Fort Ziegenhardt

By Gene Hale

FORT ZIEGENHARDT is about 5000 farmers buying insurance from the Lapeer Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company. The people in charge of this insurance company also made the farmers fifty percent owners.

After a couple years of in partnership with this Insurance Company. One day the insurance company went bankrupt for unknown reason and then the farmers received notices in the mail asking them to pay their assessment or they will lose their farms.

The farmers hired a lawyer and they found out that the people running the insurance company were all related including Judges, Police, Town Officials and they even have friends in highest courts in Michigan.

The Michigan Court ruled against the farmers and it resulted to Violence.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Mar 7, 2017
• ISBN: 9781490779256

Gene Hale

EUGENE KREINER A.K.A. GENE HALE was born and raised in Michigan. As a retired business owner he has become a writer. He has three books in print Tusks, Mercy and Freddy, the Smiling Chihuahua with a new novel on its way. He resides on Long Island, New York with his wife.

Book preview

Chapter One

It was a cool brisk day in the county of Lapeer, Michigan in 1951. The people of Imlay City were going about their regular day’s business, but little did they know that today was going to be quite different.

At the intersection of Route 21 and M-53 on the south west corner, six state troopers pulled up in their police cars and parked. The blue and gold state police cars shone brightly in the morning sun, momentarily dulled by a pillar of dust that blew through the wind across Route 21.

The presence of these state police cars had aroused the curiosity of the good people of Imlay City.

What on earth was going on they wondered as some interrupted their breakfast to stare out of the windows of the local luncheonette, while others stopped at the red light at Route 21 and M-53 to gaze at the unusual spectacle. Theirs was a sleepy little town, serious crime was extremely rare. Yes, they had the odd burglary, a few drunk and disorderly cases and disturbances of the peace, but nothing to warrant the presence of so many state police cars congregating in one spot.

Four regular police cars pulled in behind the state police, and a few minutes later, one of the troopers stepped out of the lead car. Tall and dark haired and dressed in his blue state trooper uniform, his shiny black boots glinting in the bright sunshine, the officer approached the other cars.

My name is Officer John Batz, and I’m in charge of this operation today, he said in a deep resonant voice. We’re waiting for the Sheriff of Lapeer County and his deputy. They will be serving the eviction notice to these farmers.

The other officers nodded as Officer Batz continued. Now all gather around me, so I don’t have to yell.

The troopers huddled closer in a tight semi-circle, eager to hear what their commanding officer had to say.

Now I know some of you come from farms around here, or you have friends or relatives who used to be farmers. And I know that some of you don’t believe in what we will be doing today, he said, pausing to look at each of their faces in turn. Unfortunately, it’s the law, and we are police officers who took an oath to uphold the law, and that’s what we’re going to do, distasteful though it may be to some of you. He paused again. Any questions?

Silence. But their silence spoke volumes. Officer Batz could read their minds; he knew that most of these troopers were deeply affected by the unpleasant task they had to carry out today.

Okay, then, while we’re waiting for the sheriff and his deputy to arrive, let’s grab a coffee or something to eat and relax a bit. There’s a luncheonette over there, he said, pointing to the local luncheonette and the sea of faces pressed up against its windows.

*     *     *

Kevin, the owner of the luncheonette, was one of those faces.

What the hell is going on? he said, turning to the diners who had barely touched their food since the arrival of the state troopers, their faces still pressed against the window panes, looking out. This was the most excitement some of them had ever seen.

Just look at all those police cars, Kevin continued, and look at all the guns strapped to their belts.

And don’t forget the shot guns in the backseat, said one of the diners.

Damn! exclaimed Kevin, they’re coming this way; I’d better put some coffee on. This has to be something big. He hurried behind the counter and started another pot of coffee.

As the police officers marched towards the luncheonette, they chatted excitedly to one another, weighing the pros and cons of the daunting task before them.

So, John, do you think we’ll have an easy day, or do you think some of us could get killed?

Well, it’s like this, Tim, if we take them by surprise, we will have an easy day. But if they find out that we’re coming, we could have a very hard day, and it could become extremely dangerous for all of us.

John nodded. I hear you. But I do know one thing; these farmers are peace-loving people. On the other hand, you never know about their friends.

That’s true, agreed Tim. I guess we’ll soon find out. He patted his colleague’s arm. Come on, let’s grab that coffee.

