Henry Adolphus Newland (1835-1893)
Colonel Henry A. Newland, of Detroit
He was President of the wholesale fur house H.A. Newland & Co., the largest fur house west of New York. He focused much of his business on the export of furs to Europe (notably Leipzig and London). His success was helped by the fact that: “He knows how to be courteous and affable, and is esteemed accordingly... Mr Newland is recognised as one of the most enterprising and successful of the business men of Detroit. He is possessed of excellent business judgment, gives close attention to all the departments of his establishment, and is one of the best buyers and judges of furs in the whole country."
Henry Newland was also a director of the Crystal City Glass Works at Bowling Green, Ohio. He was President of the Young Men's Society at Detroit; and, a member of the Michigan State Military Board. In 1865, he was appointed aide-de-camp with the honorary rank of Colonel to Henry Howland Crapo (1804-1869), 14th Governor of Michigan; and, later served as his Chief of Staff. Henry and his second wife came to a tragic end, as told in this article from the Michigan Observer - October 5, 1893: DETROIT PEOPLE KILLED. Mr. and Mrs. H.A. Newland dead and others injured from a collision:
An accident which cost the lives of one of Detroit’s most prominent business men and his wife and seriously injured their daughter and her husband and two others occurred at Bellevue, a station on the Chicago & Grand Trunk Ry., 12 miles east of Battle Creek. Mr. H.A. Newland, fur dealer on Jefferson Avenue, Detroit; Mrs. Newland; Howard G. Meredith, cashier of the C. & G.T. Ry.; Mrs. Meredith, who is Mr. Newland’s daughter; William Postles, Mr. Newland’s butler, and Wm. Abernathy, colored cook, composed a party from Detroit on the way to Chicago to visit the World’s Fair.
They occupied Mr. Meredith’s private car which was attached to the rear of express train No. 5 which stopped at Bellevue two hours late. The night was foggy and just as No. 5 was pulling from the station the Erie express, also late and endeavoring to make time, dashed into the rear of No. 5. The private car containing the Detroit party was struck, turned square across the track and cut in two; the roof was hurled into the ticket office, completely demolishing it, leaving only the telegraph instruments.
The operator was outside and thus escaped. The car, excepting the roof, was smashed to splinters. Mr. and Mrs. Newland were killed instantly. There was not a bruise on Mr. Newland’s body, save a slight abrasion on his temple. Mrs. Newland’s leg was broken and there were other injuries on the lower part of her body, but her face was not scratched. It was first thought that Mrs. Meredith’s ribs were broken. It is feared that she was seriously hurt internally. Mr. Meredith is in great distress when moved, and it is feared that he, too, is hurt internally. Wm. Postle, the porter, was fatally injured and Abernathy, the Cook, escaped injury. The fireman of the second train was badly scalded.
The people in Mr. Meredith’s private car had all retired for the night and cook Abernathy says he had just extinguished all the lights and lain down on his bed with his pants on, when the accident occurred.
An accident which cost the lives of one of Detroit’s most prominent business men and his wife and seriously injured their daughter and her husband and two others occurred at Bellevue, a station on the Chicago & Grand Trunk Ry., 12 miles east of Battle Creek. Mr. H.A. Newland, fur dealer on Jefferson Avenue, Detroit; Mrs. Newland; Howard G. Meredith, cashier of the C. & G.T. Ry.; Mrs. Meredith, who is Mr. Newland’s daughter; William Postles, Mr. Newland’s butler, and Wm. Abernathy, colored cook, composed a party from Detroit on the way to Chicago to visit the World’s Fair.
They occupied Mr. Meredith’s private car which was attached to the rear of express train No. 5 which stopped at Bellevue two hours late. The night was foggy and just as No. 5 was pulling from the station the Erie express, also late and endeavoring to make time, dashed into the rear of No. 5. The private car containing the Detroit party was struck, turned square across the track and cut in two; the roof was hurled into the ticket office, completely demolishing it, leaving only the telegraph instruments.
The operator was outside and thus escaped. The car, excepting the roof, was smashed to splinters. Mr. and Mrs. Newland were killed instantly. There was not a bruise on Mr. Newland’s body, save a slight abrasion on his temple. Mrs. Newland’s leg was broken and there were other injuries on the lower part of her body, but her face was not scratched. It was first thought that Mrs. Meredith’s ribs were broken. It is feared that she was seriously hurt internally. Mr. Meredith is in great distress when moved, and it is feared that he, too, is hurt internally. Wm. Postle, the porter, was fatally injured and Abernathy, the Cook, escaped injury. The fireman of the second train was badly scalded.
The people in Mr. Meredith’s private car had all retired for the night and cook Abernathy says he had just extinguished all the lights and lain down on his bed with his pants on, when the accident occurred.
