and Minnie Johnson the year previous and threatened them with death if they went to authorities. He was bound over soon thereafter. Detroit Free Press , May 19, 1899 Between then and May 18 he was acquitted of assault on the girls and they were sent to the Coldwater State School for abandoned and orphaned children and Evans went about life as usual in Meads Mill. Detroit Free Press , May 26, 1899 Except that the citizens of that small village a mile south of Northville were unhappy with the circumstances and shame that had been brought upon the town and chose to rid themselves of Evans by lynching ...

Detroit Free Press , March 4, 1899 I doubt that this is a new revelation to anybody who has a deep knowledge of the Wayne County Asylum & Eloise but it took me many years of researching the institution before I finally made this connection. That being, William Ganong, he of the cemetery fame, was the uncle of the owner of the Black Horse Tavern which became part of the Wayne County Poorhouse. Known as Uncle Jerry, he was a successful farmer and business owner that fell on hard times and ended up at the Poorhouse where he died in 1899. He and his wife Lavina Ganong Townsend are both buried at the William Ganong Cemetery in unmarked or degraded graves. Which is more proof that Eloise and Ganong Cemetery are and were inextricably connected.

Detroit Free Press , May 11, 1899 In 1899 Nankin fought back against the Detroit, Ypsi & Ann Arbor railway for double-charging their fare within the township limits. Whereas the fare was a flat 5 cents for a full ride between any two points in Nankin the township accused the railway of charging an extra 5 cents within the limits of Wayne Township.