After the coffee rush was over, Kevin was bursting to find out what was going on.

Officers, he began, I can’t help but see that you are all heavily armed, we’ve never seen such a strong police presence in our sleepy little town. What the hell is going on? Are you going after some military group or some crazy cult members? We are all very anxious to know, he finished, looking at all the diners who had now crowded around the troopers.

No, nothing like that, said John. We’re just here to evict three old farmers and their middle-aged sister from their property.

Kevin and the other diners gasped in astonishment.

John looked at their alarmed faces. They are refusing to pay a court-ordered assessment on their farm, he continued. They say it’s the principle not the money. And as police officers, we have to carry out the law. He cleared his throat. Have a good day.

But…but… Kevin blurted out, all this manpower just for three elderly farmers and their sister? It doesn’t make sense.

But the officers were out the door.

Chapter Two

Meanwhile, Gary Miles, the Lapeer County Sheriff and his deputy, Bill Beers, were speeding down M-21, heading for Imlay City.

I sure will be glad when this day comes to end, Sheriff Miles told his deputy.

Why is that, Gary, it’s only an eviction?

Yes, I know it’s only an eviction, but how would you feel if you were being evicted from your 240-acre farm that had been in your family for generations? Sheriff Miles shook his head sadly. It’s a damn shame.

But why are they being evicted from their farm? asked Bill, a puzzled look on his face.

Well, they are refusing to pay this assessment from their insurance company. They believe that they were duped by this insurance company that went bust. They think the directors of this company are a bunch of educated crooks, using the law for their advantage. And now the courts have ruled against the Zeigenhardts, and the Michigan Supreme Court has refused to hear their case. That’s it in a nutshell, Bill.

Oh, I see, said Bill. That is a damn shame, and I’d be pissed off too. And we have to evict these poor farmers. Now, I can’t wait for this day to be over."

They drove the rest of the way in silence, both men dreading what lay ahead. As they pulled into Imlay City, Gary pointed to the state troopers, standing in a group by their cars.

Well, there they are, he said. Wow, this does look serious. Just look at all the police cars. Bill started counting. Six state police cars, 5 police cars and with us, that makes 12 altogether. Pretty impressive, he said as they pulled up next to State Trooper John Batz. You’d think we were going after a gang of hardened criminals instead of three hard-working elderly farmers."

Yes, the whole thing is pretty ridiculous, if you ask me. Let’s see what Officer Batz has to say.

Sheriff Miles got out first and greeted Officer Batz. Hello there, John, how are things going? he asked as they shook hands.

Gary, good to see you again. Things are not too bad, considering the circumstances. I just hope we can get these three farmers off their land peacefully.

Yes, it’s a damn shame that it had to come to this, said Gary.

I just can’t understand this, why not just pay the $280 assessment and keep their farm? replied Officer Batz.

They say it’s not the money, it’s the principle, replied the Sheriff. "There were five thousand farmers who did pay up; the Ziegenhardts and a widow by the name Stevens are the only two farmers who refused to pay. They want to know why this Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company went broke in the first place.

I see, said Officer Batz. You have to admire them for standing on principle.

Yes, agreed the Sheriff. They want the heads of this Fire Insurance Company to be held responsible for their company going bankrupt.

Why is that? asked Officer Batz.

They claim that the heads of the company are all living in big, beautiful homes, they and their family members are all driving expensive cars, and some of their children haven’t worked a day in their lives. Meanwhile, these hard-working farmers are about to be evicted, they will lose their home and their livelihood.

Is that true, Gary, since you’re from this area?

Well, I don’t know these people, so I can’t really say for sure.

I know one thing, fair or not, the law’s on their side, said Officer Batz, and we have to remove these three Ziegenhardt brothers from their farm. They’ve been served before, and they have to come off that farm today.

Sheriff Miles shook his head sadly. Yes, let’s get it over with.

Officer Batz turned to his fellow troopers. Everybody, gather around Sheriff Miles here; he’s in charge of this operation now.

Sheriff Miles beckoned for them to approach. Gentlemen, please come in closer, I don’t want the whole town of Imlay City hearing this. The troopers inched closer and listened intently.

Sheriff Miles continued. We are going into the small town of Burnside, Michigan. We have to remove three brothers by the name of Ziegenhardt from their farm after I have served them with the eviction papers.

Will we have to use force? asked