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Gratiot County Poor-Farm Gratiot County, Michigan |
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From: " Portrait
and Biographical Album, Gratiot County, Mich., |
| Submitted by: Dale and Linda willett@willett.org |
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The Gratiot County Poor-Farm is valued at $7,000. The
poor-house is located in the township of Newark, one and one fourth miles
from Ithaca. It consists of a
main building 22 x 50 feet, two stories high, containing 16 rooms, -- 11
bedrooms, two sitting rooms, one dining room, one bath-room and one room
for the insane. There is also
a wing, 28 x 30 feet containing two sitting-rooms, one kitchen, one
pantry, and six bed-rooms, used for the females. For
bathing purposes there is one small room, where tubs are used.
The building is warmed by stoves, and ventilated by doors and
windows. The paupers are well
treated. Food consists
of bread, butter, meat and vegetables, with coffee or tea twice a day.
Meals are served three ties a day except on Sundays.
The clothing is very good and warm, mostly woolen.
The sick have good medical attendance, which is furnished by the
superintendents. The nursing
is done by the keeper. Have
no accommodation for the insane and idiotic, except one room for the
violently. All are sent to
the asylum that they will receive. Have
not children to educate. All
that are old enough are sent to the State Public School.
They let the keeping of the paupers to the lowest responsible
bidder. In 1883, $900 was
paid for keeping of the paupers, the keeper having the paupers’ labor
and the use of the farm, and furnishing all help, food, clothing, and
nursing for the sick. When
the number exceeds ten, the keeper is to receive $1.50 per week for each
and every such excess, and to deduct from said $900, $1.50 per week for
all under the stated number. The
medical attendance is furnished by the superintendents. The
average number of paupers is 20 ˝ persons, although the present number
exceeds that amount. Gratiot
takes good care of her poor and the reports of the Superintendents of the
Poor for 1883 show the expenditure of $5,791.10 for their relief, of which
$2,266.06 was paid for temporary relief of persons not inmates of the
county-poor house. Wm Marlow,
Parmer R. Phillips, M.W. Martin, Superintendents. |